i have a couple questions HELP!!!!

[stevie-o]

I have a biocube hqi i was wondering a few things.
1. do i need a light for the refugium and if so what kind?
2.i am still cycling it i have 10 snails, and 10 hermies should i put a damsel in there to help speed it up?
3.my ph is 7.8 in the morning and 8.4 at night how do i steady this out?
4.once i get everything cycled i want to put some corals in the tank what will not over run my tank and is not to hard to take care of and what additives do i need to put in the tank to keep corals?

 

[cjs3055]

I would NOT PUT A DAMSEL in there EVER!!! they are very hearty fish but extremely mean and very aggresive. I would go with chromis they are very cheap and very hearty. Let you levels level off before you put any fish in there. You could try a PH buffer i have had pretty good success with that. I dont use anything special Reef Crystals to get some extra calcium and trace elements and i run a calcium reactor. You wouldn't need a CR though in a small biocube. GOOD LUCK

 

[Palting]

I thought the Biocube HQI already came with a light for their built-in refugium? Or did you just modify an HQI that did not have one? Anyhoo, if you don't have a light, a 6k-10k light will do. Some people just put a shop light over their refugium.

Although pH swings are normal, I think a 7.8-8.4 is pretty wide swing. What's your alk level?

Agree witht the damsel. PITA, territorial, bully, hard to catch when you don't want them anymore, a devi fish!

 

[stevie-o]

it didnt come with the refuge light you have to buy it seperate and i can't find it. i have the saltwater master api test kit which doesnt come with an alkalinity test should i buy one. also my tank levels are are good besides ph and i have been running it since monday

 

[julie180]

Get an ALK kit. Testing and keeping tabs on ALK is more important that ph in my book. Not that ph isn't important, I just think ALK is more so.

Let me see if I have this clear...You started your tank on Monday and you already have a cuc in there?

Unless it was an established tank that you moved, you need to get the the snails and hermits out and let the tank cycle. If you want to speed up the cycle, after removing the snails and hermits, put in a piece of shrimp, cheap, uncooked from the grocery store.

The shrimp rotting will start your cycle and then you test and wait, and test and wait.....

 

[stevie-o]

WHAT!!! what the heck do i do with my cuc?!?!?!?! is there any way i dont have to take them out?