Introduction

[FreDre]

Just introducing myself to the forum. I am new to this hobby. I am starting a nano reef, and am very excited. I have an Oceanic Biocube 14. It's only been set up for 4 days now. I have live sand, and have starting with about 6 pounds of live rock (will add more in the near future) to start the cycling process. I know I have a while to wait to add fish...but I was wondering if someone can give me some good fish info on what would be good for a tank this size. Hermits? Shrimp? soft corals? fish? anything else? I was looking at the rocks yesterday, and I saw a few tiny little creatures (almost see through) crawling on one of the rocks, what are they?? I am very excited about this hobby. Any good info or links for beginners will be greatly appreciated. I have done a lot of research prior to buying this...so at least I am not blind to this. I also have today off from work, so am planning on hitting up the library just for some extra fun reading on the topic

 

[smartang22]

I have a 14 gal. BioCube too. I have a yellow watchman goby, a little clown and two cleaner shrimp. For a clean up crew I have about a dozen hermits and I had some snails but they fell over and died. I also have about 15 lbs. of live rock with as I am finding out, a lot of hitchhikers. All good except one aptasia which I plan on taking out. Too bad because I really don't want to, but I definately do NOT want it all over the tank. I also plan on adding a bunch of zooanthids later.

I also did some modifications too. I replaced the stock pump with a Maxijet 900, removed the bioballs and added live rock rubble, and removed that stock filter too. I use filter floss on top of the middle chamber to catch all of the junk that is floating around. I also have thrown the heater in the first chamber to get it out of the main tank. Just a few suggestions that may or may not help you.


I hope you find a lot of good info on RC. This place is great for suggestions and general knowledge. I did a lot of researching too, but it is great to hear other people's personal accomplishments and failures so that you get to hear it first hand. Good luck with everything!!

 

[drummereef]

FreDre,


[welcome]

 

[FreDre]

I also have a heater in the first chamber. I'm keeping the temp set to 79 degrees. What do you feel are the advantages to making the adjustments and changes? Especially taking out the bioballs? I have been reading all the debates about bioballs and carbon etc. What are some good species to start out with? Fish, Inverts, etc? Also I have a very tiny creature in the corner of the tank tank on the wall that I noticed today. He's white, and appears to have 3 arms....almost shaped like a MICRO starfish...but withonly 3 arms...any clue as to what he is...good, bad, neutral???

 

[Nano Chris]

Probably a mini brittle starfish, good for a tank, congrats and keep learning!

BTW drummereef you need to get out some time, i see you in almost every post lol, either that or you are rich and don't have anything to do but reefing.

 

[EllisColes]

yeah i wanna get a bio cube so bad to try and breed perc clowns!

 

[FreDre]

It's me again...After 4 days of live rock and sand...I just did my first "readings..."

pH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0 - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5.0

Was it too early to do these water tests? And because it's my first one...do these numbers really mean anything yet?

 

[FreDre]

Will someone just please provide a quick answer/diagnosis to these water levels etc???

 

[Dubbin1]

You may want to go ahead and add the rest of the liverock now or you'll just start another cycle when you add it later (if it isn't fully cured).

Oh and

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

 

[FreDre]

Ok...I will do that tomorrow...will that do anything to my water readings?

 

[kkyyllee]

if it has dieoff after a day ur amonia and nitrite will go up

 

[skippysmind]

I'd agree with this lunatic

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10213483#post10213483 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
You may want to go ahead and add the rest of the liverock now or you'll just start another cycle when you add it later (if it isn't fully cured).

Oh and

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

 

[Psychojam]

Congrats on the BC 14! I've had one going for about five weeks. Currently have:

1 true Perc
5 Astrea snails
3 Nassarius snails
3 cerith snails
1 peppermint shrimp

Also:
Trumpet coral
Zoo's
1 Ricordia
1 Mushroom

I plan to add eventually one small goby/pistol shrimp combo & thats it for fish.

My suggestion is to add all the live rock and just let it cycle. Check h20 params every 3 days. When Ammonia & Nitrites hit zero, add a clean up crew - this is when you'll get the inevitable algae bloom.

I would keep out the bioballs - Nitrate factories.
I tried to upgrade my pump to a maxi-Jet 1200 - way too much flow IMO & temp shot up to 85! then went back to the stock pump.
You can get a skimmer designed for the BC14 here http://storefront.addictiveaquatics.com/products/Sapphire_Aquatics_Protein_Skimmer_for_Oceanic_BioCube_Model_BC14-12373-235.html

Sorry for the long post.
Hope this is useful

James

 

[Psychojam]

You'll find the protien info here

Screwed up on the last post

 

[FreDre]

Hey...that link wouldn't work...will you post it again?

 

[Psychojam]

Man I suck!

look here for the PROTEIN SKIMMER info.....

Did I do it right that time?

 

[FreDre]

YAY!!! thanks...but can't afford that yet....hopefully soon. Doesn't activated carbon pretty much replace the need for a protein skimmer though...they both remove organic materials, right?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10213793#post10213793 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FreDre
YAY!!! thanks...but can't afford that yet....hopefully soon. Doesn't activated carbon pretty much replace the need for a protein skimmer though...

welcome to RC.
The short answer to your question:
carbon won't replace the need for a protein skimmer, but in a 14 gallon aquarium you should be able to get away with no skimmer if you keep up with regular partial water changes.

Are you in the city, Fre?

 

[skippysmind]

No, have you ever seen the skimmate from a skimmer? No way carbon could remove that much waste unless you had a 30 gallon sump filled.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10213793#post10213793 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FreDre
YAY!!! thanks...but can't afford that yet....hopefully soon. Doesn't activated carbon pretty much replace the need for a protein skimmer though...they both remove organic materials, right?

 

[FreDre]

No, I have never seen the skimmate from a skimmer...If I am keeping a nanoreef, should I keep the bioballs or get rid of them....So is the commone concensus that I should invest in a skimme, or wait it out?