New to the Nano reef
- Thread starter slukach
- Start date
- Status
Guys,
Do you guys do a "wet run" (fill the cube with fresh water and run it to check for leaks) before you actually set it up with the live sand and rock and saltwater? I read of a few people doing that. Not sure how real the fear is that there may be a leak. The cubes build date is 11/2006.
Do you guys do a "wet run" (fill the cube with fresh water and run it to check for leaks) before you actually set it up with the live sand and rock and saltwater? I read of a few people doing that. Not sure how real the fear is that there may be a leak. The cubes build date is 11/2006.
Illuminati
Premium Member
Some people do, I didn't. Nothing wrong with doing that to be safe though.....
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
I didn't with my 10g...I know it isn't a cube with the cracking glass issues from previous...but even still...its a new tank...just remember, to pass quality control I think they would have had to do some sort of wet test at the factory...
Honestly, I don't think it's necessary...
Honestly, I don't think it's necessary...
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
Look at it this way too...if it had no quality control done at the factory, and it were to fail on you not long after you stocked it...and gave no indications before hand that it was going to fail...the company would be liable for everything...you know this, you are an attorney... 
Clean my carpet, replace my soaked drywall, pain & suffering of mine by watching my creatures die before my eyes, etc....oh yeah, and don't forget replace the tank and all it's contents and equipment too... :lmao:
Seriously though...I think you are ok to skip it...
Clean my carpet, replace my soaked drywall, pain & suffering of mine by watching my creatures die before my eyes, etc....oh yeah, and don't forget replace the tank and all it's contents and equipment too... :lmao:
Seriously though...I think you are ok to skip it...
kingfisher62
New member
Slukach, I will hopefully be getting my 14g biocube delivered tomorrow! So we are in the same boat ,sort of.
I am sure we will have a lot of similar questions.
I see you are going with 20 lbs of sand are you going for a "true" deep sand bed?
I am sure we will have a lot of similar questions.
I see you are going with 20 lbs of sand are you going for a "true" deep sand bed?
Right on. as you can see by this thread, I had (and will have) tons of questions. Best thing is, there are people out there like Colinadam and Hopeful Reefer who are more than willing to help out a "new reefer". This site, and more importantly, these guys I mentioned, are a godsend. I had done a little research online, but the stuff I learned on here was voluminous and I am sure that will be the reason I don't make a million mistakes.
As for the sand, I was on a website and they a had a "sand calculator" for ordering purposes. I put in the size of my tank and how deep I wanted the sand (2") and the calculation came back 28.XX lbs. of sand. I figured 20lb would do the trick, since the sand won't be completely uniform throughout the bottom. So, I planned on having about 2" of sand on the bottom. I had heard that some people do 3 to 4" sand beds, but I figured I'd stick to about 2".
Keep us updated as to your progress. I am picking up the Live Rock, sand and 15 gallons of pre-mixed salt water this afternoon, so I am psyched to get this ball rolling.
I actually had another question/comment (see, I told you I still have a million questions): I have a 24g tank, so I ordered 30lb of live rock (little more than 1lb/gallon). However, I will probably only get about 15-17 gallon of water in the tank, since I am putting in 20lb. of sand and 30lb of live rock. Thus, making it 2lb of LR per gallon. So, I guess my question is...is it possible to have too much LR?
As for the sand, I was on a website and they a had a "sand calculator" for ordering purposes. I put in the size of my tank and how deep I wanted the sand (2") and the calculation came back 28.XX lbs. of sand. I figured 20lb would do the trick, since the sand won't be completely uniform throughout the bottom. So, I planned on having about 2" of sand on the bottom. I had heard that some people do 3 to 4" sand beds, but I figured I'd stick to about 2".
Keep us updated as to your progress. I am picking up the Live Rock, sand and 15 gallons of pre-mixed salt water this afternoon, so I am psyched to get this ball rolling.
I actually had another question/comment (see, I told you I still have a million questions): I have a 24g tank, so I ordered 30lb of live rock (little more than 1lb/gallon). However, I will probably only get about 15-17 gallon of water in the tank, since I am putting in 20lb. of sand and 30lb of live rock. Thus, making it 2lb of LR per gallon. So, I guess my question is...is it possible to have too much LR?
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
First, for the water change issue...you have several very different schools of thought on cycling...some say no lights, some say leave them on...some say no water changes, some say several massive water changes...personally, I am doing regular light cycle and water changes in my nano...again, another of those personal preferences...I felt that by changing the water, I keep the ammonia from reaching a totally toxic level and killing off what life (like pods, feather dusters, etc.) that might be hiding inside of the live rock I bought just waiting for the day when the water parameters start to even out and get better...by doing this, I have 2 small and one medium/large feather dusters that have suddenly appeared out of nowhere... 
As for the live rock question...it is asthetics really...theoretically, there is no such thing as too much live rock...the more benefitial bacteria holding rock you have in the tank the better...but, you can asthetically have too much rock...you will know when you put it in...if you are worried about it, pick up a little less to start and add more in there in a few days...you want the tank to look natural, and not like a cube of water that has rock stuffed to the gills in there (pun intended )
Good luck...can't wait to see pics of the water and rock in there...just remember the old bowl and trash bag method like I showed in my thread and you will keep the sand storm down to a minimum...sand, then water, then rock...just remember to get a little extra salt water today when you go out and really give your rock a good rinse/swish before putting it in...that will make anything dead, excess food from the previous owner, etc. that is just hanging on to come off...don't want too much dead junk in there at once...
As for the live rock question...it is asthetics really...theoretically, there is no such thing as too much live rock...the more benefitial bacteria holding rock you have in the tank the better...but, you can asthetically have too much rock...you will know when you put it in...if you are worried about it, pick up a little less to start and add more in there in a few days...you want the tank to look natural, and not like a cube of water that has rock stuffed to the gills in there (pun intended
)Good luck...can't wait to see pics of the water and rock in there...just remember the old bowl and trash bag method like I showed in my thread and you will keep the sand storm down to a minimum...sand, then water, then rock...just remember to get a little extra salt water today when you go out and really give your rock a good rinse/swish before putting it in...that will make anything dead, excess food from the previous owner, etc. that is just hanging on to come off...don't want too much dead junk in there at once...
kingfisher62
New member
The way I see it .you should get 1 to 2 lbs of rock per gallon of what tank is . pay no attention to how much water it displaces. 30 lbs will be great for you! If you see a really nice piece at your LFS ,pick it up ! (I am talking about Live Rock of coarse)
You can't have too much rock , just make sure your fish have room to swim.
I heard that you need 4 inches to make a true deep sand bed.
i don't want to take up a 1/4 of the tank with sand so i am thinking of just a little.
I am not set on that !
I am starting with 14 lbs of rock and i am thinking of adding a bunch of LR rubble in the filter chamber. what do you all think of that? it will not get much light . will that be OK?
You can't have too much rock , just make sure your fish have room to swim.
I heard that you need 4 inches to make a true deep sand bed.
i don't want to take up a 1/4 of the tank with sand so i am thinking of just a little.
I am not set on that !
I am starting with 14 lbs of rock and i am thinking of adding a bunch of LR rubble in the filter chamber. what do you all think of that? it will not get much light . will that be OK?
greggwisniewski
New member
I just need to add that the bag and bowl method is awesome!! Made filling the tank so easy. As for Live rock, I only added 18lbs to my 24 gallon.... may add a little more but think the pieces I have now fit well. I cant imagine 30lbs of live rock in a 24 gallon tank. I guess depending how you scape it could work but I would be worried about how much room the fish have.
I started my cycle on friday and have yet to hit a spike of any sorts. all levels are good right now. I went ahead and threw the clean up crew in on sunday and they appear to be very active and doing well. started with a dozen blue legged hermits and 6 snails. if everything stays the same this weekend I plan on adding a couple shrimp. Im doing tests every other day and I think I am going to do a water change in another week...
I have some pictures on my camera, as soon as I figure out how to post them I will have them up.
I started my cycle on friday and have yet to hit a spike of any sorts. all levels are good right now. I went ahead and threw the clean up crew in on sunday and they appear to be very active and doing well. started with a dozen blue legged hermits and 6 snails. if everything stays the same this weekend I plan on adding a couple shrimp. Im doing tests every other day and I think I am going to do a water change in another week...
I have some pictures on my camera, as soon as I figure out how to post them I will have them up.
kingfisher62
New member
I dunno, I am just going by the formula of 1 to 2 lbs of LR per gallon ,which is pretty much the standard. When i picture a reef tank i picture a wall of LR piled in the back of the tank 3/4's the height of the tank. with assorted specimens of polyps ,mushrooms,xenia at different levels depending on their lighting needs.
but like you say, it depends on how you want to scape it!
but like you say, it depends on how you want to scape it!
greggwisniewski
New member
yea, plus I have some tonga branch in there which takes up room but doesnt weigh nearly as much as the Fiji... I may add another 5lbs but that will be it. You make a good point, would be good to get some nice specimans closer to the light.
Just filled up the tank with sand, water and LR. But I didn't get enough water!!!!!!!!!! On my way back out to grab another 3-4g.
PS I went to pick up the 30lb, but there was 45 in the box and he charged me for 40. Thought it would be way too much, but it looks great. Also, bag and bowl all the way. It worked like a freakin' charm.
Ok, off to get more NaCl H2O. I will post pics as soon as I can. The woman snapped a bunch when I was setting it up.
PS I went to pick up the 30lb, but there was 45 in the box and he charged me for 40. Thought it would be way too much, but it looks great. Also, bag and bowl all the way. It worked like a freakin' charm.
Ok, off to get more NaCl H2O. I will post pics as soon as I can. The woman snapped a bunch when I was setting it up.
kingfisher62
New member
I better get my act together! Got my tank at two and it is still dry!Gotta do a water change in the 55g and use some of that water for the cube!Good luck guys! I got to get busy!
greggwisniewski
New member
I have my temp set at 79... usually fluctuates in between 79-80, the digital thermometer is nice.
As for salinity, im using the normal floating hydrometer but i have read that they arent the most accurate as your water temp needs to be taken in to account. I am going to get the instant ocean hydrometer as from what I have read is a better method...
As for salinity, im using the normal floating hydrometer but i have read that they arent the most accurate as your water temp needs to be taken in to account. I am going to get the instant ocean hydrometer as from what I have read is a better method...
greggwisniewski
New member
yes fully cured live rock, the crabs seem to be enjoying it also...
- Status
