ok , so first post and long time dweller in the shadows . I currently have a 28 jbj hqi with the nano tuners actinic upgrade in route. I also currently have a 29 g biocube with the fans ordered from nano tuners as well, bought the bio cube for salt water upgrade from a leaking fresh water tank but the fresh water guys are still living in this tank. I thought the fresh water guys would have been long gone after 2+ years but they are still doing great- only had 3 fish when the other tank srang a leak so figured by now they might have checked out. Since the other tank was still up and running and didnt want to disturb their dwelling I decided to get a new tank for my reef tank. I found this one on craigs list from a guy who upgraded and now have this lighting upgrade on order, is there anything else I might need for this set up before I go and get the water and live rock-sand? I am in no hurry and want to do this right the first time and not learn from my own mistakes - so to speak - as I have done a lot of reading and hope to somewhat know what to do. The LFS store told me I can buy rock from them and water , plus some sort of something in a bottle to get a CUC in like 3 days!!!! Sounds a little FISHY to me but thought I would ask here since I really have no clue!!!


Thanks

Welcome ! and yes thats very fishy.

OK I would check out the BC resource guide here on this site. It will tell you all the Modifications you can do if you wish to.

I would definately remove the bio balls and make the back area center chamber into something more useful.

The lighting if you plan to Keep anything more than basic soft coral should likely be upgraded at some point.

You can buy saltwater pre mixed but generally its cheaper to buy RO water and Salt mix and mix it yourself.

You can buy Live rock from them as well but it is generally mrioe expensive than ordering off the internet. There are advantages and disadvantages either way. (shoot for 1-1.5 pounds of live rock per gallon in your tank as a general rule)

Live sand (bagged or fresh) is not necessary but rather suit to your taste.. If you like the look or not your choice

The bottles bacteria starter cultures. They can be a good way to get live stock in faster .. there is advantages and disadvantages again. Personally I am old school and let my tanks cycle on their own (chemicals not required just time)

MOST OF ALL be patient saltwater tanks and especially mixed reefs should not be rushed. Research everything and when you think you know the answer ask questions and check with your peers. Post good specific questions with your thought and opinion (you will get these if you did your research).

Good luck not sure if this helps but I hope it does.

and Welcome to Nano-Reef

WELCOME WELCOME! get a tank thread going!

Degener8 said it all. I like to let the tank cycle it self too. No chems. This gives you time to plan out your next move. Good luck and welcome to nano-reef

Thanks for the replies, I thought the 3 day thing sounded a little FISHY but I want to do this the right way the first time. The Bio cube is currenty being used as freshwater until the little guys have something happen to them that is how that tank will stay, so I am good on that tank - I was really wondering about the jbj 28 hqi and the upgrades I had going in before the live rock - sand and if I need to do more. Dont want to have to do it twice , LFS suggested 20 lbs of live rock as they said they have very porous rock and is large but lighter weight than most!! I am not opposed to ordering rock and such on line as I am in no hurry- which is what I have learnd from reading the posts on here , NO HURRY. I just want to get the right set up and enjoy the hobby and see what sort of hitch hikers I get ect... and go from there.


Thanks

Update , I believe my cycle is complete and will go and get a CUC tomorrow , what should I get???
water par- yesterday
temp-82
ph- 7.8
nitrite-0
ammonia-.25
nitrate-0

water par -today
temp-82
ph-7.9
nitrite-0
ammonia-0
nitrate-0

This tank has been up and running only 10 days, sound right? currently have about 30 lbs live rock and 25 lbs live sand with sea water from petco. I was a little leary of petco but the wife and I were in a hurry to set up and that was the only thing open on a sunday evening to get the sand-water-rock. I bought the water sand and 13 lbs of tonga live rock there from a very knoledgeable younger guy that worked at petco, and he even threw in about 5-6 lbs of rock with feather dusters and other things I dont know the names of yet!!!
All the stuff has done great and hitchhikers as well!! I have been taking pics along the way to set up a tank thread but havent got around to it yet , suppose to rain tomorrow so I can get one started then I hope.

Also , I noticed some very little things on the glass that resemble star fish sort of - does anyone know what they are???

Thanks

+1

You'll find most people here are anti-Petco.
I will admit they can and do have some good deals or mislabeled livestock cheap.
The tanks at my Petco smell like a$$, so that's a no go. Plus I have a great LFS 5 minutes from the house.



That's what they are...micro stars I think. Nice bonus.

Let your tank ride a week or two and keep an eye on your water params.
API test kits are widely accepted as accurate..btw. Red Sea test kits = junk

best-o-luck

Check out reefcleaners.org John can help you get a CUC for the tank.

Stay far away from that snake oil that states you can jump start the cycle and get fish by the 3,4 or 5th day.

Enjoy it here there are some knowledgeable people.

Oh check out the BIO Cube thread found here Biocube resource guide. Even though you have a JBJ some of the mods are the same I believe. I.E. Changing return pump for more flow etc.... Then look at some of the modifications to a Biocube found here: Intank Media Baskets. This can give you more options for what to place in the basket. I personally use top filter floss, some type of chemical media and Cheato in the bottom with a submersible light.

Also read the Nitrogen cycle found here: http://www.nano-reef.com/articles/.

I don't think 10 days is long enough. YOu might want to wait a bit longer.

"Z"

Thanks for the replies , I thought that seemed really fast for a cycle but I have been checking the water every couple of days and they have done everything I have read as a cycle. I believe my cycle has completed because of the good live rock I got as well as the good water. The water wasnt cheap BTW and there was another person there looking at live stock that I started talking to that confirmed it was indeed good stuff as she had very good results with this product. The other 13 or so lbs of LR came from LFS and was fully cycled-cured , so maybe this helped also. I have done a partial WC about 5 days ago to try and soft cycle to get things rolling, I also have a lime green circle looking thing I noticed on the LR the guy at petco gave me that has gotten bigger and appears to be growing. I have seen these for sale at LFS but dont know the exact name of the thing , think it is a zoa??? sound right???

I'd change the title of this thread and make it your tank thread..

I demand pics...lol

I got 3 hermits and 2 astrea snails as that is what was recommended to me from LFS , all are doing well as far as i can tell , but will check out reefcleaners for a custom setup for this tank. I plan on ordering a k-1 and running it on the wave maker and possibly adding cheato with a light to the back.