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BioCube Start Advice


Nano_Clown

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Hello all,

My name is Aidan, and I am new to this site. I have had aquatic experience in freshwater, but had never really gotten into saltwater. I have read a lot of the nano topics for beginners, and they were a lot of help. My plan to start would be influenced by an ocellaris clown. I'm trying to design the system around it.

 

My list of Stuff (Didn't believe it was going to be this expensive... But i'm not trying to skimp and buy the cheapest)

 

-Biocube 14

-BioCube Protein Skimmer

-Live Rock

-Hydor Koralia 425

-Test Kit (Which one??? There is the API master kit but I would need to test for everything)

-Led Retrofit Upgrade for BioCube (Rapid LED)

 

BioCube14

 

What are your experiences with this AIO? Is it easy-ish to maintain? I was planning to have a refugium in the back with Chaeto.

 

LED Retrofit Kit Upgrade

 

I don't want to be limited to certain species because of the lights. I also am not a huge fan of Fluorescents, and would rather spend the 120 for a dimmable kit than to replace bulbs every 6+ months.

I love the fact that this is made for the BioCube and has no soldering. Plus the shimmer effect :)

So, to all the LED DIY people out there, what color combo would be needed for FULL SPECTRUM, and will i need anything else to go with this kit, i.e. a power supply. HERE'S THE LINK

 

Skimmer

Should I pick this one? Is it necessary?

 

Test Kit

Which one?

 

CORAL: I love coral that are soft and wavy, i.e. Anenomes (I know, they are to big for nanos, and should be in the hands of an experienced keeper), Frogspawn, and Hammers. Could I have a frogspawn in the BioCube?

 

FISH

I'm set on the black Ocellaris Clown, and will try to bend my equipment to its needs.

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this and reply! Advice on this new journey means a lot to me. Wish me luck.

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test kits:

 

Cycling (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) API is fine

Mg/Alk/Ca: Red sea or salifert (they also make low range nitrate kits)

 

Some people use phosphate hanna checker or a low range PO4 kit. Don't waste money on the API one, it isn't not low range. You may want to skip this kit until you find a point you feel it is needed. I didn't buy one for my softy tank, only picked one up when I started keeping a lot of SPS.

 

Skimmer isn't needed. You can get one if you want, but water changes are more effective on a small tank. It's helpful but not necessary to be successful. It is up to you. I generally run one on all my tanks just because I sometimes get lazy on my water changes.

 

I don't personally care for AIO's over a sump but some people like them. They work but have their limits on filtration but save space. It's just a personal preference. I think my main reason for not liking them is the back chambers were crappy and limiting on the brand I started out with (aquapod). Not sure how the biocubes are. If I ever did an AIO again I would get one from PicO Aquariums as theirs looks like a huge step above the mass produced brands.

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You should be fine with a frogspawn/hammer/torch. . . anything of the euphyllia group. Unless you want to go softies first then move up to LPS. There's Kenya, Colt, Toadstool, Green Star Polyps (GSP).

 

+1 on Tamberav

 

I have the 28g nano cube with no refugium. Just the filtration in the back and I think that it's great. IMO I feel like small tanks don't really need much of a refugium as long as you're doing the water changes. Plus, you don't have to use just chaeto. There's plenty of other macro algae that you could use and throw it into your display and that could add some nice coloration.

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I have my biocube14 running stock lights with great success keeping frogspawn, hammer, zoas, and mushrooms. I plan on upgrading my lights to LED. I want to go topless and have been looking at the Maxspect Razor 420R nano, but think I'm going to wait for the Kessil A160we with controller to drop next month. If you want to keep the hood on check out stevesLED's or Rapid LED. Also i don't know if mentioned above but the hydro ATO is cool and the InTank media basket is a must.

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I just finished my LED upgrade, but it's not DIY. People say that you can't keep SPS with your stock lights, but I have for the past few weeks and have seen growth, but I think that you will be better off with LED. I am kind of wishing that I did the DIY upgrade or at least went with Steves or Rapid. I am going to wait and see what happens. Wish I could help on the right ones for the correct spectrum. I will be watching for an answer.

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I have a Biocube 14g that has been up and running since March. My tank has the stock lighting and

the InTank mediabasket with Chemipure and Seachem.

 

I bought API test kits, got frustrated using them and bought all Salifert test kits instead. Have heard Red Sea kits are good too. A LFS I trust uses only Red Sea.

 

If you do regular water changes you will not need a skimmer. I do a 2 or 3 gallon water change once a week.

 

Check out Nanobox for a LED retrofit. Dave is very active on this site and has a good rep. There is some info. on his website but to get a price and details you will need to e-mail him.

 

http://nanoboxreef.com/

 

Steves LEDs is another one to check out

 

stevesleds.com

 

I have a Hammer that is doing great. Also have several Zoas, Acans and two Rock Flower Anemones.

They are all doing well. For some strange reason my Frogspawn died? Suppose it was just bad luck.

 

Oh, and welcome to the site! People are very helpful here.

 

David

 

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