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biocube 29


lbelle14

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Ok so I'm not sure if this has been answered or not I searched to see of I could find anything but didn't see anything so I was wondering if anyone has advice. I'm setting up a biocube 29 as the title says but I'm not sure what to put in the tank after it circulated for a while. I have a skimmer and I'm getting live rock and live sand this weekend. Is it worth it to buy premixed water or is it OK if I nix the water myself with RO water? Also I've seen that some people don't like the lighting on the biocube so should I replace it or is it OK to leave the stock lights and how long should I let the tank circulate before I add anything? Any advice is greatly appreciated and once again sorry if this has already been addressed.

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Ok so I'm not sure if this has been answered or not I searched to see of I could find anything but didn't see anything so I was wondering if anyone has advice. I'm setting up a biocube 29 as the title says but I'm not sure what to put in the tank after it circulated for a while. I have a skimmer and I'm getting live rock and live sand this weekend. Is it worth it to buy premixed water or is it OK if I nix the water myself with RO water? Also I've seen that some people don't like the lighting on the biocube so should I replace it or is it OK to leave the stock lights and how long should I let the tank circulate before I add anything? Any advice is greatly appreciated and once again sorry if this has already been addressed.

First thing I would recommend you do is some research on the nitrogen cycle and ways to cycle an aquarium, there are good articles on this forum on the subject. As for mixing your water yourself or buying premixed, I'm a big proponent of buying your own ro/di unit and mixing the water yourself. It will pay for itself in short time compared to buying water, and water quality is very important in nanos, mixing your own will ensure that your using pure water and can help head off many annoying algae issues. Can't really speak to the lighting on biocubes but I know there are many build threads for them on here, take a look at the lighting people are running on some of the ones you like, should also give you an idea for any equipment/mods you may want to upgrade in the future. If you can't find the info your looking for (usually all equipment is listed in the first post) ask them a question, because who doesn't love talking about there tank, I'm sure they'd be happy to answer.

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I ran the stock biocube lighting for about 18 months with softies and lps and it did fine before upgrading it to led's. One change I did make was to ditch the bioballs and black filter sponge at the bottom of the middle compartment. I put small pieces of cured rock back there and still use the 3 x 8 carbon filter pad that sits on top of that compartment. Every couple of months I pull the rock out of that compartment and vacuum it out. There is never much sediment back there but I try to keep it as clean as possible. As BigRed10 stated. Do some reading on the nitrogen cycle to learn the first steps of getting your tank ready for livestock. once that cycle has been completed water change to get the nitrate level down and plan for weekly water changes every week there after and you will have a thriving tank. These tanks make great beginners tanks! Good luck! :)

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Your local fish store would probably give you premixed water for free if you buy something from them (live rock and/or sand). They need to do regular water changes, so you'd be doing them a favor by taking some of that water.

 

If you don't do that, you should not use RO water if possible. The water purity goes RO/DI >> Distilled >> RO >> Tap. You can at least buy distilled at your local supermarket/Target for $0.99/gallon.

 

Can't help ya on the lighting.

 

Good luck though!

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Hey ive got a biocube 29 like you and mines been up for almost 3 months. Stock lighting, phosguard reactor on the side and im running an intank media baskey in the second chamber with filter floss, purigen, and chemi pure elite. I will also be running an im midsize skimmer after the media basket. I too ditched the black sponge. I upgraded the pump to an mj 1200 and a spin stream. My lights will be an upgraded retro kit from dave here in the next month or two. I have 30 lbs of live rock and abiut 30 pounds of sand.

 

My live stock includes 4 bristle worms 5 hermits 5 nassarius 1 trochus and 3 astrae snails as my CUC. I have a variety pf zoas and palys as well as a plate coral, frogspawn, 2 hammers, 2 birdsnest, purple haze, hollywood stunner chalice, and a ducan i just added yesterday. I also have a pair of clowns.

 

I cycled my tank using prime and tap water and io salt. Im using rodi and red sea coral pro now.

 

So far only issues ive had was some bubble algae but i just pull the rock scrape it off and rinse it in old tank water. I havent seen it come back in 2 weeks.

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