first saltwater tank

[nladd]

so in the next month or 2 i plan on starting my first saltwater tank, my current plan is to use a 29g coralife biocube, any tips or advice on anything to change on the tank, extra items to get, or coral and fish suggestions?

[FlamingPrawn]

Patience will be your best friend. Second best friend, forums. You're surrounded by people that won't think any question you have is stupid. Just don't get defensive as some people are a lil more...aggressive . And POST PICS!

[thomas8man]

I agree with Rseb1203 being slow will be help you in the long run. biocubes are pretty well ready for use not too much needs to be changed all you need to do is start cycle as soon as you can longer it runs more stable and happy fish in your tank will be. Also live rock 2/3 of tank should ideally be filled and also some live sand will help too. The reason so much live rock is because in the real word most of the fish that live in a tank are on reefs and there is tons of rock

[Steelen]

Do your research well. I have a little in and I would suggest keep an eye out on the BRS website during black friday/cyber monday. I think your AOI Biocube idea might change.

[DriftingNemo]

29g is a good starting size. I started with a 14 gallon, but after 9 months I tore it down since it was too small. Your tank should give you some stability and it won't drain your wallet every time you do a water change. Just take it slow, buy everything you need and try not to rush it, that's one of the main reasons my first saltwater tank wasn't as successful as I anticipated. Good luck, hope you enjoy it!

[CurtBoswell]

When you have an idea for a piece of equipment or a DIY project, really take your time to think about it.

 

You don't want to cheap out on equipment. Read reviews. Wait a little. Read more about it. Look at alternatives.

 

Just be careful what you buy and do a lot of research!

[DriftingNemo]

Cheap equipment is certainly a terrible idea. I once bought a sun sun canister filter brand new. It only lasted 6 months before the impeller jammed and smoke started coming out of it. There's a few exceptions when it comes to cheap equipment, people give jebao powerheads good reviews, but that's also a hit or miss.

[nladd]

i will definitely be doing my research when i buy, already have some stuff i have added to my shopping list, another newbie question though; what exactly is live rock I've seen it before but don't know exactly what it is, also i was planning on putting in an anemone good idea? bad idea?

[ghostgr]

Check out some biocubes here on the forum. Ive got one thats been set up for almost 3 months and love it. Ill be upgrading lights here very soon.

[DriftingNemo]

i will definitely be doing my research when i buy, already have some stuff i have added to my shopping list, another newbie question though; what exactly is live rock I've seen it before but don't know exactly what it is, also i was planning on putting in an anemone good idea? bad idea?

 

Live rock is the foundation of a reef, it's rock that's made out of coral skeletons and other good stuff that is encrusted with different types of algae (coralline for example), it's very porous, comes with a lot of beneficial bacteria and critters (usually good) and if you're unlucky, pests. It's really expensive. You can use dry rock which is alot cheaper than live rock to build your structure and then add a small piece of live rock. The coralline algae and other bacteria will slowly spread to the dry rock and turn it into live rock after a while. Get some experience with fish and coral before adding an anemone. Anemones are for experienced aquarists and require good lighting, flow and water conditions. Your tank needs to age for a few months and become stable before you can introduce an anemone. A change of flow or any other tank variable would trigger the anemone to move around the tank, it could walk into a powerhead and get chopped up, it could park itself right next to another coral and start stinging it. Also, anemones are prone to catching and consuming fish, some anemones do it more than others.

[nladd]

so i have my basic plan down minus a couple items, im going to keep the biocubes filtration and lighting stock for now until my needs change for it, i was originally going to buy premixed saltwater but im pretty sure i'm going to give it a shot at making my own, current plan is a live sand base, anywhere between 10-20lbs of live rock, fishwise the only type i am for sure of right now is 2-3 ocellaris clowns, going to add 2 water circs. to the tank as well as a protein skimmer for added security, also a few hermit crabs and 2 peppermint or scarlet skunk shrimp, im sure ill add or remove stuff but soon the fun begins of buying all the goodies

[kygass]

My wife bought me a 29 gal biocube for Christmas, and I still haven't got it wet, but I have spent a lot of time researching upgrades. For what it's worth this is what I have purchased: tunze 9001 skimmer, intank media basket, nanobox retrofit LED lighting, cobalt mj1200, an rodi unit, ecotech mp10, an autosmart ATO, and reef cleaners dry rock.

[aquageek]

If you plan on making your own saltwater be sure to use a RO/DI unit. Do not use treated tap water. Clowns are best kept in pairs, so I would go with 2 as 4 would probably be too many for you BC29. Hold off on the anemone, they require an established aquarium and stable parameters, this would be something you can look forward to adding down the road when you have more experience under you belt and have had the aquarium up and running for some time. For skimmers on a BC29 most people use either a Tunze 9001, or an Aquaticlife 115.

 

For now, I would recommend you focus your money on a nice RODI unit (bulkreefsupply.com has awesome units for reasonable price), it will make your water changes so much more convenient, and upgrading your filtration. Unfortunately the stock filtration on the BC leave something to be desired. Most people around here ditch the bioballs and filter/carbon pad and add media baskets by either building their own or buying the InTank models (found here http://shop.mediabaskets.com/) which would be made to fit your aquarium. You'll also want to pick up a power head to keep your water moving nicely through your display. With those 3 things, and good tank husbandry I think you will be successful.

 

You should be able to keep soft corals and some LPS corals no problem. If you wanted to move into SPS or other coral that require more light, I would definitely look at upgrading the lighting. Popular options if you want to keep your hood are Steve's LEDs retro kits, or Nanobox retrofits. Otherwise you could remove the hood and hang/mount what ever you wanted over the tank.

 

Hope this helps. Welcome to reef keeping, and welcome to NR!

 

Also check out the BioCube resource guide. http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/180788-the-biocube-resource-guide/

[nladd]

So the anemone is going to wait till the tanks been up and running for a few months and after I upgrade the lighting, as for the RODI system how hard are they to set up and use plus how much space will it take up? Also for the filtration I plan on scrapping chamber 2 and adding a rack to it

[DriftingNemo]

Once you get your parameters perfect, you'll need to keep everything as stable as possible. If you decide to change any of your parameters, do it slowly and gradually. Corals like stable conditions.

[CronicReefer]

so i have my basic plan down minus a couple items, im going to keep the biocubes filtration and lighting stock for now until my needs change for it, i was originally going to buy premixed saltwater but im pretty sure i'm going to give it a shot at making my own, current plan is a live sand base, anywhere between 10-20lbs of live rock, fishwise the only type i am for sure of right now is 2-3 ocellaris clowns, going to add 2 water circs. to the tank as well as a protein skimmer for added security, also a few hermit crabs and 2 peppermint or scarlet skunk shrimp, im sure ill add or remove stuff but soon the fun begins of buying all the goodies

Only keep two clowns because they form mated pairs almost always in your aquarium. The third will be left out and often times bullied around by the pair for space and food.

[DriftingNemo]

Only keep two clowns because they form mated pairs almost always in your aquarium. The third will be left out and often times bullied around by the pair for space and food.

 

The problem is that a 29g won't be able to hold enough clowns to make a harem either..

[nladd]

I appreciate all the advice I'm getting so far now time for another question this one involves QT

How big of a tank should I be looking for,does it need to be set up like a DT, and also I know the LFS I plan on buying all my fish,coral, and rock from QTs all the fish they get in will I still need to when I bring them home?

[k4ndyk1ng]

Some one forgot to say...

to nr!!!!

[nladd]

Quick little update here,

Tank setup will be pushed back till the middle of January once all our Christmas decor gets taken down so we don't have to do a lot if moving of stuff but I'm going to start buying supplies next week and before I do I have a couple of questions

1. I've heard that the saltwater test kits at petco are junk does anyone have any recommendations on a good kit?

2. I wa planning on using a hydrometer but from what I've hear I will now invest in a refractometer, any recommendations on one of them as well?

[DriftingNemo]

Quick little update here,

Tank setup will be pushed back till the middle of January once all our Christmas decor gets taken down so we don't have to do a lot if moving of stuff but I'm going to start buying supplies next week and before I do I have a couple of questions

1. I've heard that the saltwater test kits at petco are junk does anyone have any recommendations on a good kit?

2. I wa planning on using a hydrometer but from what I've hear I will now invest in a refractometer, any recommendations on one of them as well?

 

You could start to cycle some rock in a container throughout December so you won't have to wait as long when it comes to adding fish. I even started to cycle some filter media in my old 15 gallon tank a week before I could setup my 63 gallon. That helped reduce the waiting time.

[Mechanic1]

I started with a 29 gallon biocube,worked good stock with seachem pond matrix in 2nd chamber for filtration

Then I wanted to get into sps so a light upgrade was in order so now I have a radion hung over it

Also needed better flow in tank so got a mp10wes

So just be ready for upgrading lights and water flow in time

Also just take your time and don't try rushing the stocking of your tank

[DriftingNemo]

I started with a 29 gallon biocube,worked good stock with seachem pond matrix in 2nd chamber for filtration

Then I wanted to get into sps so a light upgrade was in order so now I have a radion hung over it

Also needed better flow in tank so got a mp10wes

So just be ready for upgrading lights and water flow in time

Also just take your time and don't try rushing the stocking of your tank

 

I give the slow stocking advice to everyone but I don't do it myself lol. My tank finished cycling 2 days ago and I already have a fish, some GSP and I'm getting 2 more corals today.

[Deleted User 8]

Before you plan or buy anything else, get your water situation figured out. Get one of these: http://spectrapure.com/FACTORY-REFURBISHED/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System and start making RO/DI.

It attaches with a gerden hose fitting to your sink faucet. It is kinda portable. Making and maintaining water is the most important thing you do in this hobby.

 

This is the best advice you will get here, be the master of your water.

 

Buzz

 

Oh, and welcome to the forum and the salty side!

[nladd]

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas one more little update before everything really comes together. Most items are now on my possession going to order a tunze 9001 and my intank stuff this week and my dry rock in the next 2 and then I can get the tank up and cycling finally. Only 1 question for now those of you who have experience with the biocube I know I'll have to upgrade the lighting to support coral but can I get the extra led strips they sell for the biocube if not any recommendations on kits that won't totally break the bank and fairly easy to install?