20 Gallon AIO Cube "Humble Beginning"

[bacon5]

Hey everyone, So I have been lurking on these forums for a loooooooooooooong time (Wow does my join date really say February 2012??? ) Anyways, this is going to be my first tank, at least reef tank that is.

 

So a little intro, I am currently finishing up high school, and have actually had a freshwater planted setup since early middle school. I have always dreamed of having a saltwater tank with all of those glowing colors from the corals and fish, and now I get to make it a reality .

 

I am currently cycling my tank, which is a 20 gallon AIO TruVu aquarium that I got as a gift from a friend. He had also given me some live rock and live sand, but unfortunately the rock was out of water for almost a week and is presumably "dead rock" now.

 

For my light, I have an LED fixture that I got from najluni15 here on these forums. It is has 10 white 3w cree LEDs and 10 Blue 3 cree LEDs, both sides being dimmable.

 

Right now it has been cycling for about a week, I filled it in on Saturday 4/12/15. I am not in any rush to stock it but I do have a few questions. Please feel free to let me know if I am doing something wrong, I am doing this tank and thread as a learning experience.

 

1. I still need to get a test kit, how often should I plan on testing the water conditions?
2. Currently I have been "ghost-feeding", but I have also heard people using a "prawn" method as well as a fish in method. Since I have yet to get a test kit, I feel the "fish-in" should be ruled out, so should I continue ghost feeding and/or go get a prawn?
4. Right now I have no heater (just ordered one). Will this first week of cycle not count for much since the tank is not at the proper temp? What I mean is, will bacteria not be growing because of the temp?
5. 
   
6. So this is my first AIO, saltwater or freshwater.My question is, should I put any media in these chambers? I have heard mixed opinions, so I was wondering if anyone with a similar setup can chime in.
7. So in freshwater, snails tend to be the easiest tank inhabitants, able to go through some of the worse water conditions, even during the cycle. My question is, in salt water are snails this hardy and how long should I wait to put them in?
8. Right now have my light set on the side(as pictured). Is this safe? Should I put a piece of glass or plexiglass under it?
9. 
   

Here is a picture of the tank, it is very cloudy because I just rearranged the rock,I will take another pic once it clears up.

 

Thanks in advance for all of the help!

 

William

[VW_TDI_02]

1. I still need to get a test kit, how often should I plan on testing the water conditions? - During the cycle, you'll want to test either daily or every other day for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates. After you get done cycling, you really end up only testing Ca, Alk, and Mg for reef tanks. I'm a big fan of Red Sea test kits. Their reef foundations is one of the better choices and is cheaper than salifert test kits and more accurate than the API kits.

Currently I have been "ghost-feeding", but I have also heard people using a "prawn" method as well as a fish in method. Since I have yet to get a test kit, I feel the "fish-in" should be ruled out, so should I continue ghost feeding and/or go get a prawn? I would not add any live stock until you get a test kit.

Right now I have no heater (just ordered one). Will this first week of cycle not count for much since the tank is not at the proper temp? What I mean is, will bacteria not be growing because of the temp? The bacteria should still grow but at a slower rate as they prefer hotter temperatures. I wouldn't worry about counting weeks, you need to get a test kit in order to figure out where you are in the cycle and without that, you're just guessing.

So this is my first AIO, saltwater or freshwater.My question is, should I put any media in these chambers? I have heard mixed opinions, so I was wondering if anyone with a similar setup can chime in. There is a lot of different media that you can get. The first thing you would want is some sort of mechanical filtration such as filter floss. You're going to want the water to hit that first. This will protect the rest of your media from getting clogged with detritus and other stuff. After that you have a lot of options. You can go with a skimmer in one of the compartments if you have space. Another option is chemical filtration such as carbon or purigen. Personally I run both in my tank and they do really well.

So in freshwater, snails tend to be the easiest tank inhabitants, able to go through some of the worse water conditions, even during the cycle. My question is, in salt water are snails this hardy and how long should I wait to put them in? Your safest bet is to just wait until you're cycled and then add live stock. Same as freshwater, take your time stocking your tank in order to allow for your bacteria colony to keep up.

Right now have my light set on the side(as pictured). Is this safe? Should I put a piece of glass or plexiglass under it? Is there any splashing going on in the tank? You definitely want to protect the light from splashing but I know I have my light about an inch and a half from the surface of the water.

[bacon5]

Thanks for the response! I am definitely going to look into that test kit maker. Too bad freshwater kits dont work :/ Also, should I continue adding food and/or a shrimp to move along the cycle?

[VW_TDI_02]

Thanks for the response! I am definitely going to look into that test kit maker. Too bad freshwater kits dont work :/ Also, should I continue adding food and/or a shrimp to move along the cycle?

The API test kits for ammonia, nitrite, phosphate, and nitrate are the same for fresh and saltwater.

[bacon5]

The API test kits for ammonia, nitrite, phosphate, and nitrate are the same for fresh and saltwater.

Really? Even the one that come in the freshwater master kit? If so I will be posting my params when I get home today

[VW_TDI_02]

Really? Even the one that come in the freshwater master kit? If so I will be posting my params when I get home today

Yup. The only thing is that the card has slightly different colors. Frankly, the phosphate API kit is useless since the intervals are so far off. Same goes for nitrates but not as bad.

[bacon5]

Alright so I took my first test and here are the results:

 

Ammonia - 2.0

Nitrite - 5.0

Nitrate - 0

 

When should I be doing my first water change?

[VW_TDI_02]

I wouldn't bother with a water change until you are fully cycled.

[bacon5]

Here is another picture when it cleared up a bit and after I altered rock placement a little more. I want to add some more rock to the left, but for now what do you all think?

[bacon5]

Alright so I am constantly daydreaming about what I am going to put in the tank once it is through cycling So here is my "wishlist":

Clownfish "Ocellaris" Pair

Firefish

Blue and yellow tail damsel

Randall Shrimp and Goby pair

 

Would this be sustainable?

[phillyclownfish]

I just have a pair of frozen frostbite occellaris pair in mine.

[bacon5]

I just have a pair of frozen frostbite occellaris pair in mine.

Nice! I saw your thread Are you planning on adding more fish in the future?

[phillyclownfish]

No. I feel for a 20g that two fish is enough. They really are enjoying it. Adding another fish might cause some tension.

[bacon5]

No. I feel for a 20g that two fish is enough. They really are enjoying it. Adding another fish might cause some tension.

Thanks! I am still debating about the stocking, but I still got time for that since I'm still in a cycle:D

 

Here is an update on parameters which is a week and a day after starting the cycle:

Ammonia - 1.0

Nitrite - 4.0

Nitrate - 20

[Cencalfishguy56]

 

Thanks! I am still debating about the stocking, but I still got time for that since I'm still in a cycle:D

Here is an update on parameters which is a week and a day after starting the cycle:

Ammonia - 1.0

Nitrite - 4.0

Nitrate - 20

Adding more rock might be a pain in the ass when it comes to maintenance but it will look good with lots of space for coral lol

[bacon5]

Adding more rock might be a pain in the ass when it comes to maintenance but it will look good with lots of space for coral lol

Haha, yeah I think I might add the extra rock only if I run out of room, which should not be until way later anyways

[bacon5]

I think I am starting to get algae? I have this brownish sunstance growing on my rocks and I am assuming this is algae?If so do I keep turning on my lights to grow it so my CUC has something to eat when I introduce them, or turn off them to kill it? Either way I am oddly excited that something is happening ! Yay I have algae !!!

I never thought I would say that

[VW_TDI_02]

Is it dusty? If so then it is probably just diatoms and it will go away.

[bacon5]

Thanks for the advice!

I think I am going to let to grow to give my CUC something to do when they are introduced. I have yet to introduce them since nitrites are still high. Here are params as of today

Ammonia - 0.5

Nitrite - 4.0

Nitrate - 20

Ok, so here are some pictures of the algae, it is kind of dusty in appearance. Anyone know what it is?:

IMG_6065

IMG_6064

IMG_6075

IMG_6073

Also there is these little speck on the acrylic, is it algae that I shouldleave or dust I should clean?

IMG_6067

Also here is a FTS. It has gotten a lot clearer

IMG_6072

Also one more quick question, someone had told me to keep the water low in the larger back chamber. The problem is that it is kind of loud. Would it be ok to raise the water in the back chamber or is their an important reason to keep it low?

Thanks!

[ml86743]

You should totally pick up a goby/pistol pair. That's my favorite thing about the hobby. IMO They would get along fine with a pair of clowns and a firefish! Maybe skip the damsel:)

[bacon5]

You should totally pick up a goby/pistol pair. That's my favorite thing about the hobby. IMO They would get along fine with a pair of clowns and a firefish! Maybe skip the damsel:)

Yeah after posting this list on a couple forums, looks like I am going to skip out on the damsels. Had no idea that they were that aggressive! Yeah, I just love the idea of being able to observe the symbiosis between the shrimp and goby.

[ml86743]

Yeah after posting this list on a couple forums, looks like I am going to skip out on the damsels. Had no idea that they were that aggressive! Yeah, I just love the idea of being able to observe the symbiosis between the shrimp and goby.

Its really amazing..I have a randalls goby/tiger pistol! Awesome combo!

[bacon5]

Alright so I increased the water level in the back and sooo much quieter:D. So I did another test today, did not get a chance during the weekend, and I was pleasantly suprised by the results!

Ammonia - 0.0

Nitrite - 0.5

Nitrate - 15

So I am thinking about putting in the CUC on Friday or Saturday, what do you guys think?