Setup & Suggestions for a new reefer

[AquaVelva]

Hi all, new here & new to the hobby. As I been researching and purchasing I have really resisted the urge to start yet another thread like this, however I feel some constructive criticism and direction would really be beneficial. Being how I have no one close to me within the hobby I have turned to you guys (and gals).

 

Currently I have nothing set up yet, but there is a nice pile accumulating which includes:

Coralife Biocube 29 w/stand

InTank Media Rack - Blue/White Poly Filter pads/Purigen/Matrix Carbon

InTank Fuge w/ Chaeto

JBJ Nano Glo LED

EHEIM Jager Thermostat Heater 125W

HDE LCD Thermometer

2 Jebao RW-4 powerheads

30lbs BRS Reef Saver Dry Rock

40lbs Arag-Alive Fiji Pink live sand

 

I plan on purchasing about 1lb of live rock and Nutri Seawater from the LFS and dropping an uncooked shrimp when it comes time to fill and seed. I know 31lbs of rock is a lot so I don't plan on using it all and I think the extra rock should allow for a versatile aquascape. At this point I have a few questions:

 

1) Is a protein skimmer is necessary at this point, albeit beneficial?

2) Will the stock pump be adequate (for now) with the extra flow from the RW-4s?

3) What do you suggest for a quarantine setup?

4) Am I on the right track for a stable setup where softies & LPSs will be happy?

5) What would you add or change?

 

Also, I will be contemplating a lighting upgrade during the time I'm waiting for it to cycle. I really want a vibrant tank regardless of attempting any SPS. An ATO will be added down the line, but I'd rather get good at water changing first. Truth be told, I think there is a jellyfish in my wallet because I get stung every time I reach for it, however I'd like to have a very capable tank up running as close to day one as possible.

 

Thanks in advance!

[mo'smyname]

IMO, during your cycle, the protein skimmer isn't necessary or beneficial.

 

Stock pump will be fine. I've only got 1 rw-4 in my biocube, and before it broke in, I had to futz around with it a lot to keep it from piling sand around the tank. 2 may be overkill.

 

I use a standard 10 gallon with a aquaclear HOB filter as an intermittent quarantine/frag tank.

 

IMO, softies will be fine. Forgiving LPS (euphylias) will probably be fine too. Lighting upgrades will allow you to keep anything. I have 4 anemones and other various frags (Soft, SPS, and LPS) in mine and they are all doing great.

 

Other than your planned lighting upgrade, your setup as-is is concrete.

[Simulated Fish]

I've only got 1 rw-4 in my biocube, and before it broke in, I had to futz around with it a lot to keep it from piling sand around the tank. 2 may be overkill.

 

2 RW-4 would be Insaine. I have 1 in my 45g cube and the flow is too much IMO I have to run it at about half power.

[AquaVelva]

Thanks for the quick responses. I'm aware that the RW4 will need to be turned down... Ok way down. My thought process with 2 was to alternate them to create more turbulent flow instead of laminar flow.

[tibbsy07]

No skimmer during cycle, and no lights, either. Skimmer will remove the bacteria on the particulate matter in the water and the UV lights will kill off some of the bacteria, both prolonging the cycle. These thing won't stop your cycle or ruin your tank because the bacteria reproduce quickly, but it will slow it down and there really is no point in A.) using either the light or skimmer as you have no actual reason to, B.) waste energy by using these things, or C.) slow down your cycle in any way.

 

Personally, I would use however much sand results in a sandbed of 1/2" and I wouldn't use too much rock (15-20 lbs for a 30g, especially as your display is not 29 gallons total), but that's personal preference.

[AquaVelva]

Thanks Tibbsy. I calculated about 34lbs of sand for about a 1.2" sand bed. As with the rock, I decided to get a little extra just in case. I read somewhere that 1.5" is roughy the target though. In your experience, is that too much?

[fishfreak0114]

I used 20 pounds of the same sand you plan to use in my biocube 29 and it is plenty. It got me just over an inch, nice coverage and visually pleasing IMO, and not too deep that it it hard to vacuum come water change day. But that's just my preference, everyone likes it different.

[AquaVelva]

Thanks for the input guys. Here's a little update. Yesterday I got everything setup, added about 20-25lbs of the Fiji pink and roughly the same of the reef saver dry rock. I went to the LFS and picked up a master test kit, 1lb of live rock, and 20 gallons of saltwater that they mixed for me. Also on recommendation I grabbed a bottle of Microbe-Life Nite-Out II. I'm currently only running the heater at 80, the poly filter pad, and 1 RW4 and the cloudiness has gotten better in about 24 hours. I was thinking about testing the water later on and maybe adding the Nite-Out after. What do you guys suggest? Should I use the Nite-Out, or add purigen or carbon? Or just wait it out? Here's a bad photo... Thanks.

[AquaVelva]

If by chance anyone happens to be following this, here I am in the midst of day 3... Currently running the heater at a steady 82 degrees, 1 poly filter pad at the top with nothing else in the media basket at this time. Also, nothing in the fuge tank, stock return pump, and 1 RW4 in the main display. 2 Days ago I added 1 large raw shrimp chopped up into about 6-8 bits and have only been turning the lights on while testing and observing at night. Using an API master test kit, current readings show:

 

pH - 8.0

Ammonia - 2.0

Nitrite - 0.50

Nitrate - 0.0

 

It does seem that that the nitrogen cycle has begun. Patience is a virtue, but it also gives me time to get supplies needed for a water change, upgrade the lighting and inquire about a custom clean up crew.

 

Any thoughts on Steve's Extreme SPS Fully Loaded kit? Are there any controller or lighting (other than the standard 14,000k) recommendations from the custom kit options?

 

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[mo'smyname]

Are you running the heat elevated to try and speed up the cycle?

 

I'd set the temp to whatever you plan on running the tank at normally, that way when it does complete the cycle there won't be any major swings in parameters that the tank has to contend with. In addition, it is good to know what temp the tank settles at when running with just the pumps and ambient room temp. That way you can pre plan for cooling solutions if needed before your livestock goes in.

 

I shoehorned a chinese LED fixture into my canopy, but that may be more DIY than you want to contend with, and I only have experience with ecoxotics before I did that. I'm sure someone will chime in on Steve's kit. It seems to be a very clean solution.

[AquaVelva]

I'm not purposefuly running an elevated heat to speed up the cycle. I remember reading somewhere that a good temp is about 78-80, so I will be bringing the temp down tonight. It does seem that the heater runs a little hotter than the thermometer reports. Good recommendation on just the pump. I will try that this weekend when I am around to monitor it.

 

As for the LEDs, I do believe the less hassle the better. I would like to keep the stock look, and when it comes to water & electricity plug and play is the safest bet. I'm ready to order today but just looking for a deeper explanation of the options than the information my searches have produced.

 

UPDATE: Just ordered the Extreme SPS Fully Loaded version with the 14000k Super Full Spectrum and Typhoon Digital Controler. Customer service was very helpful.