noob help with biocube 29

[glenng78]

So I started a coralife biocube 29 the other day, which I bought used. I will list the mods, and upgrades, and also my water test results. Any help or advice for a noobie is greatly appreciated. I am still a little unclear on when to add fish, or if i need to add ammonia in the beginning.

So I have :

25 lbs of dry rock

30lbs live sand

around 20 gal of natural sea water

chamber 1 is aquatic life 115 protein skimmer

chamber 2, intank media basket w/ filter floss in top section

chamber 2, huge basket, empty for now

chamber 3, pump and heater

after adding the live sand and dry rock and adding water, i also added 100 mL - Instant Ocean BIO-Spira. I have done 2 water tests so far, but am unsure as to what my results mean.

 

My goal is to add 2 clowns and maybe some frogspawn as soon as it is safe. I have been told conflicting stories as to whether or not i can add now with the bio spira, or if i need to wait for a full natural cycle. btw here are my test results.

 

8-12-16

PH: 8.0

Ammonia: 1.0

Nitrite: 1.0 ppm

Nitrate: between 0-5 ppm

 

8-14-16

PH: 7.8

ammonia: 7.8

Nitrite:5 ppm

Nitrate: 0 ppm

[GunslingerGirl]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

 

I always recommend a natural cycle, especially since you had live rock which is currently experiencing die off. Don't add any livestock until you have no ammonia or nitrites and very low nitrates. Nitrates can only be used by algae or removed through water changes. I like to keep my nitrates under 10 (because I have a very busy schedule and a high bioload in my tank it prevents me from going much lower).

 

So right now that ammonia is WAY too high for anything.

 

I never used any biological supplements as I have found they really don't work. Shouldn't really hurt anything I don't think.

 

Get yourself a nice refractometer to measure the salinity of the tank. ! keep mine around 30 PPT or 1.023, although there are ideal ranges for different corals and anemones that come into play. IMO you will find that by mixing your own distilled or RO/DI water with packaged salt you have a bit better control over the levels of many things in the tank and can know whether or not adjustments will need to be made. As of now, don't worry too much about controlling the little stuff right now though.

 

Do some surfing around on here and find a style that suits you best. There are so many great articles on cycling and stocking as well as ideas on how to best scape the rock and decide on all the cool techie stuff.

 

And don't ever stop asking questions!

[fishyj]

I also have a bc29. Ammonia should be 0. Wait before you add anything. Once it cycles then I would get a cleanup crew. I would hold off on the clowns for a while and take your time. In this hobby I have learned that nothing good comes fast.

[vegasgundog]

Don't do it. The first rule of reef keeping is patience. Give it at least a couple of weeks. Biro Spiro will help but there is no magic instant aquarium no matter what manufacturers say. I can't say I'm the most patient person and have made my mistakes. The hardest part is watching an empty tank.

[glenng78]

my ammonia on 8-14-16 was .5ppm, not 7.8. That was my ph. sorry I'm a couple pbr's in right now.

also, i used dry rock, not live rock

[GunslingerGirl]

my ammonia on 8-14-16 was .5ppm, not 7.8. That was my ph. sorry I'm a couple pbr's in right now.

also, i used dry rock, not live rock

Ew PBR lol Get a craft brew in ya

 

Ah much more sense then.

 

Also I'm a couple glasses of wine in myself so misread dry not live rock. Got it.

 

My recommendation would be in that case to go to the LFS (not Petco or the like...find one with awesomely knowledgeable people) and get a nice looking piece of live rock to seed your dry rock. That's what I would do. It will bring with it all kinds of important critters to help get you off on the right foot.

[glenng78]

ok, now I'm on bud light, this reef stuff doesn't leave enough cash left over for that fancy craft stuff.................

so i wanted to avoid the live rock as the research i have done has revealed that many of those critters are unwanted. What do I look for when i ask for a "nice" piece of live rock? it may be pretty but i have no idea what i am looking at

[GunslingerGirl]

ok, now I'm on bud light, this reef stuff doesn't leave enough cash left over for that fancy craft stuff.................

so i wanted to avoid the live rock as the research i have done has revealed that many of those critters are unwanted. What do I look for when i ask for a "nice" piece of live rock? it may be pretty but i have no idea what i am looking at

 

Nice cured live rock has encrusted red and purple coralline algae on it and NO brown stringy stuff or anemone looking guys. Green algae matted on is generally not good unless it sticks up and out and looks like something other than grass. Then its hit or miss on what it is without pictures.

 

Uncured has allll kinds of fun things. Personally when I started my tank I got uncured and watched all the things come to life. I got free corals and sponges and like 7 types of alga. But if you want to avoid pests...cured is the way to go. Which luckily is what most places sell.

 

You can cycle without live rock at all... but I will bow out in terms of the best way to do it. If you feel that's the way to go for you spend some time searching the forums on here or start up another thread dedicated to just that.

 

Well Bud Light is half a step up.

[glenng78]

how dare you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PBR vs the world

 

 

thanks brotha

[GunslingerGirl]

how dare you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PBR vs the world

 

 

thanks brotha

Lol you're welcome and good luck.

 

I'll keep following to see where you go! :]

[glenng78]

I just realized your handle - so , thanks sista