Asking for help

[RussianBoy]

Ok so I need some help from all of you professionals, I am going to be buying a biocube 14g on monday to start my very own reef, i am beyond excited. I have never done a salt tank, I raise leopard geckos, 33 hermit crabs and a fresh water tank, but I am starting a new project/hobby. I love this tank but I see all these modifications and I just don't know what to think or do. I worry most about everyone talking about the filter mods, and the pump and so on, so please could people instruct me what to do, before I get the tank running if I need to change things. I am very handy and know my electronics but on a budget cause most of the money is going to the tank. I was going to get a protein skimmer, and the UV sterilizer, and one of those flo pumps to move the water around more, but I don't know if I should or how to mod the filter for best performance. I read a lot of posts and it's all hebrew to me...... :-( sorry but I could really use the help.

[Degener8]

First off to nano reef

 

2nd read this http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=180788

 

If you have already read that I'll give ya a dirty what I would do as a minimum..

 

1 remove bio balls

2 cut tab between chamber to increase flow

3 ditch stock filter

4 get a media basket from steveT or just make on out of light difuser and plexiglass(its really not hard and no one see's it so it don't gotta be pretty)

5 remove sponge before return pump

6 ignore the min/max lines and just keep it filled in the back chambers

7 Enjoy the hell outa the hobby !!!

 

haha hope that is plain enough.. I wish i had known all that before starting my BC29 it would have been much easier to do that all before adding water.

 

HTH

[19jeffro83]

Swath for the biocube resource guide in the search forum. You can see how most others are running this tank. I own one good choice. Have fun

[RussianBoy]

so everyone you really really recommend me doing these filter modifications instead of leaving the system as is? I know there are a lot of types of filter setups i was looking at putting the heater in one, two was the media basket with the alge, chempro stuff and filter floss, and three.... uh dunno.... but I also heard everyone talk about changing the pump to the maxijet 900 and adding one of the flo things to make more water move.... opinions? it's going to be a reef tank totally

[inTank]

yes upgrade the pump to a Maxi Jet 900. Do not leave the filtration setup as is. It is not enough to keep a reef tank.

 

Skip on the skimmer and the UV stearlizer, do regular water changes.

 

Media basket is a good option, here are a few popular products for the BC14

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube-14_c15.htm

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Pumps-Powerheads_c25.htm

[RussianBoy]

yes upgrade the pump to a Maxi Jet 900. Do not leave the filtration setup as is. It is not enough to keep a reef tank.

 

Skip on the skimmer and the UV stearlizer, do regular water changes.

 

Media basket is a good option, here are a few popular products for the BC14

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube-14_c15.htm

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Pumps-Powerheads_c25.htm

ok i can do that would u please tell me more, you have your own store and stuff so u must know what ur talking about i will buy what I need from you, just tell me what I need to do.

[inTank]

There are options but here are a few popular choices

 

Media Basket:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube-14-Me...sket-BC14MR.htm

 

Top Shelf:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/VALUE-PACK-PO...FLOSS-3PACK.htm

 

Middle:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Purigen-100mL...00mlPurigen.htm

Bottom:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Chemi-Pure-El...g-ELITEHALF.htm

 

or:

 

Top:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/VALUE-PACK-PO...FLOSS-3PACK.htm

 

Middle:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Chemi-Pure-El...g-ELITEHALF.htm

 

Bottom:

Macro algae with

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Underwater-10...ght-PL1008T.htm

More flow in tank and in filtration area:

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Hydor-Koralia...-HYD-P29201.htm

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Maxi-Jet-900-...ead-AS07270.htm

[RussianBoy]

There are options but here are a few popular choices

 

Media Basket:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube-14-Me...sket-BC14MR.htm

 

Top Shelf:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/VALUE-PACK-PO...FLOSS-3PACK.htm

 

Middle:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Purigen-100mL...00mlPurigen.htm

Bottom:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Chemi-Pure-El...g-ELITEHALF.htm

 

or:

 

Top:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/VALUE-PACK-PO...FLOSS-3PACK.htm

 

Middle:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Chemi-Pure-El...g-ELITEHALF.htm

 

Bottom:

Macro algae with

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Underwater-10...ght-PL1008T.htm

More flow in tank and in filtration area:

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Hydor-Koralia...-HYD-P29201.htm

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Maxi-Jet-900-...ead-AS07270.htm

ok so I have the two options, I like the alge because it is more natural,but which would you use personally if you were me? this media basket goes in the second chamber correct? so if I put heater in one, this basket in two and just the pump sits in three? It's really this simple? Other filters seem so complicated and this really seems like a simple fix. I am so excited to start my reef, but at least I will have some time to take care of this while the tank cycles. How often do you need to change the alge, and chem pro stuff? How does this change how often you need to do water changes? I have been told a thousand things about the tank and how it should be set up but I think I am just gonna pick you and take your advice, I really want my reef to have the best shot.

[inTank]

Yes it is that simple.

 

The choice is yours as if you want to maintain the macro algae. There are pros and cons of each set up but both offer superior filtration.

 

You trim the algae as it grows, chemi pure and purigen should be changed about every three months. Filter floss as needed throw away and replace about every week, tank dependent.

 

10% water change every week for a new tank:

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=154868

[basser1]

ok i can do that would u please tell me more, you have your own store and stuff so u must know what ur talking about i will buy what I need from you, just tell me what I need to do.

 

 

I got a big laugh out of this one!

[RussianBoy]

Yes it is that simple.

 

The choice is yours as if you want to maintain the macro algae. There are pros and cons of each set up but both offer superior filtration.

 

You trim the algae as it grows, chemi pure and purigen should be changed about every three months. Filter floss as needed throw away and replace about every week, tank dependent.

 

10% water change every week for a new tank:

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=154868

Your so awesome thanks so so much for your help, I am going to go the chemical way, and buy the other things you told me about, it will be good to get it all set up before I start the cycle, now would you tell me one last thing to cycle the tank you don't use the media basket or anything right? so I could get the tank set for the the things I am going to order from you and start the cycle while i wait for the things I will get from you to arrive correct? as long as the modifications are done for the media basket before I fill it?

[inTank]

Correct. You can cycle the tank without the media basket. Having filter floss in there helps keep the filtration area clean so you may want it for part of the cycle. Chemical media is not needed for the cycle, some use it some don't.

[RussianBoy]

Correct. You can cycle the tank without the media basket. Having filter floss in there helps keep the filtration area clean so you may want it for part of the cycle. Chemical media is not needed for the cycle, some use it some don't.

where do I find how I will need to modify the tank before the stuff arrives and I want to use the koralia nano not the koralia 1? My last big question, what is your suggested way on cycling the tank?

[inTank]

Cutting the tab, watch vids on this page:

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube-14-Me...sket-BC14MR.htm

 

The biocube resource guide goes into these topics in detail.

 

Remove false floor in chamber one: break silicone bond by pulling up or pushing down with tool.

 

Remove false floor in chamber two, pull up not secured in.

 

Cycling advice, lots of info on this site discussed often.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showforum=17

 

I would go with this koralia

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Hydor-Koralia...-HYD-P29201.htm

[RussianBoy]

Cutting the tab, watch vids on this page:

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube-14-Me...sket-BC14MR.htm

 

The biocube resource guide goes into these topics in detail.

 

Remove false floor in chamber one: break silicone bond by pulling up or pushing down with tool.

 

Remove false floor in chamber two, pull up not secured in.

 

Cycling advice, lots of info on this site discussed often.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showforum=17

 

I would go with this koralia

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Hydor-Koralia...-HYD-P29201.htm

Well we will be leaving the house here soon to go pick up our new setup, I am so excited to get this all going but my last question is the lights, everyone has all this stuff about the heat problems and the lights and you can't make a good reef tank with the stock lights and so on >.<

[inTank]

Lighting all depends on what you want to keep as far as corals. THe stock lighting is ok for softies and mushrooms. Depending on your room temperature you will be able to keep the tank without a chiller. Anything beyond that see the resource guide or the lighting forum for detailed advice on this tank. I have never set it up past tap water.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showforum=25