Biocube 29 First Tank

DustanT · Mar 14, 2016

Test results today, Day 15

Ammonia 0~.15
Nitrite 1.0
Nitrate 40
PH 7.8
Salinity 1.026
Temp 77.5

Now I should dosage 2ppm ammonia to make sure it's cycled right? I have Dr tim's ammonia

DustanT · Mar 17, 2016

First sign of life! it's green!

Skimmer going to town

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 2.0
Nitrate 20
PH 7.8

DustanT · Mar 23, 2016

So I'm kinda confused about my nitrates. I've not done any water changes, I have the skimmer running with purigen, chemipure elite and filter floss. Everyday the nitrates are doing up and down from 10 to 40 then 20 then 40 then 20. Shouldn't they be going up?

Day 24

Ammonia 0
Nitrites +5 Been off the charts for at least a week
Nitrates 10~40 ??

DustanT · Mar 28, 2016

Tank cycled and did 50% water change, added 2 red and 1 blue legged hermits and 2 turbo snails.

BlackFish · Mar 28, 2016

Nice stand, I regret not building mine. The oceanic stand for the biocube is a peace of junk.

Lonely reefer's · Mar 28, 2016

Nice set up!How's the skimmer doing
I been owned 29biocube for almost 4 years now with no skimmer

DustanT · Mar 28, 2016

Thanks blackfish, for what they wanted $179 I knew I could build one better.

The skimmer is a week old so nothing really is skimming yet but from what I've seen after break in and a bio load increase it works good. Time will tell I guess.

DustanT · Mar 29, 2016

DustanT · Mar 30, 2016

So the hermits made short work of the green algae, not much left lol. The smallest hermit has the biggest attitude, they all have some funny personalities. The turbo snails cleaned my back plastic for me to, very nice of them. Nothing is touching the sand, guess I need some Nassarius Snails.

DustanT · Mar 31, 2016

So with my first hermits and snails added what is my next level I should be headed for? I can't tell if I have micro bubbles or floaters flying around the tank. Filter floss is dirty and replaced every 2 days. Can't tell if the water is not clear or its the glass.

DustanT · Mar 31, 2016

DustanT · Apr 1, 2016

Added some more snails and a cleaner shrimp.

Test showed no ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and PH at 7.8, salt 1.025, temps stable at 77.5 to 78.5

2 cerith 2 nassarius and a cleaner shrimp.

DustanT · Apr 1, 2016

Anyone know what this is? It's on one of my snails.

DustanT · Apr 2, 2016

I think it was a feather duster, was is the word because Mr. hermit crab ate it.

DustanT · Apr 4, 2016

So next week I'm going to order the Rapid LED kit. Would it be better to chose my own colors or just get the full spectrum? Going with the storm controller.

DustanT · Apr 6, 2016

Small clowns added, only about 1" long

DustanT · Apr 7, 2016

Well just got home and found a hermit crab carcass, I sucked it out and starting to look for his shell. So I found it inside a hole with him in it, then I realized he molted

I was relieved you could say.

DustanT · Apr 9, 2016

Did 50% water change and moved a rock and my island around to make for better platforms to place corals. Did a full test and everything is 0 with PH @ 8 and calc is high at 520. Added my first zoa coral today. Hope the Island keeps it from growing all up my rock work.