TVV
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2019
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 437
- What state or country do you live in
- Louisiana
You can easily find the answers you need all in one place either through the "unhelpful" LFS or by searching a biocube build blog. Your livestock wish list is not that demanding (save the shrimp), so the setup you want should not force you to spend tons of money i.e. skimmers, ATO etc. until you like what you are doing and want to progress to the next more expensive level of reefing. If your 8 gal biocube is NOT already an AIO=all in one, then you may consider purchasing an all in one and use your cube for something else (QT=quarantine). There are many mistakes made with starting up saltwater tanks some of which would turn you away from the hobby altogether (1) spending a lot on equipment only to find you're system is inadequate or even overkill for your needs (2) not getting the correct setup initially for what you want to do, it doesn't work and thereby the frustration vs cost ratio becomes so out of balance that you give up (3) not enough research on your part to start and continue the hobby successfully is done (this point was highlighted on and earlier forum as one of the 3 most common mistakes made). If you remember one and only one thing, patience is the key to aquarium success...if you don't practice some restraint and patience you will not be successful. This especially becomes true with the "cycle" requirements for a new setup. Look for saltwater tank cycling within this R2R site and determine how long you can stand to cycle (patience) without livestock to ensure that your's have a fighting chance of survival when you do start purchasing them. The ranges I have found are from one month to 6 months prior to stocking the tank with livestock. I am not an expert by any means, but R2R is loaded with them. With careful selection, you can find the informed answers you are looking for. Be careful of ALL advise as there are some members in any forum that although having good intentions are not as informed as they present themselves to be. A rule of thumb I read here, was trust no advice if you have not seen their tank. Seems reasonable. Added a pic of mine at 8 months. It is now a year, some of the corals have left me, most of them are overgrowing my 32 biocube AIO. Shortly after purchasing, I upgraded lights to steve's leds, return pump, bought "In-Tank refugium and filter tray", battery backup, MP40 circulation power head. I am happy with the results but wish I went bigger from the start. Who would know?
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