Help me with my Bioube 29

[Mombo]

After dosing back up to 2ppm on ammonia yesterday morning. This morning it appears to be back down in between 0 - .25 hard to tell the colors currently. So it looks like the bacteria is building up and digesting it fairly rapidly. Went ahead and dosed is back up to 2ppm today.

 

[wmo168]

I made the mistake of not thinking about fitting a magnet cleaner between the glass and rocks when I first started up my cube, and had to rescape down the road. On the subject, I'd suggest the magnet cleaner made for the curved biocube edges. Makes things much easier.

Take it very slow, and you'll be successful. Some frustrating moments will come up, but in the end it's a very fulfilling and rewarding hobby. I've already started my second tank, a NUVO 10, 7 months after starting my 29g cube.

Here's my biocube! Everything is very happy and all coral is doing great. Even growing some SPS fairly quickly with the stock lighting.

Your 2 clown fish looks so amazing... how often you have to feed them?

 

[Adam113]

Your 2 clown fish looks so amazing... how often you have to feed them?

I drop a few sinking pellets in my tank before work/before the lights come, then when I get home around 4 or so I feed like 1/4 cube of frozen mysis shrimp.

I have some bottom feeders. About 12 hermits, a fire shrimp, a pistol shrimp, and a goby, so I make sure they are eating with the few pellets in the morning.

 

[Mombo]

Am I going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to generating random flow by going with the Tunze 6045? I like this powerhead a lot and it fits my budget and I like the quality. Just not sure if I should be considering two cheaper power heads instead.

 

[Mike N]

Am I going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to generating random flow by going with the Tunze 6045? I like this powerhead a lot and it fits my budget and I like the quality. Just not sure if I should be considering two cheaper power heads instead.

The tunze is definitely worth the money. You can always supplement it with a small powerhead if you end up with dead spots.

 

[Mombo]

New update for today. Ammonia down to 0 I believe. Seems more yellow then the days before since I dont have the salt water card I cant be 100%. Under .25 for sure though prob 0.

Nitrates are up to 10 ppm now.

Going to redose ammonia back up to 2ppm and keep this train moving.

Question on lighting. I know I dont need the lights running while I am cycling but what about when I add fish. I have the stock lighting currently. So I have the 10k bulb and an actinic bulb. Do I need to run both bulbs or do the fish care or need one or the other? Is one of those two mainly for coral growing and the other is for looks?

 

[Mike N]

Fish will appreciate a regular lighting cycle. You should run both once you have corals in there (or if you just like the look)

 

[Mombo]

So the 10k is the regular light the actinic is for the coral?

 

[Mike N]

So the 10k is the regular light the actinic is for the coral?

You'd want both the actinic and the 10k running for corals.

 

[Mombo]

Got it

 

[Mombo]

When should I start seeing my algae bloom? Tanks been consuming the ammonia dosing I am doing every 24 hrs now. Showing 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and 10 nitrates daily right now. Surprised the nitrates haven't gone up much in the last few days.

Trying to figure out when to add some of my clean up crew and then my clowns.

 

[Jenyphur]

For me I didnt start seeing anything for almost 3 weeks. Seems much too early to add anything yet imho.

 

[Mombo]

Had something strange happen today. Dosed ammonia back up to 2ppm yesterday morning. Checked all my parameters today and had 0 ammonia 0 nitrite which is consistent with the last few days. But my Nitrates have gone down to 5ppm from 10ppm. Now there is always the chance that I messed up the test a bit because API nitrate test can be a pain but I am pretty sure I did it as usual.

Anything in a salt water tank that would be consuming nitrates? Or likely just a fluke?

 

[Mike N]

You should definitely have higher nitrate readings. In a cycling tank without algae, nothing should be using nitrates, so that is confusing to say the least. You haven't done any water changes have you?

 

[Mombo]

I thought that was strange as well. I must have just messed up my test. Ill redo it tomorrow as I have already dosed it back up to 2ppm of ammonia.

On another note. Want to get opinions on my heater setup. The heater that was included with my Biocube when I nabbed it was a 150 watt Eheim Jager. Its pretty dang big imo for the size of the tank plus the jagers are quite long in general. On the other hand jagers seem to be well loved and long lasting.

I have access to a free Aqueon Pro 100 watt heater if I would like it. I like the size of it in comparison. I imagine the 100 watt is still plenty of power.

Thoughts?

 

[Mike N]

I use a 100watt (dont remember the brand) and it is more than capable of keeping the tank at 78+. I am in Texas though.

 

[Mombo]

Ya that is what I was thinking. That is my next worry I am trying to watch. I have been checking my temps through out the day and if I run the lights for 8 hours the temp in the tank reaches 80 degrees at some points. Currently running at 79 deg. I have my heater set to 77.5. So my room temp plus lights are bumping me up past that.

Do you think that large or a temp swing 77-80 is going to be unhealthy for the tank? Might need to figure out an LED system for my tank sooner rather then later.

 

[Mike N]

Do you think that large or a temp swing 77-80 is going to be unhealthy for the tank? Might need to figure out an LED system for my tank sooner rather then later.

Nah, your tank and inhabitants will be fine at 80 deg. No worries.

 

[Mombo]

But what if the tank temp is changing through out the day? Seems like at night its at 77.5 where I have it set but mid day it slowly climbs to 80. The fluctuation I guess is what I am concerned about.

 

[Mike N]

Don't worry about it, the fluctuations inside the tank will be gradual and only +- a few degrees. A 10 degree fluctuation in a short period of time would be something to worry about. You're good.