Just got my first tank - couple starter questions

[Mombo]

Also still interested if anyone knows or has opinions on these questions

If I am doing 1 at a time would it be best to upgrade the original pump to the mj1200 first or get a koralia nano 425 to put flow elsewhere?

My Biocube has 3 lights. 2 seem to be tube lights one is marked as 10k and one marked as Actinic Blue both 36w. Which seems like that is what its supposed to have. Then it has an LED strip which I assume will be the night time lights.
Right now I am trying to plan out my timers and how many I will need. How many hours a day should I be running my lights? What hours are yall running yours? Should I be turning the Actinic and 10k lights on together and the LED strip lights on when those are off? Or are the LED ones meant to be on all the time and the 2 tube lights cycle on and off?

Trying to figure out how many separate timers I am going to need.

Also for a lighting follow up question. What in the tank is actually depending on the light? Is it something that only the Corals need to grow or is the power of the light important to the live rock or the fish in the tank? I am wondering this because as long as the lights are working I might not need to replace them with fresh ones until I get coral added to the tank. From my reading it sounds like the bulbs become less effective after about 6mo's.

What is everyone using for there filter media? I am planning on using just filter floss while I cycle my tank and get going but I was trying to decide whether I needed to start throwing in Chemipure or something once the CUC and fish start going in. I am considering buying bulk carbon and just making my own bags and if I need to mixing in some GFO and just replacing the contents of the bag every 3 months. With Chaeto in the fuge I am not sure how much ill need and what ill need. Really at the beginning stages of the tank.

 

[LV3]

Also still interested if anyone knows or has opinions on these questions
Also for a lighting follow up question. What in the tank is actually depending on the light? Is it something that only the Corals need to grow or is the power of the light important to the live rock or the fish in the tank? I am wondering this because as long as the lights are working I might not need to replace them with fresh ones until I get coral added to the tank. From my reading it sounds like the bulbs become less effective after about 6mo's.

What is everyone using for there filter media? I am planning on using just filter floss while I cycle my tank and get going but I was trying to decide whether I needed to start throwing in Chemipure or something once the CUC and fish start going in. I am considering buying bulk carbon and just making my own bags and if I need to mixing in some GFO and just replacing the contents of the bag every 3 months. With Chaeto in the fuge I am not sure how much ill need and what ill need. Really at the beginning stages of the tank.

The corals need the light. Depending on what types of corals you want to keep should determine how much intensity you'll need from the light. LPS and soft corals don't require much light. SPS, you'll need something stronger to maintain growth and coloration of most of these types of corals.

As for filter media, I really like the MarinePure media. I have it in two tanks and both have good levels of nutrients. BRSTV did a episode that covered marine pure and other types of live rock. It's worth taking a look at that episode as that will explain what is important in choosing a media.

 

[Mombo]

Which test kits do I need at the beginning? Not adding coral for a long time. Rocks, sands, water coming up soon and fish in a few weeks ish.

 

[LV3]

Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate. Refractometer or hydrometer to measure your salinity. If you're going to keep corals later, keeping your salinity on point will be one factor in having a successful reef tank. Being familiar with how to measure your salinity and keeping it stable will be good practice as you progress.

 

[Mombo]

Ok ive got those except the refractometer. When do I need to start measuring PH. Are test kits made for Freshwater tanks that measure Ammonia etc valid for saltwater as well?

 

[LV3]

I would just get that master API kit. It includes the tests I mentioned including ph. When you start keeping corals then you can get a higher quality test kit for calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, etc. when you start cycling your tank, keep an eye on Ph, if it drops below 7, do a small water change to bring it back up. There are tons of articles on cycling but those tests will have all you need.

 

[Mombo]

Got my tank loaded up yesterday. I made a thread in the AIO forum but I figured I would post a pic here as well haha

 

[Mombo]

Things are finally moving with this tank. I posted an updated thread with some new pics and coral going in the tank. I also changed out the lights haha.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-first-tank-progress-and-coral-questions.314855/

 

[littlebigreef]

Is a skimmer standard on the Bio Cubes these days? Reading through the tread I haven't seen any mention of one.

 

[Mombo]

No it doesn't have a skimmer. I did get the intank accessories for the back so I have a media rack and a small chaeto farm back there.