New 29g BioCube Build

[MyReefToYours]

Lotsa caves, I likey.

 

[larryl]

Looks good remeber to leave spacing for flow.

 

[Cooper32803]

I plan on adding a power head and perhaps upgrading the pump so that should take care of water flow right? Its still cycling so I figured I don't need all those things right now..

 

[Cooper32803]

So I am waiting for my inTank media filter basket, refugium and LED refugium light to come in (took out all bioballs today as well)... And just added Dr. Tim's One and Only to help speed up the cycling process... Hoping it works!! Anyone have any thoughts on the One and Only or used it before? Also any input on the media basket and refugium would be appreciated...

Oh also switched out the stock water pump for a Marineland maxi jet 600 which is supposed to pump the water at a rate of 750 gph as opposed to the 200 and something I was getting before (planning on putting on the Hydor Flo rotating deflector to move more water rather than just a single direction). Should I also be adding another powerhead to the other side of the tank if I am using the Hydor Flo?

 

[Cooper32803]

Still waiting for the cycle to finish... Nitrites are really high... And the pink coraline that was on my rocks are gone :-( Will it come back when the cycle is done??

 

[Cooper32803]

Nitrites are lowering... yay! Almost time for fishies and corals!! :bounce:

 

[sprinklerdudes]

i like the last pic of the rock the best, nice defined caves, and the size of rock is pretty good, so if you wanted to take a piece or two out once it is covered with xeniayou can,

 

[BarbH]

Nitrites are lowering... yay! Almost time for fishies and corals!! :bounce:

Great to hear my nitrites lowered until a certain point and seemed to sit there until all of a sudden nitrites where down to 0. Do you have a plan of what you want to add first fish wise?

 

[Cooper32803]

Great to hear my nitrites lowered until a certain point and seemed to sit there until all of a sudden nitrites where down to 0. Do you have a plan of what you want to add first fish wise?

I'm thinking a pair of clowns and some coral to start... Pretty ordinary, but I do love clown fish... Should I do a clean up crew first before the clowns? Or at the same time?

 

[Cooper32803]

My inTank Media basket and refugium come in tomorrow so hopefully that will help with the water chemistry when I add the purigen and Chemipure Elite... :bigsmile:

Where can I find Cheato to put in my refugium? Do LFS carry it? I never really looked or asked...

 

[BarbH]

How is the tank looking right now, any algae growth that has been going on or is it looking pretty clean? I added my cuc before adding my fish, with it being a new tank and not having algae issues I got a smaller cuc to start off with. I figure when it is needed I can always add to my cuc and by staying small to start off with would hopefully avoid having my cuc die off because of not having enough in the system to sustain them. Do you know where you are planning on getting your cuc from?

 

[Cooper32803]

So far no algae growth to speak of... But I have only had the light on for 5 hours a day since it didn't really need it for the cycling process... as for where I am going to get my cuc, probably just from one of my lfs... There are a ton of stores here in Orlando that specialize in saltwater so I can probably find everything I need between all of them...

 

[BarbH]

Are you thinking about doing snails or hermits or a mixture of both for your cuc?

 

[Cooper32803]

Probably snails and shrimps... I hear hermits can get a little vicious and would rather the snails not end up being crab food/new home... Lol

 

[Cooper32803]

Media basket with filter floss, purigen and chemipure elite and refugium with led magnetic rear light in... Now hopefully my nitrites will lower quicker and I can get some inhabitants

 

[Swooshjvm]

how do you like the intank stuff? did you get both baskets?

 

[Cooper32803]

how do you like the intank stuff? did you get both baskets?

It is built really nice and easy to put in.. The hardest part was cutting off the piece between slot one and two to allow more water through... But the piece that goes over the media basket fits over where I cut too low... Yes I got the media baskets and refugium and led lights for the refugium... I had to put two pieces of filter floss on the top rack to make it more silent since the tank is in the bedroom but that's not a big deal...

 

[Cooper32803]

So I got home from work today and did a water test... 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and close to 0 nitrates... It's cycled!!!! Yay!!! So I went to my LFS and got a starter cuc... 3 trochus snails, 2 nerite snails and 2 red legged hermit crabs (was told these weren't as aggressive as some other hermits)... Woohoo now I can actually see something living in my tank!! :bounce:

 

[BarbH]

Congrats on the new additions to the tank, I know for me even though it was my cuc it was still exciting to see some life in the tank.

 

[Cooper32803]

Congrats on the new additions to the tank, I know for me even though it was my cuc it was still exciting to see some life in the tank.

Just a cuc, I know... But its just the fact of getting something in there to move other than some sand that is so exciting... Soon enough there will be fish and corals... I am keeping my impatience in check though... LOL