New and need help

[Jmart]

My wife had been wanting a saltwater tank for a while and I was against it at first. So one day I come home from work and there's a 32g bio in my living room right in the corner next to a window... She's an impulsive buyer btw... We had briefly spoke about maybe getting a bio but didn't realize we had made a definite yes... Anyways she didn't do any research and spent a ton of money on things she thought looked pretty well long story short after she killed about $700 in corals and I saw how disappointed she was I decided to get involved and do some research to get the tank thriving... The issue I'm having now is the aquascaping I will share some pictures and hopefully I can get some better ideas on how I should have things placed in the tank

 

[Redfoxtang]

Welcome to R2R!!! 32g cube is a great choice for a first tank!!

 

[Bender]

Welcome and congrads! Make sure to comb through the newbie section here on the forums, there is a lot of great information!

 

[Jmart]

I will definitely be checking that out thanks!!!

 

[bryanfuel]

As an impulsive person myself, that is a very bad way to go about this hobby. Patience is the #1 thing to get your tank to succeed. Nothing good in this hobby happens quickly as I’ve learned from many crashes tanks.

As for the aquascape you have what’s known as a “pile of rocks” aquascape right now haha. You can google biocube aquascape to get some inspiration and try to replicate the ones you like best. Personally, my go to is two asymmetrical islands with some caves and a canyon between. For a cube tank, small rocks in front and large rocks in back will help give the illusion of more depth. As for actual rules of aquascaping, I wouldn’t go more than 2/3 of the way up to leave room for coral and make sure you have room on all sides for cleaning the glass.

Good luck!

 

[reef lover]

#WelcometoR2R !

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R try to arrange your rockwork so that there are cabes and tunnels for your fish to swim in and around

 

[lapin]

Howdy

 

[Auquanut]

Welcome to R2R! You've come to the right place for good advice from friendly people. You've got a bit of a learning curve ahead, but nothing you can't handle. Check out the stickies in the "New to Saltwater & Reef Aquariums" section. Ask lots of questions, and have fun. We're here to support you.

 

[Jmart]

I will be rearrange the rocks soon will share pics when completed thanks... Where do I find the new to saltwater section?

 

[Auquanut]

I will be rearrange the rocks soon will share pics when completed thanks... Where do I find the new to saltwater section?

Click on forums at the top of the screen. It's the third one under GENERAL AQUARIUM DISCUSSION. The stickies are at the top of that section. Lots of good info there. You'll probably have questions. Ask away!

 

[cancun]

Welcome to R2R!!!!!! You are in good hands here!!!! 29 gallon Biocube was my first tank! They didn't have the 32 gallon ones back then. I can't find a pic of mine, but I did my rock scape in a horseshoe design, with a cave in the center, and the sides sloped down on each side. Good luck! Can't wait to see pics!

 

[BeejReef]

tbh, I like your "pile scape."
Looks like some of the corals pulled through

Not fish advise, but I wouldn't take the reigns fully. You seem like the type that is game for the challenge and the methodological approach required. I bet you'll really enjoy it. So important that it's a joint effort and everyone is involved.

 

[sfin52]

 

[Jmart]

tbh, I like your "pile scape."
Looks like some of the corals pulled through

Not fish advise, but I wouldn't take the reigns fully. You seem like the type that is game for the challenge and the methodological approach required. I bet you'll really enjoy it. So important that it's a joint effort and everyone is involved.

Absolutely loving it and yes you couldn't be more right I wouldn't dare try to take full reign of everything and do my best to pass what I learn off to her and make decisions together... This is also why I haven't been able to change the rocks around yet ... The tank started off with different corals she didn't know you need special lights for some and that the placements are important and of course the guy selling her all this forgot to mention it... I might be able to find some progress pictures I can share I know I have some old pictures from when she thought abtasia was a extra coral she got for free and the crook at the store she was going to told her to just grab it by the stem and pull it off... Not only did the problem get ridiculously worse but she also lost the manderan the next day... That's about the time I got involved and now since the tank is doing much better her interest is sparking back up and she's much happier which makes my life easier

 

[Jmart]

Notice the manderan we lost and in the center of the rocks a huge abtasia we also lost them candy canes and a couple acans I know she said there was a rock flower aneome in the tank somewhere we just can't find it anywhere lol

 

[Marco S]

Just an FYI, Mandarins are hard to keep without an established tank with LOTS of Copepods. It's what they eat unless they had been trained to eat frozen foods. There are some out there, but the only way I would believe that is to have the LFS feed it in front of me to watch them eat. Most people would not recommend a Mandarin until the tank has been up and running for at least 6 months to a year.

I am thinking of putting one in my Coral QT when I am done with QT, (in another year) and start using it as a frag tank. Since it has no fish currently the Copod population is growing like crazy and they are everywhere.

Speaking of patience...have you though about QT? I have been actively QTing fish, inverts, coral and algae for almost a year and I still have about a year to go before I am fully stocked in my 160 gallon tank. It's not for everyone and it is by no means necessary, but for me it is worth the extra time, effort and expense to not have to worry as much about disease and parasites ruining what I have spent so much time and money creating.

By the way...Welcome to R2R!!! Looks like you are on the right path now. Make sure to ask plenty of questions along the way and check out all the forums for all the great information that this community has to offer.

 

[Jmart]

Just an FYI, Mandarins are hard to keep without an established tank with LOTS of Copepods. It's what they eat unless they had been trained to eat frozen foods. There are some out there, but the only way I would believe that is to have the LFS feed it in front of me to watch them eat. Most people would not recommend a Mandarin until the tank has been up and running for at least 6 months to a year.

I am thinking of putting one in my Coral QT when I am done with QT, (in another year) and start using it as a frag tank. Since it has no fish currently the Copod population is growing like crazy and they are everywhere.

Speaking of patience...have you though about QT? I have been actively QTing fish, inverts, coral and algae for almost a year and I still have about a year to go before I am fully stocked in my 160 gallon tank. It's not for everyone and it is by no means necessary, but for me it is worth the extra time, effort and expense to not have to worry as much about disease and parasites ruining what I have spent so much time and money creating.

By the way...Welcome to R2R!!! Looks like you are on the right path now. Make sure to ask plenty of questions along the way and check out all the forums for all the great information that this community has to offer.

Yes thank you now that the manderan died there's actually an insane copepod colony and the one we had was actually trained to eat frozen... I will be getting a QT tank soon as well from everything I've learned so far it is definitely worth the little extra effort... We finally had time to rearrange the rocks I will share the new layout and any suggestions of coral placements or new ideas and suggestions will be greatly appreciated thanks to everyone and once again I am very happy to be a part of this community

 

[Jmart]