New to the hobby/forums

[Yuhhboib]

Hey, I am new the saltwater/reefing hobby and i set up my first tank yesterday. I have a Coralife Biocube 16g and im running the filtration as it came out of the box but I plan to add some bioballs, a filter pad and chemipure blue soon. I have an Oase 100w heater set to about 80°F. I have live rock, CaribSea live sand and I added Microbacter7 to help the cycling process. What would be a good, starter, reef-safe clean-up crew I can add once the tank is cycled?

 

[Azedenkae]

Hey, I am new the saltwater/reefing hobby and i set up my first tank yesterday. I have a Coralife Biocube 16g and im running the filtration as it came out of the box but I plan to add some bioballs, a filter pad and chemipure blue soon. I have an Oase 100w heater set to about 80°F. I have live rock, CaribSea live sand and I added Microbacter7 to help the cycling process. What would be a good, starter, reef-safe clean-up crew I can add once the tank is cycled?

You don't really need bioballs with all the live rock you have.

As for cuc once cycled, I just got one of each snail and hermit crab here: https://www.saltyunderground.com/3-marine-invertebrates, to have diversity. Works out well.

Slightly unrelated, what is your ammonia source for cycling?

 

[TnFishwater98]

Hello! Welcome to da Reef!

 

[PeterC99]

Welcome to R2R!

Great job on setting up the Biocube! Looking forward to seeing your pics as this matures!

 

[lapin]

Hey, I am new the saltwater/reefing hobby and i set up my first tank yesterday. I have a Coralife Biocube 16g and im running the filtration as it came out of the box but I plan to add some bioballs, a filter pad and chemipure blue soon. I have an Oase 100w heater set to about 80°F. I have live rock, CaribSea live sand and I added Microbacter7 to help the cycling process. What would be a good, starter, reef-safe clean-up crew I can add once the tank is cycled?

Snails are usually reef safe but are limited to what they surface they live on. You have to have a few different types. Shrimp are a more active cleaner and nicer to look at.
Be sure any thing you add has enough to eat.

 

[Yuhhboib]

You don't really need bioballs with all the live rock you have.

As for cuc once cycled, I just got one of each snail and hermit crab here: https://www.saltyunderground.com/3-marine-invertebrates, to have diversity. Works out well.

Slightly unrelated, what is your ammonia source for cycling?

I am using the dead bacteria and algae on the rock for my ammonia source. Ive heard its one of the easier ways to encourage bacteria growth.

 

[Jedi1199]

Welcome to the Dark Side...

Hey, I am new the saltwater/reefing hobby and i set up my first tank yesterday. I have a Coralife Biocube 16g and im running the filtration as it came out of the box but I plan to add some bioballs, a filter pad and chemipure blue soon. I have an Oase 100w heater set to about 80°F. I have live rock, CaribSea live sand and I added Microbacter7 to help the cycling process. What would be a good, starter, reef-safe clean-up crew I can add once the tank is cycled?

Everything you have done sounds good. I personally would turn the heater down to about 77*, 80 seems a tad high to me.

For CUC, I would wait a month or 2... You literally just bought a brand new house. What is there to clean? For ammonia source, I would suggest ghost feeding with brine shrimp for a while.. I defrost a cube of frozen brine shrimp in a small amount of tank water, like 4 or 5 tablespoons worth, and then add a teaspoon to the tank like I would if I was feeding fish. With all of your live rock, live sand, and bottled bac, you should be ready to add your first fish in a day or so. With a 16g cube you wont have a lot of room for a large population. I don't know how you feel about "designer" clowns, but a pair of mocha storms or Wyoming whites would be awesome in that tank.

 

[fuelman]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[DH78]

Welcome! You can always check out Reef Cleaners for clean up crew. The y have good descriptions of the various invertebrates and sell packages based on tank size. Although, I think their packs have too many and I would order for half the tank size. I would wait until you have something to clean up before ordering a CUC. If you get them too early, you will need to feed them.

 

[Yuhhboib]

Welcome to R2R!

Great job on setting up the Biocube! Looking forward to seeing your pics as

Welcome to the Dark Side...

Everything you have done sounds good. I personally would turn the heater down to about 77*, 80 seems a tad high to me.

For CUC, I would wait a month or 2... You literally just bought a brand new house. What is there to clean? For ammonia source, I would suggest ghost feeding with brine shrimp for a while.. I defrost a cube of frozen brine shrimp in a small amount of tank water, like 4 or 5 tablespoons worth, and then add a teaspoon to the tank like I would if I was feeding fish. With all of your live rock, live sand, and bottled bac, you should be ready to add your first fish in a day or so. With a 16g cube you wont have a lot of room for a large population. I don't know how you feel about "designer" clowns, but a pair of mocha storms or Wyoming whites would be awesome in that tank.

Thank you, i added a small pinch of fish flakes today and I think im going to start using the frozen brine shrimp since i have some to feed my turtle anyways. With fish i wanted to add a firefish but i wasnt too sure on their temperament and behavior with other fish and i only wanted a clean up crew to keep things clean before it gets bad but a month or two doesn't seem like too long to wait. Again thank you!

 

[Yuhhboib]

Went and got one more rock and made some slight adjustments to fit it right.