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larryhaynes · Feb 12, 2013

hey guys hope im doing this right? any way i have some questions about how to filter my tank and when i should start doing water changes? it has been cycling for one week so far and has 20lbs of live sand and15lbs of live rock plus 10 small hermit crabs. do i need to do water changes yet or should i wait till it finishes cycling? o btw its a 29g biocube i have a small charcoal pack in it and a piece of floss in the second chamber do i need bio balls or rubble? so many questions sorry. i just want to do it right so when i do start to introduce things its healthy

mike007 · Feb 12, 2013

Leave it alone and it will cycle by itself with the live rock. It won't take long . You do not want to use bioballs or floss on a reef tank. You need to have your water tested before adding coral or fish. Go slow and don't make the mistake alot of us have done and add too many fish or corals at once. Even when you add livestock your tank has to acclimate. Wheter you test your water yourself or let your lfs test it will tell you when you should do a water change. Then you can get a scedule to do your water changes on a regular scedule each month. On of the most inportant things i recommend to anyone is do not overfeed. It is so easy to dump too much food into tank because we think the fish or corals need it. False they do not need alot of food to survive. If you practice this and do regular water changes you will have great success with your tank.

ReeferBob · Feb 13, 2013

No water changes until your tank is done cycling. Also you should not have put in ANY livestock until the tank is done cycling. This is cruel to the animals. You also do not have enough rock, double it.

revhtree · Feb 13, 2013

Welcome to R2R!

We appreciate your membership!

Thanks for joining and please make sure to post often!

larryhaynes · Feb 13, 2013

yea i thought that there should be more rock the local shop said that is was enough and also told me to buy 10 hermit crabs and put in as well and they are doing fine so far

mayday610 · Feb 13, 2013

Remember that most LFS have their best interests in mind, not always yours. The more you fail, the more they can sell you. Not all places are like this, but be aware. Ask questions, get answers from them, and then come ask the questions here. Compare the answers. If you can't trust that your LFS has your best interests in mind, i don't think they should be supported by your hard earned money. Being new to the hobby, its easy to be overwhelmed and trust anything that anyone tells you. You made the right step by joining here and asking questions that can be looked at by many established aquarium owners. Check out the Nano Reef forum here for advice from others with smaller volume tanks.

larryhaynes · Feb 13, 2013

yea tell me about it thanks for the advice i am actually friends with one of the members here on this forum and he sales corals so most of my bys will probably be through him from now on btw can i add rock and sand still it has been cycling for a week so far thanks for youe advice

mayday610 · Feb 13, 2013

You sure can, add the rock and sand that you want now while the cycle is early. Better now than waiting.

larryhaynes · Feb 14, 2013

can you tell me if i need a protein skimmer for my nano 29g

Mike&Terry · Feb 15, 2013

larryhaynes said:
can you tell me if i need a protein skimmer for my nano 29g

Your tank will benefit from a skimmer, yes.
In addition to helping reduce DOCs, it will improve gas exchange. It's an added cost, but even a small system needs to export waste that would otherwise accumulate.

Rikerbear · Feb 15, 2013

Welcome Larry. You're gonna like it here on R2R :tongue:
Lots of great people and LOTS of advise to be had.
So far you've gotten perfect advice on your tank.
Will be looking forward to pix and progress reports

larryhaynes · Feb 16, 2013

ok so i just added another 15lbs of LR plus 20lbs of LS that makes 40lbs LS and 30lbs LR in my 29g bio cube 1 1/2 weeks into cycle got an algae bloom today so i figured now was the time hope i didnt mess everything up