Reklaw's 32g biocube. My first tank!

[Reklaw]

How olds the tank?

A month

 

[Reklaw]

It cycled in a little less than 2 weeks, seems pretty fast but ammonia and nitrites are always at 0

 

[VB313]

So I have 5 yellowtail damsels, 2 nassarius snails and a skunk shrimp. Everything seems to be going well and water parameters are good. I'm a little low on salinity at 1.022 but am raising it slowly with water changes. I plan on adding 2 cerith snails and 2 nerite snails. Do I need anything else for a CUC?

The yellowtail damsels are not my dream fish but I figured I would start with them until I get comfortable enough to add $100s worth of fish. They are mean! I will either rehome them or just keep them until the pass or kill each other.

Can I add corals now? Should I wait? Is this beginner pack from LA a good way to start.

That scape is awesome your going to love the biocube mine is 2years old now had some bumps in the road but nothing major getting a large upgrade on my CUC this week from reefcleaners.org they suggested
20 dwarf ceriths
6 nasarius vibex
8 Florida ceriths
8 nerites
I already have a few mixed hermits
As for corals go slow get some cheap 20$ Frags see how they go

 

[Reklaw]

That scape is awesome your going to love the biocube mine is 2years old now had some bumps in the road but nothing major getting a large upgrade on my CUC this week from reefcleaners.org they suggested
20 dwarf ceriths
6 nasarius vibex
8 Florida ceriths
8 nerites
I already have a few mixed hermits
As for corals go slow get some cheap 20$ Frags see how they go

Yea, the CUC packages on LA are like that, seems like alot but I don't know. Maybe I'll go to LFS and see what they have as far as corals, he's kind of hit or miss with his honesty. Thanks, for the compliment on the scape. I used carbilife shapes and it just kinda came together. I was surprised.

 

[VB313]

Yea, the CUC packages on LA are like that, seems like alot but I don't know. Maybe I'll go to LFS and see what they have as far as corals, he's kind of hit or miss with his honesty. Thanks, for the compliment on the scape. I used carbilife shapes and it just kinda came together. I was surprised.

It is a lot but I figured I try it When I first got the tank in started with
2 nassarius
2 margaritas
2 turbos
4 dwarf ceriths
4 hermits
Maybe start with some green star polyps there cheap hardy and they spread out pretty fast and fill up spaces some people don’t like them for that reason depending what looks your into

Have you given any thought into upgrading the filtration later on?

 

[Reklaw]

It is a lot but I figured I try it When I first got the tank in started with
2 nassarius
2 margaritas
2 turbos
4 dwarf ceriths
4 hermits
Maybe start with some green star polyps there cheap hardy and they spread out pretty fast and fill up spaces some people don’t like them for that reason depending what looks your into

Have you given any thought into upgrading the filtration later on?

I've made a few tweaks and so far so good. I still use the stock media stand and use the biocube filters but I run filter floss on top of those and carbon underneath. Everything is really clean and numbers are good. I just hooked up a skimmer in the first chamber a dialing in the airflow. I've seen the other media stands but don't think they are needed. I still have alot of room for more filters or media.

 

[King Turkey]

I would wait a little! it would not hurt. maybe one month minimum. I waited 4 months to put a hammer coral in my tank. things to consider: test for calcium alkalinity and magnesium. how stable is your ph? test ph first thing in the morning right before lights come on and right before they go out to see your ph swing. I keep mine 7.9 in the am 8.4 in the pm. it is a big swing but it is getting more stable with time.
with all the said top shelf aquatics is having a big sale right now it is a good sale!

 

[Hemmdog]

Cool tank! My first tank was a BC32 as well. Where at in California are you? I have a inTank media basket and fuge for the BC32 you can have if you want them! I already vinegar and bleach cleaned them

 

[Reklaw]

It is a lot but I figured I try it When I first got the tank in started with
2 nassarius
2 margaritas
2 turbos
4 dwarf ceriths
4 hermits
Maybe start with some green star polyps there cheap hardy and they spread out pretty fast and fill up spaces some people don’t like them for that reason depending what looks your into

Have you given any thought into upgrading the filtration later on?

I like your refuge, are you still running it? I might add one down the road I like the simplicity and natural filter

 

[Reklaw]

Cool tank! My first tank was a BC32 as well. Where at in California are you? I have a inTank media basket and fuge for the BC32 you can have if you want them! I already vinegar and bleach cleaned them

That's very nice! I'm in temecula. I've seen everyone runs those I just couldn't justify the cost if mine was working fine.

 

[Hemmdog]

That's very nice! I'm in temecula. I've seen everyone runs those I just couldn't justify the cost if mine was working fine.

Nice! I use to work at Welk resorts just south of Temecula!

 

[Reklaw]

Nice! I use to work at Welk resorts just south of Temecula!

Still in silicon valley? Quite a drive!

 

[Hemmdog]

Still in silicon valley? Quite a drive!

I was in San Diego (utc area) at the time. Moved up here about 4 years ago.

 

[VB313]

I like your refuge, are you still running it? I might add one down the road I like the simplicity and natural filter

Thanks it’s still up and running I had chaeto like crazy in there but had a issue with green hair growing In fuge box but I believe it was caused by my fuge light being on too long so I cut them down to half the time hopefully I still see results

 

[SPLASH!]

I would advise you not to put the soft corals on your main rock structure. They can grow like weeds and over take it. I have Xenia, GSP, Rasta Zoas, and a Leather all doing that. Don’t get me wrong I love their look, but it has limited me for now until I can drag them. If you have a few piece of rubble rock, attach your soft corals to those, and leave them off the main rock at first around the sand bed to see how well/quickly they grow.

 

[Reklaw]

So I tried to do this without a QT tank and now I'm setting one up. My damsels are showing signs of ick. Filling QT then cycling. Then trying to catch these damsels. Copper is in the mail. I think the suspect is the last damsel I picked up at my LFS. Not having good luck with this LFS, might try another.

 

[Reklaw]

Is this cyano? I reduced lighting and will test nitrates and phosphates later. What else should I do? Increase flow? More clean up crew?

 

[GatorScott]

A month

I’d wait to add corals. You’re only a month old. Let the tank mature and go thru the uglies.

 

[GatorScott]

Is this cyano? I reduced lighting and will test nitrates and phosphates later. What else should I do? Increase flow? More clean up crew?

Doubt it. Prob diatoms. You’re only a month old so you have plenty of ugly algae coming your way before it gets better. Diatoms will be first.

 

[Reklaw]

Great! I'm bracing myself. Thanks. I feel better knowing this is normal, i thought everything was going so well...