Newbie's 14g Biocube at Work

[redwarrior77]

This is the start of my tank thread. So far, I've got a 14g Biocube with all stock equipment. I've removed the bioballs and the sponge by the pump and I'm getting a piece of plexiglass to block the lower intake. I'm also planning on getting 2 powerheads to increase the flow within the tank. I've purchased 20 pounds of "tahitian black" live sand (it's not really black, but I like the mix of black and white for this tank) and I'm planning on getting my water mixed up soon so that everything can be ready and waiting when my live rock arrives. Here's my set up:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139newtank.jpg

I'm working on buying 20lbs or so of live rock from a local supplier that will ship it directly from a cultured reef to me in water. :D I know I'll probably have to deal with some odd hitchikers, but it will be neat to have a piece of Florida in my tank. As it is, I only have one temporary tank inhabitant, but he looks pretty happy in there even without water:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139sharktank.jpg

[liv4speed1]

As it is, I only have one temporary tank inhabitant, but he looks pretty happy in there even without water:


Watch out, he'll outgrow your tank in no time!

Cant wait to see how this turns out!

[Jadams]

nice Shark!

[red13miller]

Whats the plans on livestock?

[redwarrior77]

Right now I'm not too sure on livestock. I know I want 2 black and white clowns...they're part of the reason for the black and white sand. Other than that, I'm pretty flexible. I think I'd like a couple of bumblebee snails as part of my CUC and I'm trying to decide between a peppermint shrimp or a fire shrimp. As far as corals go, I know I want some rics, zenias, and mushrooms. For now, I'm just excited to get everything together and get it cycling. :lol:

[redwarrior77]

We have...water and sand! :D

I added my water last night - RO water from Winn Dixie. I put in 10g, but I ended up taking about 1g out this morning. I'd recommend anyone just adding water and sand to just put in 9g to start with. I used Reef Crystals and used their measurements - 1/2 cup per gallon and I think it might be off. My specific gravity is measuring at 1.0185 or so, so I will probably need to add more salt. :(

After letting that sit overnight with the pump running, I added my live sand today. I'm using 20lbs of aragalive tahitian black sand, which is really black and white as shown here:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139CS0791_99.jpg
I know a lot of people have complained about it not really being black, but I'm actually loving the mixture and I think it will go well with my b&w clownfish when I get them. :D

Here's a shot of my tank just after I added the sand:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139sand.jpg
As you can see it's got a ways to go to clear up!

I went online last night and ordered 20lbs of live rock from TBS. I'm really excited to see when it will get delivered, but I'm considering adding a koralia nano powerhead before then just to make sure I have enough flow for it. For now, I'm just running the stock pump with the bottom intake blocked off by a piece of plexi that a coworker was kind enough to cut for me and it looks like I'm getting fairly good flow, but I'm sure I need more.

Overall, I'm just excited to have SOMETHING in my tank!

[Reefmack]

Nice to see another tank taking shape! :)

[K9Nurse911]

I'm thinking of getting the tahitian black sand for my 2 nanos also...I like the mixed look too...but I'll have regular orange/blk/wht ocellaris in mine :)

- Andrea

[redwarrior77]

I went ahead and ordered "the package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater. After looking at local live rock and cleanup crews, it actually came out CHEAPER to get everything from them, particularly since if I'd just gotten my rock there I'd still have to get 2 shipments. This way, I'll swap out 1/2 of my tahitian black sand for the live sand they're shipping, which should be more "lively" and the second shipment of rock I'm getting will also include my cleanup crew. Richard was great with helping me out over email. :)

I added timers for my lights today from the hardware store so that I don't have to worry about the schedule when I'm not around. My lighting schedule will be a little different from most people's since this tank is at work and I'll want them on when I'm there. I'm already dreaming of a tank at home in a couple of years...it's hard leaving it alone all weekend!

[dallemand]

Here is my 14g biocube at three weeks. I just added a Koralia 1 to the tank and also already had a Koralia Nano. The #1 puts out almost twice the gph for only 2 more bucks. But if you have limited space I highly recomend the nano it will impress you for it's size and price.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193675Copy_of_7_5_08__7_.JPG

[Nano Chris]

Looks great, like the rock work, looks like just the right amount.

[dallemand]

Thanks! I just got the rocks like I want them and it only took about 2 weeks. LOL! And I think it's about 14 pounds of rock and 20 pounds sand.

[JLAURIA751]

nice setup I have limited expierence but iv read its ok to buy ro water form grocery stores but It should be in individual containers not from the machine walmart sells them for 68 cents a gallon. Im just wondering if you bought it from the machines or bottles.

[dallemand]

No actually when I started the tank my lfs sells ready made sw and I filled with that. That is also what I am going to use for water changes and they sell ro/di water that I use for topping off. They sell sw for 1 dollar a gal. and ro/di for 50 cents and I just bought a 2 5 gallon water containers one for sw and the other for ro/di. If you have a small tank it's easier to do it that way if your lfs supplies those services.

[HaKs310]

Looking good so far. If you're still debating over what shrimp to get, buy the Cleaner, Blood Reds are way more shy and only come out during feeding time.

[Reefer07]

Just be careful with xenia....it literally grows like a weed.

[redwarrior77]

Ummm...not meaning to be rude here, but wasn't this a thread about my tank? ;) Dallemand, do you think you could start your own? Your tank looks great and deserves its own thread! :lol:

[redwarrior77]

It's been a fight to get my specific gravity where it needs to be, but I think I'm finally about there! I used the measurements that were on my box of reef crystals, but my sg hovered constantly around 0.0109 or so. Today, after adding more salt all weekend, I finally got to around 0.0205. :D I'm going to keep an eye on it, but it looks like the measurements given by reef crystals might need to be tweaked.

PetSmart was having a sale and since I needed chewies for the hound, I went through the aquarium section as well. I was pleasantly surprised by all the saltwater supplies available there, although it was kind of hit or miss as far as prices went. I did pick up all this:

stick-on temperature guage
in-tank amonia monitor
filter media bag
magfloat
freeze-dried krill (for later on)

Their test kits seemed over priced, but it's good to know where to get them in an emergency other than the LFS. I was hoping to find an air stone, but no such luck.

So far, my tank doesn't seem to have seen an amonia spike. I'm considering tossing in a table shrimp to jump-start the cycle before I get my first shipment of "the package." I'd like to minimize the die-off as much as possible!

[HaKs310]

I am guessing you meant .025 not .0205
What are you using to measure you salinity? Those swing arm hydrometers aren't really that accurate, I would gauge it against a refractometer or a pin point salinity monitor to be on the safe side.

[redwarrior77]

well, my sg is up to 1.021 now. :D

I scored a mj 1200 for $15 off ebay that will be replacing my stock pump once it comes. A friend also gave me some of his extra chaeto for my middle chamber, so I'm currently thinking about cutting the back of that chamber out so that it is just glass and possibly putting a light behind my tank to light it. Richard at TBS says he has rock, so hopefully my first shipment will arrive soon and I'll be able to post some serious pictures on here! Other than that, I'm just monitoring my tank for now. My temps are staying fairly consistent at 78 degrees during the day with lights on. Ammonia is pretty much nonexistent so far. I promise to bring in my digital camera once the rock comes, but for now, here's a phone camera pic:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139watertank.jpg

[Reefmack]

I doubt you'll see any ammonia till you get the rock in, and any die-off on the rock will generate that. At this time there's nothing in the tank to generate any unless you've thrown in a piece of dead shrimp or something like that.

[MikePowell]

For the cheato, instead of putting a light on the back of the tank, add afew under water LED lights. I just think it looks nicer and is a lot easier to install (you just put them in, not cutting or nothing).

[redwarrior77]

I like that idea, Mike...do you have any links to underwater LEDs? I've been having trouble finding anything like that. Thanks!

[redwarrior77]

There is nothing like a delivery of goodies for your tank to make a icky week at work feel better! Today, I got my first shipment of "the package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater for my tank...I definitely wasn't disappointed. My water was all cloudy when I left work, but I did get this one picture with my camera phone:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139rocktank.jpg
Don't worry, my digital camera is going to go with me to work tomorrow AND the tank should be cleared up a bit by then, so I'm hoping for some good pictures.

I'm also proud to report I got some hitchhikers! One is the snail-like critter you see on the glass in the upper-right hand corner. I also saw several tiny baby snails in the sand which started moving around right away. Just as my husband was about ready to toss out the bags the sand and rock came in, he found a tiny little crab. I was unable to identify if he was a good or bad crab, but since I wasn't sure, I spared him for now and tossed him in the tank. I didn't see any dark claws and he was the same color as the sand, so I'm hoping he's a good crab or I might have some fun trying to catch him!

I took out half my black and white sand and replaced it with the TBS sand, but I'm still very happy with the coloration. I may have to remove some more sand later if I decide the sandbed is too deep, but I'm going to leave it for now and see how things settle out. My new MJ 1200 arrived just in time today and I'll install it tomorrow in place of the stock pump to add more flow.

[xility]

Looking great!! The sand is beautiful. I can't wait to see the rock.

That is a great way to get rock. I love seeing active snails right off the rock. People think I'm crazy, but live rock may be my favorite part of reef keeping. People call me the "worm girl" because I would save all the worms from the fish store I worked at and take them all home. I had so many little nano tanks at one time, you couldn't see my kitchen counter!!

I don't think you will have a problem with the sand. When you do water changes and gravel vacuum the sand, you will lose some of the sand.

[redwarrior77]

New and Better pictures! These are from yesterday and really don't do the rock justice!
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139part1fts.jpg
A full-tank shot. My favorite hitch-hiker so far, a keyhole limpet is in the upper right-hand corner...he's since relocated to the rock.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139keyholelimpet.jpg
That keyhole limpet (I should name him!)...his underside obviously isn't his best side...I'll try to get a better picture of his pretty shell today.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139algaeandcupcoralrock.jpg
Nice rock with red and green macroalgae and even 2 cup corals...my favorite rock, it also has a nice cave in it that a red mithrax crab has decide to call home...another good hitckhiker!
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139redandgreenalgae.jpg
A close-up of the red and green macroalgae. The red stuff is particularly pretty to see as it moves with the flow.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139part1topdown.jpg
Top down shot. This was later in the afternoon as I started fighting an ammonia spike. I'll get into that later, but for now...pics! :cool:

[redwarrior77]

The critter count so far:
1 keyhole limpet
4-5 nass snails
2-3 long, skinny snails
1 hermit crab
2 cup corals
1 red mithrax crab
bristle worms
red and green macroalgae
too many barnacles to count!
assorted sponges
1 unidentified orangish coral-looking thingie!
Something that clicks every so often...usually when the lights are low or off

:D

[redwarrior77]

More pics from today...water is clearing up...ammonia is stabilizing around 0.05ppm and the "brown furry" stuff is leaving the rocks exposing some nice, deep purple and orange colors.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139macrorock.jpg
My favorite rock on day 2
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/1931392nddaypart1fts.jpg
Full tank shot...looking better all the time! :D

[xility]

Your tank is looking great. Very nice colors. Be careful with the greeen algae. It is feather calurpa. It is beautiful, but it grows very fast and can take over a tank. It can also crash a tank if there is too much of it and it goes sexual. It will turn white and die, releasing tons of stuff in the water, lowering the oxygen in the tank and adding tons of nutrients.

[redwarrior77]

Sounds like I may have some "pruning" to do...I'm definitely keeping the red macroalgae, though...it's so pretty and I haven't heard any bad things about it. Thanks! :)

[redwarrior77]

I had some death over the weekend...mainly some of the macroalgae and possibly some barnacles and sponges. Luckily, it looks like my snails, hermit crab, and limpet snail have made it through. In fact, my Limpet (now known as Mr. Limpet) is doing laps around my tank. Apparently there must be more tasty tidbits on the glass now!

Here are some pics...there isn't that much change from last week, but it's still interesting to see some of the progression. I'm hoping that my snails being a lot more active is a good sign that things have taken a turn for the better.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139deadrock.jpg
This is the rock that seemed to take the biggest hit from my ammonia spike. I'm hoping the cup corals will pull through and that the smaller pieces of macroalgae will grow back.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139leastrock2.jpg
Another rock...the orange coral on the top seems to be hanging in there.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139bigrock.jpg
The largest of the 3 pieces of rock. This was the one I had to do the most work on cleaning off sponges that were taking a turn for the worse...now, though it seems to be doing the best! I've seen many feather dusters coming out today and there are still many barnacles on it.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/193139ftsday3.jpg
Another full tank shot...it looks more bare today, but I'm hoping it's on the road to recovery. I've also noticed several areas on the glass with "tiny white spots." I'm hoping these are pods, but in ancy case, my snails seem to be happy about whatever they are, so I'm guessing they must be a good sign. :)