Biocube 29 Bioload

[sgiordano]

I have a newer (3 months) biocube 29 with 40 lbs live rock and 2.5 inch live sand bed. I also have a oceanic skimmer, which I have heard is kinda bad but I cant afford the tunze, also the bioballs are still in the second chamber. My question is this, what would be the maximum number of fish, inverts and corals I could house, and how can I increase this if I want to? Right now I have a Coral Beauty, 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 tiger goby, 1 algea blenny, 1 blood shrimp and 1 pistol shrimp, and a green bubble tip anenomie. Also I have a green brain orange sun and some gsp.

[bertoni]

I would say the tank is overstocked already, when considering adult sizes. I'd cut back to three of those fish, most likely, although I don't know the size of the tiger goby.

[sgiordano]

all of the fish are juveniles, and all of my levels are zeroed out, how can I tell when i have reached my bioload?

[Engine8ff]

I will have to go with Jonathan on this one. Thats alot of fish for a new tank. What kind of lighting do you have, this will help determine you future corals. I would for sure add some zoa's to help eat up some of your poo.

[sgiordano]

the zoas ore on order, the lfs only has bland red and brown species in stock for the most part. So as the tank matures bioload increases??

[Engine8ff]

Thats the thing you dont want to reach your bio load. You always want you tank to be ahead of the game. Once you start pushing the limits thats when you have the big one and you are fighting everything form high phos, to algea, to high nitrates. Dont put your tank in that situation. Ask the questions here if your not sure. I would for sure not add any more fish unless you are going to upgrade in the near future. How often are you feeding your fish?

[sgiordano]

feeding every other day or so and target feeding the sun coral half a block of frozen mysis daily

[bertoni]

The bioload capacity of the tank doesn't increase much with age, if at all. It's mostly limited by the amount of live rock, as far as I can tell.

[fstar25]

you really are at your safe max fish with that tank. you may want to look into slowly removing those bioballs in chamber 2 and get yourself a media basket. that way you can easily use things like purigen and chem-pure elite.

good luck



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[Engine8ff]

I would keep the feedings to that. Keep an eye on your chemistry, make sure you do a good weekly water change and you should be ok.

[sgiordano]

i do about 10% weekly changes, if i remove the bioballs slowly and put in live rock can i pack it in the second chamber or just but in a few good pieces?