LED Biocube 32 work in progress!!

[JVan82]

Ok so the tank arrived last Thursday added rock (30 pounds from reefcleaners) sand and water Saturday. Sunday I added I piece of shrimp, left in for 48 hrs. Water test as of now
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia .50
Nitrites 1.0
Nitrates 10

Currently running stock return pump, poly fill on top rack on stock media rack. Neotherm 100w heater. Apex was shipped today.

All help is greatly appreciated.

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[Scurvy Dawg]

Originally Posted by JVan82

Ok so the tank arrived last Thursday added rock (30 pounds from reefcleaners) sand and water Saturday. Sunday I added I piece of shrimp, left in for 48 hrs. Water test as of now
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia .50
Nitrites 1.0
Nitrates 10

Currently running stock return pump, poly fill on top rack on stock media rack. Neotherm 100w heater. Apex was shipped today.

All help is greatly appreciated.

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We started our tanks on the same day and you are already ahead of me.

Salinity 1.025
Ammonia 3
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0

Expecting the first Nitrites to show up any day now. I am using Seachem Stability and not so sure it's really doing anything at this point.

Where do you end up with your Neotherm? I placed mine in Chamber 3 right in front of the little side window. I like being able to see the heater's LEDs at a glance.

[JVan82]

I have the neotherm in the right chamber, opposite the return pump. Temp hasn't been over 80.2, house is sent to 77 during the day, and I'm in South Georgia.

I used about an one inch piece of shrimp, left it in for 48 hrs... now the long and slow wait till it zeros itself out. Then dose with Ammonia to see how long it takes to zero again. Then water change and CuC.

Inputs/opinions on CuC.


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[DustanT]

I run 2 turbos, 2 cerith, 2 trochus and some black nocturnal snail. I have 5 hermits and a blood shrimp. Your tank will very per how you keep it and feed it.

[JVan82]

Originally Posted by DustanT

I run 2 turbos, 2 cerith, 2 trochus and some black nocturnal snail. I have 5 hermits and a blood shrimp. Your tank will very per how you keep it and feed it.

Thanks just looking for a guideline as to what type and quantity for the CuC. Is my time line about on par as far as adding the CuC after the cycle?

First reef tank, so trying to do it as right as possible.

[DustanT]

After a cycle you will get a few types of algae blooms, very ugly but its part of the maturity thing. After the cycle is done normally 30 days give or take you should have some brown diatoms that need cleaning. Time to get the CUC to clean it up. You will find CUC packages out there for nano's with 30 little guys, that's just way to much, so just build your own and keep an eye on how they keep things clean. If they can't keep up get 1 or 2 more snails and watch a again. My tank is 7 month now and I feel my small CUC is plenty, I did have die off tho because after they cleaned up my end of cycle mess there was not enough food for them. Time is your friend on a reef take lots of it

[JVan82]

Originally Posted by DustanT

After a cycle you will get a few types of algae blooms, very ugly but its part of the maturity thing. After the cycle is done normally 30 days give or take you should have some brown diatoms that need cleaning. Time to get the CUC to clean it up. You will find CUC packages out there for nano's with 30 little guys, that's just way to much, so just build your own and keep an eye on how they keep things clean. If they can't keep up get 1 or 2 more snails and watch a again. My tank is 7 month now and I feel my small CUC is plenty, I did have die off tho because after they cleaned up my end of cycle mess there was not enough food for them. Time is your friend on a reef take lots of it

Thanks again, I have read through your build, as well as LQT's multiple times... thank both of you'll for a great basis to start, as well as a guide to follow as you've gone along.

[JVan82]

Water parameters:
Salinity 1.023
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 1.0
Nitrates 20
Temp 79.7


FTS


Is everything on track?

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[Smoke Inator]

yes, looks like mine and we started within a day or two of each other.
I'm in my fist ammonia spike right now.
Decided to dose with bacteria every 5 days.
ill add another shrimp in the next week or two

[JVan82]

Originally Posted by Smoke Inator

yes, looks like mine and we started within a day or two of each other.
I'm in my fist ammonia spike right now.
Decided to dose with bacteria every 5 days.
ill add another shrimp in the next week or two

What bacteria are you dosing with? I used 1 bottle of bio-spira in the beginning.

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[Smoke Inator]

Originally Posted by JVan82

What bacteria are you dosing with? I used 1 bottle of bio-spira in the beginning.k

I used Dr. Tims All In In One to start
Dosing with BIO-Spira next
then going with Brightwell Microbacter7

I plan on using a bacteria supplement weekly while i cycle...
No rhyme or reason on the selection...just what was available at the LFS and amazon

[JVan82]

Sounds good, not a bad idea, may try the same thing. Keep us updated!

[JVan82]

Update time:

Tanks been wet for 10 days now, started with a bottle of BIO-Spira, and a piece of shrimp. Shrimp was in 48hrs, Saturday brought 5ml of MircoBacter7 and another whole shrimp.

Water parameters:
Salinity 1.024 red sea refractometer
Ammonia. .50 Api
Nitrites 1.0 Api
Nitrates 40 Api
pH 7.96 Apex
Temp 79.6 Apex

I'm getting some growth on the sand and rocks finally.







As always comments/insight welcome


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[JVan82]

So the apex has been installed for almost a week now. It's fantastic, just running pH, temp probes, lights, pump and heater. Set up is a breeze with apexfusion. Highly recommend!!

Algae is growing nicely, i will add water parameters later this weekend.



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[JoshInSF]

Looking good!

[JVan82]

Thanks.

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[JVan82]

Updated water parameters:

Salinity: 1.024 (Red Sea Refractometer)
Ammonia: 0 (API)
Nitrite: 1.0 (API)
Nitrates: 40 (API)
pH: 8.11 (Apex)
Temp: 78.4 (Apex)

The algae has really taken off this past week. Just waiting for everything to zero out so I can dose with Ammonia, and see how long it takes to zero again.



Today get the water added to the QT tank I bought yesterday. Nothing fancy, 10G from petsmart, came with heater, filter and hood with "leds"... added a small fluval underwater filter for added biological filtration, and water movement.



Comments welcome as always.

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[JVan82]

Day 18 water parameters, and looking for ya'lls thoughts as to where I'm at in the cycle.

Salinity: 1.024 (Red Sea Refractometer)
Ammonia: 0 (API)
Nitrite: 0 (API)
Nitrate: 20 (API)
pH: 8.25 (Apex)
Temp: 79.1 (Apex)


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[JVan82]

Water parameters:

Salinity 1.024
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
p.H: 8.08
Temp: 78.2

FTS


Comments/concerns?

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[JVan82]

So have a decent bloom going as of now, CuC ships Monday, noticed a couple of bright green algae starting. And anyone let me know what it is? Ivery seen it posted on others builds asking for an I'd but for the life of me can not find them or remember what it was. Thanks in advance. Also upgraded to the mj1200 return pump.





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[grandmaester]

Looks like you're ready for a cleaner crew imo.

[JVan82]

They ship today, did a 10g water change yesterday, added purigen and Chemipure elite as well.

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[homer1475]

Just a small suggestion for next time.....

All that bacteria in a bottle is snake oil. Yes it may start your cycle, but the bacteria is all around us, it just needs time to reproduce in our tanks. And dosing ure ammonia to 2ppm to stress test the biofilter is a great way to be 100% positive that your bacteria load can handle a decent bioload.


Once your cycle completes, I would suggest doing 100% water change(or take out as much water as you can) after your nitrites 0 out, and you stress test the biofilter. I started my new tank this way and have not had a nitrate issue at all. Unlike my biocube which always had high nitrates.

[ReefWreak]

Sounds like you're on your way. I'd agree about a big water change to lower nitrates in the beginning if you can, but I'd never recommend a 100% water change.

Also, important part of setting up a new tank in Valdosta, a big pile of Smokn Pig. My favorite BBQ joint for south-eastern/deep south style BBQ. I've had friends FedEx it to me, or pick it up for me and bring it back any time they're driving up I75 or visiting Tallahassee. MMmmm MMmmm good.

Good luck with the tank!

[JVan82]

Originally Posted by ReefWreak

Sounds like you're on your way. I'd agree about a big water change to lower nitrates in the beginning if you can, but I'd never recommend a 100% water change.

Also, important part of setting up a new tank in Valdosta, a big pile of Smokn Pig. My favorite BBQ joint for south-eastern/deep south style BBQ. I've had friends FedEx it to me, or pick it up for me and bring it back any time they're driving up I75 or visiting Tallahassee. MMmmm MMmmm good.

Good luck with the tank!

10G was almost 50% I will be doing larger water changes in the coming weeks, until it matures more, then gradually get down to 10%. Did a water test after the water change and Nitrates went from 10 to a between 5-0 on an API test.

One of Valdostas' few redeeming qualities!