29 gallon BioCube

[Mike2112]

Good Morning all,

Starting up a new 29 gallon Coralife BioCube. Removed the bioballs in chamber 2 and put in dead pukani rock rubble in an eggcrate basket and a Hydor Slim Skim Nano Skimmer. Have an Aqueon Pro 100W Heater in Chamber one and the standard return pump. Put 35 lbs of SeaChem's mixed agrogate dry sand and more dead pukani rock that I scaped and glued with reefsafe apoxy. Started the cycling process with Dr Tim's One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria and the Ammonia Chloride from his website. I am the first one to try this method of cycling in my area and club, so I am blazing a new path. Following the guidelines on thier website to make sure cycle is happening properly. Once the cycle is complete in about 2 or so weeks, I will add the clean up crew and then slowly add the fish. Going to have 2 B & W Oscellaris Clownfish, a orange spotted gobby, flame angel and skunk cleaner shrimp. I will add some Macro Algae and some sand from a local reefer's tank to help populate pods and such. In a few months the idea is to add some Mushrooms and Zoanthids.

Here are some pics of the set up and the tank. Will keep yall updated as I move forward.

 

[cMan5]

Looks good!!

 

[Zoanthids]

I really like the aquascape. Tons of places for coral and very open, nice work!

 

[Aah061211]

That's a sweet rock on the back left!

Sent from my Galaxy SIII

 

[Rikerbear]

Really like the aquascape!
Gonna be purdy for sure :smile:

 

[Weehawken64]

Hi Mike, I just recently got the same tank. So excited. Waiting on live sand n rock. Have you figured out the lights yet? Cus I'm confused as to when to use which n if you use some together at same time. Maybe you or someone can help me out. Thanks.


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[justgotwet]

Looks great, i will also be starting up a 29g biocube in a few weeks.

 

[Mike2112]

Hi Mike, I just recently got the same tank. So excited. Waiting on live sand n rock. Have you figured out the lights yet? Cus I'm confused as to when to use which n if you use some together at same time. Maybe you or someone can help me out. Thanks.

What I did is get a couple of timers. I have the Actinic PC bulbs on a timer that start at 8:30 am and turn off at 9:30pm. I have the White PC bulbs turn on at 9:00am and turn off at 9:00pm. This helps simulate sunrise, full daylight, and sun set. I have the Blue LED Moonlight strip set to come on at 9:00pm when the white PC bulbs shut off. The LEDs run all night and turn off when the White PC bulbs turn back on at 9:00am. This is done with a regular household timer for the actinic PCs and a dual control powerstrip by coralife (IIRC the manufacture) to have one set on while the other set is off.

I am looking in the near future to replace the fans with quieter ones that move more air and then replace the PC flourescent bulbs with the LED strips.

Hope that helps.

 

[revsgirl]

Looking good! Thanks for sharing!


Chasing the Dream Giver, not the dream! Tonya

 

[Weehawken64]

Hi Mike how is that tank going? I'm getting close myself on my coralife biocube 29


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[Mike2112]

The tank is still cycling. Ammonia is now at 0ppm and Nitrites at 6ppm. Did a partial water change (20%) per Dr Tim's instructions. Nitrates should start to rise. Will do another partmeter test tomorrow to see where they are all at. I have the first new tank mates in QT going through thier prophylactic regimn for the next two weeks, then in observation for 30 days. They are eating well too.