Brand new! Looking for Advise

[RoyalUrchin]

Hey guys, so I'm brand new to Saltwater and I'm looking for any advice in the hobby. I'm looking to set up a FOWLR within the next 6 months. I've been doing tons of research the past month and I'm starting to narrow down what I want/what I'm limited to based on funds and space. I LOVE butterflies, but I'm definitely not diving into those first based on the difficulty of their care, mostly feeding challenges., plus they need a huge tank which just isn't possible right now.

So what I can accommodate is having a max tank of 30ish gallon. So I stumbled upon this tank I read on a forum: The BioCube. They have a 32 gallon so I was thinking of going with this tank. Any input on using this mostly all in one system?

My thoughts on it were that I have the 32 G BioCube. Then I should also get a protein skimmer, a Jebao MP10 powerhead, aqueon 100w heater. I'll need to purchase an RO/DI system, was looking at the Aquatic Life Buddie. Instant ocean for salt. Refractometer, test kits, vacuum. I think thats the major hitters for equipment needed.

From that point, the nextstep is Live Rock and Live Sand. Then let system cycle, ensure parameters are stable, then begin adding my fauna.

For stocking I was thinking:

1x - B/W Ocellaris Clown - I only want one, Ive read they aren't as aggressive alone.
1x - Firefish - perhaps the "crowning jewel". They are just stunning.
1x - Pajama Cardinal
2x - Nassarius Snail
1x - Royal Urchin - this one is a must I'd say, just so cool and unique
1x - Cleaner Shrimp.

Well, I think thats about everything. What do you guys think? Any advise? Any more equipment I need or shouldn't get?

 

[JasonK84]

Take it slow and ask tons of questions. That is the purpose of a forum like this. Use it. And your already doing what's important... research.

 

[RoyalUrchin]

Thanks @JasonK84! Love your Blenny! Yeah doing research is a must, patience too, but that one I sometimes struggle with haha.

 

[JasonK84]

Thanks @JasonK84! Love your Blenny! Yeah doing research is a must, patience too, but that one I sometimes struggle with haha.

Don't we all!! I've done better with patience since getting back into the hobby but I'm up to 4 tanks running! I'm gonna get it down to 2 (wife's orders) in the next couple weeks. I was ordering fish and getting them all QT'd and ready for the new 120g and 1 QT wasn't enough. Got the 120 cycled so starting to move fish in.

 

[RoyalUrchin]

Don't we all!! I've done better with patience since getting back into the hobby but I'm up to 4 tanks running! I'm gonna get it down to 2 (wife's orders) in the next couple weeks. I was ordering fish and getting them all QT'd and ready for the new 120g and 1 QT wasn't enough. Got the 120 cycled so starting to move fish in.

Yeah can't blame you there, need those QTs! What do you have for fish stock?

I'd love a 120. Probably won't be until after I finish college and have my own house to do whatever I want with. Apartments are limiting, especially with space haha. Currently have 2 freshwater tanks - a 10g Betta and a 37g Community. I love them, but definitely finding myself more drawn to SW. I almost went straight into SW, but decided against it until I had some FW experience under my belt.

Should I get one or two powerheads? Also for a protein skimmer, Corallife makes one that can fit into the compartments in the back, but I've heard bad things about it, maybe doing a HOB skimmer would be better?

 

[lapin]

Welcome
You will get tons of advice here. The "should I get" is a loaded question. Enjoy your tanks

 

[JasonK84]

My current fish:
Blue spotted Toby puffer-2"
3-molly Miller blennies (I caught in Galveston)
Picasso trigger-2.5"
Juv. Koran angel-3"
Powder blue tang-5"
Pink margin fairy wrasse-2.5"
Pink face wrasse-5"

I wouldn't do the small skimmer. Running a sump would give more skimmer options. If I was running the biocube as designed then I would skip the skimmer and and do weekly water changes. I have the 14 biocube and bought the little air stone skimmer for it and the skim it produces is very lightly colored. It does some good but you can get more out of other methods.

 

[RoyalUrchin]

My current fish:
Blue spotted Toby puffer-2"
3-molly Miller blennies (I caught in Galveston)
Picasso trigger-2.5"
Juv. Koran angel-3"
Powder blue tang-5"
Pink margin fairy wrasse-2.5"
Pink face wrasse-5"

I wouldn't do the small skimmer. Running a sump would give more skimmer options. If I was running the biocube as designed then I would skip the skimmer and and do weekly water changes. I have the 14 biocube and bought the little air stone skimmer for it and the skim it produces is very lightly colored. It does some good but you can get more out of other methods.

The puffer and trigger are so cool! How do you manage fish like puffers and lionfish with them being venomous? The powder blue are beautiful too.

So just skip the skimmer if I do the Biocube? I'm pretty on top of water changes, I do them weekly with my FW tanks.

 

[JasonK84]

The puffer and trigger are so cool! How do you manage fish like puffers and lionfish with them being venomous? The powder blue are beautiful too.

So just skip the skimmer if I do the Biocube? I'm pretty on top of water changes, I do them weekly with my FW tanks.

Puffers aren't venomous. They are toxic but only if trying to eat them. I've never had a lion fish but have thought about getting one for the 120. Nets and specimen containers for wrangling them would be my guess. Maybe thick nitrile gloves to be a little more cautious?

You might try asking about the skimmer options in the nano tank forum. Those guys there might have some great advice and options for you that you haven't considered.

 

[RoyalUrchin]

Puffers aren't venomous. They are toxic but only if trying to eat them. I've never had a lion fish but have thought about getting one for the 120. Nets and specimen containers for wrangling them would be my guess. Maybe thick nitrile gloves to be a little more cautious?

You might try asking about the skimmer options in the nano tank forum. Those guys there might have some great advice and options for you that you haven't considered.

Oh gotcha.

I've been reading around this morning. Some say having one is beneficial but not a necessity. Others says don't bother using a skimmer with a smaller tank, just W/C and use the inTank Media Basket with filter floss, purigen, and chemi-pure elite. Then put the inTank Fuge next it with biological media in mesh bag or use chaeto. Then replace the filter floss every week. So, sounds like its for whatever suits your needs.

 

[JasonK84]

Oh gotcha.

I've been reading around this morning. Some say having one is beneficial but not a necessity. Others says don't bother using a skimmer with a smaller tank, just W/C and use the inTank Media Basket with filter floss, purigen, and chemi-pure elite. Then put the inTank Fuge next it with biological media in mesh bag or use chaeto. Then replace the filter floss every week. So, sounds like its for whatever suits your needs.

Absolutely! There is no 1 method of doing things here. Plenty of success with many different scenarios.

 

[cromag27]

https://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/RODI-SYSTEMS/MaxCap-Standard-90-GPD-RO-DI-System

https://spectrapure.com/DOSING-TOP-OFF/AUTO-TOP-OFF-SYSTEMS/Basic-Auto-Top-Off-Sytem

https://www.stevesleds.com/Biocube-32-LED-Turbo-Upgrade-System-Plug-and-Play_p_332.html

https://octoaquatics.com/octo-fuge/

 

[cromag27]

 

[RoyalUrchin]

https://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/RODI-SYSTEMS/MaxCap-Standard-90-GPD-RO-DI-System

https://spectrapure.com/DOSING-TOP-OFF/AUTO-TOP-OFF-SYSTEMS/Basic-Auto-Top-Off-Sytem

https://www.stevesleds.com/Biocube-32-LED-Turbo-Upgrade-System-Plug-and-Play_p_332.html

https://octoaquatics.com/octo-fuge/

Thanks for the links! That LED upgrade is definitely something to look into in the future. Pricey though!

These are some of the items I'm looking at getting:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DOG63OY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A2ZKGRENV5NC9J&psc=1 (the 50)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018LRO1SU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2W6FPR1E93UUZ&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00INTDJLC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=AL6MVB6Z4LYQX&psc=1

Also what about getting Bio-Spira from Instant Ocean? I'm going to say no if I'm getting Live Rock and Sand, but if those end up being too costly, and I go with Dry Rock, then maybe it would be beneficial.

 

[cromag27]

Thanks for the links! That LED upgrade is definitely something to look into in the future. Pricey though!

These are some of the items I'm looking at getting:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DOG63OY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A2ZKGRENV5NC9J&psc=1 (the 50)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018LRO1SU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2W6FPR1E93UUZ&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00INTDJLC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=AL6MVB6Z4LYQX&psc=1

Also what about getting Bio-Spira from Instant Ocean? I'm going to say no if I'm getting Live Rock and Sand, but if those end up being too costly, and I go with Dry Rock, then maybe it would be beneficial.

i don’t trust any other company than spectrapure for rodi and ato. their quality far surpasses all other companies. a little more costly upfront but it pays off down the road and you’ll save money. they are the ones who introduced ro water to the fish hobby.

you may not need anything to start a cycle if you are using completely live rock, with no die-off. if using dry rock, i personally use pure ammonia.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/#post-3759102

 

[RoyalUrchin]

i don’t trust any other company than spectrapure for rodi and ato. their quality far surpasses all other companies. a little more costly upfront but it pays off down the road and you’ll save money. they are the ones who introduced ro water to the fish hobby.

you may not need anything to start a cycle if you are using completely live rock, with no die-off. if using dry rock, i personally use pure ammonia.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/#post-3759102

Definitely something to consider then.

Alright thanks for the cycling link!

Any other advice or input? I'm definitely leaning away from a skimmer for this size tank especially since I'm great about W/C. So that inTank Media Basket and Fuge Basket will most likely be going in. So I do have a question about chaeto. Sounds like it needs light to survive and thrive, but how would that work if its kept in the back of the tank? Would I need a light behind my tank?

 

[cromag27]

Definitely something to consider then.

Alright thanks for the cycling link!

Any other advice or input? I'm definitely leaning away from a skimmer for this size tank especially since I'm great about W/C. So that inTank Media Basket and Fuge Basket will most likely be going in. So I do have a question about chaeto. Sounds like it needs light to survive and thrive, but how would that work if its kept in the back of the tank? Would I need a light behind my tank?

if you are diligent with water changes, you don’t need a skimmer. i have never run a skimmer on any tank under 40 gallons.

macro algae does need light and it needs certain colors to achieve optimal growth and health. that’s why my octo fuge comes with (or even without) with the best nano fuge light available. my fuge also has a chamber for bagged media. the media basket does not provide a lot of room for macro, so not as versatile.

 

[RoyalUrchin]

if you are diligent with water changes, you don’t need a skimmer. i have never run a skimmer on any tank under 40 gallons.

macro algae does need light and it needs certain colors to achieve optimal growth and health. that’s why my octo fuge comes with (or even without) with the best nano fuge light available. my fuge also has a chamber for bagged media. the media basket does not provide a lot of room for macro, so not as versatile.

Oh wow! I guess I didn't look at your fuge closely. And this can fit perfectly in a 32 Biocube in the 2nd chamber? I may have to get that instead.

 

[cromag27]

Oh wow! I guess I didn't look at your fuge closely. And this can fit perfectly in a 32 Biocube in the 2nd chamber? I may have to get that instead.

i made it specifically for the bc32 and bc29 but it uses magnets and can attach to a lot of other tanks. let me know if you have any questions.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Welcome to reef2reef!