Help! starting 14 gallon biocube... advice needed

[NanoPerson67]

:tub:hey guys this is my first post... so basically im starting a nano reef tank with a 14 gallon bio cube... i have had a 10 gallon before it was fowlr and i took it down cause i had to move and it wasnt running very great dure to lack of equipment and lighting... so im going to start over and try the biocube which is very good ive heard here is what i am planning to get and what i want to keep in it... so heres the list.. there is also another plan..

Equipment-

.14 gallon bio cube, stock lights, built in filter.. for 200.. (how much u pay)
ican oder it online for 170 but i dont want complications.. it might be cracked... then i gotta wait and return it and everything... i would just spend the 30 dollars more and get it one that day

.A tetra heater... (non adjustable)... o the guy at the store told me that a heater didnt really matter in a biocube due to it's massive heat production with the lights and eveything but idk.. it's good to be safe.. he said put one anyways.

.possibly a cheap power head

.nano skimmer (in the future) when tank is maturing


live stock-

.8 to 12 pounds of nano rock... 6 dollars a pound...pretty fair i guess...

.10lbs of live sand for around 20 bucks


in the future after cycle-

.2-3 feather dusters

.possible green chromis 3 or 1 firefish and a clown ( i know it's kind of pushing it) or 2 clarkii clowns some kind of small goby....

.soft corals for sure... cheap ones.. like 10 to 20 dollars at my lfs

.and anemone if do able....

.nudi branches

this will cost me around 400

My other Plan!!


my other plan was to use my surrent tropical 10 gallon tank, convert it inot saltwater... i have the aqueaon filter.. a tetra heater... which is non adjustable.. cause sometimes it turns on and off on purpose to adjust to 76 degrees default...and i think it will probably make it harder to heat up without a hood because im gettina light that u scre on the two sides of the tank with no hood (do u recommned a new one?)

.and a 100 dollar lighting system perfect for corals... im not sure what specific light or what kind.. but the guy at my lfs will help me... im new to reef..(what do u recommed under or 100?)

this will run me about 170 ish or 200....

what do u think is the better deal??

the 10 gallon will save sooo much more money... but the biocube looks beast..

thanks alot guys

 

[OneTimer]

Good Luck with your build- i assume you have testing kits and that you are going to let the tank cycle for a few weeks before adding livestock?

I started with the same set up - never added a skimmer but did upgrade my lighting to LED. My tank is up for 1.5 years with some mushrooms, GSP, some nice zoa, candy cane and Toadstool- i only kept three fish in the tank and feed once every two or three days, mysis and cyclopeeze.

I do a water change every 5- 9 days of 2 gallons. I keep LR and Chempure in the second chamber and have an adjustable heater.

Please go slow- I killed to many beautiful animals in my zeal to mimic the wonderful tanks you see in the threads and READ everything.

i am an ultra noob! and i have had fish for 30 years.

Would love to see pics of the build and Best of Luck this hobby is awesome!

 

[NanoPerson67]

Good Luck with your build- i assume you have testing kits and that you are going to let the tank cycle for a few weeks before adding livestock?

I started with the same set up - never added a skimmer but did upgrade my lighting to LED. My tank is up for 1.5 years with some mushrooms, GSP, some nice zoa, candy cane and Toadstool- i only kept three fish in the tank and feed once every two or three days, mysis and cyclopeeze.

I do a water change every 5- 9 days of 2 gallons. I keep LR and Chempure in the second chamber and have an adjustable heater.

Please go slow- I killed to many beautiful animals in my zeal to mimic the wonderful tanks you see in the threads and READ everything.

i am an ultra noob! and i have had fish for 30 years.

Would love to see pics of the build and Best of Luck this hobby is
awesome!

Hey thanks for replying so fast =)... i will definetly keep you posted with pics and all the good stuff =)... i am going to go slow =).. i actually have tried this when i was like 12 and fails horribly.. lol....this time im going all out and waiting waiting waiting!! patience is the key..... yes i will have test kits =) probably the little strips... do u have pics of ur tank?? would love to see it.

 

[cowfish]

Don't use the test strips they aren't worth the paper they're made out of. For basic test like ammonia, nitrate and nitrite you can use the Aquarium Pharm tests. For the more advanced stuff such as calcium, magnesium, etc. you're better off buying Salifert or at least Seachem test kits.

 

[btldreef]

i have a 14g biocube ...makes things very simple. it didn't need a heater .... if you have the lights on for the 8hour period daily it should keep the tank warm enough just keep it out of very busy areas or draft areas. i use 1 bag of chemipure elite... has phosphate remover and i change that every 2.5 months. water change weekly 2-3 gallons. chaeto inthe back w/ clip on light. i have a power head in there because i like high flow. one peice aprox 5-6lbs of live rock in there. recently i have purchased a current satelite 150w halide fixture and took the stock top w/ lights off. it works wonders but i have use a heater and keep a fan close by it. halide= heat , but beautiful coral growth. like already stated.... test your water ... every few days when you first start out. after cycle period throw in a cuc (cleanup crew; 3snails and 1-2 hermits). if they do well and you get passed any other issues...move on to either your fish or corals...good luck.

 

[ellebelle]

Nudibranchs do not often fare well in captivity. If you want an invertebrate, you might try a small rock of xmas worms or a cleaner shrimp or something like that instead.

 

[TripleT]

If you haven't bought it yet, consider upgrading to the 29.

The more gallons, the more stable.

Not to mention you won't outgrow it as quickly.

 

[guarda]

If you haven't bought it yet make sure you get the latest version. It already has the see through glass in the back for the fuge light. The inner walls are higher so no fish can jump into the rear chambers as well.