Starting 29g Biocube

Hi guys!

I'm relatively new to keeping saltwater tanks. I've kept freshwater ones for years and have had 1 nano saltwater tank before moving back home. That did ok, but I really want to do well with this new one. I have a 29g bio cube that I will be starting on Friday. Throughout the forums, I have read to let the water cycle for a day before adding LR, others say do LR with the freshly mixed water. Some say take bio balls out in exchange for various other products, some say yes to protein skimmer, others say no. My LFS says to do the LR right away, then add my snails and crabs a few days later. My previous LFS in California had me wait a week. I'm soooo confused! Any advice, especially from people who have successfully run a bio cube would be greatly appreciated! Tanks!

 

First off welcome to 3reef ...you are at the right place

There is no time limit for any tank to cycle there are alot of variables that make every tank different.

IMO
1. Mix saltwater 24 hrs in advance. You will have to do this for any future water changes anyway.
2. Buy LR and Substrait. You can put this in your tank just before you add the water.
3. Add the water.
4. Dont run your lights while your tank is cycling.
5. Buy an Amonia,Nitite and nitrate test kit.
7. Test for Amonia for the first week you should see it rise
8. Start testing for Nitrites the second week
9. Start testing for Nitrates the third week.
10. When they all go to zero your good

Should take 3 to 4 weeks.

This is hard to do but the wait is worth it

If I left something out other people will help too.

 

You shouldn't add any cleanup crew until your cycle is complete or almost complete.
Meaning "0" Ammonia, "0" Nitrite, and very little or "0" Nitrate

You can also kick start your cycle by adding a frozen shrimp to your tank.
Let it sit in there and rot for a few days till your Amonia is spiked Then pull it out. You will see your cycle go with your test kits. This is your biological filtration.
Ammonia to Nitrite
Nitrite to Nitrate

As for a skimmer it depends on how many fish your going to have and also how much you want to do water changes.

IMO the best thing you could do is set it up how you want.
Check your water quality often. If you set it up with no skimmer and you can't keep your water quality good then add a skimmer.

Your goal should be 0 Ammonia 0 Nitrite and 0 Nitrate

There is other test down the road but start with these and try to understand the cycle first!

Hope this helps

 

This does help a lot, thanks! I'm still not sure about the idiosyncrasies of the bio cube. I'm still researching why some dislilke the bio balls. Also, a few have said in some circumstances the pump that comes with this aquarium is not enough. Will it be adequate for a reef tank? And should I add a protein skimmer at the initiation of the tank or wait until I add fish?

I appreciate your help!

 

Welcome to 3reef! I have a biocube 29 as well. I still have the bioballs in and the stock return pump. Have had them since the start about 5 months ago. The flow from the return pump is a little slow but adequate for the time being. I'm starting to increase my coral collection so I'm going to be getting some powerheads. As far as the bioballs, there is nothing wrong with them as long as you rinse them off every once in a while. Do not put a skimmer in while you're cycling, it will just prolong it.

Any other questions you have about the cube I'd be happy to answer.

 

I am not sure about the flow of the stock pump.
We have a 6G and the one that came with it is fine.

If I was setting it up I would not use the bioballs. I would buy 30# of LR
and call it good. From what I understand....The bioballs will hold food and
make your nitates go up. This is ok for fish only tanks.
You are getting live rock so you dont need the bioballs, you are replacing the bioballs for a better biological filtration....Live rock.

 

Sounds like the bioballs would be ok!

 

Wow I am super impressed. I have belonged to other various forums and NEVER did I get such a response so quickly! Thank you all so, so much! I'll make a blog about my progress when I start it up (waiting for the stand to arrive)

 

sounds good.. I hope to see pictures along the way..

 

Welcome to the forums, a couple of things I have done with my 29 gallon biocube is to break the floor on the first chamber and place the heater in that area - between the upper and lower water flow areas (I have two in case one fails). I did remove the bioballs and purchased a SR3 skimmer that fits in the second chamber perfectly (you will have to remove middle floor which is very easy). I would recommend 30 lbs+ of LR. The Koralia Nano in combination with the return pump puts a good amount of flow in the tank. The biocubes are great and I think you will really enjoy it!