14gal bio need some help..

[biotank14]

hey i just got my tank setup sunday and put 20lbs of sand and 11lbs of live rock whats the next thing i shoul do... i was thinking about adding some more flow Like behind my live rock but i dont want to have too much...my water is super clear and every thing is going great so far...also has any one had any problems with there water temp getting to high with this tank i keep my house about 75. so any help would be great.

 

[bigarn]

the next thing to do is let it cycle.

 

[biotank14]

one more thing the moon lights do they need to be left on all day even when the other lights are running..

 

[bigarn]

if the tank is cycleing you don't need the lights on at all ... it's up to you. what are you cycleing with? is the LR cured?

 

[biotank14]

it is uncured lr

 

[sigmachris]

Moon lights will stay on all day, no problem.
Temp of tank will probably over around 80 due to the main lights, but that is within range. Keep it away from a window though.
Throw a frozen shrimp (something you would buy at the grocery store to eat) in the tank for 4 days to kick start the cycle.

 

[biotank14]

will that hurt any thing living on rock??

 

[bigarn]

if the rock is uncured that should be enough to start the cycle in that size tank.

 

[biotank14]

Ya i didnt want to put a dead shrimp in there unless i had to..

 

[clay12340]

I think it is a good idea to add a second powerhead to the tank at the least. If you set its output on the other side it allows you to hook up a wave maker and get a little more random motion in your tank.
However, depending on the species of corals you want to keep you might not necessarily need higher flow. Some corals like calmer water, while others like more intense flow. Get a general idea of what you are keeping and go from there.
Don't add any livestock to the tank until the rock is fully cured and the tank has cycled. Take the time you've got now waiting on the cycle and make sure you are happy with your rock setup and keep moving until your satisfied. Once you start adding livestock moving the rock can be stressful on them.

 

[biotank14]

ok but this is another ? if i get a wave maker and hooked it up to one powerhead and them to my stock pump which is my sump pump.. i dont understand how my filtration would work.. please help

 

[bpaul1201]

there is only one pump on the bicubes! its the one that you didnt have to connect a ballast to! the filtration setup is a wet/dry system the right side chamber ( one with filter in it) over flows in to the middle chamber that has the nano balls and trickles out the bottom through a sponge to the pump!
remember to always turn your pump off for water changes and fill it back to the previous water level!

 

[clay12340]

If you leave both pumps in the same chamber and just route the output back to the other side of the tank with a hose it shouldn't affect the filtering system's operation.