!4 g Biocube - Pic Diary! (:

cocoacf

cocoacf

Member
Hey guys, so this is my first aquarium.. I got a 14 g biocube for Christmas
. It's going to be salt water - atm I plan to get 2 False Percula, 1 Frogspawn, and a clean up crew ( maybe w/ a shrimp ). I just got the live rock, sand, and water today. I also got the 14g biocube stand ( which was a pain to figure out how to put together might I add ). I set all that up today and the sand is settling atm.
My question to you guys is this.. I got the water from the aquarium store's tanks. So of course it has already been cycled.. I got their live rock and sand from a tank in the same cycle too. How long would you guys think I need to leave before I put the fish in? I've seen and heard anywhere from the next day, to a couple weeks.
I'll add pictures later
 
1990jpyj

1990jpyj

Member
i cycled my 10g in a similar way. it took about 10days to get the cycle completed. but i tested everyday. i waited about 2 days before i started the first test.
Day:
1- no test Started ghost feeding
2- no test
3- first test everything 0
4- test amon-.25
5-test amon-.25
6- test amon.0
7- test No2- forgot #
8- test No3- 10(good)
9- test "
10 test "
11 test" (bought first CUC)
so you would probly have something about the same.
good luck
 
happitylogan

happitylogan

Member
diatom is a brownish algae that will grow during a cycle, it takes care of itself and usually goes away. When the diatom goes away, your tank is generally cycled, more or less. But always test your waters, its the only way to know for sure
 
cocoacf

cocoacf

Member
Ok, thanks for all the info.
I have a question about the lighting. It might be covered in the book, but I missed it if so. There are three lights.. the bright white, the brighter purple, and a darker blueishpurple. The first two are controlled by switches on the top, but the darkest light cannot be turned off and on unless you unplug it. I was wondering what all should be done with these lights? I know one is for day and the other for nightmoon light...
 
happitylogan

happitylogan

Member
the led's(dark blue) stay on at all times. Turn the bright blue ones (atinics) on an hour before you turn on the normal lights. So if you want your lights on at 10, turn the atinics on at 9. Same for when you turn then off, turn the regular lights off an hour before you turn the atinics off. You run the atinics and regular light together all day though, otherwise you would only be using half of your lights. Get a timer, it takes all the work out of it and you dont have to worry about it...
 
cocoacf

cocoacf

Member
Oh, and one last question for now.
I was told that while the tank is cycling I should leave all the lights off. Can anyone elaborate on that... is it true? I've seen many tanks with all the lights on while they were cycling..
I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right.
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
Originally Posted by Cocoacf
http:///forum/post/2889644
Oh, and one last question for now.
I was told that while the tank is cycling I should leave all the lights off. Can anyone elaborate on that? Is this true? I've seen many tanks with all the lights on while they were cycling..
I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right.
I think it's so there is no algae outbreak or anything, but I'm not positive.
 
cocoacf

cocoacf

Member
Originally Posted by dustyboy316
http:///forum/post/2889646
I think it's so there is no algae outbreak or anything, but I'm not positive.
Maybe... the guy at the store said it had something to do with the lights heating the water too much.. But wouldn't the fans take care of that? I don't see how adding fish would stop a light from doing whatever it was before.. That's why I asked
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem to keep them on. If that is his reason imo you are better off keeping them on so you can get the temp evened out when the lights are on...
But that dosen't make sense to me either if that is the reason...
 
subielover

subielover

Active Member
Keeping the lights off is to reduce the amount of algae during your cycle. Many people have done it both ways.
 
ajer

ajer

Member
My advice is TEST,TEST TEST!!!!!!!!
Test once a day during cycle, once a week for norm.
If anything, wait too long for your cycle.
AND BEST OF LUCK!!!
 
cocoacf

cocoacf

Member
I'm going to get my water tested tomorrow.
I saw a baby brittle star fish come out of my live rock today! He was playing around on the sand. I haven't seen him since though. I hear that the spikey legged ones eat your fish/coral once they're big enough... so I'll probably have to get rid of him in awhile.
 
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