Day-by-Day account of my 8 Gallon BioCube

[flyingsean]

I hope to keep this thread as a bit of a Tank Journal. I bought this used 12x12x12 BioCube a few days ago. I've re-sealed the edges of the aquarium to ensure that isn't going to be any leaks down the road. The 18w 10,000k light is burnt out, and its on order, but I desided to go ahead with putting the tank together.
So today is July the 21st, or day 1 of the aquarium. I placed a 1-inch bed of live sand, and one large peice of live rock (~9 pounds). In the first chamber of the filter, I've got my heater (cascade heat, 100w), and a small bit of spagetti algae. The second chamber is full of biomax, and will be where my carbon goes when needed. In the final chamber, all I've got is a larger filter pad, and, of course, the pump. I've also added an AquaClear 30 Powerhead (180GPH), and three expendable Mollies.
So that's it for day one =) I'll add some hermits and small snails after the initial ammonia spike

 

[nano-newb1983]

looks good so far.. have 1 large rock with make it harder to mount corals
May be a good idea to break rock into more than one? just a thought
looking forward to watching tank grow

 

[flyingsean]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NaNo-NeWb1983 http:///forum/thread/386793/day-by-day-account-of-my-8-gallon-biocube#post_3399242
looks good so far.. have 1 large rock with make it harder to mount corals
May be a good idea to break rock into more than one? just a thought
looking forward to watching tank grow
I had that thought as well, though I do love the structure of this piece. Luckily though, I work at a LFS and it shouldn't be too hard to find other pieces I like.

 

[nano-newb1983]

Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingSean http:///forum/thread/386793/day-by-day-account-of-my-8-gallon-biocube#post_3399244
I had that thought as well, though I do love the structure of this piece. Luckily though, I work at a LFS and it shouldn't be too hard to find other pieces I like.
that cool man. cant wait for more goodies

 

[flyingsean]

Day two, July 22.
New, smaller pieces of live rock today, all mollies alive and fed. Ammonia reading .25ppm, high but expected because of having three fish.
No pics to post, moving the rock around made the water extra cloudy.

 

[andrewjardin]

Your cycling with saltwater Mollies? Why not just use something already dead instead of these, as you say, 'expendable' fish, rather then stressing them out to the max and killing them?

 

[nano-newb1983]

i would of just dropped a raw shrimp in there to get cycle goin