DeMartini's 14G BioCube
- Thread starter demartini
- Start date
rasguedo
Member
Martini first and foremost I must say that you have a beautiful tank, calling it a tank I think doesnt do it justice.. Its a masterpiece. I am an extreme noobie too all of this and was hoping you could give me some advice. Ive done a lot of reasearch and my head is spinning. I have a 28 gallon tank. Read all about filters but still a little confused. The filter I went with was a Mechanical? filter with a built in protein skimmer. My gf got me a beginner tank set and thats how all of this started 
. Basically I bought coral for the bottom, and 28 pounds of live rock. My filter says that it is a biological/mechanical/aerobic filter should I put a bit of live rock in it? Like you did for yours? Is the live rock normally arranged in one big clump in the middle like I have seen in some pics, is this easier for the coral? I need a good thermometer as I see you have, also a glass cleaner. What light would you recommend for a 28 gallon tank, will I be able to use it with the standard enclosure that came with the tank? I have a hydrometer and have already mixed the salt, put down the coral, and have the live rock in there in different places. The tank is now cycling, to control the ammonia should I get something soon to put in it (I was looking at the Reef Packages here, Hermits, shrimp?? )? I also need to get a testing kit the fish store was out of them. Wow thats a lot, ive really tried to find these answers out, the lady at the fish store was very abrupt with me and didnt help much. Since you seem to be helpful and having great results I thought I would ask..I realize that this is a long adventure and im willing to put in the hours of research it just seems like all the places I have looked have different answers. Thanks in advance.
. Basically I bought coral for the bottom, and 28 pounds of live rock. My filter says that it is a biological/mechanical/aerobic filter should I put a bit of live rock in it? Like you did for yours? Is the live rock normally arranged in one big clump in the middle like I have seen in some pics, is this easier for the coral? I need a good thermometer as I see you have, also a glass cleaner. What light would you recommend for a 28 gallon tank, will I be able to use it with the standard enclosure that came with the tank? I have a hydrometer and have already mixed the salt, put down the coral, and have the live rock in there in different places. The tank is now cycling, to control the ammonia should I get something soon to put in it (I was looking at the Reef Packages here, Hermits, shrimp?? )? I also need to get a testing kit the fish store was out of them. Wow thats a lot, ive really tried to find these answers out, the lady at the fish store was very abrupt with me and didnt help much. Since you seem to be helpful and having great results I thought I would ask..I realize that this is a long adventure and im willing to put in the hours of research it just seems like all the places I have looked have different answers. Thanks in advance.
demartini
Active Member
Well, I don't know exactly what equipment you are using. If you can either find out the exact names of what you have or some pictures of it so I can help you with the filtration and the lights. As for a thermometer I would recommend getting a digital one, they are so much easier. I don't know much about crushed coral beds, but I heard if not properly maintained they can become a nitrate factory. If you decide to switch to a sand bed now would be a good time, before you finish you cycle. The reef packages on this website are very good and would recommend getting it once your cycle is finished. This is why it’s very important that you get a test kit so you can check that your cycle is finished. So find out what equipment you have so I can help you out.
mushroomss
Member
awww i love swf.com message boards.a girl posts some pics of her tank and like 500 people reply.someone with a problem posts and like 3 people answer.Then they say they have 2 tangs in a 50 gallon and get bashed beyong belief.hilarious
shogun323
Active Member
Originally Posted by mushroomss
awww i love swf.com message boards.a girl posts some pics of her tank and like 500 people reply.someone with a problem posts and like 3 people answer.Then they say they have 2 tangs in a 50 gallon and get bashed beyong belief.hilarious
Ya know if these boards are so bad there are many others out there you can join!
awww i love swf.com message boards.a girl posts some pics of her tank and like 500 people reply.someone with a problem posts and like 3 people answer.Then they say they have 2 tangs in a 50 gallon and get bashed beyong belief.hilarious
Ya know if these boards are so bad there are many others out there you can join!
demartini
Active Member
Originally Posted by mushroomss
awww i love swf.com message boards.a girl posts some pics of her tank and like 500 people reply.someone with a problem posts and like 3 people answer.Then they say they have 2 tangs in a 50 gallon and get bashed beyong belief.hilarious
you don't have to look at a thread if you don't want to... besides people ask me for advice.
awww i love swf.com message boards.a girl posts some pics of her tank and like 500 people reply.someone with a problem posts and like 3 people answer.Then they say they have 2 tangs in a 50 gallon and get bashed beyong belief.hilarious
you don't have to look at a thread if you don't want to... besides people ask me for advice.
rasguedo
Member
Martini, thanks again I should have told you what I had.. Lets see its a 28 gallon (bow front), I have a Skilter 250, a junky flourescent, I just changed the CC out for Sand according to some other peoples recommendations. I also have 28 pounds of live rock. I made a newbie mistake of using tap water but according to my test kit after dechlorination the chlorine is 0 the PH is 8.0 so hopefully if from now on i use RO it will be fine. I dont have a sump because the LFR told me that it is unnecesary in this size tank that the skilter will do the job. Eventually I would love to have a tank with some of the same inhabitants as yours, some coral, anemone, clown fish. From reading here I realize i will have to invest in a Halide light does it have to have Actinic also? Any other suggestions, thoughts?
demartini
Active Member
Originally Posted by rasguedo
Martini, thanks again I should have told you what I had.. Lets see its a 28 gallon (bow front), I have a Skilter 250, a junky flourescent, I just changed the CC out for Sand according to some other peoples recommendations. I also have 28 pounds of live rock. I made a newbie mistake of using tap water but according to my test kit after dechlorination the chlorine is 0 the PH is 8.0 so hopefully if from now on i use RO it will be fine. I dont have a sump because the LFR told me that it is unnecesary in this size tank that the skilter will do the job. Eventually I would love to have a tank with some of the same inhabitants as yours, some coral, anemone, clown fish. From reading here I realize i will have to invest in a Halide light does it have to have Actinic also? Any other suggestions, thoughts?
For your filter, you should be able to put some live rock in there. There are some fixtures that have both antinics and halides. Coralife has the Aqualight Pro Fixture and Current USA makes the Outer Orbit, these have both halides and actinics. Odyssea also makes lights for a really cheap price, but I've heard mixed comments about their fixtures...because you used tap water you will most likely have an algae break out in the beginning. wait a little longer before adding coral because there could be some stuff in the tap water that may harm the coral.
Martini, thanks again I should have told you what I had.. Lets see its a 28 gallon (bow front), I have a Skilter 250, a junky flourescent, I just changed the CC out for Sand according to some other peoples recommendations. I also have 28 pounds of live rock. I made a newbie mistake of using tap water but according to my test kit after dechlorination the chlorine is 0 the PH is 8.0 so hopefully if from now on i use RO it will be fine. I dont have a sump because the LFR told me that it is unnecesary in this size tank that the skilter will do the job. Eventually I would love to have a tank with some of the same inhabitants as yours, some coral, anemone, clown fish. From reading here I realize i will have to invest in a Halide light does it have to have Actinic also? Any other suggestions, thoughts?
For your filter, you should be able to put some live rock in there. There are some fixtures that have both antinics and halides. Coralife has the Aqualight Pro Fixture and Current USA makes the Outer Orbit, these have both halides and actinics. Odyssea also makes lights for a really cheap price, but I've heard mixed comments about their fixtures...because you used tap water you will most likely have an algae break out in the beginning. wait a little longer before adding coral because there could be some stuff in the tap water that may harm the coral.
demartini
Active Member
Originally Posted by Bonebrake
DeMartini your new tank looks sweet!
And I love Daisy!
My kitty really doesn't pay much attention to the tank which surprises me.
Keep up the great work!
:joy:
Thanks BoneBrake! Im suprised your cat doesn't go after the tank. Mine can go crazy over it for hours. Then again, she is the same can that runs into the T.V. trying to get whatever she can see...i know she's crazy lol
DeMartini your new tank looks sweet!
And I love Daisy!
My kitty really doesn't pay much attention to the tank which surprises me.
Keep up the great work!
:joy:
Thanks BoneBrake! Im suprised your cat doesn't go after the tank. Mine can go crazy over it for hours. Then again, she is the same can that runs into the T.V. trying to get whatever she can see...i know she's crazy lol
who dey
Active Member
Originally Posted by DeMartini
Thanks BoneBrake! Im suprised your cat doesn't go after the tank. Mine can go crazy over it for hours. Then again, she is the same can that runs into the T.V. trying to get whatever she can see...i know she's crazy lol
my GF's cat could care less about my tank :notsure: :notsure:
Thanks BoneBrake! Im suprised your cat doesn't go after the tank. Mine can go crazy over it for hours. Then again, she is the same can that runs into the T.V. trying to get whatever she can see...i know she's crazy lol
my GF's cat could care less about my tank :notsure: :notsure: