My 14gal BioCube

[devonxlovexx]

Hey there!!
This will be the start up tank for me with corals and inverts mostly, possibly 1-2 fish. I'll track down progress here and post pictures too!
Setup-
Live Rock: 20-30 lbs.
Sand: Live Sand...2 bags
Filter: Stock, except filter floss in 1st (or 3rd, however you look at it) chamber, and a bag of carbon along with filter cartridge in 3rd (or 1st) chamber. Live rubble mixed with bioballs in middle chamber. I also have a rotating power head.
Lighting: Stock
Today, I bought a coral banded shrimp and a mexican turbo snail. My levels were picture perfect across the board, with a calcium level of 450ppm.
Full Tank Shot:

Acclimation Shots of Mexican Turbo and Coral Banded Shrimp:

 

[kralicek3060]

Looks good. I have the same setup but I upgraded the pump to a rio 800 and added a Hydor which really stirs it up. On your sand bed, you may have too much. I had the same amount but the nitrates started to spike. So I took about half out and now everything is good. But I have the mid course aroginite. So it may not be the same for sand. How long have you had it up and running? I would also recommend B-Ionic buffer to get your coral line algae growth going. It works quick and will get it ready for all the good stuff.
Keep trucking and good luck!

 

[devonxlovexx]

Thank you for the input! I've had the tank going since November of last year, I decided to stick an invert in to start instead of a damsel because I've heard that the first creature you put in becomes the dominant one...and I certainly don't want an aggressive damsel becoming king of the rock in my tank!
I'll definetely look into those products though, I'm hoping that I can get a protein skimmer soon, but they're sooo~ expensive. @_@
Any ideas on that orange-y looking algae I've got growing? I tried to find the algae info thread on here but can't seem to track it down.

 

[devonxlovexx]

While I'm at it, I figured I'd show you guys these two pics of my little brother's rock in his show tank. They're AMAZING pieces! I want to buy the face rock from him. ^o^

Face Rock

Heart Rock (Sorta)

 

[kralicek3060]

I am not sure what that is, can't tell from the picture. All I know is as long as it isn't fuzzy hair algae, red, or bubbly probly not a problem. Check into that B-Ionic though or something simmilar called purple something. They have lots of them out there. But coralline algae is very beneficial to your aquarium especially if you are doing corals. If you are going to do corals, I would go to your LFS and buy small frags instead of spending $50-$60 for 1, I would buy little frags and watch them grow. Not only are you going to save money, but you can sell them back to many LFS and trade for bigger and better (thats what I do), unless you are impatient. But best of luck and keep up the good work!

 

[devonxlovexx]

Alright, will do! Yes, I'm definetely going to have to look up that B-Ionic, I want to do corals so badly!!
The algae isn't bubbly or hairy, so I guess it's fine, if anything, the turbo will have a little snack waiting for him! =)

 

[devonxlovexx]

Ah, now I know what you're talking about! I do use purple-up, which is what I suppose what you mean. I'll try out the B-Ionic too though, it wouldn't hurt!! :] Thanks again!!!

 

[devonxlovexx]

Well, after an hour's acclimation period, I let the shrimp and turbo into the tank...The turbo seems fine, but my shrimp is kind of just sticking to one spot on my rock and picking at it slowly. Is this okay?

I would think he'd be moving around more...I guess I'll just keep an eye on him...

 

[kralicek3060]

Just make sure you are not overdoseing calcium if you try B-Ionic. Purple-up is what I was talking about and it works great too. The banded probly just found somthing it liked. They eat worms and bristle's I think they eat aptasia too.He may have found something to eat. In my tank I have a frilly arrow crab (designer arrow crab) and a cleaner shrimp. When I dropped them in they did the same and went straight to work. So don't worry. If in a couple of hours he doesn't move then there may be a problem. By the pictyre he looked healthy. Did you acclimate him long 30+ minutes?

 

[devonxlovexx]

Yep, I acclimated him with a drip acclimation for an hour. Was that bad? I went by what saltwaterfish.com said I should acclimate him for...
He still hasn't moved. I'm really worried now.

 

[kralicek3060]

I wouldn't worry too much. wait till in the morning. Drip acclimation is the safest way. I usually use a shot glass and put 1 shot glass every 5-7 min for 30-45 min then throw them in. I haven't had an acclimation loss yet except my star fish. I personally think it was sick to begin with. But everything can't live forever I guess. Wait till in the morning. I am sure everything is fine. What are your water specs right now?

 

[kralicek3060]

Also, you didn't add the bagged water did you? Do not ever add the bagged water. At all cost try to scope the animal out and put them it after acclimation.

 

[devonxlovexx]

I'll test the water in a bit.
No, I didn't add the bagged water, I scooped him out with a net into the tank.
That's what I did, though I used a dixie cup rather than a shot glass. ^^;; I kept adding one dixie cup every ten minutes for an hour.

 

[devonxlovexx]

Okay, my levels are as follows:
pH: 8.4
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0-5 ppm (can't really tell the color, it's somewhere in between those two though)
Nitrite: 0ppm
A pH like that shouldn't kill though right? The the guy at my LFS said that my levels were fine for an addition to the tank...I guess I'll wait till morning, I turned off the lights except for the moonlight to help reduce stress on him...

 

[kralicek3060]

no. that ph is very suitable for a reef steup. Here are some good perameters to go by.
For a coral reef setup:
Specific Gravity - 1.025
Temp. 82
Ph - 8.0-8.5
Alk - 6-8 dKH
Ammonia - near zero
Nitrite - near zero
Nitrate - <.25 ppm
Phos - .13 ppm
Calcium - 380-420 ppm
Magnesium - 1300 ppm
Iodine - .06 ppm
Strontium - 8-10 ppm
If you go by these everything should be straight.

 

[devonxlovexx]

Hm. I will use those in the future *jots down in notebook*
I woke up this morning and he still hadn't moved...

so I removed him from the tank. I guess I'll have to play by the rules and try a damsel later this week. I can't seem to figure out where I went wrong. It's so frustrating!

Thank you for all your help though! It really helped me not feel so alone in this situation!

 

[kralicek3060]

Are you sure he was dead. Sometimes it takes a while for them to perk up after being acclimated.

 

[devonxlovexx]

I'm quite sure, he was so lifeless...it was mortifying really...I feel so horrible.