Nano Tank Setup

[ballet ninja]

Hey, I am thinking about purchasing a Nano tank, a Biocube (29g) I am just curious as to how much I will be looking at in setup cost.
By my calculations it would run somewhere between 850-1000$ is that about right, or am I overshooting somewhere?
Thanks
~Ballet Ninja

 

[nygel]

... for setup? or all together including livestock and such... cuz i think you overshot something if ur talkin basic setup.

 

[perfectdark]

I searched for 8 months for my BioCube 29, found it at a LFS for 229. LR approx 25lbs, Live sand, 100W heater, Hydrometer, BioSpira, Sea Salt Mix w/RO/DI water some accessories, test strips, tool for cleaning the glass and an extra power head. Total Cost = $ 650.00 Then I added fish, corals, more accessories, food etc. Basically where do you want to end and say that is considered basic. Every week i find myself buying somthing, guess basic is a relative term

 

[aquaguy24]

i got 24g aquapod. 20 lb live sand. 18lb lr. hybrometer. 20g real saltwater. 100w heater. a 5g bucket. digital temp. which i got all for 460 bucks. good enough just to get things started. as the weeks go by u can buy other things.

 

[ballet ninja]

Okay here is what I was thinking.
Set up
29G Biocube = 270
Stand = 130
43lbs LR = 179
31lbs LS = 100 Total = 813
Salt Master Test kit = 18
Auqa Temp Alert = 15
Hydrometer = 10
Refractor = 80
Istant Ocean 50G = 11
Additional
Sun Pod HQI MHF = 270
Grand Total = 1083
Okay. So, that is a larger number, but is that everything I need? Or did I add to much? I think it looks right.
Liverock is suppose to be 1.5lbs per 1gallon. Live sand I calculated on this site.
Any help would be awesome (if I forgot an item especially add it to my list.)
Thanks
~Ballet Ninja

 

[perfectdark]

I was told LR to be anywhere from 1 to 1.5 lbs per gal. I have about 28 in my 29. Not sure it that matters or not, I assume it would depend on what you want to put in your tank. I dont think your list is too much, for the exception of the stand and the HQI's I have pretty much what you describe. Although those are 2 big ticket items. * Do you have a heater already?

 

[azreefgirl]

If you're getting live rock, you don't necessarily need live sand. You can save some money by getting non-live sand. Eventually the LR will seed the sand and it will become LS. I think I paid about $35 for 2 15lb bags of Carib-Sea Argonite.
When you listed the refractor, I'm assuming you're meaning the refractometer for salinity readings. I got a great refractometer on swf.com for $40. Also, you don't need the hydrometer if you have a refractometer. A refractometer is easier to use and a lot more accurate than a plastic hydrometer.
You may also want to start out with a little less LR. You can always add more, and besides, some corals will come attached to LR already, so that will add more to the total. Usually, LR is figured at about 1-2 lbs per gallon depending on the density of the rock. Start out with about 25-30 lbs. You can always, and probably will, add more later.
Also, you don't have to get the MH right away. You can use the stock lighting in the Biocube for most things except anemones and sps corals.

 

[ballet ninja]

I forgot the heater! I was going to end up freezing my fish or cooking them! Thank you for reminding me.
What heater do you suggest? Also, I did not know you only needed one living in the tank (either LR or LS I thought both were essential.) That will defiantly help in setup costs.
Oh got a few questions about how many fish, and cleanup crew.
If I have a 29gallon tank, with 7904 cubed inches only about 6500 after the LR is added, how many fish would be okay to add? I am really interested in the study of the Boxing Crab, Scooter Blenny, and the Percs (2 clowns) Is that to much for the aquarium?
Fish
Month 1 (after cycle)
Feeder shrimp x1
Scarlet Hermit x2
Cerith snail x4
Month 2
Percula clown x2
Month 3
Blue reef Chromis x1
Month 4
... nothing here..
Month 5
Boxing Crab x1
Month 6
Scooter Blenny x1
Finish
That sounds like over crowd in a 29 gallon. Also, what would you suggest for cleaner crew? (Perfect Dark it sounds like you have what I want to set up, what kind of cleanup crew do you have?)
Again I am new let me know what I am doing wrong guys =)
Thanks for helping
~Ballet Ninja

 

[azreefgirl]

The actual water capacity of the Biocube 29 is only 23 gallons, so base your LR and fish calculations on that number, not 29 gallons.
I don't know much about the chromis, so I can't really give any advice about one of those in your tank. The 2 clowns should be fine. I'd advise to stay away from the scooter blenny (or mandarin, or twinspot goby, or any other critter that relies on copepods as a diet staple). Without the pods found in large, mature tanks, the fish will starve to death. Some people have kept them, but it is not recommended. Get a yellow watchman goby or bicolor blenny instead. They're both very pretty and cute to watch.

 

[perfectdark]

Although I am new to this too, I agree with AZ 100% not that she needs me to agree with her. But I fell victim to the Scooter Blenny issue, I wasnt informed of their feeding habits and diet until it was too late.
My next addition is a Midas Blenny, although they are the same species they eat much differently, or so I am told.
Oh and HQI's are on order I've held out long enough.

Ive got a Visi Therm 100 w heater, works fine for me.

 

[azreefgirl]

Originally Posted by PerfectDark
Although I am new to this too, I agree with AZ 100% not that she needs me to agree with her.
Oh and HQI's are on order I've held out long enough.

Thanks! IMO you can never have too many people agree with you!

Am I going to have the only Biocube in the United States that still has stock lighting???!!!!

 

[perfectdark]

If it makes you feel any better its under protest. Although I know the tank will only benefit from it, it did take me a while to press that left mouse button. One of the things that held me back for a while was the fact that I am going to lose the lid to my tank. I dont know about anyone else but the look of the tank is lost when you put these lights on top of it. Oh yea and then theres the $250 im spending too

 

[nyhcx516x]

Originally Posted by AZReefGirl
Thanks! IMO you can never have too many people agree with you!

Am I going go have the only Biocube in the United States that still has stock lighting???!!!!

nope, im still stock in my 8 with no plans to change

 

[aquaguy24]

i still have my stock light but i have an aquapod 24g.. plannin to upgrade before i put any corals so i don;t have to aclimate the corals to the new lighting if i were to upgrade after gettin some corals..

 

[clay12340]

I'd also consider cooling. Halides are going to rise the temp in that tank very quickly. You've got some chiller options that will run you anywhere from $100 - $500. If you don't want to spend the money a chiller you can use a fan which is less controllable and not quite as effective in most cases, but they are free if you've got one sitting around.