to skim or not to skim

keith gray

keith gray

Member
I just bought my 17 year old son a 14 biocube this weekend. We used water that has already cycled and put in sand and lr. I am gonna see how it goes before adding fish or anything. I did test PH the day after setup and it is really low. May be due to water temp, etc.
It came with bioballs and carbon. I may switch out bioballs with live rubble rock later.
The system did not come with skimmer. Is it worth it to skim ?
How many of you nano folks skim your cubes ?
He will be doing 10-15% water changes every week when I do the water changes on my 65gal.
thoughts everyone ?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I do not use a skimmer in my 14G BioCube. The skimmer they sell for it doesn't work very good. Weekly water changes are good enough, just make sure he does not over feed.
I went the extra step of putting a piece of filter pad over my LR rubble that I change weekly. A huge bag costs me $4.95 and it lasts months, just have to cut to fit the chamber.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
On a 14 gallon biocube, as long as you keep the bioload low, there should be no need for a skimme. Especially it the 10-15% water changes are done religously.
Do not IMO replace the bioballs with rock rubble. If nothing else replace them with a bag of chemipure elite and purigen.
Just for you information cycled water is a misnomer. There is nothing in the water that will really aid in the cycling process. The bacteria needed for the nitrification denitrification is resident on the hard surfaces in our tanks, not in the water. If anything the "cycled water" could be deficient in trace element chemistry and have unwanted nitratesphosphates etc in it.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3211857
On a 14 gallon biocube, as long as you keep the bioload low, there should be no need for a skimme. Especially it the 10-15% water changes are done religously.
Do not IMO replace the bioballs with rock rubble. If nothing else replace them with a bag of chemipure elite and purigen.
Just for you information cycled water is a misnomer. There is nothing in the water that will really aid in the cycling process. The bacteria needed for the nitrification denitrification is resident on the hard surfaces in our tanks, not in the water. If anything the "cycled water" could be deficient in trace element chemistry and have unwanted nitratesphosphates etc in it.
+1 on the chemi pure, forgot to mention that.
However, I started my biocube the same way you did, it does cut down on the time. Check parameters, but more than likely you will be fine. I've started many tanks this way. i believe mie just started a 12g with the same method.
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
I assumed there would not be a cycle. Should I test and look for one before I add any live stuff ?
he probably will have 2 or 3 really small fish. Maybe 2 percula and a goby, something like that.
He is already buggin me about fraggin some of my stuff to give him,lol !
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
Oh yeh, I forgot to mention, I don't know if it matters or not, but the tank was about 4-5 months old and had been up and running. There is a good presence of coralline algae on the back of tank
 
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