wallie's 29g Biocube Diary

[wallie03]

Hello all, This is my new Biocube started on 2-9-11. i have 35lbs of live rock and 40lbs of live sand. I upgraded the return pump to a maxi jet 1200 and added two korala nano 425. just waiting for the long cycle to complete

 

[nano-newb1983]

looking good, small tip.. if you wanna speed up the cycle get a raw uncooked shrimp in there.. it will get the cycle rolling in no time

 

[wallie03]

Thanks for the tip... i did put a raw shrimp in there last Thursday. my ammonia is at .25<.50. so im just testing every other day or so

 

[nano-newb1983]

cool, looking forward to seeing this bad boy stocked

 

[wallie03]

You and me both!!! I'm going to order a media rack and a fuge basket next week..

 

[wallie03]

I have been testing every day (I'm NOT rushing this just curious)the shrimp has completely dissolved except for a few pieces floating around. however my ammonia has only reached .25>.50 and the last three days it has come up with 0 (I'm using API test kits.) I have cycled tanks before but usually with in a week i have high ammonia.
Ok so i just tested and here are my levels
ammonia 0ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 5.0<10 ppm
I'm going to wait a few days and do a water change.. do u guys think i should put some fish food into the tank to provide a source of ammonia?...thoughts? I'm not planning on adding anything till next weekend as long as i don't see a spike. maybe a few snails? MY stock list is as follows which will be added slowly
1.20 or so snails Ceriths and turbos..maybe a few bumble bees
2. shrimp(not sure which one still researching. suggestions welcome)
3. 2 percs
4.1 or two more fish down the road i would like a gobie or a blenn5ie
5. zoos,mushrooms,sps

 

[nano-newb1983]

i wouldnt do a water change or anything else if u did the shrimp.. In a new days im sure it go up, once u get brown alge film on ur rocks and sand u will know they cycle complete. that would be a ditom (sp) bloom
stock list looks good