Well now what?

[fenrir]

Well I finally couldnt resist and I bought a 14 gallon Bio Cue at my local pet store. Waiting to see how mad the girl friend will get when she see's that I bought it. Anyway now that I have the tank I realize I have no idea what I should do now. I live in Ohio so its cold so I know I will need a small heater. Iv'e read on here how people get rid of all the stuff in the back filtraion and replace it with live rock, and If I could get directions on ow to do that I would greatly appreciate it.

Sorry for the bad pciture camera is kind of messed up. The hat on top is a carolina gamecocks hat if anyone is wondering, can you guess where I want to be?

 

[demartini]

All you need to do is take out the bio-balls in the middle chamber and fill it with small pieces of live rock. I also don't recommend using the stock filter cartridge because it costs too much to replace and it restricts flow to the back making the display water level too high. I just use a small piece of filter floss on top of the drip tray. You can buy a large pack for about $5 and it will last you for months. Then if you want you can add a bag of carbon or any other filter media. For the heater, a Visi-Therm Stealth Heater (picture shown below) fits perfectly in the first chamber. You can see some pictures of how I have my filter set up in my thead.

 

[sigmachris]

Originally Posted by DeMartini
All you need to do is take out the bio-balls in the middle chamber and fill it with small pieces of live rock. I also don't recommend using the stock filter cartridge because it costs too much to replace and it restricts flow to the back making the display water level too high. I just use a small piece of filter floss on top of the drip tray. You can buy a large pack for about $5 and it will last you for months. Then if you want you can add a bag of carbon or any other filter media. For the heater, a Visi-Therm Stealth Heater (picture shown below) fits perfectly in the first chamber. You can see some pictures of how I have my filter set up in my thead.
DM a couple of quick ones to clarify.
1) If you have a good amount of LR rubble in the middle chamber do you need rubble in the right chamber with the heater? I have read different warnings on packages that the heaters CAN'T be touching anything.
2) This I think is from your diary...do you leave bags of carbon in the chambers all of the time or do you put them in periodically? Please clarify, as I understand it carbon would take to much nutrients out of our small systems.
Thanks,
Chris

 

[fenrir]

Ok that thread of yours was very useful but I was wondering what should I ad next? SHould I add the water get it to the right levels add the sand, get the levels right, then add live rock? Also when should I get a protien skimmer? Thanks.

 

[fenrir]

Bump please, im really excited to start soon!

 

[demartini]

First fill it up with fresh water to make sure there isn't any leaks. After that, if you used ro/di water for the fresh water test, I would add the salt to make it salt water. Let that sit for about a day to mix the salt water. Then you can add your rocks and sand. They recommend that you add the rocks first, and then the sand so the rocks don't accidentally shift and fall over. After adding the sand, the water will be very cloudy, but thats normal, just wait for it to clear up. To start your cycle just add 1 piece of raw shrimp. Do already know about cycling?
You don't need a protein skimmer, but it you want to add one the Sapphire NC12 at nanotuners can fit into the middle chamber with little modification.

 

[fenrir]

I know that you need to let it run for a couple of days. But what kind of test equipment will I need to use to test it? Thanks for the help so much Im a complete newb with this.

 

[demartini]

The cycle is going to take more than just a few days. It will take a couple of weeks. After a day or two after adding the raw shrimp, you will see ammonia spike up then drop, then nitrite, and then once you only have nitrates you do water changes until that is gone. Once all your peramiters are at 0 your ready to add fish.
The basic test kits that you need are ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. If you plan on having a reef you should also get alkalinity and calcium tests.

 

[fenrir]

Ok so I should cylce everything after adding the rocks and sand? Also the fan for the lights in my Bio Cube are really loud. Any way to quite the babies down?

 

[demartini]

yes, you need the rocks and sand to complete the cycle. I don't think the fans that loud. I can only hear it when the room is completely quiet. If its really that much louder, there might be something wrong with it. It shouldn't be any louder than the fans in a computer.

 

[fenrir]

Hmm no its loud enoough to come over the tv. I might go and see if I can take it apart, and thanks for the quick responses!

 

[steveoutla]

You could shorten the cycle period by using aragonite live sand and the seawater they sell at some LFS. But the best way to do it is to find someone into saltwater in your area and get their leftover water when they do a water change.

 

[demartini]

Originally Posted by Fenrir
Hmm no its loud enoough to come over the tv. I might go and see if I can take it apart, and thanks for the quick responses!
I think AZreefgirl had the same problem. call up oceanic and they will send you replacement fans.

 

[fenrir]

Ok thanks I kind of fixed it, but it still a little to loud. Ill give oceanic a call.

 

[fenrir]

Ok i got my live rock and my salinity all squared out and my tank is now running. All I need to do is add the live sand that I have. Should I leave my pump running or leave it off until it all settles? Also after adding the sand what is my next step?

 

[demartini]

I would turn off the pumps as you pour the sand in. Then i would turn the pumps on to help filter and clear the water. The next step would be to add a raw shrimp to start your cycle.

 

[fenrir]

Ok thanks! I put a pound in a half of LR in the back filtration, will that be enough it didn't fill to the top.

 

[demartini]

That should be fine. You can put a bag of carbon on top of the rocks... it will help clear up your tank.

 

[highcottn1]

Nice Hat Dude, Go South Carolina!!

 

[fenrir]

Yeah im originally from Lexington South Carolina and im still dissapointed in that blocked field goal agianst florida..should of won that game
Anyway I will post pics of my set up soon, I have the sand in and everthing is finally clearing up. I have noticed that the top of my water there is brownih film. Is this normal or should I remove it manually?
And I want to thank everyone thats helped me out so far, this board is what made me finally take the plunge into salt water.