New Oceanic BioCube 14gallon!!!

[mr86mister]

Well I'm new to the saltwater community and I'm very eager to finally learn some new things. I have been running Freshwater tanks my entire life. My mom has taught me since I was a kid. I'm currently 21 in college and have finally decided to dive in to the ocean. So I bought myself an Oceanic BioCube 14gallon and start from there. In my previous thread this is what I planned.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f101/first-nano-addition-my-addiction-100320.html

So now I will start the step by step process and will update each time I add. This will take a few weeks because I need to finish researching and I'm a poor college student as well. My investment so far is around the $300 mark and it will only grow! Hope you all like!

First Items I bought!

After unwrapping my gift I received in the mail!

Another package! Powersweep 212

1-10,000K 24watt and 1-Actinic 24watt 2- 3/4watt Lunar Lighting

Plenty of power cords

Immediately after setup

Two Days Later:

Soon to be Live Rock in center chamber and currently Renu 50watt in right

Received this with my Live Sand (it was inside the bag)

Thats all I have for now. Any questions or comments or ideas. Please go right ahead!!

 

[Sadielynn]

Very nice , you are off to a good start Invest in a refracometer that is one must have return the hydrometer as they are not very accurite and can cause issues with trying to figure out if something is off
this is the one I use and like it
Premium Blue Refractometer - RHS-10ATC: Premium Aquatics
Some times you can find them in the classifieds here or other sites , as well as ebay .

 

[mr86mister]

Well, I just went out and bought the Marine Saltwater Master Test Kit and a few Reef test kits. Also 14lbs of Live Rock, and around here the cheapest I could find of the good stuff was $10 a pound. So my pocket is a bit empty now. The guy who I have been working with at my LFS actually lives in the apartments across from campus where he has a salty of his own. I plan on taking a few pictures for you guys of the new live rock. I'll post them later this evening. The rock is fully cured as well so I plan on letting it sit for a few days to make sure all the measurements work out before I put the tank cleaners in there.

 

[mr86mister]

New Live Rock with Epoxy(random purple putty looking stuff)

Hope You Like

 

[GodOSoot]

Very nice , you are off to a good start Invest in a refracometer that is one must have return the hydrometer as they are not very accurite and can cause issues with trying to figure out if something is off
this is the one I use and like it
Premium Blue Refractometer - RHS-10ATC: Premium Aquatics
Some times you can find them in the classifieds here or other sites , as well as ebay .

I heard from a LFS that do not let salt dry on them, rinse with FW preferably RO/DI everytime your done with them.

He said the salt will dry then dissolve again causing the reading to be off.

That said a refractometer is a better choice but if your consistent in practices the hydrometer should be fine. Mine has been right on so far with the salnity the salt says I should have based on how much I am using.

The best thing you can do to not have any headaches is buy DI/RO water in the gallon jugs if you don't trust the fish stores or supermarkets filters.

 

[mr86mister]

NEW PICS OF UPDATED TANK!!!! 3/7/08

FIREFISH

CLOWNFISH, NOT SURE IF EITHER TRUE OR FALSE PERCULA

YELLOW WATCHMAN GOBY (he got into a fight with my firefish over a hiding spot)

THEY SEEM TO HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE

PEPPERMINT SHRIMP

I ALSO HAVE A SMALL BRITTLE STAR, 2 TURBO SNAILS, 4 HERMIT CRABS, 2 ASTRIUS SNAILS, ANEMONE CRAB AND A 2ND PEPPERMINT SHRIMP.

 

[mr86mister]

HERE ARE MY CORALS THAT I HAVE IN THE TANK SO FAR!!


RICORDIA MUSHROOMS

LEATHER MUSHROOM CORAL (not sure exactly which one)

YELLOW ZOAS

LAST BUT NOT LEAST MY FAVORITE. BUBBLE TIP ANENOME WITH ANEMONE CRAB

I've been doing non stop research on this. I do realize the BTA might get too large for my tank. But in case I have made a deal with my LFS that I can trade it back in if it gets to large for 2 smaller soft corals!

 

[Ziggy953]

The tank looks great!

That is a False Perc (O. Clown)
Toadstool leather

Since you have so much live stock in the tank and so quickly I would be doing 2 PWCs a week with the tank. Make sure you are testing your levels on a regular basis also. You have to let your tank catch up to the bioload.

It looks great though! Very nicely done!

 

[mr86mister]

Thanks Ziggy.

Yes, thats exactly what I have been doing. I use RO water I buy in 5 Gallon boxes from my LFS. I do daily parameter checks and water change every 4 days. Everything is going well so far. *cross your fingers* No more fish for that tank anyways...lol. Now I will take my time with corals.

I was looking at Pulsing Xenia and more Zoas to add eventually.

 

[Ziggy953]

Be very careful adding xenia to your tank. It can and will take over. IF you put it in your tank put it on a rock that is seperate from the rest of your rock. It will "walk" all over the tank leaving new stalks as it goes.

I'm glad to hear that you are checking your water and keeping up with the tank! I love Zoas so I say go nuts with them there are some amazing ones out there and if you are looking for particular ones I might have them.

 

[mr86mister]

Thanks. I love Xenia but not enough to overcrowd my tank. That is something I will really keep in mind.

I was at my LFS and I was checking out their display tank. The Xenia are all over, it looks absolutely amazing, I could watch them for hours. To be honest, I'm not sure what type of Zoa's I am looking for. I am looking to add some red and blue colors to my tank. But thats all I'm at right now...lol.

 

[mr86mister]

I was looking at Sun Coral. They are absolutely gorgeous when they are all bundled up on a rock. Now as I'm aware they don't have specific light requirements you just need to feed them 3-4 times a week?

Thanks to Lando for that picture he posted!!! But thats what I am talking about!

I've never seen any of those anywhere. Are they expensive?

 

[redBernadino]

YELLOW ZOAS

Just trying to help here, but those look more like Aiptasia Anemones... Can anyone else confirm/deny that for me? I had these all over my 60 gal, and it was really a losing battle. Dont the zoas have more "stubby" fingers, for lack of a better term?

 

[lando]

Given the spacing and side profile of them I would say they are aips. Try some Joe's Juice.

 

[mr86mister]

Really? Uhoh, that's not good. I was wondering why they did not look like normal Zoa's. Hmmmmm

 

[joshr]

I would suggest reef crystals if your keeping corals since reef crystals has more calcium

 

[Caige]

water change question

Thanks Ziggy.

Yes, thats exactly what I have been doing. I use RO water I buy in 5 Gallon boxes from my LFS. I do daily parameter checks and water change every 4 days. Everything is going well so far. *cross your fingers* No more fish for that tank anyways...lol. Now I will take my time with corals.

I was looking at Pulsing Xenia and more Zoas to add eventually.

Your tank looks awesome! how much water are you changing out per change?

 

[pat8you]

Now as I'm aware they don't have specific light requirements you just need to feed them 3-4 times a week?

Sun corals don't have the symbiotic algae that most do to get their food from the light. The open their polyps mostly at night or when there is food around. You do have to feed them often. The only thing i didn't think about when i got one of these is that because of they hand feedings all the time it really can cause your problems with your nitrates in a nano. I have to take mine out of the tank in another container and feed it there.

 

[mr86mister]

OK! It's been a very long time and it is really time for me to update on pictures!! Here You Go!

I have been fragging out the Kenyan Tree Coral because it has spread around my tank like crazy! And the pulsing Xenia is growing very well too.

Unfortunately I am learning that Oceanic has terrible ballasts. My ballast for the Actinic light blew so I had to order from nanotuners and it's taking a week to get here. Then when all I had was my 10K running that blew. So i had to go out, buy a new 10K bulb and switch the bulbs over. It is becoming a pain in the butt.

I also have purchased the Oceanic Protein Skimmer for chamber 1. It seems to be working well so far and my water seems a bit cleaner for some reason. Could be just me!

 

[mr86mister]

btw, forgot to add this! here you go! ENJOY!!!