My biocube 29 gal

[totalEnVy]

Here is my set up. Nothing to fancy as far as add ons or mods. Trying to find a media basket and figure out a way to use a good protein skimmer. Also looking to use a sump tank setup. I did however setup a 50 gal bio wheel as extra filtering and added a blue 40 watt 17 inch LED bar. I have 60 GPS water flow and thinking that is to much flow. Any suggestions?

 

[totalEnVy]

Map removed

 

[totalEnVy]

No advice? Anyone got tips for add ons or mods to these bio cubes? Am I doing anything wrong?

 

[05spooln]

Look in to InTank media baskets. Great mod for these for the money IMO.

 

[totalEnVy]

What skimmer should i get?

 

[05spooln]

What skimmer should i get?

if you keep up with water changes on a weekly basis , you shouldn't need one imo

 

[totalEnVy]

Are you sure? I've been told I have a heavy bio load in my tank. I'm also trying to keep my water as perfect as possible. I also can't get rid of my hair algae blooms

 

[totalEnVy]

I have the money and the time and think it won't hurt will it? Like I said I'm just trying to make sure my water is picture perfect and steady as possible. Plus it's kind of fun doing upgrades and mods. I just want the best set up!

 

[totalEnVy]

Updated pick on layout, also wondering if I should suspend my bigger rocks off the sand bed by putting smaller support rocks under them? Will that allow less debris build and more room for my snails and star fish to Rome and feed?

 

[bribo12]

What is the bioload in your tank? How many and what kind of fish? If you want a skimmer you can get one it won't hurt. I highly suggest you stop dosing unless you're testing for all those. I see no sps corals so I doubt calcium and magnesium are being used heavily. I agree that the skimmer isn't necessary if you keep up on water changes. Also how often are you feeding?

 

[totalEnVy]

Ok I'm really noob to fish forums and abbreviated terms, so I don't get the sps. LFS I get, live fish store? Anywho I'm not dosing that much really just trying to keep my hammer and candy cane growing. Also doesn't the 1 and 2 cal and mag keep the the water ph and buffered?

 

[bribo12]

Ok I'm really noob to fish forums and abbreviated terms, so I don't get the sps. LFS I get, live fish store? Anywho I'm not dosing that much really just trying to keep my hammer and candy cane growing. Also doesn't the 1 and 2 cal and mag keep the the water ph and buffered?

Oh sorry sps is small polyp Stoney corals. When you mix a new batch of saltwater that will replace all the chemicals that have been used by your corals. Your sand, rock and salt mix keep the water pH and buffered. Your hammer and candy cane use up minimal amounts of those elements. Corals like acropora, montipora, seriatopora will use it a lot faster. Back to the skimmer, it will help but it really isn't needed if you're staying on top of water changes.

 

[totalEnVy]

My bio load is... 1 six line wrasse
1 green/red mandarin
1 brown leaf pipe fish
1 bubble rose anemone
1 white/yellow anemone
1 pink/yellow marble starfish
1 sea urchin( don't know type but it's reef safe, not spiney)
1 white anemone crab
1 conch snail med
1 turbo snail large
7-10 bumble bee snails
1 green hammer
5 ricordea
1 Christmas tree coral( 12 worms and one lobster)
1 feather duster
5 torches
1 purple Octobers macro algae(rare breed)
Many other zoa and multi button polyps and other mushrooms
15 blue leg red leg spiney leg
1 lager blue leg herms

 

[totalEnVy]

Oh sorry sps is small polyp Stoney corals. When you mix a new batch of saltwater that will replace all the chemicals that have been used by your corals. Your sand, rock and salt mix keep the water pH and buffered. Your hammer and candy cane use up minimal amounts of those elements. Corals like acropora, montipora, seriatopora will use it a lot faster. Back to the skimmer, it will help but it really isn't needed if you're staying on top of water changes.

You mean these?

 

[bribo12]

You mean these?

Nah that first picture are zoanthids a soft coral and the second is blastomussa a large polyp stony or lps coral. Sps are like this

 

[bribo12]

My bio load is... 1 six line wrasse 1 green/red mandarin 1 brown leaf pipe fish 1 bubble rose anemone 1 white/yellow anemone 1 pink/yellow marble starfish 1 sea urchin( don't know type but it's reef safe, not spiney) 1 white anemone crab 1 conch snail med 1 turbo snail large 1 green hammer 5 ricordea 1 Christmas tree coral( 12 worms and one lobster) 1 feather duster 5 torches 1 purple Octobers macro algae(rare breed) Many other zoa and multi button polyps and other mushrooms
15 blue leg red leg spiney leg 1 lager blue leg herms

Also that's not a terribly high bioload, the inverts don't add to much. I think you're fine without a skimmer especially if everything is growing and doing well.

 

[totalEnVy]

Just worried about debris and my dead spots. I have hair algae blooms with around 66 gps. The soft corals I have don't like to much water flow so I'm trying to get as much of the bad stuff out as possible. Heard protein levels can feed the algae along with the debris and nit..

 

[bribo12]

Just worried about debris and my dead spots. I have hair algae blooms with around 66 gps. The soft corals I have don't like to much water flow so I'm trying to get as much of the bad stuff out as possible. Heard protein levels can feed the algae along with the debris and nit..

Yeah a skimmer is definitely beneficial. If you have the money to spend I say go for it. Do you know what your phosphate level is? I've noticed that is generally the main contributor for hair algae

 

[totalEnVy]

Yeah a skimmer is definitely beneficial. If you have the money to spend I say go for it. Do you know what your phosphate level is? I've noticed that is generally the main contributor for hair algae

Lol 0ppm but I've heard they are hidden with in the algae...

 

[bribo12]

Lol 0ppm but I've heard they are hidden with in the algae...

yeah your hair algae disagrees with that 0 lol. A skimmer should help pull some of that out before the algae can feed off it.