exmasonite
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hey all. This is my first post here. Was hoping to be able to lurk for a few weeks but had a more pressing question.
Just purchased a used Oceanic Biocube 29. Goal is to set it up as a reef tank. Have had 3 FW tanks in past and ran a 30gal reef tank for 2 years but have been out of game for about 5-6 years with grad school.
Here's what I have/have done so far:
-Set up tank, have 2+" base of non-live sand (willing to wait 2-3 weeks for cycle and wanted to shave a little cost). 21 lbs of live rock and am adding stable 1 capful every day.
Chamber 1: filter floss
Chamber 2: bag of BioMax and a few bio balls (while other stuff en route- see below)
Chamber 3: Stock 243 gph pump
100w Aqueon heater in corner of tank
Set up the tank 48 hrs ago. Temp is at 78. Salinity/spec grab at 1.021. PH today was 7.8 and ammonia at 0.25
My big question is I saw the small maroon red organism that looks sorta like a soft coral attached to my liverock today. Just wondering what it is and whether it's something I need to remove/be concerned about. If it's something "good", is there anything I can do to support it during the cycle?
Btw, here are upcoming mods/plans:
- InTank Media basket, fuge, and fish saver (ordered)
- Aquatic Life 115 mini skimmer (ordered- I know I will have to mod the air line to quiet it down)
- New 36W 10K daylight bulb and 36W Actinic (ordered)
- 1W LED for fuge (ordered)
- Hydor 565 gph powerhead
Goal will be to have 2-3 fish (unsure what... probably clown, maybe a goby or gramma, very prelim) and some soft corals. If I can upgrade to LEDs in future, may get into stony corals and other challenging things.
I am planning on being extremely patient... not in any hurry. If i get fish in by christmas, great.
One follow up question: when should I stock chaeto into the refuge? During cycle or only once there's some livestock to produce waste/nutrients for it?
Thanks in advance. I am sure I will have more questions in the future. I appreciate the help in advance.
Just purchased a used Oceanic Biocube 29. Goal is to set it up as a reef tank. Have had 3 FW tanks in past and ran a 30gal reef tank for 2 years but have been out of game for about 5-6 years with grad school.
Here's what I have/have done so far:
-Set up tank, have 2+" base of non-live sand (willing to wait 2-3 weeks for cycle and wanted to shave a little cost). 21 lbs of live rock and am adding stable 1 capful every day.
Chamber 1: filter floss
Chamber 2: bag of BioMax and a few bio balls (while other stuff en route- see below)
Chamber 3: Stock 243 gph pump
100w Aqueon heater in corner of tank
Set up the tank 48 hrs ago. Temp is at 78. Salinity/spec grab at 1.021. PH today was 7.8 and ammonia at 0.25
My big question is I saw the small maroon red organism that looks sorta like a soft coral attached to my liverock today. Just wondering what it is and whether it's something I need to remove/be concerned about. If it's something "good", is there anything I can do to support it during the cycle?
Btw, here are upcoming mods/plans:
- InTank Media basket, fuge, and fish saver (ordered)
- Aquatic Life 115 mini skimmer (ordered- I know I will have to mod the air line to quiet it down)
- New 36W 10K daylight bulb and 36W Actinic (ordered)
- 1W LED for fuge (ordered)
- Hydor 565 gph powerhead
Goal will be to have 2-3 fish (unsure what... probably clown, maybe a goby or gramma, very prelim) and some soft corals. If I can upgrade to LEDs in future, may get into stony corals and other challenging things.
I am planning on being extremely patient... not in any hurry. If i get fish in by christmas, great.
One follow up question: when should I stock chaeto into the refuge? During cycle or only once there's some livestock to produce waste/nutrients for it?
Thanks in advance. I am sure I will have more questions in the future. I appreciate the help in advance.
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