noob to marine 14 gallon biocube

[rhinokio]

I've been a fresh water tank operator for a number of years but i'm finaly taking the jump to saltwater.

I've got a 14 gallon biocube, its set up now stock, with live sand and live rock. its cycling. i'll probably be stocking it in a week or so. so is it best to put in soft corals first? then how long of a wait before fish? at what stage can i put in snails and other cleaners?

also i read that some corals will sting others but i see on here and elsewhere tanks where they are all close together,

any help will be appreciated

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT !

I'd recommend waiting 4 weeks to start stocking your tank as long as all the water parameters are in check, some tanks may cycle faster depending on how "cured" the live rock was when you started out.

Ist step is usually a cleaning crew of snails and Hermit crabs (some people don't like crabs in the reef though)

Use the time the tank is cycling to really research and ask questions regarding livestock and your long term plans for the tank.

[rhinokio]

thanks for the response, the tanks been up a lil over a week, and i've nuked the tank with 2 doses of bio spira to get the ball moving.

the amonias down to .25 i'm hoping in a nother week or so the whole thing will be cycled. so you recomend the clean up crew before any soft corals? i'm wanting to do frogspawns, leathers, and more.

I've got the tank set up in my office at work. if it goes well i think i'll be doing a 120- to 200 gallon at my home in the next year or so.

[dobejazz]

Salt water tanks cycle a bit differently than fresh - you do need the bacteria to get going but you will also have, diatoms and ususally cyano to deal with before the tank settles down a bit

a common quote is "Nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank"

Most leathers are a good choice for starters as well as mushrooms and Palys - Frogspawn can be aggressive so it's best to leave a bit of space around them

[rhinokio]

so how do i know when its ready? and about the diatoms and cyano, what is the deal with those?

[dobejazz]

Diatoms are a reddish brown dust that covers everything it usually goes away on it's own in a week or 2 - Cyano is called an algae but is really a type of bacteria

[rhinokio]

i'm sad i missed the nano build off comp. so i should wait till the redish brown dust shows up and goes away before i put in my soft corals? even after the water paramaters look good? what if the params get good and i don't see this red dust?

the stock i'm currently thinking for my tank
small black/white clown
small false perc clown
skunk cleaner shrimp
fire shrimp
handfull of various snails
(maybe a blue leg hermit or 2, with plenty of extra shells.)

and on soft corals i'm thinking

candy cane
toadstool leather
(befiner mushroom and polyp pack from dr fosters and smiths , or either same things seperatly bought
med button or colony polyp
med yellow colony polyp
med hairy mushroom coral
med bullseye mushroom or green flourescent mushroom.
green bubble


again this is just a rough idea, i will be reasearching


also do corals need to be quarantined?

[rhinokio]

my trites are still pretty high so may be a bit longer. my ph is a bit on the low side. 7.8 whats the best way to raise that up to a more desirable level? going to pick up a reef test kit today after work,

i sold off some warhammer minitures and paint kit to some coworkers and got a couple hundred bucks to spend on livestock if this thing ever gets situated!

again would it be better to put in the cleaners shrimp and snails before corals? maybe put them in (after the water params are better) and let the tank sit for a couple weeks. before adding the soft corals, thinking about ordering a good bit from smith and foster, any one deal with them? and are they a good company?

i just noticed i have that redigh brown alge forming on the glass,

[dobejazz]

Originally Posted by rhinokio

i'm sad i missed the nano build off comp.

Welcome to the build off

[benzzz]

Diatoms...you will know when you get them and they will coat everything,They did in my tank.

In case you are not sure what they are here is a pic from my 20g..

Cheers, Lloyd

[kimsie]

Welcome to TRT and to the build off!

[DarthOcellaris]

welcome to the build off and to TRT

good start corals are leathers, mushrooms, palys and even zoanthids like Kelli ( dobejazz ) stated. Lps corals are a fairly easy coral for beginners....Frogspawn and a Hammer coral are the two that really come to mind. Like kelli said though, give them at least 6 - 10 inches around in all directions because they have 'sweeper' tentacles that will sting the neighbors.

[TheBeak]

6-10 inches? guess their out of the question for me then... if I put one in the middle it could reach the whole tank...

[Danyen]

welcome to the buildoff! and to TRT! You might want to wait a bit before adding the shrimp. They are pretty sensitive to nitrate levels. I'd recommend adding them last, after a clean up crew, and then fish.

I've never bought from the good Dr.'s, but I know their wholesaler and they have quality stuff. Many people on here have purchased from them and have had good results.

[rhinokio]

thanks for the kind words and helpfull sugestions. the nitrites are going down and i have 5 small hermit crabs grazing on the nasty gunk that came on my live rock. i was curious can the heater go in one of the compartments behind the main tank?