New Biocube 29gal, would appreciate some advice

[SCHEITHE]

I'm am buying a biocube 29gal. this is my first saltwater tank. im making it a reef tank. first what should the pH level be? second how may fish could i put into a 29gal reef tank, 4 fish right?. I'm planing on doing a hard and soft coral. I was told to get metal hallogen lights,I found out it might over heat with those lights. could i get a better cooling fan for my tank.
thank you all for your help.

[Reeftanker3295]

Get a better return pump, take out the bioballs, and if you want metal halides, some people use viper clamp on lamps for their 29 biocubes and grow SPS.
http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem....content=JB9113

[random]

Hi! welcome to the addiction!
Fairly new at this, myself (we have a 29 gal. too, just a regular tank), but hope this will help, until someone who knows more comes along:

Originally Posted by SCHEITHE

first what should the pH level be?

The pH should be between 7.9 - 8.4 (it will fluctuate during your light cycle)

Originally Posted by SCHEITHE

second how may fish could i put into a 29gal reef tank, 4 fish right?.

The answer you'll probably hear a lot is, "It depends..." (I know - not a very satisfying answer, right? but that's the one we got, too ;-)
It has to do with:
what kind of fish would you like?
how much live rock/sand do/will you have?
mechanical filtration
& how much work you're willing to do.

HTH

[Loverotties]

+1 and you mite need a chiller and it depends on the size fish you want for the amont,and what type of coarls too!

[chrisd]

it does depend on what type of fish, 4 is a good start as long as most of them do not get any bigger then 3 inches. your going to have to upgrade the lighting for sure if your going to keep sps. any fan blowing across the surface of the water will help to keep things cool. one other thing to consider is that you will need to set up some kind of ATO or your going to have to top off the tank everyday by hand.
welcome to TRT

[raskal311]

Why buy an all in one tank then go upgrade the lights? A huge chunk of the cost of that tank is the hood so it doesn't make sense to just remove it. A standard cube tank with a HOB skimmer and a nice light would probably serve you better.

[chrisd]

+1 i have a biocube as well and left the stock lighting in it. i keep softies,hammer coral(lps),and ricordia,nothing wrong with that mix of corals.