New JBJ 28 gal Nano Cube...remove the filter stuff? LR okay in the dark?

[audge27]

I got my tank this weekend and put some distilled water and some red sea salt in. I've got 25lbs of live rock on hold....I want to do a reef set-up with just a couple of clowns, a goby, and some shrimp/crabs/little invets...

I've been reading a lot about those with similar set-ups and I have a couple of questions:

• There's talk about not using any of the black filter sponges...and the ceramic rings? and the carbon? is this correct? take them all out? or do I wait until I have the LR in there and the tank cycles and then take it all out? And I've heard of putting live rock crumbles in the chamber? would I need anything else with it?

• I ordered the tank online...and the "separately packaged" Remote HQI Ballast was not shipped. So it may be a week or so before I get any lights on in the tank. Can I still put the LR in? or will this do some damage to the liveliness of those rocks for them to be in the dark for a while?

I guess that was a little more than two questions...but I'm new at this all-in-one thing...

Going okay so far...had tons of microbubbles and thought it was air coming in from the elbow at the top of the return pumps in the back, but I figured out that it just needed a little more water back there at the bottom of the chamber presto! no more bubbles!

[TheWeaz]

I have a red sea max which is pretty close to what you have and I also was told that I should take out all that filter media and let the LR and filter take care of itself.. Which I heard it will as long as you keep up with the water changes. I replaced all my stock filter media ( which was the course black sponge, the ceramic beads and the cheap thin sponge filter) with a PURA filter pad. Supposedly these are the best on the market. they were like product of the year in 2006 or something. It seems to be working just as well but It didn't seem to make a significant difference. see, youll learn that everyone has their own expert opinion and not everyone is the best option for yourself so if you keep up on everything then supposedly you wont need all that filter material.. anyway. good luck on your new tank. Post pics when you get some stuff going.

[dobejazz]

After the live rock goes in I'd remove the rings and bio balls - The LR doesn't need light but some hitchhikers might

[Loverotties]

Yes get rid of the filter stuff ,as your rock is your filter.Lights aren't that important yet.

[audge27]

So would it be "bad" to have both the LR in the tank, and the carbon/sponge filter in the back? (without the ceramic rings...I heard it is a nitrate prob to leave those)

just unnecessary? wont make the tank cleaner? just more upkeep and supplies i have to buy?

[jrpdriver]

I would take out the rings and leave the sponge. The sponge will act like a filter sock, trapping debris and reducing micro bubbles. Just rinse out the sponge once a week