A couple of quick newbish questions

D

dreqqus

Registered Member
Feb 5, 2009
3
0
0
42
I am in the planning stages for setting up a 29 gallon oceaninc cube reef tank and had a few quick questions:
1.) Clean up crew: Are the dumbers suggested on liveaquaria.com, realistic? Going with the 30 gallon pack, the basic comes with 40 crabs, and 30 snails. Bump it to the deluxe and we no have 40 hermits, 40 snails, 3 shrimp, and 2 emerald crabs. This seems somewhat excessive, but then again I am the newb here.
2.) Stocking corals? What are the rules regarding this? Should I plan on just getting a few and letting them fill in, or just have a party with it?
3.) General Stocking: I know it is somewhat early in the project to be considering this but, I like to have a project as completely planned as possible, before embarking on it. Fish and inverts I have considered: Clowns(seem almost a requirement, non?), Yellow Stripe Cling fish, Neon banded Goby, Yellowhead Jawfish, Fire Cleaner shrimp, Firefish, Scooter/Lawnmower Blenny, Six Line Wrasse, Cardinal Fish, Reef Lobster, Pom Pom Crab, and more I'm sure. Obvioulsy I won't bne able to fit all of them in there, but if someone could suiggest a good mix for the tank size, I would be much obliged.
 
dreqqus said:
I am in the planning stages for setting up a 29 gallon oceaninc cube reef tank and had a few quick questions:
1.) Clean up crew: Are the dumbers suggested on liveaquaria.com, realistic? Going with the 30 gallon pack, the basic comes with 40 crabs, and 30 snails. Bump it to the deluxe and we no have 40 hermits, 40 snails, 3 shrimp, and 2 emerald crabs. This seems somewhat excessive, but then again I am the newb here.

<< Far from realistic in my opinion. Most of them will die in a new aquarium...For a tank your size, i would add 10 snails and 10 hermits...monitor them for how well they keep the tank clean..If thye struggle, add a couple more >>

2.) Stocking corals? What are the rules regarding this? Should I plan on just getting a few and letting them fill in, or just have a party with it?

<< It all depends on what type of corals you want to have. You always have to keep aleopathy ( chemical warfare when they get too close to eachother ) in mind with some corals >>

3.) General Stocking: I know it is somewhat early in the project to be considering this but, I like to have a project as completely planned as possible, before embarking on it. Fish and inverts I have considered: Clowns(seem almost a requirement, non?), Yellow Stripe Cling fish, Neon banded Goby, Yellowhead Jawfish, Fire Cleaner shrimp, Firefish, Scooter/Lawnmower Blenny, Six Line Wrasse, Cardinal Fish, Reef Lobster, Pom Pom Crab, and more I'm sure.

<< A good mix, for your tank, in my opinion, would be a pair of clowns, a goby and pistol shrimp combo, a jawfish ( but only if you cater for its enviromental needs ) and a firefish. That gives you fish on all levels of the tank...>>

Obvioulsy I won't bne able to fit all of them in there, but if someone could suiggest a good mix for the tank size, I would be much obliged.
Click to expand...


Added a few comments above in red...
 
I had one of those. And somewhere I had posted suggestions about the bio cube.

Stocking I can say for sure...those lights will not support LPS and SPS minus Monti types plate sps....placed real high ..even then it will live but grow slowly.

Seabae anenome did fine in it..and all soft corals..xenia grew like weeds to.

As for suggestions:
The original filter thing on plastic ....sucks...sucks to the X10th degree.

I suggest replacing bioballs in chamber 2 if you dont have a skimmer by CPR Bak pak in there...put Live rock rubble...then place a filter pad cut to fit over the grill or under the grill to catch debris...

The problem with the original filter is if you have fish that kick up dust or you move rocks and stir up sand...= cut down flow...restricting the flow needed to keep it in balance so your pump doesnt suck air.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I love the stock list you put together for me Reefscape.
Toejam, I might not have read your post correctly, are you saying I should ditch the filter media, and bioballs, that come with the kit, in favor of Live rock rubble?
And thanks again.

EDIT: Forgat to add. I had really only planned on doing soft corals anyhow, as I've been told they are more 'beginner friendly', is that true
 
Last edited:
dreqqus said:
Thanks for the replies guys. I love the stock list you put together for me Reefscape.
Toejam, I might not have read your post correctly, are you saying I should ditch the filter media, and bioballs, that come with the kit, in favor of Live rock rubble?
And thanks again.

EDIT: Forgat to add. I had really only planned on doing soft corals anyhow, as I've been told they are more 'beginner friendly', is that true
Click to expand...

Yes its very beginner friendly and even without a skimmer a 5g change a week will keep it looking great.

The bioballs have to go...nitrate factory.... Live rock is always best over the bio balls since it contains both bacteria you want vs the ONE in bio balls.

The original filter media for those cubes sucks..yes...you will find yourself comming home to a bubbled out tank display often due to restricted flow caused by dust being stuck to the fabric of the pad...it really restricts the flow.... less than a day or two it does it every single time ...

Its better to cut out a filter pad to fit over the second chamber grill to catch the debris and its cheaper to vs buying loads of those oceanic filter pads.

I used the phosphate pads and once a week cut out a new one after a water change.

Another modification to consider if you wanted more flow is to put a stronger pump in the 3rd chamber ..I never have but other folks have.
 
Thanks again for the advice, and time for another couple of questions!!
1.) Lighting mods-Is there anyway to increase the lighting available? Same sized bulbs with higher wattage? Anything?
2.) Corals-I've really been looking at purchasing one or two of the coral packs available through liveaquaria.com, specifically these four:

  1. Soft Coral Nano pack: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+751+2315&pcatid=2315
  2. Polyp Nano Pack: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+751+2316&pcatid=2316
  3. Mushroom Nano Pack: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+751+2315&pcatid=2315
  4. Beginner Polyp and Mushroom Pack: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+751+714&pcatid=714
Would any of these be recommended for the setup in question?
3.) Going with the stock list provided above: a pair of clowns, a goby and pistol shrimp combo, a jawfish ( but only if you cater for its enviromental needs ) and a firefish, what would be the proper order to introduce? I'm thinking bottom to top, so jawfish, goby and pistol shrimp, then firefish, then clowns, non?

Thanks again, you guys are awesome.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom