14g BioCube Oceanic

[Dan06]

With the cured LR and seeded sand, I'd be willing to say you will never detect a cycle. I never detected a cycle in my 36 gal using cured LR & seeded gravel!

I'd love to do a small 14g tank for Zoas and other low light coral..

Once you get a grasp of your 14g, you can setup that 55 gallon, of course the equipment, LR amount, gravel etc are going to cost much much more, but it's going to give you extra room to be creative and build your own piece of reef!!

 

[Temptress]

ya.. I certainly want to work up to having a bigger tank.. but I want to be successful at this.. I am still not detecting any ammonia or nitr.. well either for that matter, tomorrow I am going to buy a small damsel.. like I said before I don't really care so much about the fish, but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on coral to have it cycle finally and kill everything off.. so a fish it is =\ And it's not bad that there's a fish in there.. don't get me wrong.. just didn't really care to have any.. was thinking more along the lines of inverts.. but we'll work up to that haha

About lighting.. there's no way to upgrade the lighting IN the hood? I really don't want ANOTHER tank sitting here with lights on top.. I like the lid.. and imo, I spent too **** much money to HAVE that lid on there lol

thanks for the tip about the filter in there.. I will pick some of that media up.. also about the bioballs.. makes sense to have LR instead..

and I bought a koral-something fan pump #2 to put in there to get some current.. hopefully that will do =)

I really appreciate the help guys.. I am so fascinated by this SW stuff.. but I am so new it wouldn't take much to get discouraged I am sure.. so thanks =)

 

[Ace25]

Why a damsel? Why not a goby? Cheap and if it makes it you get to keep it where as with the damsel your going to have to take out all your rocks to catch it. Those fish for the most part are more of a pain than they are worth IMO.

Just leave the lights as is and just do softies like zoas, mushrooms, xenia, leathers, etc.

 

[Dan06]

Those damsels seem to have quite a reputation for being a pain in the butt!

But if you do have cured LR that made it home in good shape, you might be lucky enough to never detect a cycle. If you have a decent relationship with your LFS, they should be willing to hang onto your purchased coral for a week or two while you test your water and can feel confident it's cycled.

I don't recall what you are using for a water source...

 

[RajunCajun06]

korila 2 may be too much in that tank but there is always the nano. also you could just upgrade the return pump it came with. I have this same set up with a tomato clown and a bubble tip nem. had the total reef for a while but wanted the nem. anyways the lights are good for just about most soft corals and a few leathers. stay away from any hard corals if you do not plan to upgrade lights. I tired it and they only lasted about 4 months. Stay AWAY fomr damsels if you like the idea of a reef with maybe a small fish or two look into the clown gobies they are so much fun just trying to find what piece of coral they are hiding next too and stay very small. two to three would not be a problem in that tank IMO. I have tried the protien skimmer for that biocube makes and its ok at best, water changes are key to that little tank but once its set it is amazing how easy it is to take care of.

 

[ram303]

Those little white things in your tank are the best food for a Mandarin fish. take a look I garantee u will want one..........

 

[KingConch]

if you're looking at setting up the larger tank and want to cut some cost i would suggest DIY liverock it cuts cost by 300$ for me and i only got a 30 gallon....

heres a link to the recipe i used

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144526


only thing is that it takes 10+ weeks to be ready, but as long as you make the rock first, it can cure while you save money for the rest of your set up

 

[ToeJam]

Those little white things in your tank are the best food for a Mandarin fish. take a look I garantee u will want one..........

While I agree with the coolness, I don't suggest that in a 14g. The survive on pods alone. And that requires a abundant pod population. Even large tanks are not recommended till you establish a colony of them. The only sure way to keep them fed is a mature tank (larger than 14g) and has a fuge with population area so that the supply keeps going.

The dude would starve in that 14g.

 

[Temptress]

Ok, so I got the Koralia 2 today, and it doesn't even have a wall plug thingy? obviously, I am not buying a wave maker for a 14gal biocube, so I'll be returning that.. what I do want to know, I am going to just upgrade the return pump and try to get things out of the tank (keep things out of the tank rather) I am trying to decide what size of pump would be best for this 14 gal SW tank.. I am thinking about this:
Rio Plus 600 with Venturi Intake - (200 GPH - Max Head 4 Ft)
Is this too much? I am not sure what is even in there right now.. but I know it doesn't move alot of water imo (which, being so new, doesn't mean alot keep in mind lol)

As usual, suggestions welcome =)

 

[Ace25]

You got the "Controllable" Koralia by mistake, which usually cost more, but obviously require a controller. I suggest returning it for the "normal" Koralia2.