BioCube 29

J

jsamps

AC Members
Oct 20, 2009
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I'm getting a Biocube 29 thats currently a reef tank. The current lighting configuration is as follows:
  • Stock 36W compact fluorescents
  • 1 actinic
  • 1 combination 10K and actinic.
  • Main light is a 70W metal halide, with a 14K ushio bulb.

Should I keep the existing lighting, I know the actinics are useless for plant growth, but may bring out colors in fish. I'm trying to stay away from a CO2 system but worried with the all the existing lighting, maybe I can put a bunch of otos in there to handle the alge...

Lastly anyone ever do a moss wall in a BioCube 29?

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
First off, I would try to get a 6700k bulb for the Halide if I were you. 10k might work, but I'm not plant expert. Same goes for the PC's. Again, need confirmation.

I've never seen a moss wall, and I think it would be hard. The filtration goes through the wall, correct (Unless I am getting my Nanocubes/Biocubes mixed up)?
 
Way too much light for a 29 gallon unless you are going to be committed to pressurized CO2, fert dosing, and lots of trimming.

MH's really have no place in the FW world given the amount of heat they give off.

A single 36 watt fixture is enough to start planting with the easy stuff. You can always add more once you feel more comfortable with plants. And to be honest, I find otos to be overrated when it comes to algae.


edit: 10000 K is fine
 
Yeah you are right the moss wall may block filtration, I was thinking about cutting out a portion but probably a pain in the ***.

The tank has extra fans installed, its supposed to cool the tank, but maybe I will get rid of the Halide.

What are some examples of the the "easy stuff" I should start with?
 
Java moss, java fern, cryptocorynes, anubias, guppy grass, vallisneria, hornwort...

In my experience these plants are very easy to keep going. They are not very quick growers but do not require much additional care.
 
Excellent, thanks a bunch, what about CO2?

Do you think I can try without CO2 initially & see what happens, are there certain plants with lower CO2 requirements?
 
They shouldn't need CO2 but it can always help. You might want to try a product like Seachems Excel as a substitute first. Its more expensive in the long run but with occasional doses (about all you need IMO) it should last long enough to get the feel for things.
 
most floaters can be low light imo... or at least block light making the rest of the tank low light. i have mini pellia doing pretty good almost completely blocked from light in a low light setup right now. it's not gonna be a tank buster plant but it might help that low light ground cover issue many people have.

it's rare, tiny and not cheap though.
 
I don't think my tank will ever be considered low light, even if I remove some of the lighting.

What kind of substrate is recommended for some of these easy plants: crypts, water sprite, anubias, wisteria, java moss, java fern, cryptocorynes, vallisneria, hornwort, dwarf hairgrass, etc...

I was looking at some Eco-Complete Black, any good?
 
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