Nanoaquarium for Xmas!!!

[Chiefmcfuz]

Ok here goes......................


First the tank is set and running with salt water and rock and sand. Did you use tap water or water filtered with a Reverse osmosis unit? I have a BC14 as well and I love it because it was so easy to care for and even set up was quick.

Since you have it set up take out the bio balls and the carbon insert for now and let the water just flow through it for about 2 - 3 weeks with only adding a pinch of fish food to start the cycle.

after that add the carbon insert back in there and you should be ready for fish.

 

[dubs]

u should also check salinty u want to keep it at like 1.24 to 1.25 get a hydrometer

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

The links to my tank thread is right here.
Check it out:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/tank-threads/62322-chiefs-14g-biocube.html

 

[wnlandfo]

Ok here goes......................


First the tank is set and running with salt water and rock and sand. Did you use tap water or water filtered with a Reverse osmosis unit? I have a BC14 as well and I love it because it was so easy to care for and even set up was quick.

Since you have it set up take out the bio balls and the carbon insert for now and let the water just flow through it for about 2 - 3 weeks with only adding a pinch of fish food to start the cycle.

after that add the carbon insert back in there and you should be ready for fish.

Switch420: I haven't done any of the tests yet. Just have it running.

I did check the salinity and it's between those numbers.

I used water from a reverse osmosis unit and added salt. The BC14 I have was used so it came with live rock in the second compartment. What is the blue, rectangular insert that sits behind the intake to the back compartment of the tank?

I also bought granulated activated carbon to help with filtration. It only had a pad. What type of fish food is good?

What type of fish did you have first? And once you had your BC14 running what corals did you have?


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

This is "old school", before we knew to use live sand and live rock and a tank needed to develop nitrifying bacteria.

If your live rock has been fully cured, you can start putting things in little by little. Remember, every time you add something live to the tank, it increases the biological load which will require more bacteria to deal with it. The amount of bacteria your liverock and sand have will be linked to how much "food" they have (biological waste products). If a tank has very few fish, even if it has been going for five years and running beautifully, it is a BAD idea to add too many fish at once.

The last thing you want is to start off your tank with a damsel. They tend to be very agressive and you will lose hair trying to catch it for months.

Alfred

start with a small damsel to help cycle the tank then REMOVE the damsel and sell or give him away they get very nasty as they get older.

 

[wnlandfo]

Thank you. So what fish would you start with and what should the organism:liverock/sand ratio be for a 14 gallon?

This is "old school", before we knew to use live sand and live rock and a tank needed to develop nitrifying bacteria.

If your live rock has been fully cured, you can start putting things in little by little. Remember, every time you add something live to the tank, it increases the biological load which will require more bacteria to deal with it. The amount of bacteria your liverock and sand have will be linked to how much "food" they have (biological waste products). If a tank has very few fish, even if it has been going for five years and running beautifully, it is a BAD idea to add too many fish at once.

The last thing you want is to start off your tank with a damsel. They tend to be very agressive and you will lose hair trying to catch it for months.

Alfred

start with a small damsel to help cycle the tank then REMOVE the damsel and sell or give him away they get very nasty as they get older.

Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

It really depends on the density of the rock. Some rock is very porous and light. Basically, pick out good quality rock and the quantity should be enough that it "looks" right. Cant think of a better way of describing it right now, but figure you will have the rock placed "loosely" and it should take up between 20 to 40% of the volume of the tank.

Give some thought to what type of tank you want and what fish you would like. Make a list and you should start out with something easy to care for that is hardy and small for your first fish. Or you can start out by getting one or two corals. BUT- be sure that your rock is cured. If it is not, wait until it is fully cured, do a 50% water change and run activate carbon for 24 hours.

Alfred

 

[masterswimmer]

Without using the test kits you've got, you'll never know when your cycle is complete.

You also seem to be confusing the cycle with the first fish you add to the tank. You can completely, 100% cycle your tank without any fish whatsoever. This is the humane way to do it. Cycling a tank with a fish is heartless. The reason for this is because the purpose of the cycle is to purposely cause your ammonia levels to spike. Ammonia in a tank will burn the gills of a fish....inhumane. When the ammonia spikes you need to know this. The only way to know it is by using your ammonia test kit. When the ammonia spikes on your kit, then begins to fall, based on the readings on your test kit, that means the denitrifying bacteria is present and doing its job. A good sign.

Next step would be the nitrites spiking. When the nitrites spike then fall, the next level of denitrifying bacteria is present and doing its job. Last part of the cycle is the nitrates spiking then falling. At this point your cycle is complete.

Your reading should now be:
Ammonia = zero
Nitrites = zero
Nitrates = < 20 ppm

If your tests show the above readings, you can safely add a small, docile fish of your choice to the tank. It is safe for the fish. If you were to add a fish to purposely cycle your tank, the ammonia would burn its gills. Since we now have the ammonia down to zero and the bacteria colony present in the tank, the waste of this new fish should cause it no harm.

I hope this helps.
Russ

 

[wnlandfo]

Thanks guys! I've learned a lot and will be working on the amount of liverock I need, cycling the tank with the appropriate readings, and then the placing of my first fish. I know Ill have more questions to ask. I'll keep you all updated! Thanks again!




Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I waited quite some time before adding fish to my 14g, my reason for adding Damsels first (after about a month once my tests read the tank had cycled) was because they were to be food for an angler fish I was going to add. However one trip to Oceans gallery 2 and a pair of free clowns later it is now a clown tank LOL. I plan on adding one more nano fish if I can but 3 fish are going to be more than enough.