Help setting up my 24 gallon Nano Cube for saltwater tank?
Jun 14th 2008adminNano Cube Aquariums
I recently purchased a 24g nano cube and need help with the set up. I plan on keep about 4-5 fish, a few snails,shrimp and crabs and eventually have some soft corals. Here is what I’ve done so far.
Took out ceramic beads and bio-balls and 2 sponges. In the back I put in a 100 W heater in the middle chamber, along with live rock rubble and carbon. In the first chamber (left side) I have one sponge to catch big particles. Did i use the correct chambers? Anything I should switch around, add or remove?
I purchased live sand the kind with water already in the bad and about 21lbs of curred live rock (figi and tonga). I added the sand, dumped in already mixed saltwater for a local fish store and added the live rock. It’s been about 5 days and my reading are right where they’re supposed to be. Ammonia and nitraes are sitting at 0 for 2 days now. I see some life on the rocks and some green alge starting to grow.
I know my next step is to add cleanup crew but when do I add fish?
When can I add fish? How come no spike in ammonia? I’m afraid it will spike too high when fish comes? Is my tank already cycled if live rock was curred from the store? Do i need to add ammonia? How long do I leave the light on for? Where can I get upgraded bulbs for my stock hood for cheap?
Thanks all
Nano Reef Gear
Nic on 14 Jun 2008 at 3:49 pm #
I would say wait another couple of days just incase you do have an ammonia spike, although if the live rock was already cured then you shouldn’t.
After a couple of days add one fish. Its too soon for inverts. Don’t forget most inverts are filter feeders and if its a new tank there will not be enough in the water for them to eat.
If you’re going for percs or something else that is small like that then add them/ it first. Wait 1 week and test the tank. If it looks perfect you can add another small fish. I like to wait 2-3 weeks between fish just to be safe.
After about 6-8 weeks you can start to add inverts (although if you have a lot of algae; snails can be added sooner). Use the same rules for adding inverts as you would fish. I.e. 2-3 weeks between additions and test the tank.
Any larger fish should be added last as these will produce the most ammonia but by that time the filter will be able to cope.
My blue light goes on at 9am and off again at 1pm. The white goes on 12.30 pm and off at 9pm, and the blue light goes on again at 9pm and off at 12pm. The blue goes on and off earlier in the summer (longer days). They are all on a timer so its easy.
Finally I have no idea where you can buy cheap lights but if you find out please let me know!
007 on 17 Jun 2008 at 6:34 pm #
So far you have done everything right.
I would add some Chaetomorpha Algae to your filter.
You didn’t get a amonia, nitrite,nitrate spike because your live rock was already cured.(good rock)
DO NOT ADD AMMONIA.
I would add about 10 small blue leg hermit crabs, About 10 Astraea snails and a common Skunk Cleaner shrimp to your tank Now.(feed the hermits very little amount of Mysis or brine shrimp every 2 or 3 days, They will go nuts)
You can add more hermits and different snails as you need them.(Cerith and Nassarius snails to clean your sandbed in a month or so)
You should also be ready to add a small hardy fish right now.
DO NOT OVER DO IT, add 1 at a time leaving about 2 weeks between adding more fish.
Unless you plan on having a Pair of clowns then add 2 SMALL ones.
Do not leave the light on for more than about 8 hours for now, You can SLOWLY increase the time every few days by about a half hour to an hour untill you are about 10-12 hours per day.
Leaving the light on too long to start will only promote unwanted algae growth.
I believe the 24gal comes with a total of 72wats of lighting??
If so, You have plenty of lighting for leather corals, Zoos, Shrooms and just about any other softie.
As for increasing the lighting, You got me on that one BUT you can ask this guy.
His user name is RedBelly and I’ve seen some of the awsome Nano Cubes that he has done for customers.
Have fun, good luck and enjoy.
PS. Most inverts will add VERY LITTLE if anything to your bio load.
PSS.the first 6 pics are my Wifes 15gal Nano Reef after only 1 month.
joe p on 18 Jun 2008 at 9:09 am #
Alreadty mixed stuff is from the ocean so you wont get a spike it will say add fish right away. Your ready for fish.