Inedaan's 29 Gallon BioCube

[Inedaan]

Well, here goes my first marine tank! After many years of longing and wishy washing, I finally took the plunge. I had been planning on getting a 14 gallon but I saw a 29 on major discount so I got it instead.

This was the tank after twenty pounds of live rock and sand:



A day later:



Inhabitant we noticed today (We think it might be a brittle star but we're not sure as we've only seen this tiny leg-like protrusion):



So far I am just running everything stock with bioballs removed and false bottom in chamber one removed to fit the ebo jager heater.

[Snaz]

Looks like a great start! Yes I would concur on the brittle star. If you have not done so already check out nano-reef.com also for lots of good nano and BC29 info.

[lorenz0]

yep, rule of thumb on bio-cubes. upgrade your pump, fan, and ballests for your lights. I just ran into the loud fan issue on the bc14 and man is it annoying, let alone probably stressful on the fish

[snow1]

Great looking tank so far, what are you planning to stock it with?

[Greenmaster]

I'm here to follow and help if I can

[Inedaan]

I will upgrade the pump on in in the next couple of days... Much of the information I find online seems to be about the 14G Biocube. Would the Maxi-Jet Submersible Utility Pump 1800 (475 GPH) and Perhaps a Powerhead in the tank be enough in terms of flow?

As far as the Fans/Lighting Ballasts... I was planning on ordering one of the DIY Nanotuner Kits, the one to add one extra PC to make it 108W and order the quiet fans with it and in the next month or two, as funds allow, order the Ballast Upgrade Kit.

And stock list... I have really wanted clowns since I was like 10, so I think I will get a pair of Perc/Oce or whatever they have at the LFS when I finally get around to that that tickles my fancy What else could I get in there... I have to admit the Blue Spot Jawfish is incredibly interesting but I am completely new to Marine so and I haven't exactly seen it on a best starter fish list. What would you all suggest to put in there with a pair of clowns? And I figured I would start with some Mushrooms or Zoa's or other easy things to keep alive once the tank is well and settled.

And, should I add more Live Rock do you think, it looks kind of empty to me...

[Inedaan]

While watching my tank this last couple days I had noticed I had a Crab that had been making himself a home in my Live Rock. I had largely ignored him as he was tiny, then the other day he tried to steal some food from one of my Hermit Crabs who ended up ripping off three of the little crabs legs... Now this morning he attacked my smaller Hermit Crab so I decided it was time for him to go, in the process of getting him out I managed to rip off one of his Pincers...



He is now sitting in a cup of water missing three legs and a Pincer, does anyone have any use of him before I just end his existence?

Nevermind... Went upstairs and wasn't paying attention and a dog found him and ended him....

[Inedaan]

Soo... I am about 90% sure I have Dino's I have this darker brown algae (mainly on the sand bed but a little on the rocks) that has long stringy things coming off it and near the top of the tank it is full of bubbles. I read that a Blackout is an effective method of dealing with them, but here is my question. Right now I have a Green Chromis, Two Hermit Crabs, Three Snails, Peppermint Shrimp, an Orange Spotted Goby and a Tiger Pistol Shrimp and a bunch of random hitch hikers that I don't care one way or the other about. If I were to do say a 5-7 day Blackout, would I just turn off the lights cover the tank and leave it be, or would I want to feed the fish/Inverts at all during this time at all?

[Inedaan]

Soo... A quick update and also a question... I had to take out the two Green Chromis as the one was picking on the other and absolutely everything else in the tank (Except the Pistol/Watchman). He would attack the Hermit Crabs, the snails, pretty much anything that wasn't dead. After that I put in a Firefish, who was great! He kept going over and checking out the Pistol's little burrow and the Pistol would always chase him off clicking away, but never harm any came... Until today... When I got up everything was all fine, went to work, came home and the Firefish was dead half-buried in the Pistol's front lawn being munched on by the snails.

Can anyone recommend an interesting fish that will occupy the open water in my tank? My Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp are amazing but the one just sits still and the other is out of view 90% of the time. Thanks