New oceanic biocube setup questions....

[Nht]

Hello all...I got my 29 gallon biocube this past weekend with the stand and I got all the liverock and water from my friends already establised reef tank and I was just wondering if you can help me with some questions I have. Im familiar with reef tanks but being out of the hobby for 5 years, my memory needs some refreshing so here goes...

-do I still need to let it cycle and how I know when it is completely cycled and ready to add livestock?

-would you guys recommend a refugium with chaeto or a skimmer? If refugium, is it ok to start it now or should I wait untill my tank is cycled?


-should I use the carbon filter that came with the setup or should I trash that?

-what is a better powerhead that I can use instead of the stock powerhead? Is a hydorflow a good idea for this tank?

Thanks in advance for anyone that takes the timeout to answer my questions. These are the first questions I have and dont worry there will be many more questions. I am completely thrilled to get back into this hobby...Ive missed it so....

 

[TimSchmidt]

Still needs to cycle although your cycle will not take as long. Check your nitrites and ammonia and when they read zero after a small spike you should be good to go. The refuge is an optional thing I like them but that is just me, and you can set it up now (actually probably a better Idea to set it up now instead of later). Might as well use the carbon (it's free) but I like chemipure. Others like purigen but I'm too lazy to recharge it. I've heard good things on hydroflows but I've never had one. I found a good DIY propeller based pump based off of the maxi-jets. It's on another site but here's the link

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... did=717034

 

[RickD]

-would you guys recommend a refugium with chaeto or a skimmer? If refugium, is it ok to start it now or should I wait untill my tank is cycled?

Might consider adding macro in the tank itself. I do that and it works well.

-should I use the carbon filter that came with the setup or should I trash that?

Carbon is simple and free in your case...or use chemipure or purigen.

Thanks in advance for anyone that takes the timeout to answer my questions. These are the first questions I have and dont worry there will be many more questions. I am completely thrilled to get back into this hobby...Ive missed it so....

Welcome back.

 

[Nht]

can someone recommend the best macroalgae to use for a refugium? Im planning to mod the middle chamber to and doing a refugium. Ive heard chaeto is currently the best.

 

[drty811]

i would definitly go with chaeto. it is the number one chose.

 

[RickD]

Chaeto works best.

I also use Caulerpa prolifera in tank as well.

 

[chacha]

Chaeto is the way to go...take a look at these sites.

http://www.macro-algae.com/
http://www.liveplants.gulf-coast.net/macroalgae.htm
http://www.marineflora.com/

 

[TimSchmidt]

I'd go with chaeto, I've heard too much bad stuff about Caulpera going sexual and dumping all kinds of nutrients back into the water column.

 

[kosey929]

I'd go with chaeto, I've heard too much bad stuff about Caulpera going sexual and dumping all kinds of nutrients back into the water column.

Not to get too far off topic :isorry ....but....would somebody explain the whole Caulerpa "going sexual" thing to me and how it affects the nutrients in the water? I have red caulerpa in my nc12dx. Should I be concerned that it will negatively affect my water quality?

 

[drty811]

didnt read the whole thing but i found this on a previous thread, hope this helps........
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0105/main2.php