Bought a Biocube 14

[dakota9]

A trick you can use to get more light in this tank (and others) is to replace the full actinic blue bulb, with a 50/50 actinic/10K bulb. Your only trade off is alil added heat.

I have the air driven skimmer for the BC14, but just ordered the Current Fission Nano Skimmer from Pet Mountain. If it works, I'll be selling the air driven version. It comes complete with two new (and pricey, for what they are) wooden airstones and BC airpump.

Just FYI

 

[stepheng]

Just wanted to give everyone an update.

Hardware:
- Added filter floss to the top of the drop tray in chamber 2
- Bagged up some Matrix and placed it in a bag on top of the LR in chamber 2 (beneath the drop tray)
- Added Marineland 50w heater in chamber 1, set to 77F
- Coralife power center managing lights...Actinic and 10,000k on at 7am, off at 7pm

Tank:
- Added refrigerated bacteria in a bottle to tank yesterday
- Added 6 hermits and 6 snails yesterday, after 2 hour acclimation

Readings (API Saltwater Kit)
- ph 7.8
- Ammonia 0.0
- Nitrite 0.0
- Nitrate 0.0

Will get some more pics posted soon

 

[stepheng]

A few images from this afternoon, before the storms ripped through the area:


And my test results:
will be added here later...
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[stepheng]

StephenG;324908 wrote:
And my test results:

ph= 7.9
Ammonia= 0.0
Nitrite = 0.0
Nitrate = 0.0

Getting a little worried that I haven't begun to see a rise in Ammonia :confused2:

 

[dakota9]

Pee in it.........

Seriously, its been done before!

 

[stepheng]

Dakota9;324973 wrote: Pee in it.........

Seriously, its been done before!

Ummm...No. But I appreciate the advice!

Readings from today (Day 5):
ph = 8.0
Ammonia = 0.50
Nitrite = 0.0
Nitrate - 0.0

 

[savingnemo754]

Hey Dakota9!

Just so you know you can get the Biocube UV and it fits directly between the pump and the output. Its really nice I have one in mine and the replacement bulbs include the whole end housing including wiring.(very nice)

How do you like the protein skimmer?

Also has anyone done the mod for the Biocube 14 lighting?

 

[stepheng]

Readings from Sunday (Day 6):
ph = 8.2
Ammonia = 0.50
Nitrite = 0.0
Nitrate - 0.0

 

[dakota9]

savingnemo754;325473 wrote: Hey Dakota9!

Just so you know you can get the Biocube UV and it fits directly between the pump and the output. Its really nice I have one in mine and the replacement bulbs include the whole end housing including wiring.(very nice)

How do you like the protein skimmer?

Also has anyone done the mod for the Biocube 14 lighting?
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=62&products_id=346">http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=62&products_id=346</a>[/QUOTE]


Really? I'll have to look into that! Sounds exciting!!!!!!!

 

[dakota9]

StephenG;326013 wrote: Readings from Sunday (Day 6):
ph = 8.2
<u>Ammonia = 0.50</u>
Nitrite = 0.0
Nitrate - 0.0

YEP.............. You pee'd in it!

 

[stepheng]

Dakota9;326020 wrote: YEP.............. You pee'd in it!

Nope, but I do have green "threads" growing on the glass along with the top layer of the sand substrate turning brown. I have set the lights to 8 hours a day versus 12. Tonight's (Day 7) readings are:

ph = 8.2
Ammonia = 0.50
Nitrite = 0.0
Nitrate - 0.0

 

[stepheng]

More test results:

4/14/09 (Day 8)
ph= 8.3
Ammonia = 0.50
Nitrite = 0.0
Nitrate = 0.0

4/15/09 (Day 9)
ph = 8.4
Ammonia = 0.50
Nitrite= 0.0
Nitrate = 0.0

Getting a little worried my Nitrite hasn't started rising yet.

 

[jennm]

I can test your water (free) - and you are not far away. What brand of test are you using? Some can give weird results

Was the rock cured or uncured? This can make a difference in how "much" of a cycle you see. In cured rock, sometimes you don't even see ammonia at all.

I'm not a fan of adding bacterial stuff or whatnot to a tank with live rock - let Mother Nature do the work (and save your $$ for something you really want or need!)

The green threads and brown stuff are algae. The green stuff shouldn't be happening but the brown diatom algae is normal and expected as your tank begins to find its ionic balance and uses up the available silicate in the system. It's unsightly but it will pass, and it's a good sign that things are moving in the right direction.

Are you buffering the pH? I see it's been rising - was that on its own, or have you added something to raise it?

How long are you running your lights? If it's too long that could be why you're getting the green stringy algae.

Jenn

 

[stepheng]

JennM;328470 wrote: I can test your water (free) - and you are not far away. What brand of test are you using? Some can give weird results

API Saltwater Test Kit

JennM;328470 wrote:
Was the rock cured or uncured? This can make a difference in how "much" of a cycle you see. In cured rock, sometimes you don't even see ammonia at all.

It was cured, but sit in a cooler submerged in saltwater for a week prior to being introduced to the tank.

JennM;328470 wrote:
The green threads and brown stuff are algae. The green stuff shouldn't be happening but the brown diatom algae is normal and expected as your tank begins to find its ionic balance and uses up the available silicate in the system. It's unsightly but it will pass, and it's a good sign that things are moving in the right direction.

Yeah! Something is going right. It's weird, they look like tiny green trees waving in the wind and just growing out of the glass.

JennM;328470 wrote:
Are you buffering the pH? I see it's been rising - was that on its own, or have you added something to raise it?
How long are you running your lights? If it's too long that could be why you're getting the green stringy algae.

Nope, nothing added to the water except the 6 snails and 6 crabs. The lights run from 1pm - 9pm daily (8 hours), down from 12 hours last week.

I may take you up on that water test offer and know exactly where your shop is (and have heard great things about it). I'll post my test results tonight and tomorrow.

Thanks for the advice,
Stephen