New 14g Biocube

[hectorharvey]

Hello all. I am new to the group. I purchased a 14g biocube that has been cycling for 11 days. I dropped a publix shrimp in to kick start the cycle process. I pulled it out yesterday and it partially disintegrated into micro dust and floating chunks. Maybe I should have pulled it a little sooner.

The tank went cloudy but is now clear. I have some brownish algae growing on some rocks and in the sand. I've killed some aiptasia and am quite thrilled to see some other type of mystery coral starting to grow on my live rock.

My plans are to take a water sample back to my lfs for testing this weekend and am guessing I am close to getting my first of three fish.

Questions for the experts:
1) I am leaving town for a week next weekend. If I don't get a fish this weekend, I think I will want to wait 2 weeks before I do. Any thoughts on "extended" cycling of the tank? Should I feed an empty tank... and how much of what? I have no food of any kind right now.

2) I have cut the lighting on the empty tank back to 4 hours a day to keep the algae from being too happy. I was doing 8. Right after I cut the lighting back I noticed the mystery coral. Should I feed the coral? Should I bump up the lighting?

3) I was reading another poster complaining that his clown fish is too aggressive. I plan on getting one as well. Should it be the last of the three or the first of the three, or does it just not matter?

4) Finally (I hope I am not overstepping my new member welcome). I would like to have a surrogate for my clown. I know a clown does not require one and there is no guarantee they will pair. Do I have a better chance of pairing if I have the coral established before I introduce the clown? Conversely does the coral have a better chance of surviving if the clown is in it right away?

I'm excited about this hobby. Have been keeping an eye on it for many years, and now doing it. Whoohoo.

 

[hectorharvey]

My current plan is to wait the additional two weeks before adding anything to the tank. I am thinking I will try some frogspawn and a fire fish. I am hoping that I can get a healthy stand of frogspawn before I add the clown fish. My understanding is that clown fish born in the wild are more likely to host as they would have hatched in an anemone. I am hoping that instincts out weigh upbringing.

I have bumped the lighting back up to 8 hours as the algae growth seems to have backed off. Maybe that was the reduced lighting... we'll see.

I am not doing any feeding. It's an empty tank so I guess that makes sense. It troubles me though because there are lots of little things growing... seems like they would need some food.

 

[peachyreef]

Hey there! thought I would jump in and answer a couple questions, maybe put in some thoughts too.

I think its a good idea to wait for some fish! Also if you go out of town you wont need to feed a tank that is cycled or in the process of cycling once it has started. From the sound of it, since you have some algea growth your almost done anyway.

 

[peachyreef]

Hey there! thought I would jump in and answer a couple questions, maybe put in some thoughts too.

I think its a good idea to wait for some fish! Also if you go out of town you wont need to feed a tank that is cycled or in the process of cycling once it has started. From the sound of it, since you have some algea growth your almost done anyway.
I would URGE getting a clean up crew a week before you get any fish. They help with the algea and are way easier to replace $$, If something goes wrong.

I wouldn't worry about the coral, Its pretty hardy if it lived through a cycle anyway!

Yes clown fish are the most territorial of the fish you mentioned I would add the fire fish, then the clown pair. But, knowing clowns, they probably will end up being bullies in that size tank anyway...

As far as the frogspawn goes, yes its a coral clowns host too. However, it can be finicky especially if its your first coral and clowns will be hosting too it. It also stings anything around it. Much like an anemone. I would suggest Duncan for your first coral. Its an easy coral, that grows fast if you feed it, needs little light and flow, and most importantly clownfish love it!!!

Clownfish do not need coral or a nem. Corals preffer not to have a clown actually. But, they often end up together anyway The best way to ensure a pair is to get two different sized clowns, a large and a small, or to get two of the same size at the same time. Otherwise they will fight to the death, especially if there is an anemone involved.

Hope it was helpful!!!

Sorry I didnt finish!!!

 

[cr500_af]

Good advice so far.

IMO the longer you cycle the better... don't be in a rush. The brown algae you are seeing is the "diatom bloom" that is to be expected on a new tank. It will pass.

Give it a little longer, then test. Once Ammonia and Nitrite are zero, do a water change. Add your cleanup crew. Then stock slowly.

As stated, clowns don't need an anemone, but they are really cool when they host.
I'd be more concerned about your tank being established enough (and having strong enough lighting) to keep an anemone, than I would about the happiness of the clowns.
Clownfish aggressiveness is typically only toward other clowns, or sometimes damselfish (which are somewhat related).
Do you already have your stocklist planned? What is on that list will be important so that you stock them in the right order.

 

[hectorharvey]

Hey thanks for the input guys. I have a question about the clean up crew. I had seen posts about putting in cuc first so I asked my lfs about it. Their advice was to wait until after the first fish, stating that the fish may cause an ammonia spike and the invertebrates are very sensitive to this and are the first to die in a spike. Maybe the small 14g tank size played into the answer. I'm now a bit confused as peachyreef has an URGE.

As far as a planned stock list I have none. I am limited to three fish, and I am thinking fire fish, blemy, clown (and am open for suggestions). As for coral, this is all new to me so I am interested in easy/hardy specimens that can survive my incompetence.

 

[peachyreef]

There are thousands of possibilities of fish for nanos. All the tanks I keep are nano tanks you just have to decide what type of tank you want. corals/inverts reef safe or not, expensive or not ect... I would make a list of what you want and can fit in it.
some unique nano fish:
pikefish golden dwarf moray
coralcrouchers clown gobies
seahorses scooter blenny
pygmy angel midas blenny
flaming prawn goby and many more...

I urged a clean up crew, because once your tank is cycled, they can live off of the algea from the cycle and a little food. They also create less of a bioload on a newly cycled tank because you dont have to feed as much (a pinch maybe 1-2 times a week) and therefore they dont have as much waste. This lets the tank become more stable before adding a fish and the algea is taken care of too. This is the way I learned and taught my coustomers.
I dont see a problem with adding fish first as long as the tank is completely cycled! There is no wrong or right way Just take your time. It doesnt really matter how you go about it.

 

[hectorharvey]

Thanks again for the input. Let me solicit some advice surrounding the upcoming monthly meeting in February. The meeting is on the 12th, and I return to town on the 11th. My tank will still be completely empty on the 11th, but will have cycled for four weeks (including a week and a half with a dead shrimp).
I'd really like to make the frag meeting and it seems like a great opportunity to jump start my coral collection. But wait... that sound advice that I know I need to follow is to go it slow.
Should I pick up some specimens at the annual frag meeting if the opportunity presents itself? Should I put a fish in the day before, or should I get some frags and wait another week for the first fish. It would seem if I went frags first, maybe the cuc should go in before the fish. Theoretically I could have a tank with no fish right?
I'm not as stressed over this as the note might sound. I just want to do the right thing (and not miss an opportunity at the meeting).

Any and all advice is welcomed.

 

[hectorharvey]

One other thought. I think my parameters are such that I could get a single fish today. That would leave my son with the responsibility of feeding and looking for ill behavior... and a week and a half before the frag meeting. Any spikes should settle by then.