14gal Biocube Stocking (not socks)

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metalyx

metalyx

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 23, 2007
238
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Colorado
Hey folks, looking at starting my first saltwater via 14gal Biocube.
Looking to use:
10-15lbs Fiji live rock
10-15lbs Tahitian Moon Sand
Packaged saltwater(Easier than making mine salt)
Stocking it is another issue. I'm getting the tank this week and stocking after the cycling. Here's what I'm thinking, let me know what you think.
1 Ocellaris Clown
1 Helfriche Firefish
about half a dozen colorful small crabs
a turbo snail or two
Some sort of plant (no experience in the field, suggestions would be great)

That's it so far. How's that?

Thanks. :)
 
sounds fine. i recently got a biocube too, does ur biocube fan sound really loud wen u turn the lighting on?
 
I haven't actually picked it up yet. The purchase is this Thur/Fri.
I'm hitting the ColoradoReef Group right now for tips and tricks into modifying the lighting and filtration. Before I do however, how loud is yours exactly? Granted this tank is going to be at a remote location, I'll see it everyday. Thanks for the input. :)
 
its as loud as an old computer with low ram playing a special effect game, or as loud as ur freezer wen opened. im not so sure if all biocubes are like that but mine is. i basically opened it up and disconnected both of the fans. but its a risk im willing to take to avoid the noise and cut down some electricity money =D
 
Is yours the standard, or have you moded it? The prebuilt goodness as far as I've seen has been fairly quiet. Perhaps the fans in yours need replacing/lubing up? Following that, (and I hope you're able to find a cheap solution!) are there any stars that stay really small? I'd like to add one to the tank, but like the anemone I wanted it may just not happen. Thanks again everyone. :)
 
Second question coming in:
Can I keep a cucumber in a tank that size? Will the crabs leave it alone or is a far fetched idea? Secondly, I've been told simply that an anemone won't make it in a biocube. Why does this not work? Is the evironment too small and hence changes in the water to dramatic, or some other reason I don't know? I'd love to get my hands on a Pink Tip Haitian Anemone, but so far no reason has been given on why it won't work in a small aquarium setting. Thanks everyone for the feedback, I look forward to more knowledge. :)
 
anenomes get too big for the cube and they need better lighting, granted the lights on the 14 are a hell of a lot better than the 29 but it's still not enough.
red fromia stars stay small enough to go in the tank but you'll probably get about a million in on your live rock, anyway.

as per the fan problem, the fan housing is just vibrating against the rest of the hood, either tighten or clean out the entire fan area, mine did this too for a while but i took it apart gave everything a good skrub, a little dw-40 and it was good to go.

i've been thinking about getting the 8 gallon but am tossed up between that or the jbj 14 i want the cube cause it's smaller but the jbj is better.
to be honest if i had the money i would get the red sea 35 cube it's sooooooOOOO!!!! much better than either two kinds of cube.
 
i dont think u can add a sea cucumber in a 14 gallon with corals inside already. i heard cucumbers can release toxins if disturbed, and for a 14 gallon, it can easily affect your nearby corals/fish.
 
What would be a good coral combination for a tank this size? I'm still about 6 weeks ahead of actually acquiring them, but planning so the entire process is as easy as possible.

Are there any dangers from using the prepackaged sea water from your lfs? It's of course some sort of name brand ocean water, but will it make my job in the end any more expedient? I assume it has the same chemical balancing chore that all of the tank water does, but is there a problem with bacteria or any "unclean" worries I should have?

Thanks for all the feedback so far. :)
 
Ive never heard of any prepackaged water doin any harm. Ill be usin pre water too. I thought about having a anemone, but was also told my tank was to small and it would suck out all the valuble nutrients from the water. I have the 14 gallon biocube also. Will u be running a protein skimmer? Sapphire has one that will fit into the back of the biocube and still be able to close the lid. Heres the link
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sapphire-Protei...ryZ46310QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
 
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