29 gallon mini reef

Squirt0910 · 02/20/2008, 12:17 PM

im looking to set up a 29 gallon mini reef for my first tank. I realize i need to take it REALLY slow. But i was considering getting a biocube. Would this be more beneficial than getting everything seperate? And can anyone tell me the basic steps on setting one of these up. Also what are some cool looking (small) fish that i could add to the tank when its eventually set up and cycled and whatnot. Thanks in advance for any tips.

-James

JimKelly12203 · 02/20/2008, 12:54 PM

I heavily considered going with a cube over a normal tank. In fact, i almost bought a cube a few weeks ago. But in the end, i'm going to go with a standard tank pre-drilled to be reef ready.

Primary reasons why i don't want to go with a nano cube are,

1) I want a sump to hide the equipment underneath my display tank, grow pods and skim the water (not that you couldn't add a sump to a cube, but it's not set up to do so). With a RR aquarium, all i need is a tank to put below.

2) I'm not a fan of mechanical filtration in these types of tanks (opinion based on research, not experience). My understanding is that nano cubes rely on fairly substantial water changes in order to get the gunk out of the water. I'm a fan of water changes for ion replentishment, but not a substitute for skimming. Hang on the back skimmers are unsightly and the small ones built to go into the back space of a nano-cube are garbage. Which brings me back to point 1 (the need for a sump).

As for steps to set up a tank, i'd google that. I could write up the results of what i've researched (again, all based on reading, not based on experience) but not till i get home.

There are excellent step by step reef tank start up articles. Off the top of my head, there's one on the Yahoo "about" site as well as a decent one on the doctor foster's and smith site.

They aren't perfect guides, but they're pretty good places to start. From there, just read stuff on the net until your eyes bleed and you'll have a pretty good idea of what you should be doing and in what order.

sk8ergolie31 · 02/22/2008, 08:57 PM

yea read, read, read. or you could just have a friend that is really well experienced come to your house and help you out with things

.

no h0m0
luv evan<3

quiksilver · 02/22/2008, 09:21 PM

You need minimum 6 months of research before buying a single item. Otherwise you are going to spend triple in the end trying to fix/upgrade to equipment that is worthwhile.

If you want to go 29 gallon, there are many cost effective ways of going about it with great results. Feel free to check out my 29 gallon thread here and ask me questions if you would like.

Good luck and welcome one of the most addictive and coolest hobbies I know of

02/20/2008, 12:17 PM	#1
Squirt0910 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9	29 gallon mini reef im looking to set up a 29 gallon mini reef for my first tank. I realize i need to take it REALLY slow. But i was considering getting a biocube. Would this be more beneficial than getting everything seperate? And can anyone tell me the basic steps on setting one of these up. Also what are some cool looking (small) fish that i could add to the tank when its eventually set up and cycled and whatnot. Thanks in advance for any tips. -James

02/22/2008, 08:57 PM	#3
sk8ergolie31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: florida Posts: 180	yea read, read, read. or you could just have a friend that is really well experienced come to your house and help you out with things . no h0m0 luv evan<3 __________________ click red house for 30L build thread! -Evan

02/20/2008, 12:54 PM	#2
JimKelly12203 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Albany Posts: 205	I heavily considered going with a cube over a normal tank. In fact, i almost bought a cube a few weeks ago. But in the end, i'm going to go with a standard tank pre-drilled to be reef ready. Primary reasons why i don't want to go with a nano cube are, 1) I want a sump to hide the equipment underneath my display tank, grow pods and skim the water (not that you couldn't add a sump to a cube, but it's not set up to do so). With a RR aquarium, all i need is a tank to put below. 2) I'm not a fan of mechanical filtration in these types of tanks (opinion based on research, not experience). My understanding is that nano cubes rely on fairly substantial water changes in order to get the gunk out of the water. I'm a fan of water changes for ion replentishment, but not a substitute for skimming. Hang on the back skimmers are unsightly and the small ones built to go into the back space of a nano-cube are garbage. Which brings me back to point 1 (the need for a sump). As for steps to set up a tank, i'd google that. I could write up the results of what i've researched (again, all based on reading, not based on experience) but not till i get home. There are excellent step by step reef tank start up articles. Off the top of my head, there's one on the Yahoo "about" site as well as a decent one on the doctor foster's and smith site. They aren't perfect guides, but they're pretty good places to start. From there, just read stuff on the net until your eyes bleed and you'll have a pretty good idea of what you should be doing and in what order.

02/22/2008, 09:21 PM	#4
quiksilver Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 809	You need minimum 6 months of research before buying a single item. Otherwise you are going to spend triple in the end trying to fix/upgrade to equipment that is worthwhile. If you want to go 29 gallon, there are many cost effective ways of going about it with great results. Feel free to check out my 29 gallon thread here and ask me questions if you would like. Good luck and welcome one of the most addictive and coolest hobbies I know of