Restarting my 14 gal biocube

thebiggerfigure · 12/29/2015, 02:39 AM

So I've been around reef tanks for quite a while my mom has had quite a few tanks in the past and I picked up the hobby for fun. Although I've never been able to get it perfect like she does.

I set up a 14 gallon biocube and had everything going good but then I had swapped out 2 large pieces of live rock because I wanted to restructure the tank and I think I started a cycle because the entire tank died within a week.

I returned the one clown fish and anemone clinging to life along with the live rock to get store credit at a local store. In the mean time I have this emptied tank which I have gone through and scrubbed but what are suggestions on steps to take to start this tank back up?

shyerdj · 12/29/2015, 07:40 PM

Just wait for the cycle to complete through a rise and fall in Ammonia, then Nitrite and finally Nitrate. I dont think Nitrate will fall unless you do a water change or have some sort of macro algae like cheato to do it for you. You might get an algae or diatom bloom after the cycle then you can start by adding a small clean up crew like snails, hermit crabs, a shrimp. After watching water chem for a while to make sure its still good from the new additions you can add a fish and try some easy coral. Everyone always told me that you are gonna need to have patience cause everything in this hobby takes time; nothing happens fast. I think it took my roommates 20g a month to cycle before he started making small additions and watching chemistry.

12/29/2015, 02:39 AM	#1
thebiggerfigure Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 1	Restarting my 14 gal biocube So I've been around reef tanks for quite a while my mom has had quite a few tanks in the past and I picked up the hobby for fun. Although I've never been able to get it perfect like she does. I set up a 14 gallon biocube and had everything going good but then I had swapped out 2 large pieces of live rock because I wanted to restructure the tank and I think I started a cycle because the entire tank died within a week. I returned the one clown fish and anemone clinging to life along with the live rock to get store credit at a local store. In the mean time I have this emptied tank which I have gone through and scrubbed but what are suggestions on steps to take to start this tank back up?

12/29/2015, 07:40 PM	#2
shyerdj Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 70	Just wait for the cycle to complete through a rise and fall in Ammonia, then Nitrite and finally Nitrate. I dont think Nitrate will fall unless you do a water change or have some sort of macro algae like cheato to do it for you. You might get an algae or diatom bloom after the cycle then you can start by adding a small clean up crew like snails, hermit crabs, a shrimp. After watching water chem for a while to make sure its still good from the new additions you can add a fish and try some easy coral. Everyone always told me that you are gonna need to have patience cause everything in this hobby takes time; nothing happens fast. I think it took my roommates 20g a month to cycle before he started making small additions and watching chemistry.