Bio-Cube 28 set-up? Questions

Kentrider · 03/29/2010, 10:45 AM

In the coming months i plan on buying a bio-cube 28. I was just wondering what should all go in it. This is my dream wish but i dont know if they all go together and if its tomuch for the tank. Help? Thanks!

• Two False Percula Clownfish
• Firefish Goby
• Mandarin Dragonet
• Longnose Hawkfish
• Cleaner Shrimp
• Anemone Crab
• Frogspawn
• Red Xenia
• Feather Duster
• Long Tentacle Anemone

One last thing. Is a bio-cube a good idea or should i get a nano-cube?

mthomp · 03/29/2010, 10:54 AM

no to the mandarin. they tend to only eat pods with the occasional one able to be trained to be spot fed shrimp, it will starve in a tank your size. the hawffish is reefsafe with caution. you can do a lot of research on your plans for stocking at http://www.liveaquaria.com. not sure what your exact plans are or how much the cube is costing you with a stand but id look into a redsea max system.

also keep in mind that bigger is better in alot of ways. if you are just starting out in reefkeeping, a larger tank gives you a lot more leeway when it comes to mistakes. so id leave the nanos to the more experianced reefers.

Chiefsurfer · 03/29/2010, 11:23 AM

tend to agree with mthomp on the tank. a 28 is not SOOOO small for a beginner, but it is small enough to make a mistake. An AIO is a decent way to get in for cheap, but cheaper is not always better. I'd rather try and find something like a 40-gallon tank and stand used for maybe like $100, then spend $300+ on a 36" t5 light, and $150 on a Eshopps or ReefOctopus HANG-ON skimmer. Now for about $600, you have a GREAT tank and set-up. I'd rather spend $600 and be successful and stay in the hobby for a while, than spend $300 on an AIO, not keep up PERFECTLY on maintenance, and throw everything out after 3 months of problems maintaining the tank.

I'd ditch the mandarin and the hawkfish. Everything else looks good on that list. Be warned that the longtip anemone can/will go for a walk, and when keeping corals that means you can lose most of your tank in a hurry. Also, they get VERY big, and will dominate your tank in short order. You could likely add another fish to that set-up(once you take off the mandarin and hawkfish) maybe something like a wrasse or goby.

WXB · 04/29/2011, 08:05 PM

I have a mandrine in a tank that has been set up for almost 2 years now. He is frozen food feed as well as live pods and live brine so a mandrine is doable. Have it with a angle ull be fine

03/29/2010, 10:45 AM	#1
Kentrider Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2	Bio-Cube 28 set-up? Questions In the coming months i plan on buying a bio-cube 28. I was just wondering what should all go in it. This is my dream wish but i dont know if they all go together and if its tomuch for the tank. Help? Thanks! • Two False Percula Clownfish • Firefish Goby • Mandarin Dragonet • Longnose Hawkfish • Cleaner Shrimp • Anemone Crab • Frogspawn • Red Xenia • Feather Duster • Long Tentacle Anemone One last thing. Is a bio-cube a good idea or should i get a nano-cube?

03/29/2010, 11:23 AM	#3
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	tend to agree with mthomp on the tank. a 28 is not SOOOO small for a beginner, but it is small enough to make a mistake. An AIO is a decent way to get in for cheap, but cheaper is not always better. I'd rather try and find something like a 40-gallon tank and stand used for maybe like $100, then spend $300+ on a 36" t5 light, and $150 on a Eshopps or ReefOctopus HANG-ON skimmer. Now for about $600, you have a GREAT tank and set-up. I'd rather spend $600 and be successful and stay in the hobby for a while, than spend $300 on an AIO, not keep up PERFECTLY on maintenance, and throw everything out after 3 months of problems maintaining the tank. I'd ditch the mandarin and the hawkfish. Everything else looks good on that list. Be warned that the longtip anemone can/will go for a walk, and when keeping corals that means you can lose most of your tank in a hurry. Also, they get VERY big, and will dominate your tank in short order. You could likely add another fish to that set-up(once you take off the mandarin and hawkfish) maybe something like a wrasse or goby. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

03/29/2010, 10:54 AM	#2
mthomp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 766	no to the mandarin. they tend to only eat pods with the occasional one able to be trained to be spot fed shrimp, it will starve in a tank your size. the hawffish is reefsafe with caution. you can do a lot of research on your plans for stocking at http://www.liveaquaria.com. not sure what your exact plans are or how much the cube is costing you with a stand but id look into a redsea max system. also keep in mind that bigger is better in alot of ways. if you are just starting out in reefkeeping, a larger tank gives you a lot more leeway when it comes to mistakes. so id leave the nanos to the more experianced reefers.

04/29/2011, 08:05 PM	#4
WXB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 258	I have a mandrine in a tank that has been set up for almost 2 years now. He is frozen food feed as well as live pods and live brine so a mandrine is doable. Have it with a angle ull be fine