[DoctorHypnosis]

Hello and pleased to meet you all! I set up my first saltwater tanks 25 years ago when I was 15 y/o and ran them until I was 19 and then took them down to head off to college. Now, all these years later, I decided to go back to my long awaited love of salt water and WOW has the industry moved to some AMAZING improvements, innovations and animals in the last 20 years!!

I did some research and went to several LFS in San Francisco and I was blown away by the service, product and all around help that my partner and I received from one store in particular, so we chose them and moved into the new realm of reef aquariums! The store for those interested is called fish, fish and more fish on Lombard Street.

After consideration and discussion (and being talked out of buying a 130 Gallon setup on Craig's List - and I am glad I did not go that route at this time) we purchased the Oceanic BioCube 29 and a nice cabinet stand. I added a Protein Skimmer, Submersible heater and a Koralia Turbo Pump for added circulation.

For the tank setup, I chose 20 lbs of live white sand, 25 lbs of hand picked live rock (already cured in the shop and beautiful) and 30 gallons of live water. Once the tank was setup and cycled, we added 2 Black and White False Ocellaris Clown Fish - Amphiprion ocellaris (mated pair), 2 snails, 1 Emerald Crab - Mithrax sculptus and 1 Bubble Green Coral - Physogyra species (that was yesterday on 4-20-08). The plan is to now wait a week and monitor how everyone is doing and then add another coral, a star and maybe a coral beauty fish.

I have attached a few pics below - your feedback is always welcome and I am so excited to be back into aquariums - and with the start of a Reef Tank!!!

[aquasalt]

Welcome aboard, Steve! Your nano looks great, just be careful to not go to fast. When did you add water to the tank?

[RyanG]

Welcome to RB Steve! Tank looks really good.

Since you liked your LFS, you can post a review at My Product Gallery - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost which just launched.

[DoctorHypnosis]

Thank you both for the welcome and the warning to speed!

I was concerned about going too fast as in the old days we cycled tanks for 2 to 3 months depending on size, using damsels to help the nitrate process - I have learned in the last month that this is no longer the way of the modern salt water tank set-up with live rock, live sand and live water - plus the addition of the protein skimmer.

With that said and a fair amount of research arguing different modern setup time tables, I opted to go to the fast side of the cycle to experience what this is like and to see first hand if these changes in technology and natural chemical truly makes the difference I am reading about. My LFS was very helpful in constantly slowing me down and in helping to balance out the system (LOL - excitement can be deadly in this hobby without restraint). I am still a wee bit nervous in the turn around time as the tank appeared to cycle in 3 days with the help of SuperBac-Aquarium Nitrifying Bacteria for Saltwater. I added a full 16oz bottle to the 29 gallon tank at time of setup. 24 hours later, all readings were showing what I was used to seeing after 6 to 8 weeks of cycling, with the tank being at the end of its cycle. This morning there are 0 nitrates, nitrites and phenomena levels.

I opted not to use damsels as they are very aggressive and were never my favorite fishes in the old days. After reading and talking with several LFS, I opted to introduce only the pair of farm raised mated clowns and what is supposed to be a hardy and tolerant coral - the bubble, along with 2 snails and 1 crab - all to create a balance and assist the tank to continue to naturally cycle.

My LFS said I might be able to add 1 additional coral in a week depending on readings and that will be the telltale sign, the readings in a week. My partner really wants a coral beauty and shrimp - AND I have explained both are more fragile and we need to be sure the tank is biologically solid - so I have some pressure on me for speed - but I am holding here to watch, take measurements and adjust as needed before making any additions to the biosphere - balance is what I am hoping to achieve and maintain with these early choices... I am still trepidatious in the face of my early saltwater schooling...

[aquasalt]

I think most people here would have recommended the longer way of cycling without any additives. However, your tank looks beautiful and I hope that it achieves stability. I'm sure others will pitch in, but again, be prepared to wait, wait, wait, and wait some more before you jump the gun on any other purchases. I have a feeling that you will be noticing some big shifts in your water chemistry over the next weeks, especially given that it is only a 29 gallon system. Much luck. Feel free to ask any questions that you might have here...there are a ton of knowledgeable and helpful hobbyists on this site.

[capitalb]

Welcome Doc,

Your new set-up looks great but remember, Patience is a virtue. I'm not sure why fresh marine is calling your oscellaris black and white! This is what black and whites look like.
Good luck!
Bob

[Marco0725]

Welcome back into this beautiful and amazing hobby. It's always great to know that people are intrested in marine life.

Your new set up is awesome. It looks like you are off to a great start. Just watch how many live stock you add.

Again, welcome to the hobby and to reefbuilders. Hope to hear from you and see the progress in your nano tank.

[aquasalt]

Any updates, how are your parameters doing?

[DoctorHypnosis]

Thank you all for the welcomes and warm wishes. So far everything is good in the tank. The Ammonia levels did spike to almost 1.0 on Monday and then fell back to below .25 the next day and have been decreasing since. The tank cycled naturally as I did not add anything to effect the drop. The fish are active and the bubble coral is beginning to open more fully.

Capitalb you are of course correct, the link to my clowns does say Black and White False Percula, as they have it on their site - not sure why they have it that way as they are not black and whites - thanks for catching that and your tank is BEAUTIFUL! I may have to check out some black and whites at some point in the future.

My little snail is making his way around the tank glass each day and the larger snail is burying himself in the sand (not sure if that is what he does or he found something tasty to forage...). The crab is very active and makes a full appearance when we do the daily feeding - though he seems very happy working on the live rocks.

My LFS recommended keeping the lights to only 4 hours (full sun) for the first week and increasing that by 1 hour each additional week to keep algae at bay. I have been doing this and all appears to be fine (I have not had any algae). I am mainly concerned that the bubble gets the needed light each day, which the LFS says is just fine. What are your thoughts on this approach?

Thanks again for all the feedback - I am LOVING the tank!

[Uvajed]

Hi DoctorHypnosis, I'm new here, and new to the hobby. Your pictures are great! I'm just at the curing rock stage. Welcome aboard!