[bethandpete]

I just got a 14 gallon Biocube for xmas from my wife, its my first saltwater tank and Im thrilled even if its only 14 gallons. So far I have learned that 14 gallons is plenty for me a this point, and it seems the employees at the local aquarium store are not all on the same page. Does this happen often?

Anyways I would really like to know if Im headed for disaster or if Im on the right track. So far this is what we have done; We put in the sulstrate in the night before as instructed by the sales person who sold my wife the tank. Then on the big day we picked up around 7lbs of live rock along with two damsels and a emerald crab from a different salesperson told us to leave the lights on for 10 hours, two hours off and ten again. When I asked about the lunar lights, he responded dont worry about them, I dont use them. He also sold me some bacteria that came in a small liquid packet. So I added it and follow his lighting directions, now I lost one of the damsels. So I went back today to find the orginal sales person but he wasnt there and found no help from a college student working the register.

I was wondering how should I properly run both sets of lights?

Where can I learn the proper way to take care of this tank?

Thank you for your time.

[innovativecreations]

I believe the proper lighting cycle for most any saltwater tank is 10 hours on, 14 hours off. Thats what I use, and have no problems with over or under growth!

[TEBMSU97]

Although I am quite new to the whole saltwater scene myself and I might be misreading your message, but it sounds like you did not let the tank cycle.

If you bought the fish the same day as the live rock and just dropped it all in the tank, then yes I believe you are headed for disaster.

Someone far more experienced than myself can explain the whole cycling thing to you (I am not even out of the phase myself), but I doubt it it is your light cycle at this point.

[joe4272]

You should have let the tank settle for a short while before putting in your living rock and then tested for nitrite at regular intervals for a couple of weeks and then when the tank has stabalised add a tough damsel to start and build from there always doing regular checks on nitrite nitrate salinity ph etc ps dont always listen to sales persons alot are part time and inexperienced you cant beat doing your own research books internet etc;