My 14g biocube build(update with pics last page)

Okay. My LFS wont be getting any good pieces for a few days.

 

I picked up a few things at the LFS today. pair of tank bred percs

 

I like the two little clowns.

 

they are cute

 

yeah they are cool


And another thing...Hopefully you guys dont think i am rushing this tank, I have been going to this LFS for a while now and they are great help said that these two clowns are tank bred and said they are very hardy and even if i go through a cycle, it will be VERY small and wont hurt anything.

Tested water in the morning(around 10am) and tested it at 3pm(same result)

Here are my current tank params

Ph-8.1
nitrates-0ppm
nitrite-0
ammonia-0
alk-8dkh
salinity-1.025

I am going to wait atleast another few days to start adding other things to the tank though.

 

Well, in fact, you are rushing things. Here is my mini essay I wrote on the full cycle;

Tank cycling:
There are some who would tell you that once "the numbers" are all good the cycle is over and you are ready to go, I am not one of those. What many beginner (even some advanced) aquarium keepers are not (fully) aware of is that the full cycle takes at least 6-8 months. The reason being, mainly, is this is the time required to fully cultivate a total beneficial bacterial base and achieve a saturation of such. Also, allowing the tank to "season" and go through the inevitable mini-cycles and diatom blooms and get fully established is the key to a healthy and stable tank in the future. When using live rock and/or sand, the die off will start the cycle. You could have one fish after about the 6 week mark, let the tank get established by light feeding and going through a moderate light cycle (6-8 hours) for the next 3 weeks.At the 2 month mark, A 25% water change of the "total"water volume is in order. After that, add a few clean up critters (crabs and/or snails) and allow the tank to "catch up" to the added load (you may at this time add some live bacteria to help in this process) and give it another 2 weeks doing all your tests on a regular (weekly) basis and determine if the tank is stable. Water changes of 30% should be carried out once a month to once every 5-6 weeks. Coral should not be introduced (even soft) until the tank is around 3-4 months old. Too many beginners don't exercise the proper patience and discipline at this early stage of getting their tank going only to have problems and head aches down the road. Once the tank has gone through this full cycle period and the tank is stable, then and only then, should you add more difficult coral like hard coral. I always employed a bit of advice I got when I was starting out to add bacteria after each water change for the first and subsequent next 4-5 changes. After the 4th water change then and only then add to the tank and minimally at that.
Another good tactic I learned is to add (whatever you are adding) a couple days after a water change. This gives the new creature fresh minerals and trace elements and a good 3-4 weeks (I adhere to 4-5 week intervals between changes) to adjust to the new water parameters, light, temp etc. before disrupting the tank for the next water change.
I hope this helps.

 

That did..thanks, i have known that a tank doesnet fully cycle for 6-8 months, but i asked my LFS if i was rushing and they said i wasnt..

 

And they would probably tell you a tang would be appropriate as well.

Go slow and you will have greater success, save money and the live of fish and inverts.

 

Lmao...Not for a 14g..they are not like that.

I am going slow..you shoulda seen how fast i went with my last one..i bought like 10 pieces of coral that i didnt even know the name of lmao.

 

I don't trust LFS for the most part. They are out to make money. My LFS told me I could have an octopus in my reef tank without having any knowledge on how to care for one.