Hi everyone!
I am new to the site and forums, just joined today . Well I'm in the process of getting my 8 gallon cube going and I want to get advice for the best way to get it going for a mini reef. I had it setup a few years ago and then it crashed on me and I just gave up and it has been just sitting for all this time. Last weekend I finally said "its time" lol. I went to my LFS and brought home a bucket of saltwater then I got home and got to work lol. I took out the filter, the bioballs, all the rock, siphoned all the old water out, shook all the sand around. I rinsed the rock, bio balls and filter out and then put everything back and filled it with new water. I also put a small sprig of caulerpa (long flat leaf plant) I think its called and have had the light running 24/7. The plant has sprouted a couple new leaves and I had the water tested yesterday and they said the water is perfect. Hmmm. Idk lol I had the stagnant water tested before I cleaned the whole thing out and they told me it was really high salinity and phosphates due to just sitting for so long and that when I got it going again my LR would probably be holding a lot of what caused the high phosphate so I would probably need a something to get rid of the phosphate once I redid the tank ?? what do you guys think? Its been a week since I got it running again. I put a few hermit crabs in last night and they are doing well.
What do I need to make it a mini reef with not so much work? or am I just going to have to deal with all the maintenance since its such a small tank? I would put maybe just 1 fish in there and the rest coral and inverts. Open to your experiences, ideas and expertise
I am new to the site and forums, just joined today . Well I'm in the process of getting my 8 gallon cube going and I want to get advice for the best way to get it going for a mini reef. I had it setup a few years ago and then it crashed on me and I just gave up and it has been just sitting for all this time. Last weekend I finally said "its time" lol. I went to my LFS and brought home a bucket of saltwater then I got home and got to work lol. I took out the filter, the bioballs, all the rock, siphoned all the old water out, shook all the sand around. I rinsed the rock, bio balls and filter out and then put everything back and filled it with new water. I also put a small sprig of caulerpa (long flat leaf plant) I think its called and have had the light running 24/7. The plant has sprouted a couple new leaves and I had the water tested yesterday and they said the water is perfect. Hmmm. Idk lol I had the stagnant water tested before I cleaned the whole thing out and they told me it was really high salinity and phosphates due to just sitting for so long and that when I got it going again my LR would probably be holding a lot of what caused the high phosphate so I would probably need a something to get rid of the phosphate once I redid the tank ?? what do you guys think? Its been a week since I got it running again. I put a few hermit crabs in last night and they are doing well.
What do I need to make it a mini reef with not so much work? or am I just going to have to deal with all the maintenance since its such a small tank? I would put maybe just 1 fish in there and the rest coral and inverts. Open to your experiences, ideas and expertise