Trying something a bit unique this time around. Many individuals believe that a tank must be cycled before introducing corals. I've decided to set up a 15-gallon Innovative Marine cube where I will be cycling the tank solely with corals. Instead of using fish, which can be harmed by ammonia, corals are my chosen method for cycling as they do not have blood like fish and do not react the same way to ammonia. Here is the equipment I am using:
- Light: Aqua Illuminations 16HD
- Heater: EHEIM 50-watt heater
- Wave Maker: Nero 3
- 10lbs of Caribsea dry rock
- 10lbs Caribsea live reef sand
- Instant Ocean salt
- Tap water
I placed an order for the Innovative Marine 15-gallon tank on Thursday, March 14th. The same day, I measured the dimensions of the tank on a cardboard box and purchased 16 lbs of Caribsea dry rock from a local fish store. Upon returning home, I used a hammer to break some of the rock and created various aquascapes on the cardboard box to decide on a final design. I used cement to solidify the aquascape I preferred.
While waiting for the tank to arrive, I filled two 5-gallon buckets with dry rock and tap water. I added 2 1/2 cups of Instant Ocean salt to each bucket, letting them mix. With only one extra heater, I kept one bucket warm and mixing, while the other was at room temperature and mixed using an additional pump. I added a frozen raw shrimp to the bucket with the heater, dry rock, and powerhead to allow the decomposition process to begin from March 14th until the tank arrived on the 19th.
Once the tank arrived, it was a simple assembly with the aquascape chosen and water prepared. I lined the bottom of the tank with live sand before adding the rock from the buckets. I added the heater and powerhead, filling the tank with a total of 10 gallons. As the water warmed up and mixed, I buried the remaining decomposing shrimp into the live sand.
I proceeded to mix an additional 5 gallons of saltwater and performed a water change on my 32-gallon biocube. I used the removed 5 gallons to top off the 15-gallon tank. After the tank reached the desired temperature, I confirmed the salinity and added corals from my 32-gallon tank.
The corals I added include:
- 1 green montipora
- 2 green nepthea
- 2 Og bounce mushrooms
- 1 green toadstool
- 1 frag with 5 polyps of pink diamond zoanthids
- 1 Favia
- 1 unknown blue coral
- 1 NY Knicks torch
Within a day, everything settled in nicely, the water was clear, the sand had settled, and all the corals were thriving. I will be documenting the process with pictures over time. My plan is to wait about 2 weeks before introducing a clownfish and more corals. Stay tuned for updates!
- Light: Aqua Illuminations 16HD
- Heater: EHEIM 50-watt heater
- Wave Maker: Nero 3
- 10lbs of Caribsea dry rock
- 10lbs Caribsea live reef sand
- Instant Ocean salt
- Tap water
I placed an order for the Innovative Marine 15-gallon tank on Thursday, March 14th. The same day, I measured the dimensions of the tank on a cardboard box and purchased 16 lbs of Caribsea dry rock from a local fish store. Upon returning home, I used a hammer to break some of the rock and created various aquascapes on the cardboard box to decide on a final design. I used cement to solidify the aquascape I preferred.
While waiting for the tank to arrive, I filled two 5-gallon buckets with dry rock and tap water. I added 2 1/2 cups of Instant Ocean salt to each bucket, letting them mix. With only one extra heater, I kept one bucket warm and mixing, while the other was at room temperature and mixed using an additional pump. I added a frozen raw shrimp to the bucket with the heater, dry rock, and powerhead to allow the decomposition process to begin from March 14th until the tank arrived on the 19th.
Once the tank arrived, it was a simple assembly with the aquascape chosen and water prepared. I lined the bottom of the tank with live sand before adding the rock from the buckets. I added the heater and powerhead, filling the tank with a total of 10 gallons. As the water warmed up and mixed, I buried the remaining decomposing shrimp into the live sand.
I proceeded to mix an additional 5 gallons of saltwater and performed a water change on my 32-gallon biocube. I used the removed 5 gallons to top off the 15-gallon tank. After the tank reached the desired temperature, I confirmed the salinity and added corals from my 32-gallon tank.
The corals I added include:
- 1 green montipora
- 2 green nepthea
- 2 Og bounce mushrooms
- 1 green toadstool
- 1 frag with 5 polyps of pink diamond zoanthids
- 1 Favia
- 1 unknown blue coral
- 1 NY Knicks torch
Within a day, everything settled in nicely, the water was clear, the sand had settled, and all the corals were thriving. I will be documenting the process with pictures over time. My plan is to wait about 2 weeks before introducing a clownfish and more corals. Stay tuned for updates!
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