Aquapod? Nano Cube? HELP ME CHOOSE!!

Louie3

In Memoriam
So I've been saving up for one of these badboyz. I really like the lighting choices. Im looking at The 12g 54w system which gets me 4.5watts per gallon and the 24g 64w system with2.6 watts per gallon. The 12g Nano cube has the same lighting as the 12g AP but the AP is much cheaper is there much difference between the brands? I'm pretty much can spend about $200 and under
 
I have a 24 gallon nanocube. The main difference between them is the way the back chambers are setup but they are very similar.

If you can afford the 24 and have space go with that. If you think you will have to move this tank around in the future (The joys of being a student) I would go for the 12. If you get the 12 just be picky with what you put in there, not a lot of room.
 
I was going through the same questions about 9+ months back when I finally decided to buy one. I went with the AquaPod since it seemed to have better reviews overall.

I went with the 12 gallon since the lighting was higher per gallon, and I just wanted to stay smaller for my first tank.

The only downside to the AquaPod is that there aren't as many mods that you can buy outright. www.nanotuners.com sells more upgrades for the JBJ over the AP. Personally I wasn't planning a ton of upgrades other than a few minor things so this didn't matter to me.

Check out my tank:)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=941108
 
I'm not looking to do any major upgrades excepted switching out the stock pump. I really wont need to move it. I like the wattage the 12g offers but it doesnt seem like as much space. The 24g has more space and the downside is less watta per gallon.
Colinadam: what is the nano cube 24's light set up? What do you keep?
Saltman123: Since the 12g has a higher wattage waht do you keep? What sort of fish do you have? is cleaning difficult?
 
No clams under either. They need MH light to thrive, imo.

I started with the stock DX nanocube, after 7 months I got a 108W custom hood at www.nanotuners.com and keep a lot of LPS and Softies. I could do some SPS but I have no desire to be more of a slave to my tank and it's parameters :)
 
So a clam wouldnt thrive with the 12g 54w? Dang I really dont want to spend more money on modding a tank.
 
theyve been keeping a clam in the AP 12 at my LFS w/ 54w for about 4 months now, and it seems to be doing good
 
I have the 64 Watt Aquapod and I like it, I personally hate the filtration system and modified it. It's not very hard to modify if you choose to.

I personally have several modifications on mine. I added an Eheim Ecco Canister filter to replace the system in the back and also modified the lighting.

The lighting ballasts can handle 40 watt bulbs, just reposition them. they can also be pushed back and respositioned and another 40 watt bulb can be put in the system, I added a 50/50 sunpaq retrofit kit system to make it work for a total of 120 watt power compacts and I keep my nice hood.

Now... for a skimmer:bum:
 
Mushrooms and Polyps until I modified the lighting in the stock hood to 120 watts. now I can do SPS/LPS as well.
 
Yes they would, however the Sunpaq's endcap is huge, you need to remove a small part of the hood section to get it to fit. It took all of about 5 minutes and didn't hurt the hood in anyway but it's about 1/2" to long. Here's a pic of the bulb with the splash guard on and is an old picture I have modified it to "clean it up" since then. I also didn't have the heat shield in at that time since I needed to drill it and I had to go to work in 15 minutes when I took this pic! :strooper:





As you can see this was the "rough draft" since I was going it on my own. After these pictures I did:

Moved the "white" endcaps back to edge of the hood and put in the 40 Watt bulbs, I re-arranged the ballasts and screwed them down, I had them in there but they weren't screwed down. I put in two stealth fans since it was getting tight.

I cut back the shield on the back of heatshield for better wire movement and put in the first 40 watt's reflector after I drilled it to meet te stock drill holes.

One point though, and I made this mistake. Tally up the money on the mods and stuff you need to make the mods... And then price it against the HQI system. I love my modified system but on Monday, I take my hood off and I am buying a Sunpod HQI. I want the intensity of the HQI and it will be nice to have the option of having a han on skimmer and not mess with a nano skimmer that costs easily as much if not more.
 
I think what I'm going to try is to switch the bulb to 40w Pc's and add a retro fit from sunpaq 15" 32w PC after I switch the bulbs. And I can still keep the fans right?
 
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