JBJ 12g Nano-Cube setup

[Doc Hammer]

So, just got my tank today from Dr. F&S and was just looking for some advice on setup. Below are pictures of it disassembled and the parts that I inspected.

Here's the filters. I've heard that I should replace the bio-balls with live rock rubble so that cycling is shortened by the introduction of bacteria on the live rock. I'd also like to know what I should do with the active carbon bag and the ceramic ring bag. I know to keep the sponges.
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Here's the compartments. Sponges were in the first compartment on the left, ceramic ring bag in the middle with bio-balls beneath the bag, and carbon bag along with the powerhead and tube in the right compartment. So I'm guessing the LRR goes in the middle.
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Along with the Nano-Cube and stand I ordered a Fission Nano-Skimmer. Any suggestions as to where this should go?
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And he's the whole tank, with the canopy taken off of course. Now, I read in the book The Nano-Reef Handbook by Chris R. Brightwell, that I should wash the tank out with tap water and turn it up-side down to dry. Is this alright? Because it says no such thing in the owner's manual about "washing" out the tank, just filling the tank, which I assume is for just testing to make sure the system is working.
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This tank is going to be inhabited by a green or blue chromis and when I am satisfied that everything is ok, I will be introducing a N. Wennera from TBS.

Thanks in advance to anybody who lends some sage advice to the newb.

EDIT: In the picture of the compartments, you'll notice that right above the left compartment the hood connection is broken. I'm ok with it, no big deal, happened when I was tanking off the canopy. I'll probably solder it back on after awhile.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Only put in the sponges if you plan on cleaning them like often, at least every other day. Leave everything else out.
Advise..... Use ro/di from the start. Go slow. Research everything. Ask before you buy things...aka your skimmer is garbage....sorry to tell you.
Go slow. Did I mention go slow Ask lots of questions, we are here for you!

 

[Doc Hammer]

What about washing it out? Do I use tap or RO/DI? And what could I use instead of the sponges?

 

[Randall_James]

The cubes work fine without any sponges, IF you do use them , they do need rinsed every few days (just rinsed and squeezed out in clean water). The skimmer will only sort of work, they require way to much service to be much help... With a nano, water changes are far easier and more effective IMO.. You are going to like the tank I bet if you want something in the chambers, reef rubble works great..

 

[chrisjet]

ok here's my secret to success for your tank. First chamber one sponge and on top of that use a handful of filter floss. 2nd chamber 1or 2 lbs of Liverock rubble and on top of that use a small bag of seachem seagel and seachem purigen. They sell them at almost all lfs's they come in little mesh porous bag and there is about a handful of media in them. 3rd chamber heater, pump, and temp probe. Upgrade your pump to a maxi jet 900 or 1200. Return the skimmer you wont need it. Once a week change out your filter floss and clean sponge in a small bucket of RO water. If you use this method you will most likely be successful. Good luck

 

[chrisjet]

also do a weekly waterchange about 3 or 4 gallons

 

[Doc Hammer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10144286#post10144286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisjet
ok here's my secret to success for your tank. First chamber one sponge and on top of that use a handful of filter floss. 2nd chamber 1or 2 lbs of Liverock rubble and on top of that use a small bag of seachem seagel and seachem purigen. They sell them at almost all lfs's they come in little mesh porous bag and there is about a handful of media in them. 3rd chamber heater, pump, and temp probe. Upgrade your pump to a maxi jet 900 or 1200. Return the skimmer you wont need it. Once a week change out your filter floss and clean sponge in a small bucket of RO water. If you use this method you will most likely be successful. Good luck

Thanks! I'm probably going to keep the skimmer, just because I want the little pump in case I need it for something in the future.

I'm going to be buying my water from my LFS, they sell saltwater for $1 by the gallon, and I REALLY like them over there, and I'm willing to pay for that plus the $.50 for the pure water. So let me just do a check list of what I need to pick up when I go over there this Saturday or Sunday:
Filter Floss
1 or 2 lbs of LRR (plus display LR and I'm going with the Caribsea West
Caribbean
Reef Aragonite)
Seachem Seagel and Purigen
And I might get a new pump.

BTW, Something Fishy is the place I go, I love them.

 

[drummereef]

Very cool. Get a TDS meter and check the lfs water. Just make sure the 'pure' water you are buying is actually 'pure' water.

 

[Doc Hammer]

Ok, so what do you guys think I should keep in? The bio-balls? The sponges? The carbon? The ceramic rings? Or should I just scrap these and go for other products?

 

[kclauser]

Just run LR rubble and carbon.

 

[drummereef]

Agree. No sponges, bio balls, rings, or anything mechanical/biological related. Just do rubble and chemical filtration. Carbon and maybe some phosphate media.

 

[Doc Hammer]

Alright, so I'm going to get some Chemi-Pure, put it in the first chamber and beneath the Chemi I'll put a phosphate bag. In the second chamber I'll put about 1 to 2 pounds of LRR. And in the third I'll put the heater, thermometer, and pump, which will be a Maxi jet 900 or 1200. In the display I'll be putting LRR, substrate, a Hydro FLO deflector, and maybe a Fiji LR.

 

[Randall_James]

With a 12 gallon tank on 3-4g per week water changes, I would just use the reef rubble and "maybe" carbon... save your money on the other stuff..

 

[killagoby]

If you use enough LR rubble you might not need anything else. Research the Berlin Method of tank set-ups. 1.5 to 2 lbs. of live rock per gallon of H2O, most times a bare bottom so detrius does not settle in the sand, and heavy skimming. I would not use bio-balls, sponges, or anything else that could trap detrius. It turns out to be a nitrate factory. Get a good amount of flow in the tank and you will be set!

 

[blu iz]

In my 12gl nano, I still use the sponges.. just keep them clean. I also only change my water every other week. I only have 1 fish, a cleaner shrimp and 4 snails...
I am coming into work tomorrow and take this one down and replace it with a 14gl nano, with the double lights

 

[blu iz]

double post

 

[seapug]

My first tank was a 12 Gal NC and it looked great. One thing I don't see in your pics is the modular surface skimmer the newer Nano Cubes come with. If you didn't get one with the tank, go buy one IMMEDIATELY. It's basically a little 3 sided cup with teeth at the top that sticks to the intake by suction and creates an improvised overflow. It will do wonders for your water clarity. I ran mine with the sponges in the first chamber when I first set up the tank to capture detritus from the sand and rock. Just be sure to rinse them a couple times/week or better yet, daily. Once the detritus subsides and the cycling is complete you can probably take them out (or keep one for some mechanical filtration). I took out the ceramic rings and bio balls and just ran a bag of Chemi-pure in the middle chamber. Pump and heater go in the 3rd chamber. Apart from that, others have given good advice. Take it slow, keep up with the top-offs to keep salinity stable, and do frequent water changes-- it's the easiest way to maintain a small tank. Those Nano Cubes can be beautiful little tanks when they are well maintained. Good luck!

 

[Doc Hammer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10148785#post10148785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seapug
My first tank was a 12 Gal NC and it looked great. One thing I don't see in your pics is the modular surface skimmer the newer Nano Cubes come with. If you didn't get one with the tank, go buy one IMMEDIATELY. It's basically a little 3 sided cup with teeth at the top that sticks to the intake by suction and creates an improvised overflow. It will do wonders for your water clarity. I ran mine with the sponges in the first chamber when I first set up the tank to capture detritus from the sand and rock. Just be sure to rinse them a couple times/week or better yet, daily. Once the detritus subsides and the cycling is complete you can probably take them out (or keep one for some mechanical filtration). I took out the ceramic rings and bio balls and just ran a bag of Chemi-pure in the middle chamber. Pump and heater go in the 3rd chamber. Apart from that, others have given good advice. Take it slow, keep up with the top-offs to keep salinity stable, and do frequent water changes-- it's the easiest way to maintain a small tank. Those Nano Cubes can be beautiful little tanks when they are well maintained. Good luck!

I got it, and it's in the fourth picture. It's on the left right in front of the TV.

 

[Doc Hammer]

Alright, here's a question for you guys: I don't think I'll be getting a RO/DI right now, just because I want to see if my father could get me one at a discount or even for free (He works in the water treatment business, like consulting for city water purification plants and stuff like that, so he may have something for me.) MY LFS sells saltwater and RO/DI's water for $1 and $.50 a gallon and supply you with buckets for it all. My question is whether or not it'd be ok for me to get about 20g of salt and 20g of RO/DI'd water, use about 12g (I know it's not going to be EXACTLY 12g, have to factor in the volume displacement of the substrate, the LR, and everything else) of salt for my tank, use alittle bit of the RO/DI'd water to clean out the tank before I put substrate in, then I'll fill it SLOWLY with saltwater. I just wanted to know if I could keep the remaining saltwater for the next week's water change and the RO/DI'd water for daily top offs (which shouldn't need too much water since I won't be running the lights till after cycling) or will the water "go bad" so to speak?

EDIT: and add LR

 

[Randall_James]

Salt water will hold for weeks... does not hurt to run a powerhead in it prior to use