JBJ 28 Gallon Nano Owners Club

[Candi]

Thank you for the responses.

Regarding the intermediate LED... how would the amount of light it gives off compare to the 64w of PC I'm used to with my aquapod though?

I have no interest in going sps in this tank or anything that needs more light then rics, zoas, frogspawn, toadstools etc (all of which are going out of control with my dinky 64w aquapod) so maybe the intermediate led would be enough for my needs?

 

[ange062]

Thank you for the responses.

Regarding the intermediate LED... how would the amount of light it gives off compare to the 64w of PC I'm used to with my aquapod though?

I have no interest in going sps in this tank or anything that needs more light then rics, zoas, frogspawn, toadstools etc (all of which are going out of control with my dinky 64w aquapod) so maybe the intermediate led would be enough for my needs?

Well its less light with more gallons then your aquapod, so not as strong. Itll be fine to keep softies and lower light LPS. I'd still personally go with the PC version though, the intermediate LED is just not powerful enough IMO.

 

[Candi]

Against recommendations I went with the Intermediate LED, came down to cost... the pro was out of my price range and I really wanted to get away from the heat & cost (replacing every 6 months) of PC lighting.

The tank will be replacing my 24g aquapod however I have some red bubble algae in there along with an excess of purple/blue shrooms that I really don't want moving over so I've purchased 30#'s of dry rock from reefcleaners and will create a neat scape with that and then seed it with some extremely cleaned off rock from my pod....

I know I'm going to want to suppliment the lighting even if just to get a better color/pop so I'm looking into either adding a stunner strip or two, or a panorama in the near future. Any advice on that is appreciated.

No skimmer planned, but I will set up the back for a fuge, I have the light I used on my 8g biocube to stick on the back and excess cheato in my 70g.

Not sure what I'll do about pumps, I have mj900's and 1200's laying around and in use in my pod so probably those... just keeping softies so I don't need a ton of flow, just want to make sure there aren't dead spaces so likely going to use some rotating hydors.

Will update once the rock and tank arrive

 

[bladeruner143]

I just set up my 28G nanocube this past weekend and I'm trying to get everything dialed in. I'm having an issue keeping the water level where I want it to be in the back compartment. The water level on the two outer chambers where the return pumps are is only high enough to barely cover the two MJ pumps. I have the skimmer pump in the center chamber, but I'm going to be moving it to the right-center chamber so that the output is in the very center chamber. Any ideas? I've been trying to read through the entire thread, but 3 splits is a lot to read!

 

[ramitc3]

when the water evaporates, it shows first in the outside chambers. Usually when mine gets too low, i start to see micro bubbles. Getting an ATO will fix your problem. JBJ makes one that you can get for around $90.

 

[corrado007]

+1 on an ATO, in such small tanks a little fluctuation in water level can more quickly affect salinity level and can quickly uncover equipment in the back chambers.

 

[bladeruner143]

The problem is that I just filled it with water and I'm seeing this problem already, even when there hasn't been enough time for any water to evaporate. Had anyone experienced this before? The microbubbles are gone since I adjusted my skimmer output into the center chamber but the water levels on the outside chambers are still low.

 

[ramitc3]

hey everyone! I just got the AI Nano for my nano cube! Should I run it at 100 percent, or start lower and work my way up? I am coming from the CF Quad.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

bladeruner,Fill the tank until the water is about even with the middle chamber.

 

[ramitc3]

The problem is that I just filled it with water and I'm seeing this problem already, even when there hasn't been enough time for any water to evaporate. Had anyone experienced this before? The microbubbles are gone since I adjusted my skimmer output into the center chamber but the water levels on the outside chambers are still low.

well the water has to be going SOMEWHERE. My JBJ is an open-top and I top off my chambers daily because they can get low very quickly. I would just keep adding water until it is completely full.

 

[ange062]

hey everyone! I just got the AI Nano for my nano cube! Should I run it at 100 percent, or start lower and work my way up? I am coming from the CF Quad.

Start lower and work your way up, LED's have a way of burning corals when switching from the PC light, and I speak from experience!

 

[bladeruner143]

I feel like an idiot, but you guys were completely right. I thought that it would overfill if I kept adding water, but it got to the level that I wanted in the back. I'm still have some issues with microbubbles though from the water flowing from the middle right and left chambers into the far right and left chambers. How do you guys deal with this? Would putting the pumps in a filter sock help?

 

[ange062]

I feel like an idiot, but you guys were completely right. I thought that it would overfill if I kept adding water, but it got to the level that I wanted in the back. I'm still have some issues with microbubbles though from the water flowing from the middle right and left chambers into the far right and left chambers. How do you guys deal with this? Would putting the pumps in a filter sock help?

Keep filling until the pump chambers are even with or just below the center chambers. And use spinge at that divider to "break" the water flow and voila, no bubbles!

 

[jchayden]

I have been researching upgrading to LEDs for the past 3 days. After going around and around in circles I was wondering what the thoughts were between the AI Sol Nano and the Apollo Solar Blast for our tanks? Thanks

 

[SlvrSurfRidr]

I have been researching upgrading to LEDs for the past 3 days. After going around and around in circles I was wondering what the thoughts were between the AI Sol Nano and the Apollo Solar Blast for our tanks? Thanks

+1, would love to hear any feedback anyone might have

 

[ramitc3]

I have the Nano and I love it! Perfect amount of light IMO. I can post a pic if you want. The only problem with it is the mount. You will have to find your own way to mount it because the one it comes with does not fit properly. Also, in order to use it to it's full capabilities, the AI controller is recommended.

 

[geezers11]

Keep filling until the pump chambers are even with or just below the center chambers. And use spinge at that divider to "break" the water flow and voila, no bubbles!

You actually don't need the long sponge divider to prevent bubbles. Just fill water a smidge below the center chamber. Works like a dream.

 

[bladeruner143]

Ange062, do you have any problems with high nitrates when you use the sponges? That's the only reason I didn't try that, but you're probably right. That might be my only option.

Geezers11, I have my water level pretty dam close to the middle right chamber and I'm still getting microbubbles. I think the sponge route is my only option at this point.

 

[jchayden]

I have the Nano and I love it! Perfect amount of light IMO. I can post a pic if you want. The only problem with it is the mount. You will have to find your own way to mount it because the one it comes with does not fit properly. Also, in order to use it to it's full capabilities, the AI controller is recommended.

Thanks. I am upgrading from the CF Quad 105w. Does the AI Nano come out to producing more wattage than the 105w? I would like to get it over the Apollo but if the wattage isnt much better than isnt that going to defeat the purpose?

 

[ange062]

You actually don't need the long sponge divider to prevent bubbles. Just fill water a smidge below the center chamber. Works like a dream.

Agreed, not needed if you can maintain a perfect water level. But with my topless setup and no ATO I can vary 2-3" easily in a day so the sponge is required. Plus it helps to prevent noise from my skimmer return.

Ange062, do you have any problems with high nitrates when you use the sponges? That's the only reason I didn't try that, but you're probably right. That might be my only option.

My nitrates have been 0 pretty much since I started the tank about a year ago, the skimmer definitely helped with this long term. I rinse out the sponges with fresh water during weekly water changes. Most detritus is caught by the filter floss on the top section of my media basket (replaced every other day) so the sponges really don't get dirty.

Thanks. I am upgrading from the CF Quad 105w. Does the AI Nano come out to producing more wattage than the 105w? I would like to get it over the Apollo but if the wattage isnt much better than isnt that going to defeat the purpose?

I use an "LED equivalency" factor of 2 x LEDwatts = MH/T5 watts. This can vary quite a bit depending on fixture, type of LED's, type of driver, etc, but 2x is fairly close and lines up with a lot of fixtures you can see commercially available (i.e. the Radion at 130w being comparable to a 250w MH). Using this equivalency factor the 35w AI Nano is roughly equivalent to a 70w MH/T5 fixture. Keep in mind though, that LED's typically have better depth penetration so the PAR/PUR numbers will be much different then your 105w PC. It's hard to compare apples to apples. I upgraded the 105w PC to a Radion, but only running at 50% intensity and keeping my SPS / Clam dominant tank happy.