My new 12g JBJ NanoCube build

[Neowind]

My favorite threads on these forums are people who post build threads, so I decided to start one myself. I plan on adding many more coral and would love any suggestions or help that anyone would like to share.

Tank Information:
12G JBJ NanoCube
MaxiJet 900 Pump
Hydor FLO Rotating Deflector
14 Pounds of LR
12 Pounds of LS

Fish:
Percula Clown
Tailspot Blenny
Green Banded Goby

Corals:
Green Montipora
Pulsing Xenia
Kenya Tree
Green Star Polyps
Red Mushroom
Brown Mushroom



Here is the first picture I took. I was running 100% Actinic at the time. The tank is about three days old at this point.

This next picture is after adding a 10k bulb to go with the Actinic

This picture is after my cycle completed. Time for some GOODIES!

 

[Neowind]

So I made a BIIIIIIIGGGGGG mistake after the last picture. I decided to take out all of the BIO Balls, Carbon, Sponges, that I cycled my tank on after reading a post on these forums and put LR rubble in the back chambers instead. What I didn't realize was that I just removed all the stuff keeping my tank cycled. The result.

Its now been a month since then I have been doing quite a bit of water changes and dosing of stability. I really hate to start off badly, but the tank is now coming out of it very nicely. I will post new pictures when I add new corals or the tank starts looking better. Hope to hear some suggestions or comments. I did stick with the LR rubble in the back of the tank though in one chamber. I am using the other to run PhosLock, Carbon and a sponge.

 

[Neowind]

So I have made a few changes to the tank. The Kenya Tree was growing like crazy and starting to take over so I had to remove it from this tank. The Xenia was also taking over and I removed the frag plug and traded it in for some store credit. I got a few new additions. I am still battling some film algae and diatoms for some reason. The tank is just now turning 3 months old though so maybe normal?

 

[Neowind]

So I am really having a hard time getting a picture that actually looks like what my tank looks like. Anybody out there have any suggestions on what color settings to use on a camera when taking pictures under 10k and Actinic lighting?

I moved the aquascape around a little bit and like the results much better. Although I think I am starting to get some Cyanobacteria growing near where the sand meets the rock. Is the tank that bad? I haven't had a single reply.

 

[Neowind]

I also added a Porcelian Crab. This guy is super cool so far.

 

[TLutts]

Coming along nicely. I have a 12g NC as well. No build thread though. I live in Knoxville but work up in Tri-Cities/Kinsport often. I can probably hook you up with some corals, if interested.

 

[Neowind]

Here is some updated photos. I added a Orange/Pink Monti and a Frogspawn and rearranged for the 100th time.

 

[jgwinner]

Very nice!

I have a 12G myself, although it's a rectangle (24x12x12) from Picoquariums. So I'm watching your build with interest.

I had upgraded from an 8g; long story.

I was considering putting 2 clowns in; I have a Hector's goby in there now.

Does your clown host in anything? I know not to put an anenome in [sp?] but have been considering one of those bright green ORA leather corals. I want to put some SPS in the tank though.

== John ==​

 

[AJReefKeeper]

So I am really having a hard time getting a picture that actually looks like what my tank looks like. Anybody out there have any suggestions on what color settings to use on a camera when taking pictures under 10k and Actinic lighting?

I have no idea what camera you are using, and if it gives you the option to use a custom white balance, do the following:

Shoot a gray card and then use it to set your custom white balance. This is how to get as close as possible to the "true" colors. A quality gray card will measure 128,128,128 (R,G,B) or close to it. Those cameras that support a custom white balance will use your photo of a gray card to set the white balance for your photos.

I hope that helps.

 

[Neowind]

Awesome I will try it out. My clown has started to host my Brain Coral! Yea how weird is that. My Porcelain crab also host the brain coral which is kinda neat. They do not fight each other but share it. The crab never leaves it, but the clown will swim around and come back to it from time to time and snuggle up with the brain coral. I re-arranged my rock for the 100th time again because the leather was causing some of the other corals to not open due to lack of light.

 

[Neowind]

I have only tried Montipora SPS with the stock PC lighting on my 12g. They are doing great so far. I have the green one and the pink/orange one also.

 

[jgwinner]

Awesome I will try it out. My clown has started to host my Brain Coral! Yea how weird is that. My Porcelain crab also host the brain coral which is kinda neat. They do not fight each other but share it. The crab never leaves it, but the clown will swim around and come back to it from time to time and snuggle up with the brain coral. I re-arranged my rock for the 100th time again because the leather was causing some of the other corals to not open due to lack of light.

So maybe a ORA green leather would cause me problems. I've heard that clowns can damage an LPS though, as they rub / force the tissues against the skeleton. Is your brain doing Ok?

The 2 wild caught clowns I have in my 120G thrash the crap out of the sand around their carpet, if they had a brain to host in, it would be dead in 2 days. Not sure if the ORA clowns are more gentle. My big clown is a hell raiser.

== John ==​

 

[Neowind]

The clown has only been hosting it for about a week. So far it is surviving. I will keep you updated.

 

[coralsnaked]

Hey thats a great build. Seems only mistake you made was not putting rock rubble in the back at start and you caused yoiur tank to recycle, but seems you pulled it off. Did the same thing sorta one time, when i decided to frag some established live rock and fill in the hollows under my rock pile. Was a real trip for a while, but made it throught as you have. In the long run you will love the rock in the back. Hope you filled the center column up with just enough room for floss on top.

Only other thing i noticed is the monti near the softies. I'd be proactive and run a carbon reactor as this will help take care of the possible softy toxins killing off the monti.

 

[Neowind]

When you say left enough room for floss on top in the middle chamber what do you mean? I am not sure what floss is.

 

[Markdiego]

Sweet tank, looks good. Id recommend getting rid of the rubble in the back not all at once but little by little. Its a great natural filter but in the long run detritus can build up and mess with your nitrates. Its really hard to clean up back there with the rubble as opposed to sponges or other media which you can just pull out and rinse or change.

 

[Neowind]

I took a shot from the top of the tank tonight. Here it is.

 

[Neowind]

Am I the unlucky one to get green coralline? Or do you think that is algae on my rocks? They are all green now, but I don't get algae on the glass so not sure.

 

[Veganbrian]

Nice looking tank. Test your water params to see if you have high phos, nitrate, nitrite. looks like you have green algae growing to me.

 

[TLutts]

It's been almost a month now since last update. How are things going?