Nano Cube Thoughts

I

illinifish

New member
Hey All... I need some advice. I've been wanting to get into saltwater for several months now- pondered a regular tank, a tom deco nano, and have now finally decided (I think) on a 12 gallon nano cube.
I'm in school, so neither time and money run aplenty, but the nano cube seemed like a good choice to incorporate what I need for a basic setup. And I've been told by LFS employees that the Nano Cube is way better than the BioCube.

Here's what I want, and don't laugh, because yes, I want a clownfish. No, I am not 12, but I just love them. So: 1-2 clownfish (probably 1 but the LFS assures me that 2 will fit), 1 chocolate chip starfish, some sort of cleaners. Live rock, no corals at this time. Is this going to work? I am reading a lot of conflicting info.

Also, I have been looking at buying a used nano cube but wondering if that's a bad idea. And if I buy a new one, is the standard model sufficient or do I need the "deluxe?"

And last but not least, anything else I need to know about the nano cubes?

Thanks for any and all help!
 
Two clowns will fit but another type of fish maybe more interesting a small gobie ( I like my yellow watchman) or what not.

I wouldn't feel right trying/starving a starfish of any kind. Brittles excluded but they get to large for nano land IMHO.

Why not plan ahead for corals once your into reefing the fish really become secondary. If not all most omitted all together. LOL

I would get the deluxe lighting is a big thing in according to what you can eventually keep in a tank and not cheap/easy to up grade.

You will want to do some mods eventually like a pump upgrade surface skimmer addition and numerous other things . Read through the Nano forums there is alot there.
 
Illinifish, welcome to slash

I can't comment on the nanocubes, but I can help with the rest

1. 2 false percs or similar sized clowns will be ok in a 12, but those should be your only fish
2. choco chip star = no no, he'll get big and eat your fish

before you buy the nanocube, did you see my for sale thread a few threads down from this one? :D
 
CAN you afford the 24 gallon nano cube


i would try to get a used one they would be a easier to keep tank

and more room for the fish
 
Ok cool. I was afraid that's what you would say about the starfish. Unfortunately having some sort of starfish is about the only thing my fiance is interested in having...oh well.

I think I agree with the deluxe...I don't think I will have the time/money/knowledge to deal with corals now, but maybe someday...

Any suggestions on a cleanup crew for a 12 with the 2 clownfish?
 
my 6 gallon consists of one astrea and one nassarius......so I guess you could double that for a clean up crew?
 
I have had two nano cubes crack on me...a 12 gallon with NOTHING (no sand, rock, etc) in it and a 24 gallon that was on a manufacturer's stand and perfectly level. I do not trust them, but with that being said I have a 6 gallon set up right now and it's ok so far.
 
my 24 gallon nano deluxe has 10 banded trochus snails, 5 hermits(blue, and red), one or 2 stomatella snails, 10 plain black nassarus snails, a freebie spotted dragonet which was givin to me and i don't really want so she is up for trade if anyone is interested. The rest are just mushrooms of different kinds and toadstool shroom, palys and some zoos, was going to make it a shroom tank but put some palys and zoos. But have 2 fish in total yellow watchman gobie, and for trade a spotted mandarin female i believe. Also have four cleaner clams in there to.
 
IM000980.JPG
 
most of rock in this tank is homemade very pourous and great shapes awesome stuff made by (ebe) from here at reef central he makes awesome rocks.
 
Lights

Lights

I am trying to figure out my budget and possibly getting a 24 gallon cube. I'm not going to do corals for a couple of years, but I might once I get out of school....SO....I'm thinking maybe I should just go ahead and save a little longer and get the deluxe. But can someone explain to me the difference between the standard and the deluxe package?

Do you have to have the deluxe lighting to do any corals? I would only want some zoas, rics maybe some mushrooms..

How difficult is it to upgrade the lighting later?
 
on nano cube standard is on 36 watt pc bulb i believe, and deluxe is 2 36 watt bulbs, for grand total of 72 watts which is 3 watts per gallon which is on low side so mushroom, soft corals, zoos, different polyps, wouldn't recommend sps or clams really, i would save up for something better than settling for less so you kick yourself for it later, remember you get what you pay for. Plus there are a couple of nice small setups for sale in here at reef central check out latayzo's thread on his tank nice setup with t5's are great lights.
 
The twelve gallon NC is 24watts standard and 48watts deluxe and both in my experience will do great with Shrooms however. The deluxe would also support LPS and would let Zoas and Rics thrive.
 
thanks for the plug dfrench...I should also mention that although my tank is drilled w/ overflow, that doesnt mean you have to have a sump, you can just plug the hole and use it as a regular tank ;)

if there are not any sort of filtration upgrades associated with the delux, I would not waste your money upgrading for 36w of PC...that sounds useless to me

if there's upgraded filtration and/or more equpiment/better flow or anything, then it might be worth it, I dont know the pricing on it or anything though
 
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