New NanoCuber! Hello!

[Argent]

Hi there -- someone in my other fish forums pointed me over here as I've had a spare aquarium fall in to my lap. I'm not new to fish keeping as I've kept tropicals and cichlids now for many years, but have always been curious about reef tanks. Unfortunatly until recently everything I heard about reef tanks was that they were expensive and a lot of maintenance.

Hopefully that's not really the case -- now on to my platform on to which I would like to try a reef tank.

It's a 12G NanoCube (non-deluxe) and it was free from someone in my local car club. It's pretty much just the tank -- there is some black foam/sponge type filter material in two of the three rear tanks, and it does have some sort of submersible pump as well. Currently the light doesn't work, but I don't know if it's due to a blown bulb or some other problem. It was used as a tropical fish tank, and the guy upgraded to a regular 20G high tank.

Now I've done some reading on the web, and there's a lot of information out there on modifications etc that can or need to be done on these setups. What I'm hoping to find here, is some personal experience help and suggestions as to where to start on this tank. I'm not expecting to have this tank up and running overnight as this will make a third tank in my apartment (and 4th overall -- I have a small one at my desk at work), but I'd like to tweak/mod etc in my free time and as I have some spare cash.

If you're STILL reading down to this point, I'll give you more information on the setups I have currently. I have a 15G High tropical tank (basically my gf's and entertainment for my cats) that has a couple glass fish and some neon tetras. I also have a 25G High cichlid tank (yes I know it's really too small for them) with three juvi rift lake cichlids, a rubber lipped pleco, and a spotted dojo. At work I have an Eclipse 3 gallon tank with 4 tetras and an african dwarf frog.

What I'd like for my NanoCube, is a nice simple reef setup with maybe a fish and a shrimp (not sure what else or how much else I can keep in there)

So that's about it -- I appreciate your time and your wisdom.

 

[Agu]

[welcome]


There are a lot of threads about setups with the tank you have, you have a lot of reading ahead of you.

Also, I'd recommend you get "Natural Reef aquariums" or something similar as a basic reference book.

Natural Reef Aquariums

 

[sumyungviet]

welcome to this wonderful hobby. i have the same tank as you and have very pleased with it... even though i've modified mine quiet a bit, i ran it for quite some time before the mods and was very pleased with it.

to start off, i'd take all the sponges out , except for one, to catch detritus , i switch between the two every couple of days, cleaning the one not in use. u can fill a couple of the back compartments with live rock rubble. You can also put a pouch of activated carbon back there. Also think about replacing the original pump, with a maxijet for greater flow, and a cassette tape modification to the intake side.

if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me some pm's
Larry


you could also check out www.nano-reef. com they have a dedicated nanocube section of the forum... with lots of information... you can also find information here on the cassete tape mod, along with alot of other tweaks you can do to get the best out of the nano cube

 

[alien9168]

Welcome.

IMO- if you have kept cichlids and other fish. You will have no problem keeping salt water fish and corals. Be wary though, the reefing hby will suck you in-to a greater extent IME than any other fishkeeping.

-alien

 

[HartfordWhalers]

Welcome I just got a Nano cube to. You can keep corals in it depending on what lights you get. Im probably going to pu false perculas clowns in mine with rock and corals. GOODLUCK

 

[smy168]

patience patience patience....welcome to the insane world of reef keeping. the only advice I can give is read and ask questions....

 

[Argent]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome -- I know there is a lot of things to learn (and to do) before I can get this up and running.

 

[addboy]

COOL!!....The trick to saltwater is time....ya just got to let every thing stabilize....after that, they are pretty much bullet proof.....I will say this: "Poly-Pads" (Brand) are essential for Nano reefs or less than 15 gal. tanks...Ya really don't want more than 1 or 2 really small fish either...it's not like freshwater....saltwater fish tipically need room to move or they either kill or die. You definately need lights though...I would do a little jiggling....maybe check for some rusty connections...a new bulb couldn't hurt.

 

[Argent]

Think I am going to go with the 2x24w PC Retro kit from nanotuners for my lighting upgrade, as well as an SRS surface skimmer. Need to upgrade the Rio 200 pump that came with the tank, and also need to figure out what to put in the other 3 chambers in the back.

 

[ycrazyy]

I'm glad to see you are looking at a lighting mod, if I were you I'd maybe even go more than 48w total. If you have the cash to spend, I'd certainly look into a clip-on MH light (check the JBJ K-2 Viper or the Coralife Aqualight Advanced). If you plan on keeping any SPS or clams later, you will need a light like this.
In your chambers, this is what I'd recommend. First off, get a surface skimmer (can do the casette mod or just get the JBJ surface skimmer for about $10). You will obviously need a heater, which I'd stick in chamber 3 with your new powerhead. In chamber 2 I'd stick some LR rubble and maybe some activated carbon and in the first chamber some filter floss (IMO better than the sponges as you just throw it out, the sponges are impossible to completely clean).

 

[Argent]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6838203#post6838203 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ycrazyy
I'm glad to see you are looking at a lighting mod, if I were you I'd maybe even go more than 48w total. If you have the cash to spend, I'd certainly look into a clip-on MH light (check the JBJ K-2 Viper or the Coralife Aqualight Advanced). If you plan on keeping any SPS or clams later, you will need a light like this.
In your chambers, this is what I'd recommend. First off, get a surface skimmer (can do the casette mod or just get the JBJ surface skimmer for about $10). You will obviously need a heater, which I'd stick in chamber 3 with your new powerhead. In chamber 2 I'd stick some LR rubble and maybe some activated carbon and in the first chamber some filter floss (IMO better than the sponges as you just throw it out, the sponges are impossible to completely clean).

Since my Nano is a 12G OG I have 4 chambers in the back not just three -- also (pardon my ignorance) but what are SPS? Any suggestions for type of heater? Trying to keep this on the inexpensive side, which is why I was going with just the 2x24w upgrade (since my current ballast/bulb is blown) plus I'm not sure how many more light fixtures will fit under my hood without major modifications.

 

[Argent]

Cleaned up the tank better today -- got rid of the crusties and left over gravel hiddin within -- noticed water leaks on the inside from the bottom of like chamber 3 (counting from left) so I'll add aquarium silicone to my list of things to buy. The previous owner said it didn't leak but I've currently got it full of water in the tub and I'll let it set overnight to make sure it hasn't sprung a leak.

Getting more and more excited to get the hardware needed to get this at least starting to cycle. Have to find a LFS that has LR and/or LS (is LS needed or will LR be just fine?) Is there specific reef sand I should be looking for if I don't use LS? Also what's a good testing kit to get? My biggest concern is my tap water conditions.

Also how does one go about making sea water to fill/top off the tank?

 

[ycrazyy]

As for heaters, there are quite a few choices and everyone has a different opinion. I use an Eheim-Jager heater for both tanks and to mix water. You will probably want to order a small powerhead to use later when you will do water changes to mix the salt. When you fill the tank (and do any top-offs for that matter) make sure you use RO/DI water, don't use tap water! If you do, you will just have algae blooms like you can't imagine. You can usually find the stuff for $1/gal at your grocery / dept store or if you are lucky, some grocery stores have machines outside where you can get about 5gal for $1. As for top-offs, remember that salt does not evaporate so you will want to top off with fresh RO/DI water. The only time you add salt water back into the tank is when you are doing water changes. There are a few diff. types of salt out there, I personally use InstantOcean, but again everyone has their opinion on what is best so do some research.

Other things you will want to buy are an aquarium master test kit. I think I have the FASTest master kit, but to tell you the truth I am at work and don't remember which one it is.

Finally onto the LR and LS. You do not need to have LS, my nano tank is BB (bare bottom). Again, up to you in terms of what you think will be easier / look better. You can buy LR online (since it is such a small amount, shouldn't be too much) at places like premiumaquatics.com, marinedepotlive.com, liveaquaria.com as well as many other forum sponsors. In fact, you can usually get LR online for cheaper shipped than you will find it at an LFS.

 

[Argent]

What size heater should I look for? 50watt? Also where's a good place to get a replacement pump?

 

[abernaka]

new cuber, hello

new cuber, hello

Hi ARGENT,
Nothing better than a free tank! Looks like the previous owner upgraded the pump to a rio-50? I used live sand and a bactiria and O_2 booster during set up and cycled the tank in 4 days.

I would guess that if the bulb is blackened around the base where the glass part goes into hte plastic part that it's the bulb. It however, might be that the ballast is bad, stock ones are not that great. One of the first mods that I did was add another light. I flattened out the reflector and put an additional 36W 50/50 PC. I ran a remote ballast box with a extra ballast from a local light supply house for 20 bucks. you could also run two 36W bulbs from one ballast, just tell the local electric lighting supply house for how many watts you want to drive and they'll sell you it.
(or take the hood off for good and put up a MH!)

Welcome,
hope this helps!

 

[Argent]

abernaka you're close -- it's a Rio 200

Also I was looking at the 2x24w PC retro kit from nanotuners.com to upgrade my lighting (with dual 50/50 bulbs) I can't run it without a hood due to my two cats -- hehe no fish buffet for them!

 

[smy168]

I use the EPIK thermal Powerhead, I like it so far, it gives me water movement and heating.

 

[abernaka]

argent

argent

a cat&fish person -wow,
any way I thought I'd share these new photos of my old 12g nano cube light ,stand and hood. I made.this because I wanted more light than I could fit under the 2" of plastic in the stock hood.
So I embarked on a wood working adventure. I wanted 96W of 50/50 over the tank. The quad 96W bulb 2-3" longer than the tank so I made an area behind the tank that was inclosed.
just trying to fuel DIY thing. I found that light was good, but 175 14K MH is better and I wish I had gone 250W.

anyway good luck with the repair/mod.

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P.S. KOJO taught me about photobucket.com
Thank's

 

[abernaka]

argent

argent

a cat&fish person -wow,
any way I thought I'd share these new photos of my old 12g nano cube light ,stand and hood. I made.this because I wanted more light than I could fit under the 2" of plastic in the stock hood.
So I embarked on a wood working adventure. I wanted 96W of 50/50 over the tank. The quad 96W bulb 2-3" longer than the tank so I made an area behind the tank that was inclosed.
just trying to fuel DIY thing. I found that light was good, but 175 14K MH is better and I wish I had gone 250W.

anyway good luck with the repair/mod.

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

P.S. KOJO taught me about photobucket.com
Thank's

 

[abernaka]

opps!