newbie intro

[mr bubbles]

hi guys i wanted to introduce myself before i started blasting this forum with questions. my name's kevin and i've been keeping some fantail goldfish for a couple years now, i just put them into a new 37 gal tank and i've been hooked on fishkeeping bad lately.

i got up the confidence to try saltwater and i'm jumping in with a 12g aquapod that i'm going to start a mini-reef in. i got it as an anniversary gift for my girlfriend, and once she moves it'll be for her room.

i've been all over these forums and realized how much i dont know about saltwater tanks and reefkeeping. i've set the tank up so far with all the stock stuff, in the first chamber i have the sponge, second i have carbon and the bio-bag stuff, third a fission nano-skimmer. i had a lot of trouble getting the skimmer in and i'm still not sure it's in a correct position, the positionings in the instructions dont fit in these compartments.

i've noticed lots of people modding their tanks, i was wondering what mods are "necessary" to make to get it running like i want. i plan on putting sand and live rock in soon once the water parameters settle down. much later i'll try a couple of fish.

if anyone wants to shed some light for the poor newbie i'd appreciate it!

 

[Mikeeal]

You don't need to wait for the parameters to "settle down" to put LR and sand in. That's what gets the parameters going. Make sure to use RO water (drinking water) no tap. Not even dechlorinized tap. It's no good, you'll get all kinds of nasty algae. The mods can be done, but I've seen just as nice "all-in-one" setups, with the stock equipment. The most famous mod would probably be converting the back into a refugium, to harvest macro algae, for nutrient export. Other than that, I think people replace the stock pump, for one with more flow. And then there's the lights, which you can upgrade, but like I said, I've seen really nice tanks with the stock stuff. I've never had a NC, or an Aquapod, so hopefully someone who has one can chime in and give their input as well. Good luck.

 

[rockindacheeks]

id like to be the first to welcome you to reef central. good luck with your tank. nano reefing is a blast.

 

[Mikeeal]

Oh yes, I forgot......

 

[mr bubbles]

thanks for the welcome guys!

i'm having trouble with my skimmer still, i think i'm getting microbubbles from it, but since i've never experienced them i'm not sure. they're everywhere in the tank, but you cant see them unless the light is on. the water level is high on the skimmer body and the air hose is coming out the top, i'm not sure how else to get rid of them.

 

[Mikeeal]

From what I've heard, that skimmer does produce lots of micro bubbles. Just let it break in, and if they are still around in a couple weeks, then I'd start tinkering with it.

 

[kelleymmm1]

welcome i joined this week and everyone is very helpful. I had put the fission skimmer in my 12g nano cube 2 weeks ago. I had alot of problems getting it in the 3 chamber so i cut the insert out so now i only have chamber 1&2 my third chamber is double the size as 1&2 and has the skimmer and return pump.I also had a problem with micro bubbles but they went away after a few days i also changed the filter in the skimmer. When I installed it i also cut the little screen off the water pump so it would fit tighter. Good luck.

 

[rljlll]

just to let you know kelleymmm1 by cutting the chamber sepperator out you are lowerinr the structural antegrity of the tank those are thewre as braces against the weight of the water in the main display i have heard of cracking tanks because if messing with the bracing in the back