Ninjafish's new cube diary.

[ninjafish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6872889#post6872889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoManMaster
Chad you know i was thinkin and i would think that a baby mixima would look really cool in their have u ever thought of putin a clam in their would your mantis eat it

I don't think I would ever put a clam in a tank this size. For me, providing good water conditions is the easy part of keeping a nano. The difficult part is selecting and pruning to have everthing look "right" - like a bonzai tree being porportional. I have tried to create the illusion of a miniature reef. Putting a clam in there would break the illusion and it would just look like you threw some stuff into a smaller fish tank.

- Chad

 

[Patio]

A mini reef with a T-Rex named Ike, dominating everyone and thing.

 

[ninjafish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6875019#post6875019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EmasCterE
Hi,

Any reason you didn't locate your return further away from your drain? Like on the opposite side? I would imagine this would create better currents inside your cube.

Hi, the main reason why the intake is directly beside the return is because the computer cable hole in the top of my desk is only wide enough for the bulkheads side by side. And I couldn't start drilling the company desk.
If I was going to move the intake bulkhead anywhere, I might put it under the rockwork just so its hidden better. But I wouldn't move it anywhere to try and get better water movement. The water movement in this tank is not just sufficient, it is better than most people ever achive in larger tanks. From looking at a still photo, you might be tempted to think that the intake is stealing water as it comes out of the return bulkhead. Actually, that water is coming out of the return at 250gph and it doesn't go anywhere until it hits the surface, after which it ricochets around an area that's only one cubic foot large.

- Chad

 

[ninjafish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6875109#post6875109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Patio
A mini reef with a T-Rex named Ike, dominating everyone and thing.

Haha that's right Pat. A super predator in this little eco system.

- Chad

 

[EmasCterE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6875153#post6875153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ninjafish
Hi, the main reason why the intake is directly beside the return is because the computer cable hole in the top of my desk is only wide enough for the bulkheads side by side. And I couldn't start drilling the company desk.
If I was going to move the intake bulkhead anywhere, I might put it under the rockwork just so its hidden better. But I wouldn't move it anywhere to try and get better water movement. The water movement in this tank is not just sufficient, it is better than most people ever achive in larger tanks. From looking at a still photo, you might be tempted to think that the intake is stealing water as it comes out of the return bulkhead. Actually, that water is coming out of the return at 250gph and it doesn't go anywhere until it hits the surface, after which it ricochets around an area that's only one cubic foot large.

- Chad

Hi Chad,

Thank you so much for your explanation. It's really helpful. I plan on building the same sort of tank at my desk at work. I'd like to make it a bit bigger tho. Prob 18"x18". How many GPH would you say is coming into the tank at this time? For me, the hardest part designing a tank with a sump is to determine the correct return pump to use. Of course you'll have bulkheads to control flow but I don't like to choke my pumps TOO much.

 

[Kinetic]

I've been reading all the posts, but I seem to have missed something.

How do you keep the water level exactly at the top like that? What keeps the entire thing from draining when the pump turns off?

You seem to have a canister filter, is this how it's done since it's leakproof?

 

[Patio]

Hey koden
click his web link and watch the video. Yeah canister filter.

 

[ninjafish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6875213#post6875213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EmasCterE
Hi Chad,

Thank you so much for your explanation. It's really helpful. I plan on building the same sort of tank at my desk at work. I'd like to make it a bit bigger tho. Prob 18"x18". How many GPH would you say is coming into the tank at this time? For me, the hardest part designing a tank with a sump is to determine the correct return pump to use. Of course you'll have bulkheads to control flow but I don't like to choke my pumps TOO much.

You're welcome. I am estimating that I still may get 250gph after losses. That would put me at about 30x's turnover. I would go for 40x if I could find a cannister filter with the right output... and if it was free
I would never restrict the flow from a pump. Partly because it puts a strain on the pump, but mostly because flow is what you want = you can never have too much. I have seen tanks with velocity problems that needed to split the flow between more than one return, bigger lines, ect - but I have never seen a tank that has too much flow.

Cheers,

- Chad

 

[ninjafish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6875382#post6875382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by koden
I've been reading all the posts, but I seem to have missed something.

How do you keep the water level exactly at the top like that? What keeps the entire thing from draining when the pump turns off?

You seem to have a canister filter, is this how it's done since it's leakproof?

Koden,

Yup, I used a cannister filter because it is essentially a closed loop. It would be IMPOSSIBLE to have naked bulkheads on the bottom of the tank and use a sump/return pump setup. And not just when the pump stops either. Even with the pump running, the main tank would still drain into the sump.
A closed loop was the only way I could do it without an overflow or standpipe. The modifications and equipment I used was just to enhance that closed loop to 'function similar to a sump'.
HTH

- Chad

 

[Kinetic]

very cool. yes I was thinking about how in the world you could have a "sump" but now I get it =)

For the sake of the 11 pages, can you list the canister filter again? sorry if that's annoying, or if you can direct me to the post, that'd be awesome!

thanks

 

[ninjafish]

Koden,

It's no problem:

let me know if any of the pics need explaining.

Cheers!

- Chad

 

[ninjafish]

And incase it may have becoem burried in all these pages, here are the links to the ninjafish trilogy :



2gal: http://www.truenorthreef.com/PicoMovie.wmv


mantis: http://www.truenorthreef.com/mantis.wmv


7.5gal: http://www.truenorthreef.com/newcube.wmv


- Chad

 

[tgcreef]

so anything new with the tank?

 

[Spiffyguy]

Chad I sure it has been posted but it is a long thread. What type of Mantis and where did you get him from? I am planning out a 10 gallon mantis and need some info.

Thanks

 

[Hutton]

i think its a g. smithii like mine. from what i heard they are kind of rare. the come on live rock from indonesia, this would be a perfect mantis for a ten gallon.

 

[Spiffyguy]

ok I was planning on getting a N. wennera since they are fairly small as adults and easy to come by. I know you can buy wennera at tampa bay saltwater. Think it is like 50 bucks shipped too. so not too bad.

 

[ninjafish]

Hello again Spiff. Hutton is right, Ike is a g. smithii. I don't have experience with any other, but I am sure that you will enjoy your mantis! They are a really rewarding pet! Congrats.

- Chad

 

[ninjafish]

Hi everyone,

I was just contacted by someone who was having a hard time locating details on my setup with all these pages of posts. For anyone who wants a more concise description, here is a link to post on another board where I was able to describe everything in only a couple pages:

http://www.aquaden.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6080&start=0

Feel free to post questions or comments back here on RC.

Thanks!

- Chad

 

[alien9168]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7009466#post7009466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ninjafish
Hi everyone,

I was just contacted by someone who was having a hard time locating details on my setup with all these pages of posts. For anyone who wants a more concise description, here is a link to post on another board where I was able to describe everything in only a couple pages:

http://www.aquaden.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6080&start=0

Feel free to post questions or comments back here on RC.

Thanks!

- Chad

Now you tell us LOL

Just kidding. Awsome work.

-alien

 

[turbonegro]

Hey Chad great tank and thread. I just got done reading through all 12 pages. Could you tell me how often you change out your carbon and how much do you put in? What other maintenace do you do to your sump? Thanks Bobby