New Nano Cube Reef

[Dj Orion]

Sup everyone?
I went out and took the big step today in purchasing a 12g jbj nano cube today. I am going to make it a reef, and really want to do everything correctly. The LFS that I purchased it from recommended that I ditch all of the foam, noodles, and bio balls that come stock with the tank, and replace them all with a large strip of poly filter. Is this the right approach? Does anybody have any other custom methods that they use on their nano cubes? Any help would be appreciated. I have about 10 pounds of live rock in the tank right now. I also didnt know if it was necessary to let the tank cycle for a month before adding any corals or fish (waited 6 weeks in my 75 before adding fish) The LFS guy said that I could start stocking the tank with corals in a week if my calcium and parameters looked ok. What do ya think? Thanks!!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Get rid of all that junk, put live rock rubble back in that chamber instead. Don't believe the LFS guy, let the tank cycle for a few weeks before you start stocking fish. There are a bunch of nano threads here recently and you can also look up some cool mods on www.nanoreefs.com

 

[Dj Orion]

Get rid of all that junk, put live rock rubble back in that chamber instead. Don't believe the LFS guy, let the tank cycle for a few weeks before you start stocking fish. There are a bunch of nano threads here recently and you can also look up some cool mods on www.nanoreefs.com

Thanks bro. I knew that i shouldnt put any fish in there so quickly, but I was also wondering about how quick to put and corals in as well.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Wait until after the tank cycles and you make sure your water levels are good.

 

[drperetz]

...

chief is right, get rid of that nitrate factory it will only damage ur system not improve it. Live rock is prob the best filtration media u can use. Also as chief said dont rush to stock with fish, u want to see how well did the water stabilize
after the cycle. GET A SKIMMER

 

[Dj Orion]

chief is right, get rid of that nitrate factory it will only damage ur system not improve it. Live rock is prob the best filtration media u can use. Also as chief said dont rush to stock with fish, u want to see how well did the water stabilize
after the cycle. GET A SKIMMER

yo, where am i gonna put a skimmer in that closed setup? sorry for the retarted questions, but i am a nanonoob

 

[DonCisco]

welcome to the wondeful world of NANOS.... so far the best skimmer I have found is the one from Sapphire aquatics... excellent. I've had mine for 6 months, and if it wasn't for it, my tank would be toast now.
Also, get rid of the bio balls, foam, etc.
Get like 5 lbs of rock rubble, put it in a media bag (easier to take out and clean). I would go for more LR, I have a 12G Aquapod, and I have about 15 to 19 lbs
and 20 lbs of LS
as a supplement I have a bag of chem-pure to clarify the water
some nano reefers would take one of the back chambers and fill them with cheato, cut the black plastic behind the tank and put a small light fixture to help with the growth of the veggies
Let the tank cycle for a decent amount of time... I know they say a few days to a week, but that is not true. I cycled mine for 4 weeks before I put any corals in.
ALSO... NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER use tap water. Use RO/DI water or Catalina seawater
There are soooooo many different ideas about nanos, so definitely check some of the nano sites.
www.nano-reef.com is a good one.
And, ask questions.
Finally....( damm ask about nanos' and I go overboard), make sure you plan your coral placement well in advance, even if you buy tiny frags.... they have a tendency to propagate, lol.
If you have the stock cube, SFS is pretty much out of the question, PC lighting is not nearly strong enough to keep them happy.

Best of luck

 

[Dj Orion]

ok, well, I got about 10 pounds of live rock (purchased cured from lfs) and I have a 75g tank with at least 90 pounds of Live rock in it, but I dont want to mix the two together (aggressive tank, high nitrates). I guess I am gonna have to purchase more at the lfs. I purchased the JBJ Nanocube 12g and it did come with noodles in a media bag. Wont that in theory turn into liverock in like a month or so? i used R/O water and Tropic Marin salt for the water. Oh, I also didnt use any live sand or any sand at all for that matter. I guess I am def gonna have to get more rock/rubble for filtration. Since I am technically not going to add anything living (aside from the rock) into the tank for the cycle, I have read that adding a small piece of dead fish will help accelerate the bacteria's growth in the water. What do you guys think about that? If not, is the live rock my sole source of cycling the water, and if so, is that adequate? Sorry, I just wanna cover all bases here. thanks again.:squid:

 

[drperetz]

....

I have read that adding a small piece of dead fish will help accelerate the bacteria's growth in the water

I wouldnt suggest it.
Also use ro/di water..it would help out with the water quality.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Live rock should be all you need.

 

[Dj Orion]

.... so far the best skimmer I have found is the one from Sapphire aquatics... excellent. I've had mine for 6 months, and if it wasn't for it, my tank would be toast now.

I went ahead and purchased the Sapphire aquiatics Nanoskimmer NC12. It says that it was designed to fit underneath the hood in my tank. I just hope there is enough room back there for crushed live rock with the stock filter and now this added skimmer.

 

[Nyreefer1981]

Dude u don't need a skimmer although they are great if u can fit one but I've been running a Bc 14 for 9 monthes without one and my system is mint I do 2 gal water changes weekly I have plenty20lbs of rock 20lbs sandbed and stevieT's media Basket with a minifuge in the second chamber Floss ontop and chemipure elite at the bottom this has worked brilliantly for me Coraline algae, coral growth al of that good stuff so keep it simple use cheato in the fuge on reverse light cycle that helps stabilize nighttime ph and you just need to test an monitor ur alkalinity,calcium,and magnesium these trace elements are theist important

 

[Nyreefer1981]

That's what worked for me and I think u can get good results in many different ways that the important thing to remember as long as those trace elements are where they should be then you'll be fine

 

[Nyreefer1981]

Also on the cycle if u want to speed things up the cycle I mean u should still wait to add live stock @ 1 monthes just to be sure but there is a great product called Dr. Tims live nitrifying bacteria in a bottle and they will give u ammonia serum or additive whatever to initiate the cycle without using and dead food that can cause high nitrates after the cycle starts hope this helps

 

[akma]

This is from june 2007. I think he left the hobby though. Haven't talked to him in awhile.