Where's all the nano experts?

[eddieelq]

Alright so I have a JBJ 12 Gallon Nano cube DX with the following adds/livestock.

Completely filter less (chamber one has live rock, chamber two live rock, chamber three stock return pump)
10-12 Pounds of Live Rock
1 Toad Stool
1 Finger Leather (Won't fully open anymore)
1 Frog Spawn Frag
2 Zoas (half of both won't open up for the past 3 days)
1 polyp (8-12 heads, they seem to be super happy)
6 Total Mushrooms
1 False Percula

Only mods so far are one koralia pump on he opposite side of the stock pump.

Now I'd love or someone in my area (South Arlington) to come take a look and tell me how I'm doing but my main point of this post is I want to know what are some mods you guy's recommend i.e. upgraded return pump, led light strip, etc.

Looking for any advice. I changed the tank a little but this is the only photo I have uploaded to the web as of now.

Anenome is gone btw

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[Saltpro]

Just make sure using a refractometer to check your salinity to confirm it is 1.026 and your doing regular water changes using reverse osmosis deionzed water and not letting your salinity get high from evaporation through out the day. What are all your water parameters and also how long has your system been going? You might also want to run some carbon. Before you worry about any mods you need to get your system stable and take your time and be able to handle the needs of your inhabitants.

 

[eddieelq]

@Saltpro wrote:

I have almost no evaporation. All water parameters were spot on. Had them checked last week.

 

[etannert]

Check out the Nano tank build threads on this forum and the All In One threads over at Nano-Reef.com. I have a Biocube, and that's how I got all the ideas for mods for my tank. As far as water params go, if you're done cycling and are starting to stock your tank, it's time to buy your own test kits and be testing your water a couple times a week. Once your tank has been stable for a couple months you can reduce testing to once a week. Welcome!

 

[msholmes]

I had a tricked out biocube for a good while, I am not a huge fan of having live rock in the back chambers personally. It's difficult to get good flow going to keep detritus out of there unless you are taking some maintenance measures to keep it blown out with a turkey baster. If it were me I would go with something like this in chamber 1 http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Nano-Cube-12-Media-Basket-NC12MR.htm . The media basket will force water into the top chamber where you will have filter floss that you change once or twice a week, this will keep your back chambers mostly clean. Then you can put in Chemipure Elite (carbon and phosphate remover) and purigen in the bottom 2 chambers. Then you can run some sort of fuge/heater, maybe a nano skimmer (not sure if one is made for that tank) in chamber 2 and then your pump in chamber 3. To me it looks like you have plenty of rock in the display and not sure you are going to benefit by having a little more in the back chambers like you would by having mechanical, chemical and/or refugium/skimming benefits.

 

[kthomas]

I was one of the lucky ones that was able to purchase and use the Sapphire Aquatics JBJ 12g nano skimmer. It works great. It requires a lot of tweaking. But overall it works well. It seemed to have helped with my bubble algae problem that I first had when I started my tank. My tank is over a year old now and pretty much runs itself. I do water changes once a month on it. It houses a ton of zoas and two very large bubble tip nems.

I have live rock in the first chamber w. a carbon bag that is changed out once a month as well. The second chamber has the skimmer and the third has the heater and return pump.

 

[eddieelq]

Can you post some pics of your setup?

So you guys don't think lighting changes are necessary?

What foods do you guys use for the corals?

 

[kthomas]

@eddieelq wrote:

Yes, i'll get some later today.
@eddieelq wrote:

I wanted to switch to LED, but I can't justify dropping 400.00 on a retrofit setup for this unit. So now I'm just using PC.
@eddieelq wrote:

I don't feed anything to my coral. The fish in there and the other critters provide enough for it thus far.

 

[eddieelq]

What is pc exactly? Sorry for the noob questions.

 

[kthomas]

@eddieelq wrote:

power compact lights

 

[eddieelq]

Do they fit with the stock hood? I feel like right now lights is what I'm lacking.

 

[eddieelq]

Also what's a decent protein Skimmer for the nano

 

[etannert]

Power compact lights are what comes in the stock hood for nanos. If you want to do a retrofit to have T5s, metal halides or LEDs inside the hood, check out nanotuners.com. Otherwise you could go topless and use a fixture such as a JBJ Viper or a Sunpod (if you can find one used, the nano-sized ones were discontinued). I run power compacts in my biocube 14, but instead of the stock 10K+actinics set up, I use a 50/50 bulb plus actinics. Really makes the colors pop and all my corals are growing well.

 

[eddieelq]

I see, where exactly can I find 50/50 lights for my 12g?

Also from everything I've read, seems like most folks have carbon in the first chamber, live rock in the second, heater/return pump in the third. Looks like that's the route to take with these 12 gallon nanos.

 

[etannert]

JBJ makes a 50/50 bulb, in fact that's what I have in my cube. You can order online from Marine Depot or Nanotuners or just call around to your LFSs. The big chains don't carry them but I found mine in a LFS here in Austin for $25.

 

[eddieelq]

Anyone have experience with the viper lighting system?

 

[F00jin]

I have a 24gal Nano. I bought a 20 inch sunpod with 14k HQI-Metal Halides from marine depot but like etannert said they have been discontinued (i would like to know why). But the tunze nano protein skimmer I also purchased off of their website has not been. Its a great skimmer thats virtually silent. recommended for aquariums from 10-52 gal. http://www.marinedepot.com/Tunze_Nano_DOC_Protein_Skimmer_9002_In_Sump_Venturi_Protein_Skimmers_For_Tanks_Up_to_100_Gallons-Tunze-TZ5311-FIPSISVSUH-vi.html