NC 12g ceramic rings???? HELP!

XeniaGirl · 12-28-2006, 11:13 AM

Good morning,
I set up my first-ever 12g NanoCube last night and let the live sand settle overnight. I can already see the anemone on the live rock made it through the trip - thank goodness!
I have read on here that a NC filtration system works better if you mod it slightly. The main thing I've heard is removing the ceramic rings that come underneath the carbon net bag. Is this a good idea? Why or why not?
So far the tank is working ok, but of course all I have is a few pods and a hardy anemone.
Thanks!

tabblet15 · 12-29-2006, 11:13 AM

Yeah, your gonna want to remove the bio-balls and ceramic rings, overtime they will collect deritus and cause a nitrate problem. Some people will replace them with liverock rubble, but i would'nt or didn't because of the same problem. Don't add anything just yet(wait anywhere from 2-5 weeks and test your water until your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are 0 then add a clean up crew)because your going to go through a cycle where your parameters. will go crazy.

XeniaGirl · 12-29-2006, 01:28 PM

ok great thanks! I had heard that it would be a good idea to remove the rings, but wanted to know why people said that.
Also - I was told to add a Purigen protein skimmer bag (white net bag with tiny little white beads). The NC is too small for its own independent protein skimmer but I was told that this would help. Is the Purigen bag a good idea? - and where specifically should I put it? Right now it's immediately beneath the carbon, between the carbon and the ceramic rings (which are about to be removed).
Thanks again!

XeniaGirl · 12-29-2006, 09:59 PM

ok I removed the ceramic rings and the bioballs... also rinsed out the sponges in the far left compartment since they were all dirty looking. Of course this made the sand go a teensy bit crazy in my tank and it's a bit cloudy again but it's already cleared up a lot.
Thanks for your help, everyone!

dobejazz · 12-29-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XeniaGirl

ok I removed the ceramic rings and the bioballs... also rinsed out the sponges in the far left compartment since they were all dirty looking. Of course this made the sand go a teensy bit crazy in my tank and it's a bit cloudy again but it's already cleared up a lot.
Thanks for your help, everyone!

I kept the sponge in my 24g I rinse them well every water change so they don't collect to much icky stuff

XeniaGirl · 12-29-2006, 10:21 PM

sounds like a good idea! I plan to keep both the sponges but had heard a lot of people say "take out the bioballs and ceramic rings" so I went ahead and got that out of the way before I inherit more... shall we say... roommates.

dobejazz · 12-29-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XeniaGirl

sounds like a good idea! I plan to keep both the sponges but had heard a lot of people say "take out the bioballs and ceramic rings" so I went ahead and got that out of the way before I inherit more... shall we say... roommates.

Yep the rings and bio balls are good to remove. I tried taking out the sponges also but didn't like the bubbles in the tank so I put them back and just rinse them well

tabblet15 · 12-30-2006, 11:42 AM

I did the same when i had my NC, I only kept one sponge in 1st compartment and rinsed it weekly. Purigen is a good idea, but carbon does just about the same thing, i used purigen and liked it, i think its just a bit higher in quality. Other people will probably recommend Chemi-pure, Matrix Carbon, Blah Blah Blah. Their all great, just personal prefrence when it come to carbon like cleaners.

XeniaGirl · 12-30-2006, 04:38 PM

so then... what about the sponges? Should I remove one? At this point I don't think that it makes much of a difference but I also got my "first cycle kamikazees" today so I want to have the setup as ideal as possible.

tabblet15 · 12-30-2006, 09:36 PM

I personally, remember this is just me, would remove all but one sponge and make sure you rinse it at least once a week. but your right, during a cycle there is no need to be worried about it. After the cycle 2-3 sponges will become a hassel.

Wettank · 12-30-2006, 09:56 PM

After about a month I took out everything and just run a bag of chem pure and purigen.

Hardhead Cat · 01-04-2007, 08:30 AM

I removed one sponge too and all the bioballs, ceramic rings and other odds they put in their sumps....I have Purigen and also carbon (Kent Reef carbon) in the secondary sump, just for insurance.

HHC