New 12G Nano Cube Deluxe...Getting started...

[cburns32]

Hello, I just recently registered to this website, and I am already loving it. My name is Chris, I've had freshwater tanks nearly all my life...And now I want to take in a new hobby, marine and reef tanks. I love marine fish and reefs, I've been to the Great Barrier Reef and ever since that visit, I wanted a reef tank, just never got around to research it. I just recently ordered a 12 Gallon Nano Cube Deluxe. I've heard alot about these tanks in how they are beautiful when completed and cared for correctly. I also know that they are difficult to maintain because of size. I am willing to spend $$$ on this tank, and can't wait to get started, but am limited of space (hence I bought this compact tank). I need tips on how to get started, if the stock equipment meets the needs of a reef aquarium, what other equipment may I need, what sand, live rock, and coral to choose. As well as interts and possibly a few to none fish. Any ideas, suggestions or help would be great.

P.S. The item is on backorder so I won't recieve until 02/24/06, but should I buy anything else to prepare for its arrival. (I have no equipment or anything of the sort to start off with since I sold it all two years ago). What to prepare for?

Thanks a bunch, can't wait to get to know you all

[ski1297]

Welcome to TRT! Reef tanks are a lot of fun and work. The first tip take it slow then read read and read! I would think about what you want in the tank coral, fish or a mix? Then set up the tank. Skimmers are a big part of reef tanks on smaller tanks it can be hard to work a skimmer in to the mix but if you can it will save you a lot of work. If you want coral you have to think about lights. You want live rock about 1-1.5lbs to 1gal. You do not need a filter if you have live rock. So what do you want in the tank?

[cburns32]

I would like to have a mix in the tank of coral, inverts, and a few fish...maybe 2 clownfish with and anenome if that's possible (if it's to hard or not possible let me know I don't care), I heard many things about Hawaiin Feather Dusters in these small aquariums, or having clownfish and anenomes, or small inverts, with like two chromis. I need a good, perferably cheap protein skimmer, I have been told. What's a good one you would suggest? The lighting I'll include in the specs on the bottom of this reply, I've heard they are OK, I'm getting a deluxe so I'll have daytime and lunar lights. LiveAquaria.com suggests a Live Rock Nano Pack, I think it may be 20 lbs. I'm not sure, but that should do, right? And the cube already comes with a filter. I was thinking about a few hermit crabs, shrimps, and snails to help with maintence, some soft coral, live rock, live sand, possibly clownfish with anenome, or just a few gobys, wrasse, or green/blue chromis. Whatever.

I know I will need a heater, a water tester (a good one), and I don't know what else really.

Tank Specs:
24-watt 50/50 compact fluorescent lamp (Deluxe includes 2 of these 1 lunar 1 daytime)
3-stage filtering system
submersible pump 106 gph
heavy duty ABS canopy with 4 vents and 2 cooling fans
13-3/4" x 15-3/4" x 14-3/4" high

[cburns32]

LiveAquaria.com reccommends:
Live Rock Nano Pack
Soft Coral Nano Pack
Indo-Pacific Live Sand

Are these any good for this 12 Gallon Nano Cube...?

[cburns32]

I know I may be a bit of annoyance with all these questions, but I'm pumped on starting this. Any suggestions on extra powerheads, if necessary. What should I do about curing the live rock, sand, and coral. (3 Gallon Tank maybe) What should I do about water changes (3 gallon tank with syphon maybe). Would a 3 Gal Tank help me do water changes, just fill that baby with salt water and syphon into 12 Gallon Nano Cube. And how about curing? I just want anything you guys got...any suggestions...step-by-step tips...I'd appreciate it all. Thanks again. Sorry for the long annoying posts.

[Liza]

I have the 12 gallon nanocube deluxe and have had good luck with it so far. I would recommend taking out the stock pump and putting in something that will create more flow. I have a maxijet 900 in mine. I put it in the 3rd chamber in back. Next, I pulled all the bio balls and ceramic out of the 2nd chamber and put in crushed carbon, but most people will recommend live rock rubble... if you go that way you may want to modify it so there is a small light back there. I also pulled 2 of the 3 filters from the first chamber.
I don't personally have a skimmer in mine, but I'm sure they're helpful. You can check this thread if you're interested in another alternative http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...o+cube+skimmer . I also added in a small heater in the back chamber (2nd or 3rd, where ever you have room) and keep the temp. a little warmer than most. It's hard to keep the temp. down on a small tank like that and it will fluctuate a lot overnight. I prefer to keep it at a constant that is warmer than try to regulate it to a lower temp. You can try running a fan over the water to cool it, but this will increase your evaporation so you'll have more top offs.
Most people will recommend RO water for top offs (fresh) and changes (salt). I use it and have had good luck so far. You'll probably want to do weekly water changes, probably around 10%. I just have premixed saltwater and will scoop out some with a bowl (make sure it's your water-change bowl and is clean... you don't want to accidentally get dish soap in your tank or anything) and then pour in the new water into the back either over a rock or directly into one of the back chambers. I also use kent marine nano part A & B occasionally for additives.
If you keep the stock lighting you probably shouldn't keep any anenomes. You can probably get away with 2 small clownfish if you like (none of the bigger varieties like maroons, though), and I've heard of them hosting other things like hairy mushrooms on occasion.
You'll want to go with corals that are good with lower light conditions... I've got a lot of mushrooms and zoas and some other polyps (green star, yellow, button, etc.). There are quite a few options for other hardy corals, too.
I personally went with a hi finned goby for my tank and will eventually get him a pistol shrimp to pair with. I've got both a cleaner and peppermint shrimp, too. Peppermint shrimp eat aiptasia anemones. Good little workers.
Depth of sand bed will really be personal choice unless you want to keep burrowing critters of any kind, then you'll want to research a little on what they require. I've got an inch or 2 on the bottom. Live sand speeds up your cycle time and adds to your biological filter. The density of rock will determine how much you want to add, but try to make sure you get good flow around it so you don't get "dead" spots.
If you want to upgrade lighting there is a site nanocustoms.com you can check out for mods.
I've seen a lot of people recommend cycling new tanks with a peeled shrimp (the regular variety you can get to eat at the supermarket). Just toss it in and let it do it's thing. Some cycle with damsels, but this is bad for the fishes health, and then when you're done you are often stuck with an aggressive fish you don't actually want, so a peeled shrimp is a more humane choice. At this point you should only have your sand and rock in your tank (I've never had to cure my own rock, so you would want to check elsewhere for info. on that, but I think you can pick off the larger dead things and then just let it cure in your tank since it's new and cycling). They will help establish your biofilter and get the bacteria growing that you need to break down stuff in your tank.
You can't really rush that part, it's important to take everything slowly. Once your cycle is over you can add a few of your cleaner crew (hermits, hardy snails, etc.), but don't over do it. Don't add corals until your tank is stable and the cycle is well over. You'll have a lot less problems if you can be patient, but it'll be hard looking at your tank every day with nothing in it. That's probably the hardest part.
If you can avoid it, don't order a bunch of critters (animals/corals/etc.) in a big package because that will really affect a small sized tank with bioload, etc. Just a few things at a time if at all possible.
Sorry if this post is kind of choppy, I just typed things as I thought of them. If you have any other questions you can PM me and I'll help if I can.
Good luck and have fun!

[Liza]

P.S. you'll want to keep an eye on your fish if you have any jumpers... my goby has jumped into the back chambers a good 3 times and would have probably starved if I didn't go searching for him. Also, make sure your water level isn't so high it touches the lights, I keep mine right at the top of the glass line, that way I see if it needs a top off because I can see the water surface when it's getting low.

[ski1297]

Liza said it all!

[cburns32]

So what about the LiveAquaria.com Nano Packs, are those not good? Yeah, for the filters, you suggest a heater, pump possibly minijet 900 or rio 90, and crushed live rock or carbon, and then what is in the last caompartment. You say a Peeled Shrimp helps the cycling process, just get one of those and I'm ready to go. And then after the cycling period is close to over, get some cleaners? How many of each and what? And I'd like a High Finned Goby and Pistol Shrimp, I've heard they are like a married couple. That would be interesting to watch. And I've heard about a Sleeper Goby or Diamond Goby, that helps clean sand and walls. Is this true? Thanks a bunch everyone. I'll keep you all about to date on how I'm doing, in the mean time I need any advice and suggestion that I can get. Anything is fine. Thanks.

[cburns32]

I like this skimmer alot, you say you have one...is it efficent...and what pump do you recommend, and should I take out the stock one or use the stock and the other pump for dual power???

[cburns32]

I just looked at another forum, and someone said the upgraded (deluxe nano cube) I'm recieving should have an upgraded pump and a built-in surface skimmer is this true?

[cburns32]

OK, I'm thinking about placing a pump and heater in the 3rd compartment of the filteration system, since I don't have my tank yet, but want to buy this equipment, what sizes should I get if I wanted that to work, like the dimensions of the compartment, heater and pump. If that won't work out give me good tips on the heater and pump. What's the best setup for the filteration system?

This is if the previous post is not true.

[ski1297]

The best set up for filteration is a good skimmer and live rock thats all you need in a reef tank. If you want to run carbon just put new carbon in every week. The liveaquaria.com nano packs are good but thats about 2-3 mths after you get the tank up. If it was me I would pull the filter that comes with the tank and get a good skimmer.

[cburns32]

I heard the deluxe comes with a surface skimmer, is this what you mean or do you mean surface skimmer, what would you put in each of the 3 compartments, I heard a heater in 3rd, live rock in 2nd, and carbon or chemi in the 1st???

[ski1297]

If it comes with a skimmer thats good. When I say skimmer I mean protein skimmer. I would do a heater in one and a bag of carbon and thats it. When you get it take out the bio-balls and ceramic rings the live rock will do what the bio-balls do.