12 Gallon nano cube?
Apr 20th 2008adminNano Cube Aquariums
c_allardyce asked:
I will be getting a 12 gallon Deluxe nano cube for christmas. I want to set up a small reef for my apartment. I have had tanks in the past for saltwater that were bigger a 55 gallon and 30 gallon. But I am looking for he best way to do it with out taking up a lot of room storing salt or having to go get R/O water. I was thinking of using water that Petco sells. Its pre mixed saltwater that comes in 5 gallon boxes. Just was thinking of using that cause I dont have much room in the apartment. Has anyone used this stuff before. Also what are recommendation for corals I can use with the lighting that the tank comes with. Any info on setting this tank up would be great Thanks!!!!
What did you mean to take out sponge and bio balls.
Nano Reef Tanks
I will be getting a 12 gallon Deluxe nano cube for christmas. I want to set up a small reef for my apartment. I have had tanks in the past for saltwater that were bigger a 55 gallon and 30 gallon. But I am looking for he best way to do it with out taking up a lot of room storing salt or having to go get R/O water. I was thinking of using water that Petco sells. Its pre mixed saltwater that comes in 5 gallon boxes. Just was thinking of using that cause I dont have much room in the apartment. Has anyone used this stuff before. Also what are recommendation for corals I can use with the lighting that the tank comes with. Any info on setting this tank up would be great Thanks!!!!
What did you mean to take out sponge and bio balls.
Nano Reef Tanks
evassj4 on 23 Apr 2008 at 6:53 am #
I haven’t used that water personally, but I have heard good things about it and it sounds like exactly what you want. Of course it is more expensive than making it up yourself so you pay for the convenience.
With that lighting you can do zoos, mushrooms, green star polyps, and lps easily. I suggest staying away from leathers due to size limitations and definitely stay away from clams and sps due to light limitations.
Use about 15 pounds of liverock and take out the spounge and bioballs from the back. Upgrade the pump to a mini-jet 606 to produce less heat and for more flow. Also get a surface skimmer if the tank doesn’t already come with one. I think the newer ones do come with one.
The sponge and bio balls are great areas for aerobic bacteria to grow. This bacteria breaks down ammonia and nitrite. They don’t, however, provide the correct environment for anaerobic bacteria that breaks down nitrates to grow so what you end up with is the sponge and bio balls out-competing the liverock for ammonia and nitrite and getting excess amounts of nitrate. By taking the sponge and bio balls out, you are allowing the liverock to naturally balance the tank.