Custom Nanocube builds

[dball711]

Finally getting some time to get my tanks set up. Recently moved and the fish room is ready! Plans are to have 3 tanks, 6 & 28 gal Nanocubes and a 40 breeder. This thread will follow the progress of the 2 Nanocubes.

First up is the 6 gal, I had this running for about 4 years in the Chicago area prior to the move to Atlanta. I had this running with a custom false wall, surface skimmer, small fuge and a 110gph pump hooked to a SCWD. Lighting was 2 - 20 watt CF 50/50 bulbs. After looking at the empty tank for the last 5 months, I wondered if the very small fuge really did much good. I also found an extra Tunze 9002 nano skimmer and wondered if I could make this fit in place of the fuge?

So it was decided, I would remove the false wall and reconfigure it to remove the fuge to accommodate the skimmer. I know this is overkill in a small tank but what the heck, I have done the small tank (2.5 to 6g) thing for 8+ years and this skimmer in a 6g cube would be different. The return pump would be upgraded to a 210GPH Tunze hooked to a SCWD for alternating current and upgrade to LED’s for lighting. Now please do not flame the cheap LED’s made in China, I will see how they perform and they may be replaced. Stock plans will be some mushrooms, palays and maybe a fire shrimp.

Here is what it looked like before I started working on the changes. After I removed the false wall I checked for placement of the Tunze and the SCWD, realized a need to lower the pump returns. I wanted to reuse the false wall so I am going to have to move the partitions around and plug a couple of return holes. Time to go cut some acrylic…
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[tbryan]

No, time to go buy a diamond hole saw and some bulkheads.

 

[dball711]

tbryan;831475 wrote: No, time to go buy a diamond hole saw and some bulkheads.

That may be down the road...


Here’s an overview of the plans for the 28g NC.I noticed there are a few others here with this tank that are not satisfied with how the filter/false wall is set up, neither am I so here are my plans…
I am starting with a brand new/replacement tank, no hood! I could have just removed the false wall and started over but decided to keep the “stock” look and just rearrange the guts. Must haves are a true surface skimmer, Tunze 9002 protein skimmer, a 1.5–2 gal fuge, one 420 GPH return pump hooked to a SCWD for alternating current, media reactor (got the idea from greggreenberg) and LED’s (cheap made in China for now). In addition I plan to move the false wall out 1” further to accommodate more room in back.

Every project starts with some demolition so first step was to remove the false wall. Next was to cut off the partitions. From here I sanded the area I cut off to smooth out the surface for new partitions. With a blank slate I need to figure out how to set up the rear chambers. Time to cut more acrylic for partitions...
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[dball711]

Some progress on the NC 28, added the partitions and plumbed the SCWD. Maybe I can silicone it in the tank this weekend and add water next weekend!
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[dball711]

Got about 30 lbs of reef saver rock from BRS, this stuff is great. Pest free, stackable and on sale.

Finally got water in the tanks this weekend, adding salt and heaters later today. Let the cycle begin!
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[gafishman]

looking good are you going to keep it Bare bottom?

 

[dball711]

GAFishman;837649 wrote: looking good are you going to keep it Bare bottom?

No I will be adding sand soon, never been a bare bottom fan. I will only be placing about 1/2" of substrate.

 

[jdavid]

dball711;831395 wrote: Stock plans will be some mushrooms, palays and maybe a fire shrimp.

I got the palys! lol

I like what you are doing with the tanks pretty cool that you are doing a 6 and a 28 and I'm doing a 8 and a 29 and we are starting at the same time. Very small difference in gallonage so we will be able to bounce ideas off eachother etc. plus you have over 8 years more experience with the nano thing so I am glad to have you as an ally! Thanks for taking interest in my thread and for the generous test kit gift. I'm looking forward to the journey!

Keep me posted brudda

 

[dball711]

JDavid;840591 wrote: I got the palys! lol

I like what you are doing with the tanks pretty cool that you are doing a 6 and a 28 and I'm doing a 8 and a 29 and we are starting at the same time.

Thats why your thread caught my attention!

Update, Added live sand, some hermits and plumbed the reactor for the 28g.
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[jdavid]

Lookin good!
so what exactly does the reactor do?

 

[dball711]

Its an effective way to run carbon and GFO, this one uses an up flow method. GFO will keep phosphates low and hopefully reduce nuisance algae.

 

[jdavid]

oh cool
and it looks cool too

 

[dball711]

It’s been a couple weeks and both tanks have cycled. About a week ago I got some Fiji live rock and live rubble from Premium Aquatics to seed my dead BRS rock. I was surprised that the rubble wasn’t really rubble, most pieces were 1-2 lbs of what looked like Tonga branch. This worked out good because I have a 40g breeder I am also setting up and some of the rock ended up there.

I just placed an order with Reef Cleaners for a bunch of snails, crabs and pods. Can’t wait, it should be here Thurs! I’ll be ready for some fish once I get the clean-up crews in place and rearrange the rock work in the 28. That should be 1-2 weeks down the road…then its coral time!!!

The hardest thing to do when setting up a new tank is to pace myself, with 3 new tanks all at once it’s even harder. Here is a shot of the 6 with some new rock work and the 28 all cloudy is still a work in progress.
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[jdavid]

Your pic are upside down lol. And don't feel bad, you have been much better than I at pacing. I'm officially out of space in the 8 lol gotta get the 29 up and running

 

[jmike50]

Nice looking tanks.

 

[dball711]

Quick update, Finished the rockwork in the 28! Clean up crew arrives later today.
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[dball711]

jmike50;844678 wrote: Nice looking tanks.

Thanks!

I had some time this weekend to cleand up a mess of wiring.

Also included a shot of my 3rd tank, not part of this build thread.
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[jdavid]

how's your tanks doing?

 

[dball711]

Thanks for asking, things are going well. Added a buch of zoa and palay frags, some sea whips and a couple of fish. Had a major diatom bloom just prior to that and have decided that my cheap Chinese LEDs need to be replaced!

Anyone want some cheap LED's???

I'll get a lighting update and some pics up soon, just too busy right now. Getting married this Saturday and so many little things keep poping up. Updates soon.

 

[rodasphoto]

dball711;850159 wrote: Thanks for asking, things are going well. Added a buch of zoa and palay frags, some sea whips and a couple of fish. Had a major diatom bloom just prior to that and have decided that my cheap Chinese LEDs need to be replaced!

Anyone want some cheap LED's???

I'll get a lighting update and some pics up soon, just too busy right now. Getting married this Saturday and so many little things keep poping up. Updates soon.

If you are serious I will take 'em. I trying to make a nano for my classroom.

Congrats on getting married. It is a great thing when you find the person you love.