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Cultivated Reef

Nate's 7.5g Mr. Aqua Cube


npatching

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Current tank shot:s

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Equipment:

7.5 gallon Mr. Aqua cube

Stand IKEA "MICKE" storage unit. Measurements without wheels attached: L=24", H=27", W=19.5"

150W Jager Eheim Heater

Mag 5 return pump

Hydor Slim Skim Nano

12g aquaeuro AIO sump

Subcurrent Filter in sump Running Chemi pure/Purigen

autotopoff.com ATO

5 gallon water change once every 2 weeks with Reef Crystals salt.

Pinpoint Ph Probe

Ledtric 18W Par38 TruPop reef lamp

Ikea fixture "Foto" nice because the cord is 15' and plugs right into the wall.

Filter sock, Chaeto, and live rock in the sump.

Eshopps nano overflow

 

Rena Smart Heater

AquaClear 70 - Stevie T media basket insert.

JBJ ATO

EcoExotic Pico LED light (2 all blue, 3 mixed)

Vortech mp10

Koralia 425

 

 

 

Coral:

Hammer

Ricordea Mushroom

Frogspawn

Zoanthids

Blasto

Mini Nem

 

Livestock:

Pistol Shrimp

Emerald Crab

Snails

Scarlet hermit

PomPom Crab

Feather Duster

 

Problems so far:

Hair algae

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The tank looks good, I was looking at the ecopico but then after some searching I found this and I like it more because it's a larger tank and the price is half of what the ecopico costs, plus you can use the ecopico light fixture on it which is nice because I REALLY like the fixture the best

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Update: 11/30/11

 

History: I downsized from a Finnex 30g AIO. I have used some rock from my Finnex to get this tank up and going faster. The sand is new. I've always heard bad things about using old sand, plus I had some left over that i never used on my 30g finnex.

 

The Mr. Aqua has been up and running for just over a month. I have not experienced much of a cycle, mostly because the live rock. I did have a bit of hair algae which has subsided after lots of cleaning (toothbrush) and rinsing out the sand bed. I was over feeding the tank.

 

I have ditched the subcurrent filter. It was prone to making micro bubbles even with the JBJ ATO in use. After a water change I would have problems with micro bubbles because the water level had dropped too far during the water shange, allowing air to get into the pump chamber. Then when I turned the subcurrent back on MICRO BUBBLES! I decided to go the AC70 route. I went ahead and got Stevie T's (intank) AC70 insert. These are really slick and is well worth it. My initial idea was to have less equipment in the tank , so the subcurrent was a trade off. It was low profile, but didn't do a great job at surface skimming (yes, I have a ATO system in place). I am also able to place more media such as ChemiPure Elite and Purigen in the AC70. The Subcurrent was way too small for anything more then a little bit of carbon.

 

I also switched out the MP10 for a Koralia nano 425. I know...DOWNGRADE, but really the MP10 was way overkill for this size tank and I needed some $$$. I don't think I really need the koralia with the flow that the AC 70 puts out, but i'll use it for a bit and see how things go. The surface agitation from the AC70 is great and I have plenty of flow throughout the tank. I added 2 more ecoxotic pico strips giving me a total of 5. I have 2 all blue strips and 3 mixed led strips. I can't fit anymore strips on the fixture so that going to be it for light. Overall I'm very pleased with the low cost, low profile, high light, low heat that these led's provide. The over color with all lights on looks to me like 14k. Not too blue and not too white for my taste.

 

I'll post some pics asap. Any comments/feed back/advice is appreciated.

Mr. Aqua 7.5g NANO REEF

 

YouTube Video added.

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WillWork4Frags

Does it seem like enough light? I've always been curious about these fixtures, I never thought it would be enough light to grow anything other than soft corals.

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The tank looks good, I was looking at the ecopico but then after some searching I found this and I like it more because it's a larger tank and the price is half of what the ecopico costs, plus you can use the ecopico light fixture on it which is nice because I REALLY like the fixture the best

 

Yeah, the EcoPico seemed too narrow even if its only 2 inch difference (i think). Visually, it was less pleasing to my eye. The cube look is nice with the Mr. aqua tank. The ecopico does come with a lid, but I like the rimless look better. I wasn't planning on using the ecopico pump so no loss there. Tank price was cheaper with the Mr. Aqua even after purchasing the EcoPico LED's. MarineDepot was only $8 shipping on the tank. Plus, I used the promo code and got the low iron glass. I wasn't really planning on buying that version of the tank, but it was $20 off. Thanks for following along.

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Does it seem like enough light? I've always been curious about these fixtures, I never thought it would be enough light to grow anything other than soft corals.

I'm sure its plenty light for some people, but coming from my 30g Finnex, I was using a 150W MH x2 t5's and then I switched to the Tek light 24WX4 T5. The Ecoxotic pico LED seemed dim with just 3 led strips. With five strips its looks alot better. The depth of this tank is obviously more shallow, so thats in my favor for lighting coral. The Ecoxotic Leds are 1 watt led's. So the difference between 15 watts and 9 watts was worth the extra $$. Still I don't plan on doing SPS in this system. I think I could get away with some montipora and even some other sps if i placed the coral high in my tank. I don't think three strips is enough light if you are used to higher watt systems.

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  • 4 weeks later...
Clown Fish 39

hello, i was looking at your thread and your stand is great looking, i was wondering where you got it? I think you mentioned IKEA but there is none close to me so by chance do you have the serial number or product number? or maybe what it is called? is it a cabinet or night stand ?

thank you very much

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i wish i knew which one it is. there is one 2 hours from me. :(

The nice thing about pico tanks is that they weight far less than larger tanks. I never considered Ikea for a stand until I started to put together this little tank. The Stand is called MICKE, it's actually categorized as a

Storage unit/Workspace. Ikea has other items included in their MICKE series. IKEA product info say's that the Max load/shelf: 55 lb.

MICKE storage unit can Here's the link http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60180084/

 

It was $70.

 

 

 

hello, i was looking at your thread and your stand is great looking, i was wondering where you got it? I think you mentioned IKEA but there is none close to me so by chance do you have the serial number or product number? or maybe what it is called? is it a cabinet or night stand ?

thank you very much

Yes, Two all BLUE strips and 3 mixed strips produces a great color. Its hard to tell what color my tank is from photos and video, but its looks like a 14k type color. More blue than white, but not too blue.

 

looking really awesome man. gonna follow along

It's the MICKE "storage unit"

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Awesome setup. I am really glad I saw this before ordering the par38's, this looks a lot nicer and clean. I have a 12x12x12 rimless I am going to be setting up very similar to this. Do you find the Koralia to be necessary? I was thinking a mp10, but I figured this small it wouldn't even be worth it for a power head at all. This is the smallest tank I have ever owned, so sorry for the questions.

 

Btw, awesome stand, thinking about going and picking one up over the weekend. I have an IKEA right next to me.

 

Thanks for sharing, again, awesome setup!

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Awesome setup. I am really glad I saw this before ordering the par38's, this looks a lot nicer and clean. I have a 12x12x12 rimless I am going to be setting up very similar to this. Do you find the Koralia to be necessary? I was thinking a mp10, but I figured this small it wouldn't even be worth it for a power head at all. This is the smallest tank I have ever owned, so sorry for the questions.

 

Btw, awesome stand, thinking about going and picking one up over the weekend. I have an IKEA right next to me.

 

Thanks for sharing, again, awesome setup!

The Koralia is not needed with the flow from the ac70. I originally had an MP10 on this setup, but it was way overkill. The stand is cool and priced fairly cheap (for a stand). I'm actually going to be adding a 12g sump to this setup, this week, so stayed tuned for that update. I just borrowed my friends PAR 30 (he got it from boost LED.com). I borrowed it just to see what I was missing out on.

 

PAR 30 VS Ecoxotic Pico led's

PAR 30 Pros:

-Brighter light over all. Will allow you to grow SPS.

-Cheaper price compared to ecoxotic arm plus 5 led strips

 

PAR 30 Cons:

-Not a small footprint like the Ecoxotic pico led's. (Large goose neck to hangs over tank) and no matter how you dress it up, its still a big light bulb hanging over your tank.

-No moon lights

 

I'm sure there are many more pros and cons, but in the end I'm happy with my lights. It works for my set up.

 

 

JAN MINI UPDATE

 

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I'll be adding a 12g sump to this setup this week. More updates coming.

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By any chance do you have pictures of this?

 

Stevie T media basket insert. Running Chemi pure/Purigen filter media from intank

 

Also, I have seen this on many peoples tanks, looks very efficient, but I can't seem to find any place that sells this. Could you recommend a site?

 

Thanks. Sorry if I am hijacking your thread, it is just that you ae basically putting together something almost exactly like I wanted/want.

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By any chance do you have pictures of this?

 

Stevie T media basket insert. Running Chemi pure/Purigen filter media from intank

 

Also, I have seen this on many peoples tanks, looks very efficient, but I can't seem to find any place that sells this. Could you recommend a site?

 

Thanks. Sorry if I am hijacking your thread, it is just that you ae basically putting together something almost exactly like I wanted/want.

 

 

Here a link to show the flow through the media basket.

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/AquaClear-70-...sket-AC70MR.htm

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/AquaClear-50-...sket-AC50MR.htm

 

scroll down to see the last photo of each link

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Just made a few modifications.

 

Eshopps nano overflow

 

Mag 5 return pump

 

12g AquaEuro AIO turned into a sump

 

Hydor Slim skim Protein Skimmer

 

Pukani rock from BRS (turned into live rock over a 4 week time period)

 

Eheim Jager 150W Heater

 

Auto top off AutoTopOff.com

 

Ledtric.com PAR 38 TruPop 18W Reef Lamp is on preorder

 

I don't think this Ikea stand light is going to support the weight of the PAR 38, but we'll see.

 

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Builder Anthony

looks nice and simple up top then the doors open and its like great scott its like a spaceship down there.

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looks nice and simple up top then the doors open and its like great scott its like a spaceship down there.

Yes, it has gotten away from me...

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