dtum's JBJ 28g Nanocube LED

[dtum]

Ammonia is still around 0.5. I keep dozing the ZeoBak (1 drop) every day.

 

I have ordered the Nano Mag by 2 Little Fishies, although not impressed with this thing at first sight - looked tiny, I really liked it once I've put it to test. It uses a very strong magnet and is perfect for curved corners. I am definitely ordering one more for my other tank.

 

I have received the skimmer last night and have spent my evening trying to figure this thing out. The skimmer is Aquamaxx HOB-1 which I got from goreef.com, extremely speedy delivery in Canada.

 

It is packaged nicely

 

Although there's quite a few different components it took only 10 minutes to put everything together

 

 

It is definitely a tight fit on a JBJ Nanocube, but it fits well in the 4th and 5th chambers. I have cut the intake tube by 2.4 cm to make it easier to open the lid. The return tube needs to be cut by about 1.5 cm which I will do at a later date.

 

 

Overall it fits nicely and primed in about a minute

 

And that's where the headaches have started... This thing is certainly loud.

 

I'm starting to suspect that whenever someone says that a particular marine product is "virtually silent", what they really mean is that you won't have to shout when talking to someone while standing by that product. This thing is noisy, it makes gargling and bubbling sounds.

 

The internal pump is silent and there's no buzzing. But you can definitely hear the water and air movement. I am a bit concerned with this and had to turn this off after an hour of running. Going to research my options, some suggest to shorten the return tube and have it pour on to a pad while not being submerged.

 

Too bad, I was really hoping for a "virtually silent" system.

 

But it skims very well, the foaming is great and the adjusting is very easy.

[dtum]

Ammonia 0.5

Nitrite 0.25

 

My first video of the new tank. Showing the new skimmer

 

[dtum]

First off, the skimmer has been running great, it is very powerful and has sucked out a lot of gunk. I am getting used to the noise, it is certainly more of the "white noise" variety. I still think that most of it is produced by the air coming out from the silencer - I can't hear the water flow. If I temporarily block the air valve coming out of the silencer, the noise almost disappears.

I've positioned the return elbow like this:

 

I got the media basket from Brad Urbanek. So far I am really enjoying it, I've loaded it with floss (top), Purigen (middle) and Chemi Pure Elite (bottom).

 

 

 

I decided to bite the bullet and just move all of my corals from my 10 gallon tank. Did not want to maintain the two of them. Here are all the corals laid out.

 

 

Did a little clean up in the tank stand, still looks messy, but this will have to do until I get a proper controller.

 

 

And this is what my tank looks like right now during day time.

[dtum]

My Duncan has closed up couple of days ago and is not opening up. Frogspawn has shrivelled up a bit as well.

 

My parameters are:

 

t Salinity PH NH3 NO2 NO3 Ca PO4 KH

78.2 1.025 7.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 500.0 0.0 8.0

 

I would very much appreciate anybody's comments.

[Candi_MI]

When in doubt, do a water change....

[dtum]

Here are the latest specs on my aquarium.

 

[Squared]

i like this tank

[dtum]

Here is a video update

 

[dtum]

It has been a busy few week, nevertheless here is an update.

 

I've added quite a few new corals and fish. Some corals have been graciously given to me by a fellow aquariumist with a breathtaking 180 gallon state-of-the-art tank.

 

 

I've propped most of the new corals on the sandbed to acclimate.

 

New frogspawn

 

 

A great piece of live rock with some mushrooms and devil's finger.

 

 

SPS coral

 

More mushrooms

 

Another SPS

 

Monti

 

New fish

 

 

[dtum]

Here is an updated overview of my tank

 

[urbaneks]

Things look like they are progressing nicely. Keep those photo updates coming.

[esparkman]

what app are you using to track your maintenance and params?

[dtum]

what app are you using to track your maintenance and params?

 

I've been using a trial version of a website. If you would like details please PM me.

 

Here's the latest update on my tank

 

[dtum]

It has been another week, here's an update.

 

Here's the latest FTS

 

Picked up another Hammer Coral frag

 

And a Blue Acropora

 

Some of the other inhabitants

 

 

A Blood Red Shrimp

[dtum]

Latest Update for my JBJ Nano Cube

[dtum]

[dtum]

In addition to the latest video, here's my latest aquarium measurements:

 

 

and diary entries

 

Data produced by AquaticLog.com

[Joe Dirt]

First off, the skimmer has been running great, it is very powerful and has sucked out a lot of gunk. I am getting used to the noise, it is certainly more of the "white noise" variety. I still think that most of it is produced by the air coming out from the silencer - I can't hear the water flow. If I temporarily block the air valve coming out of the silencer, the noise almost disappears.

I've positioned the return elbow like this:

 

I got the media basket from Brad Urbanek. So far I am really enjoying it, I've loaded it with floss (top), Purigen (middle) and Chemi Pure Elite (bottom).

3/4" PVC is the same size as the plumbing for the Aquamaxx. I have mine positioned the same exact way on my NC28. If you want it quieter, put the return fitting shaped like a T back on there where your elbow is, with a piece of 3/4" PVC as a down tube. You want the PVC to be flush with water level of the second chamber. Ditch those black reusable filters. They don't really benefit the tank at all. Other than that, Its looking good to go.

[dtum]

3/4" PVC is the same size as the plumbing for the Aquamaxx. I have mine positioned the same exact way on my NC28. If you want it quieter, put the return fitting shaped like a T back on there where your elbow is, with a piece of 3/4" PVC as a down tube. You want the PVC to be flush with water level of the second chamber. Ditch those black reusable filters. They don't really benefit the tank at all. Other than that, Its looking good to go.

 

I don't think I can put the T back there because it will prevent me from opening the hood high enough. As for the black filters - it is there only to mask the water noise, nothing more.

[Joe Dirt]

I forgot that I did have to cut the outlet piece down a little. I think it was about 1/2". After that, you can open the hood to the first notch and the noise is less. I think there is a pic in my thread.

[dtum]

Unfortunately the Torch Coral is now officially dead. I still have no idea what killed it, everything else seems to be doing quite well.

 

[dtum]

Ouch, only when I pulled the coral out of water I realized how bad this thing smelled. Had no other choice but to do an emergency 20% water change. Measured all parameters but Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrates are all at 0.

Note to self: next time a coral is not doing too good - smell it.

[dtum]

Latest shot with the Dusk/Dawn lighting

 

[dtum]

And a few more

 

 

 

[dtum]

After months of pondering I've finally decided to order the Neptune Apex controller (comes with 8 bars, temperature and PH (lab grade) probes). Should have it in about a week, very excited.

Also ordered Elos test kits for PH and Nitrates.