12g nano cube setup

[rsach]

Hi, I am totally new to the SW aquarium, although I have few years of FW cichlid experience. I ordered a 12g nano cube and am planning on ordering stuff for it online and would like to get some recommendations. So far this is what's on my list.

50w Visio Therm heater,

16oz purple up,

coralife thermometer,

small mag float and

hydrometer.

I already have a freshwater/saltwater master test kit from AP. I am planning on getting water,12lbs live rock and argonite sand from my LFS. What other paramaters do I need to test? Also, I am planning on putting couple of clown fish in there once the tank is cycled, which specific ones are recommended, also what food should I feed them. I would also like to add some anemones and corals in the future, which ones are recommended and what do I feed them? During water changes what do I need to add in the water, do I need to put calcium? Sorry for tons of questions. I just want to start it off on the right foot.

 

Thanks!!

[revaltion131]

Hi, I am totally new to the SW aquarium, although I have few years of FW cichlid experience. I ordered a 12g nano cube and am planning on ordering stuff for it online and would like to get some recommendations. So far this is what's on my list.

50w Visio Therm heater,

16oz purple up,

coralife thermometer,

small mag float and

hydrometer.

 

First, you don't have to go nuts on the thermometers. There are magfloat cleaners that have a digital built in. Second, get a refractometer. You will not regret it. Hydrometers just aren't accurate. For example, mine read between 1.022 and 1.030 in the same minute just because of how sensitive they are to air bubbles that can form on the swing arm. eBay is a great source for cheaper refractrometers.

 

I already have a freshwater/saltwater master test kit from AP. I am planning on getting water,12lbs live rock and argonite sand from my LFS. What other paramaters do I need to test?

 

The basic testing you'll want to do are pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. Additional ones you'll want to pick up as you go are Phosphates, Alkalinity, and Calcium. API is the best you can get, generally.

 

Also, I am planning on putting couple of clown fish in there once the tank is cycled, which specific ones are recommended, also what food should I feed them.

 

For your tank, you want to stick to Percula or Ocellaris, also known as the False Percula. Any other clowns will just get too big. Buy tank raised (always readily available, some places won't even order wild-caught), and feed them chopped mysis or good pelleted food.

 

I would also like to add some anemones and corals in the future, which ones are recommended and what do I feed them?

 

Generally, your tank will be just too small for anemomes. Try a Frogspawn or Hammer coral. Both are great alternatives to 'nems. They're hardier and take much less care. You can also add them many months before your tank would be ready for an anemone. Lastly, if it gets too big, you can "frag it off" instead of having to get rid of it like you would with an anemone. Overall, clowns will host to anything, it just depends on each individual clown.

 

Each type of coral will take different food types. Just do your research when you buy each coral. It really varies based on coral polyp type and genus.

 

During water changes what do I need to add in the water, do I need to put calcium? Sorry for tons of questions. I just want to start it off on the right foot.

 

If you're not using RO/DI water, which you really should be, you'll want to make sure to use a water treatment for chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, and any other junk that might be in your tap. When you start "dosing" supplements like calcium, you generally will add it right into the main tank.

 

As for all the questions, don't worry about being annoying. It's far better that you ask than you go out and make mistakes because you were timid. Good luck and welcome!

[gulfsurfer101]

Hey man, a cool thing about these tanks are you can remove the black film in the back via razor blade and stuff the back chambers with cheato and place a cheap light back there and you got yourself a little fuge. I did this to both my aqua pod 12 and nano cube 12 and just used a toms deco 50/ 50 light back there.

[rsach]

Thanks for the great tips. I really appreciate it. One more question that just came in my mind is how much sand should I get, should I make a deep sand bed or would 1" sand bed work? Also, will 15lbs of live rock be enough. Thanks!!!

[gulfsurfer101]

I'd go with about 2" or 3" inches of sand, a deep sand bed is trouble for nano's. As far as LR 15 pounds woud do nicely in there Good luck.

[aquascaper08]

I have a 12 gallon that is about a month and a half old and no problems yet. I added about a 1.5 inch sand bed and 17 lbs of lr. I now have two Percula Clowns, a Hammer coral that is great, a Colt frag from my sons 125, a large Open Brain in the sand in the center of the scape, a Green Brain on the top of the scape, a finger leater on the left middle of the scape, and a Candy Cane in the sand on the bottom right. Everything is growing great, my water peramiters are perfect, and no problems yet. i only say all of this as an example of what you can do with yours. A lot of people will help you on this site. Good luck and post pics when you can.

 

Good luck and welcome to the hobby!!!

[rsach]

I have a 12 gallon that is about a month and a half old and no problems yet. I added about a 1.5 inch sand bed and 17 lbs of lr. I now have two Percula Clowns, a Hammer coral that is great, a Colt frag from my sons 125, a large Open Brain in the sand in the center of the scape, a Green Brain on the top of the scape, a finger leater on the left middle of the scape, and a Candy Cane in the sand on the bottom right. Everything is growing great, my water peramiters are perfect, and no problems yet. i only say all of this as an example of what you can do with yours. A lot of people will help you on this site. Good luck and post pics when you can.

 

Good luck and welcome to the hobby!!!

 

Thanks for the info. I have gained a lot of knowledge from this forum, and it still feels like I barely know anything I will try and set it up this weekend, will be putting 12-15lbs of live rocks and 1-2" of live sand and let it cycle. I will start posting pictures as soon as I start. btw what due you have in your filter compartments. I am thinking of starting with one sponge and a heater and go from there.

[aquascaper08]

Chamber one has one sponge removed and polyster fiberfill added. (stops the mess when cleaning that chamber) changed once per week with water change.

 

Chamber 2 bio balls removed and cheato added with small light over it (use a light I had that used to be on a lizzard cage)

 

Chamber 3 has a 50 watt stealth heater and the stock pump. I tried to add a power head in the tank but it blows too much sand around so I stayed with the stock pump only for now. If my corals start to get bad I will upgrade to a MJ 1200 pump for more flow.

 

Hope this helps

[rsach]

Chamber one has one sponge removed and polyster fiberfill added. (stops the mess when cleaning that chamber) changed once per week with water change.

 

Chamber 2 bio balls removed and cheato added with small light over it (use a light I had that used to be on a lizzard cage)

 

Chamber 3 has a 50 watt stealth heater and the stock pump. I tried to add a power head in the tank but it blows too much sand around so I stayed with the stock pump only for now. If my corals start to get bad I will upgrade to a MJ 1200 pump for more flow.

 

Hope this helps

 

Thanks! this certainly will help. I was thinking about cheato too, but wasn't sure on how to add a light the the back without cutting anything out. I guess once I get my tank tomorrow, I will start exploring.

[bluegrizzlies1]

what you need

maxi jet 900 replace stock pump

korilia nano

heater 50w

filter floss

chemi pure

chaeto

15 lbs live rock

2 inches of sand

salt

ro di water

thermoniter

magna float

 

that should get you going

[rsach]

Thanks a lot for all the tips. I finally put together my 12 gallon nano cube together this evening. Please let me know how the setup look. I am planning on putting two clown fishes in there once it's cycled, and then down the road I will put some corals. Does the setup look too crowded? I do want to put corals in the future so I am hoping the rock are not too high. Please give me your comments and suggestions. Thanks!!

[airman_verde04]

wow!! those are some big rocks!! looks like your off to a good start though! good luck! But dont take it from me. I'm a noobie also!

[rsach]

wow!! those are some big rocks!! looks like your off to a good start though! good luck! But dont take it from me. I'm a noobie also!

 

Thanks! I got suggestions from a few people to get rid of the big rock or break them and put more smaller rocks in order to have more caves. Should I put tonga rocks in there and remove some of the big ones?

[Figz]

i'd brake those apart for sure, way to crowded and large. simple is sometimes better by the way. check out my rock setup.

 

also. that rock looks pretty dense. you'll be taking a lot of the little gallons you do have away making your water a lot more delicate.

 

when placing your rock always think about the future.

 

-is it close to the glass(do i have room to clean the glass)?

-will i have room for corals?

-will i be able to reach in and move something or get something behind the rocks without disrupting the whole tank?

[rsach]

i'd brake those apart for sure, way to crowded and large. simple is sometimes better by the way. check out my rock setup.

 

also. that rock looks pretty dense. you'll be taking a lot of the little gallons you do have away making your water a lot more delicate.

 

when placing your rock always think about the future.

 

-is it close to the glass(do i have room to clean the glass)?

-will i have room for corals?

-will i be able to reach in and move something or get something behind the rocks without disrupting the whole tank?

 

Thanks for the tips. Your setup looks really nice. I see what you mean. I will probably thin mine out to 15 lbs and break the big pieces and make some caves. I really like tonga rock.

[airman_verde04]

good call about, breaking the rocks up!! take pictures!

[Laura6686]

Hi, I am totally new to the SW aquarium, although I have few years of FW cichlid experience. I ordered a 12g nano cube and am planning on ordering stuff for it online and would like to get some recommendations. So far this is what's on my list.

50w Visio Therm heater,

16oz purple up,

coralife thermometer,

small mag float and

hydrometer.

I already have a freshwater/saltwater master test kit from AP. I am planning on getting water,12lbs live rock and argonite sand from my LFS. What other paramaters do I need to test? Also, I am planning on putting couple of clown fish in there once the tank is cycled, which specific ones are recommended, also what food should I feed them. I would also like to add some anemones and corals in the future, which ones are recommended and what do I feed them? During water changes what do I need to add in the water, do I need to put calcium? Sorry for tons of questions. I just want to start it off on the right foot.

 

Thanks!!

 

Welcome to the hobby

1) do not buy water from your local LFS - I have read too many horror stories here and other sites. For years I bought distilled and mixed my own. A few months ago I bought from aquarium pharmac their tap water filter. I buy my salt (right now oceanic but might change back to reef crystals) Try thatfishplace.com or drsfoster&smith much cheaper than your lfs..

2) Hydrometer ok but later suggest you get a refractometer. Why? They do not seem to be consistent or accurate. I have tried two different brands and each time they give me different readings.

3) Purple up not needed I use Kents-Nano supplement instead. That's it Kents nano-reef and my weekly water changes.

4) Water changes - needs to be the same sg and temp as what is currently in your tank. I use a bucket to mix water and salt. Suggest buying the same heater you have in the tank and setting it to the same temp.

5) Rule of thumb is generally 10 - 20% water change of your tank each week. 2.4 gallons is not hard to do trust me.

6) anemones I stay away from as the two I had at different times kept moving and getting stung on me. One kept going for the filter. However that is just my experience. Read others comments

7) Clown fish - I love them but hate their attitude. I had two cinnamon clowns attack and kill a pj (cardinal) fish. I finally (happy) lost the nasty cinnamon clown (old age as I had her for years). Now the remaining one is attacking the remaining pj fish. PJ fish are soooo peaceful. Even on this site I read how they can kill another fish. If this one ever decides to die on me (doubt it) then I will never again get a clown fish. Just my opinion as I hate mine right now.

8) Corals/Feeding/Fish/Cleaning crew - take it easy on this until your tank cycles. There is a great section on how to cycle your tank etc.

 

Good luck and welcome to the addiction....

[Laura6686]

Thanks a lot for all the tips. I finally put together my 12 gallon nano cube together this evening. Please let me know how the setup look. I am planning on putting two clown fishes in there once it's cycled, and then down the road I will put some corals. Does the setup look too crowded? I do want to put corals in the future so I am hoping the rock are not too high. Please give me your comments and suggestions. Thanks!!

 

Looks nice

[rsach]

After some nice tips. I re-arranged the live rocks. I got rid of couple of big ones. Please let me know if this look better. If want to have it ready for the future when I will add some corals. Thanks!

[Rocket]

Magnetic scraper clearance!!!!

 

...Or you will be like me and have to use an extended razoblade (glass) scraper that is hard to work with.

[rsach]

Magnetic scraper clearance!!!!

 

...Or you will be like me and have to use an extended razoblade (glass) scraper that is hard to work with.

 

Thanks for the great tip. I will have to move the bottom rocks a bit inwards and hopefully they will give me enough room for mag float. Do I need to have some big caves for the clown fish to swim in and out? Thanks!

[TheChosenReefer]

Looks good. What kind of sand is that?

[rsach]

Looks good. What kind of sand is that?

 

It's a live sand that I got from one of the guys on the local forum in Dallas. He was switching to white sand. I really have no idea what kind it is, but it's looks like one of the direct from ocean sands that they sell at the LFS.

[rsach]

I got rid of most of the live rocks as they were huge and I could not create room for the mag float on the sides. I will be buying small ones over the weekend. I do have a couple of small rocks in the tank. Will the tank still cycle since I have live sand and couple of small live rocks or will I have to go through the whole process again once I put in new rocks?

[rsach]

I bought bunch of small rocks and re-did the aquascaping. There is room on both sides for the mag float. Let me know how this looks. Couple of more weeks and hopefully I can add CUC Whic test kit is recommended? Should I get API Reef and API Saltwater kit?