Ed-N Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 Hi guys, I'm new to the minibow scene. I used to have a 20 gallon reef but decided to go smaller (more zen and bonsai-ish). Great site you have here! Please see my other post about the JBJ Nanocube... but that leads me to say I'm so happy I got a Minibow 7!!! Here's my setup: AGA Minibow 7 CSL 32W SmartRetro 15 Aquaclear 300 Fluval Surface Skimmer Tronic 50W heater CoolWorks Ice Probe with controller 12V CPU fan 273-240 (Radioshack) 12 V 500mA Power Adapter 273-1773 Microjet 450 California Reefs Hang-on Evaporation Makeup Switch with Aquaclear 1000 Lifeguard Little Time or Temp Nature’s Ocean Bio-Active Live Aragonite Reef Sand, 10 lbs Live Rock, florida aquacultured, 10 lbs. DIY Moon Lights 4.5V 1600mA AC-to-DC Power Adapter 273-1760 47 Ohm resistors 271-1105 (5 pack) 5mm Blue LED 276-0316 LED holders 276-0080 It's been cycling for a month. I added my clean up crew. What's weird is I think my tank cycled in less than a week!!! I've cycled several tanks (bigger ones) and I'm used to timescales of weeks to months. But with this tank I used what I think was really high quality LR and that live sand and I decided to test once a week, thinking I'd cycle for 1-2 months. I never saw any spikes. I think I missed it in the first week. (Yes, I know, perhaps I should have tested everyday.) I saw a couple of other people see this phenomenon before, right? Well, I'll get pix soon. Any comments on setup? Thanks, Ed Link to comment
Gilman Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 Setup sounds sweet Ed Can't wait to see some pics. Welcome to the Minibow Gang! Gil Link to comment
cliffrouse11baseball Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 very nice do you think the iceprobe was necessary with the fan... Link to comment
Ed-N Posted October 19, 2003 Author Share Posted October 19, 2003 I'm not so good at this image posting stuff yet... Link to comment
Ed-N Posted October 19, 2003 Author Share Posted October 19, 2003 Cliff, Now that it's October in Maryland, no, the ice probe is not really necessary. However, it does prevent wider fluctuations from the light. Come next summer, when we open up the windows and it's 80-ish outside, the ice probe will be handy! The hardware photos are for Physh1 from whom I got the top-off kit. I highly recommend it! Ed Link to comment
Henna Ojisan Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 Looking really nice!! I'm in the same boat as you as far as the cycle time goes. I tested my water daily and had a very brief Ammonia spike and then it dropped to 0 within 4 days. Nitrites stayed at 0 for the most part and Nitrates went up and then back down after a algae/diatom bloom. I'm looking at getting the Iceprobe too, and was wondering if you got the controller for it and how you like it? Link to comment
aquariumclown Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 I have an iceprobe for sale just in case anyone is interested... http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...hlight=iceprobe Link to comment
Ed-N Posted October 19, 2003 Author Share Posted October 19, 2003 Henna, Yes, I have the controller and I think I works really well. I think having the controller is much better than running the ice probe 24/7 and operating the heater "against" the ice probe, as some people said they do. Ed Link to comment
Physh1 Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 Very nice! Very clean system Ed. Thanks a million for the pics:D. Cameron Link to comment
beccatech Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 Hey Ed, where did you get the LR from? Link to comment
Ed-N Posted October 20, 2003 Author Share Posted October 20, 2003 Beccatech, LR is from Aquarium Center Randallstown, MD. Ed Link to comment
beccatech Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 If you don't mind my asking, how much were they charging per lb? I am local to the MD-VA area. Link to comment
Ed-N Posted October 21, 2003 Author Share Posted October 21, 2003 Beccatech, Not cheap. 6.99 per lb. It's Florida Aquacultured and a little denser than the Pacific stuff, but there is lots of life on it. It cured it in my tank but it cycled in less than a week (along with live sand). I also decided to do the cycle with the lights ON, and with weekly water changes. I wanted to keep as much stuff alive as possible. Keeping my fingers crossed. Where in VA are you? We should get a bunch of people together and do an Aquarium Center run, or eventually swap frags, etc. Ed Link to comment
Dingo Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 As far as cycle time goes, mine cycled and then the nitrates went to 0 within 2 weeks, but I waited a couple more weeks because I didn't trust it. I never had a larger tank cycle so fast either. Link to comment
beccatech Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 Sounds good!!! I live in Reston and would be interested in a AC run... Link to comment
AbSoluTc Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 Whens the launch date? Link to comment
Ed-N Posted October 21, 2003 Author Share Posted October 21, 2003 Dingo, Yeah, you're right. My larger tanks in the past took weeks-months to cycle. These little guys have the metabolisms of hummingbirds. Beccatech, lets see if we can round up more people! AbSoluTc, would be totally cool, but Richmond's a hike?!?! Ed Link to comment
caja Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 I'm in. Becca, I sent you a pm yesterday, check your box. Link to comment
AbSoluTc Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 What am I missing? Is this like a VA reefers getaway or something? Link to comment
Ed-N Posted October 22, 2003 Author Share Posted October 22, 2003 Do you guys want to start a new metro-DC area thread? (Or has that been done already... I haven't searched.) Shame on me. Ed Link to comment
caja Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 Ed, there's already a group that meets. www.wamas.org I just went to the most recent meeting with abs. Not many people there, but I say, let the nano contingent make it's presence known. Link to comment
Ed-N Posted October 23, 2003 Author Share Posted October 23, 2003 Hey cajastan, How many is not many? Have any of you guys been to the Reef Tank in Fairfax? Is it a good place? We are the nano. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. Ed Link to comment
AquaMedic Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 Ha! I love the hospital suction container. I have a 2000cc one that I want to turn into a nano. It would go perfectly on my desk at the rescue station. Link to comment
Jeff D2 Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 Nice tank Ed, I would guess the quick cycle was due to the quality LR and sand you put in. Jeff Link to comment
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