Nano Cube

[maestro]

Inspired by Neil0968 thread on his new nano cube i have decided to start one myself.

I wanted somthing in the region of 20 gallons so that it could support a couple of fish, right now im thinking of a pair of black and white perc's but that might well change.

Would like to keep a variety of corals, mainly soft but would like to try one or 2 hard corals and a clam.

Originally i had wanted a Buyu nano cube like the JBJ ones in the US but after researching it seems to me that they are alot of trouble, they are very prone to cracking and you also cant fit a skmmer onto them due to the restrictive hood.

In the end I decided to get a 18 inch cube built in starphire glass, this holds about 21 gallons, I had a quote for a normal glass tank for £70 so i was suprised when i rang up another company who advertise in PFK that they could actually do me a starphire tank for £97.00 in 8mm glass which should be delivered next week.

Lighting will be a oceanlight 150 that i currently have spare under my bed, i will need to use fans i think to keep the temp down.

Filtration will be 10kg's (if it will fit ok) of live rock with 2 maxijet powerheads, possibly 2 1200's but that migth be overkill.

Not sure what skimmer ill use, thinking of a cpr bak pak which seem popular in the US which you can buy for around £130, im not sure how these compare with the Aqua medic biostar, alternatively i would like a mce600 IF i can get one 2nd hand, i just cant justify buying a brand new one on this size tank.

Ill take pics as soon as the tank arrives but if anyone has any advise then feel free to comment

[dirk053]

Hey maestro

I was having a look at Neils setup and I actually have the same tank in the bedroom with Trops. at the mo and want to convert it over to a nano salt tank.

But anyway I have a 20g rectangular tank and as you can see from my sig I have a couple of softies & a Sun coral

The Fish in the list have quite a bit of room and they all seem to interact very well together I as have no probs with the Dwarf nipping my corals.

I would like to have a clam, but I am only using a couple of T5 PC bulbs so my lighting aint good enought

I turn my water over 33 times per hour, have 2 heaters, a Biostar Skimmer & I have had no major problems with my tank thus far.

I do a 10% water change every 2 weeks or therabouts & and a topup as a when needed about 1 every week or two

this is my first tank and I have not really gone techno mad as I wanted for it to be as easy as poss. and I am loving it and even though it is a small tank it is the centre pce of the living room, Just can't wait to upgrade

I think I will get a large cube next time.

Keep us posted along the way



:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Neil0968]

Will be watching with interest. As said earlier the cracking issue wth the Boyu cube worried me and to be honest the build quality is kind of poor too. We could have got the 12 gallon tank and stand for £110 brand new but decided against it. I think if I upgrade it will be to either an 18" or 24" cube so will be interested how you get on. By the way I have seen the Biostars for £100 and can PM you the link if you wish, a good skimmer by all accounts. Please post a pic of the tank when you get it.

Good luck mate,

Neil

[dirk053]

Biostars are fab skimmers maestro

Although you can pick them up new for 112.00 ea from Coral Garden

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Neil0968]

The one I was looking at was brand new too

[maestro]

Thanks for the reply guys

personally i like the look of the biostar's, people on here have spoke quite highly of them, the only thing that puts me off is that my local fish shop who have always given my great advise really dont rate them at all, they have used them in a few of there tanks and advised me against purchasing one ven though it meant them missing out on a sale

[dirk053]

Hey maestro

I would do a search on Biostar Flotor Skimmers and see waht it shows up on the board, I think there will be more good than bad.

I personally think for the cost it is a great skimmer

Check out 'Reefs' there is a few posts on there regarding this skimmer

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[maestro]

Ive changed the size very slightly, had a call back from teh manufacturer and changed it to 20x18x18, the reason being that havent been to a lfs yesterday and seen a few cubes a find that many actually look shorter than they are high, its just the way they look but i wanted to make it slightly longer to cambat this.

Finally had a call back from a acrylic manufacturer who id given up on, told me an 18 inch cube would cost 150 and delivery is usually 90-110 but could do it for £50, said it was too expensive.

Why do they charge £50+ for an acrylic tank? ive not that breakable or anything, cant they send it by courier if they wrapped it up well?

[dirk053]

Morning maestro

I have actually used ANC to transport a small (15g) Glass tank in the past, was very well wrapped by seller and marked as glass, it arrived in one pce no probs

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[maestro]

This is the final deign for my caninet which im building tomorrow, will take pics as i go

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/cabinet01.JPG

[maestro]

Started building cabinet, its fairly straightforward but still time consuming

This is how its coming along
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/cabinet%20002.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/cabinet%20004.jpg

I used brackets in the corners for added support
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/cabinet%20003.jpg

[maestro]

Tank arrived today 20x18x18 in optiwhite glass, it looks bigger than i imagined, it will be a chunky little nano!

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/starphire.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/starphire2.JPG

Cabinet should be finished tomorrow, only have to hang the doors

[withoutabix2002]

ive also been inspired by neil0968 i have an 11gal jewel tank which ive converted posting the story from start to where i am on sat which is when i get my salt and sand soon including pics . i have built and overflow like neil and im really chuffed with it .

BTW cpr bak paks are amazing great peice of kit.

neil

[maestro]

Nearly finished the cabinet, put it back in the shed but then decided to take a pic.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/cabinet008.jpg

[dirk053]

Hi maestro

thats a real nice looking cabinet, well done

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[maestro]

Finally finished the cabinet! will be bringing it in 2mw, it takes 2 of us to lift it!

Im pleased with how its turned out, ive never really built anything before so had to take my time, in the end it only made me a slight saving over a store bought one but the main reason for this was that I had to purchase a few tools, I jusy didnt have the right ones to start with, I also think its alot better built that the standard contiboard ones you buy

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/cabinet6.jpg

[Deanobeano]

tell u what matey that cabenit is lovely maybe u shud start to sell them wink wink nudge nudge!

looking forward to seing the project get underway

any ideas yet what u want to keep?

deano

[dirk053]

I am impresse maestro

Tha cabinet is real nice, cant wait to see the full setup now

Del

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[maestro]

Thanks for the compliemnts about the cabinet, to be honest theirs no great skill, just sawing and screwing things together.

Been collected some goodies!

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/goodies%20002.jpg

Bought test kits, hydrometer, heater, sand, thermometer and pumps and wave maker should arrive in the next few days

[maestro]

just to update, this tank is going in my room, ive decided to decorate it first as I needs doing and it will be a right pain doing it with the tank ine place so for a month or so its going in the shed.

Not all bad news though, in the mean time i can concentrate on setting up the main tank downstairs.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y230/maverick451/Picture001.jpg

Need to build a hood, this will finish it off nicely I think, hopefully look something like this :P

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y230/maverick451/hood.jpg