View Full Version : Just Bought my Nano Cube
Having just purchased my D&D Nano Cube I am well pleased with it.
Its certainly bigger than I was expecting.
I purchased the cabinet with it and intend to put a refugium under the tank.
Be it a small refugium, due to the small amount of space in the cabinet, but Im sure I can work something out.
Not sure how or where to drill the back yet, Im abit worried of messing it up.
I'll have to take it somewhere to get it drilled, again not sure whether to go to a glass shop of aquatics shop.
Any thoughts would be most welcome?
I'll take some pics of the tank tomorrow and post them here, just in case anyone hasn't seen the Cube before and is thinking of getting one.
Regards
Phil
rockpoolie
11-11-06, 22:40
Good Luck with it - I don't think you'll be disapointed - be interested in how you get on with drilling and refugium
mikeadams1985
11-11-06, 23:34
id go with taking it to an aquarium, theyd appreciate what it is more and then take better care with it :)
Hi Mike
Thats what I was thinking, Im abit worried about taking it though, if it cracks the whole tank or something, all my hard earned goes down the pan! and as I didnt purchase from the shop that would be drilling it, would they give me a new tank?...maybe not.
Phil
rockpoolie
12-11-06, 11:10
Must admit I think Id be a bit concerned having a nanocube drilled, due to the problems with earlier version and cracking which I know is supposedly resolved onD&D imports. What I'm not sure of is how the vibrations from teh process could effect the overall stregth of tank - as they're moulded and the corners may be a weakness. I'm not sure that an lfs would insure you against cracking but you could always ask.
I've only ever had one tank with a sump and it was 2nd hand so shoot me donw in flames here.
Guess you want to retain the cubes hood and dont think an over flow box is an option.
Why can't a simple syphon using a rigid pipe as supplied with external filters be used as long as the intake wasn't to low into the tank if the pump failed you wouldn't drain the tank as long as the sump could hold the water till the sysphon breaks.
I've never really understood why people go for expensive overflow boxes but I'm sure I'm missing something crucial here -
Youd have to have some sort of failsafe on the pump in the event that if the syphon broke the pump would cut out so it didnt run dry but guess you'd need that anyway no matter if it was drllled or with oferflow box.
I'm sure someone will tell me why this wouldnt work
Hi Rockpoolie
Thanks for your input.
If you were to use a solid siphon, you would be in danger of over flowing your sump if your pump was not turning over enough water. Having your outlet near the top of the tank would safe guard against draining your tank if the pump stopped. Or you could put a small hole in the pipe to break the siphon if the water level in the tank got to low.
By using an overflow box, if the pump was to stop, the level in the overflow box would level its self to the level of the tank and the siphon would stop.
Result: No danger of overflow.
You also would not be in control of the flow rate with a siphon.
Thats my understanding.
I think the holes drilled in the back of the Cube would look neater, however this sounds like it might not be practical. I will look into the use of an overflow box, at least then, its only the Hood that will need to be modified.
Heres my first pic, If you already have a Nano Cube, you will notice I have changed the cabinet door knob.
The tank won't be sited here, if anyone is wondering why its in front of the door!.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/NanoCube01.jpg
looks good, where did you buy it from? and how much was it?
Oops, sorry about the size of the Pic, will try and get it smaller next time.
The Tank and cabinet cost £229.95 online. don't think we are supposed to mention retailers names..are we?
I think you can only mention where if you got it from a site sponsor.
Having spent the weekend staring at the tank wondering how to put a refugium under the tank in the cabinet, I have decided to leave the refugium until a later date. Modifing the Nano Cube is going to be difficult, so for now I have decided to leave the refugium.
I am going to remove all of the filter sponge, bio balls, ceramics and carbon from the filter to start with.
In the filter compartment 1. I was thinking of puting the heater, a skimmer, I have seen one on a US website that has been designed for the 24gal Nano Cube, it works out at about £75 including delivery to the UK.
In filter compartment 2. I am going to us reef rubble and living rock, living rock will also be in the main tank.
The third compartment will house the filter pump, Carbon and any other chemical filtration if needed.
Put the heater in compartment 3 it wont fit with a skimmer in too i think you will also find the skimmer will only fit in compartment 2 or 3 so see how it goes.
Also i think a skimmer of that size isnt going to pull anything out and on a tank as small as this do you need one? Because will you be going heavy on the bio load? Just dont overfeed and all will be fine.
I would say put carbon etc in chamber 1, LR and Chaeto in chamber 2 with a light and heater and pump in chamber 3.
I actually have a pump in chamber 1 too to increase flow to 2000lph
If you want a refugium, Id do it before set up. It will be alot easier and you have time to plan it etc... Although i wouldnt risk drilling it after all the horror storys over on the US sites. Can the hood be modded for an overflow?
Looking forward to the progress of this one.
Jay
I retro fitted a light/refugium.
I half emptied the tank and twisted it round so that the back was not against the wall.
Cut the plastic so that all of compartment 2 was visible - ie down the divider lines (a little in) as I did not want light entering compartment 1 or 3.
Got some velcro - velcro'ed light to tank. My light is a small t5 unit so it will not produce much heat.
Jack
Where does the water from the pump in chamber one go too?
I have now decided not to do the skimmer, as said above if the load is kept low a skimmer shouldnt be needed.
I want to get as much flow as pos going throught the chambers, possibly 2000-3000 lph. Not sure which chambers will hold what or where yet, however with the middle chamber being the largest I was thinking of putting living rock in this one.
Does anyone know of a pump small enough to fit in the chambers and still be powerful?
rockpoolie
14-11-06, 22:22
I, like a lot of others have replaced the supplied pump in 3 with a maxijet 1200 (straight swap onto existing pipe) and use the std pump in ch 1 with the output coming back over the weir into the display area.
This give a total of 2000lph or about 28xhr turnover (based on net capacity of about 70l after displacement)
Ive L/R in middle chamber with chaeto on top
Hello Everyone
Thought Id post an update and let you know how im getting on.
Ive decided the Refugium and skimmer are not for me at the moment.
In chamber one and two I am going to use 5 ltr of Ehiem Sintered glass. After the water has passed throught the Sintered glass I will have Seachem Purigen and Seagel for organic & Phosphate control. Chamber three will house the heater 100watt visitherm and a maxijet 1200. Past experience with using sintered glass was very good at controling Nitrate, so Im happy to go with it again.
The tank will hold a vast amount of living Rock. I am going to sit the rock on two layers of Rena Filter plates connected to an uplift tube with another maxijet 1200 pulling water through the plates, this should give the living rock a maximum amount to water flowing around it. That will basically be the filtration complete. I am only intending on keeping two common clowns and various corals and inverts. Let me know what you think.
Cheers
Phil
rockpoolie
24-11-06, 08:24
Interesting concepts with the ug plates with rock on top, however my experience with ug filters over the years albeit when used with a sand bed is that when stripped down you always find layers of detritus under the plates even with regular cleaning of sand be. In some cases the amounts would form ridges that would restrict flow in soem area under the plates.
I know you wont have a deep sand bed associated with an u/g filter but presumably youll have some sand in and even if you dont the detritus from the rocks (and I know form when I blast mine when doing water changes its considerable) will I think build up under the plates, where you can't remove it and give rise to nitrate problems later on. Think I'd review that choice - but maybe others will comment
As for the sintered glass, can this not create a nitrate factory like bio-balls id be interested to hear other views on this. I would have thought if it was so effective load of people would use it but I'm not sure that people do. May consider some for mine if its effective.
Thanks for your comments Rockpoolie
I used the sintered glass some years back in a 40gal fish & Invert tank, the filtration consisted of the following:
Out of the tank into an external canister filter filled with sintered glass and then through a box of coral gravel sited above the tank (Dry). Nitrate levels were not a problem. The sintered glass has a massive surface area and is vey absorbant, great for Anerobic activity. If anyone else has any experiences with sintered glass Id be interested in hearing.
The Filterplates will not be covered in any sand, the LR will be put straight on top, If any debris does collect under the plates, I am hoping that the Copepods and such other critters will feast on it. However with such a fast flow rate, any debris should get sucked straight up and through the power head.
I know of one other tank that is using the filter plates in this way and it seems to be working well.
But again if anyone has any comments.
Phil.
I would just keep it simple mate, putting an under gravel filter on etc etc etc and extra pumps creates too much heat which you may have issues with anyway. The UG filter wont really work too well anyway as most of your sand will be covered by rock and surely the sand will get in the way. "under GRAVEL" meaning gravel not sand which is more grainy. Just my opinion anyway mate. Why not got for standard pump in chamber 1 as Rockpoolie says and i have the same then MJ1200 in chamber 3. Put LR and chaeto in chamber 2 and have carbon and Rowaphos in chamber 1 underneath the pump. Cut the plastic from the back and light the chaeto or just use LED's inside the lid.
If you have low stock then there will be no need for the UG filter its just something else that could go wrong on you TBH mate.
If you want to try it then go for it! But i would be careful with heat issues, space and things going wrong.
Just my 0.02
Hi Jack
The purpose of the filterplates is so that the living rock has no dead spots, ie where the rock is placed on sand. There will be no sand on the filterplates to act as an under gravel filter, this is not my intention.
One thing I may have to do is reduce the flow through the sintered glass in the filter though.
Phil
rockpoolie
24-11-06, 10:35
If any debris does collect under the plates, I am hoping that the Copepods and such other critters will feast on it. However with such a fast flow rate, any debris should get sucked straight up and through the power head.
I guess in theory yes, but that was never the case with old u/g type systems even when operated with powerheads, I knowyou wont have the sand levels but still think youll get a detritus build up from the rock over time and the problems associated with it. Your choice but dont think I'd take the chance
Re the sintered glass, I used to have a Hockney system and it used this in a little by pass trickle filter. Basically an air line 'T' piece was used, siliconed into one of the pump returns and then the flow regulated by an air line vlave into a chamber holding the glass rings - guess you could easily do this if you can find a suitable container that will fit over top of one of the chambers - might even think about myself
navydoubs1977
25-11-06, 10:56
hi guys you probably know , but there are people out and about doing these tanks unbadged for around 100 same tank, built in portugal, by the same people but no d&d badge or jbj badge. try a fish shop in totten hants cant say its name.
navydoubs1977
25-11-06, 11:03
hi guys. there is a shop in totten hampshire i cant say its name but there selling these tanks exact same ones built in portugal just without the jbj or D&D badge for 100 with stand. not sure if there on the net ive got 2 already and sold 1 for more than i paid for it, he cant get enough in. has anyone found a skimmer small enough to fit in the back???
rockpoolie
25-11-06, 13:23
hi guys. there is a shop in totten hampshire i cant say its name but there selling these tanks exact same ones built in portugal just without the jbj or D&D badge for 100 with stand. not sure if there on the net ive got 2 already and sold 1 for more than i paid for it, he cant get enough in. has anyone found a skimmer small enough to fit in the back???
Careful here as if they're the same as available up here the lighting is only 24w not the 72w of the D&D/JBL, so its not exactly like for like. Must admit I thought they were all made in China?
There's a purpose built skimmer available from the states $90+p&p
http://www.sapphireaquatics.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3
Heres a quick tip for anyone looking to increase the flow rate throught their Nano Cube filter.
Instead of buying a new larger pump, ( As I have, MJ1200) simply get rid of the horrible 90 degree plastic bend that slots into the filter wall, and use flexible piping, like that what came connected to the pump. Push it through the hole, into the display area, but make sure the pipe is long enough not to have any kinks, just nice sweeping bends. Your flow rate will be increased dramatically with hardly any restriction of flow.
Regards
Phil
rockpoolie
29-11-06, 11:38
Heres a quick tip for anyone looking to increase the flow rate throught their Nano Cube filter.
Instead of buying a new larger pump, ( As I have, MJ1200) simply get rid of the horrible 90 degree plastic bend that slots into the filter wall, and use flexible piping, like that what came connected to the pump. Push it through the hole, into the display area, but make sure the pipe is long enough not to have any kinks, just nice sweeping bends. Your flow rate will be increased dramatically with hardly any restriction of flow.
Regards
Phil
A good idea, but you'll still only have a max of 800lph from the supplied pump
Hi Rockpoolie
Do you have your MJ1200 at the bottom of chamber 3 going into the tank using the 90 degree bend?
Phil
Can anyone help, Im abit worried about how hot my Nano Cube ballast (power supply) is getting. Does anyone elses get extremally hot?
Many Thanks
Phil.
rockpoolie
29-11-06, 22:25
Can anyone help, Im abit worried about how hot my Nano Cube ballast (power supply) is getting. Does anyone elses get extremally hot?
Many Thanks
Phil.
Yes my MJ1200 is at bottom of 3 feed back in using the std 90 degree fitting, which I am thinking of changing now you've pointed it out.
The ballasts do get very hot but magnetic ballast do, apparently they would have had electronic ballasts fitted, which run cooler but theydidnt pass EU safety regs
I was reading elswhere of a couple of issues on the cube, one a flickering tubes when lifting hood, which is apparently poor conenction of tubes in holders
Thanks Rockpoolie
I was abit concerned about the heat, I have noticed my tubes flicker sometimes when the hood is lifted too. I think possibly D&D might bring out a new improved cube with a few mods at some point.
If you change your pump set up, I think you will be amazed at the difference in flow.. I know I was.
Phil
Hi All
My cube has been filled with salt water for about 2 weeks now, with Eheim sintered glass in chambers 1 and 2, I will be adding Purrigen to chamber 2 and Seagel to chamber 3. Chamber 3 also houses the Heater and pump.
On the base of the tank i have put down 2 layers of Rena filter plates to create a base to sit the living rock on, with an uplift pipe connected to a maxijet 1200 power head. (The power head is hidden in the middle of the rock and you can just see some of the filter plates showing around the front of the tank). I have positioned the power head so that water flows down the uplift and is spread out, through the filter plates and up through the rock. Water is also then, sucked into the power head from around the rock. I should get a nice flow of water right through the rock structor and not just around it. Hopefully anything growing/living in the rock will benefit greatly from this.
The living rock was added last night, all 10kg of it to form a central structor, after quite sometime rearranging the rocks I came up with something that, I think looks quite good.
I am going to leave the cube running now for a good few weeks, testing the water for Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite before adding any live stock.
Its probably worth mentioning that I have no substrate on the base of the tank where the filter plates are. The only sand/coral gravel I have is, around the edge of the tank, not on the filter plates. This is not supposed to function as an under gravel filter.
Will keep you posted on the Ups and the downs!
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/living rock.jpg[/IMG]
Can anyone help, Im abit worried about how hot my Nano Cube ballast (power supply) is getting. Does anyone elses get extremally hot?
Many Thanks
Phil.
Hi Phil,
I just set up my Nano Cube last Saturday, and I've been concerned too.
The Aquatic shop where I bought it have had one set up for 4 months, and their ballast doesn't get as hot as mine. I have been at work this week wondering whether the house would be on fire when I got home!
Maybe it's OK though - any more info anyone?
I've just registered, so hi to everyone - I'm new to marine (done tropical for 8 years), so will probably be using the site a lot!
Best wishes,
Steve
Hi Steve
Welcome to U.R!
I have noticed that although my ballast gets hot, it doesent appear to be as hot as when I first started using it. It might be because I am used to it now.
I do have it sitting on a metal stand (It came out of a micro wave) that holds it about 6inches off of the ground and allows air flow all around it, this might have helped cool it.
Are you getting on ok with you cube?
I am finding it difficult to keep the temperature below 80 degree's F, does anyone have this problem?
I am thinking of getting a D&D Nano Chiller but can't seem to find any in the UK.. any thoughts welcomed.
Regards
Phil
Hi Steve
Welcome to U.R!
I have noticed that although my ballast gets hot, it doesent appear to be as hot as when I first started using it. It might be because I am used to it now.
I do have it sitting on a metal stand (It came out of a micro wave) that holds it about 6inches off of the ground and allows air flow all around it, this might have helped cool it.
Are you getting on ok with you cube?
I am finding it difficult to keep the temperature below 80 degree's F, does anyone have this problem?
I am thinking of getting a D&D Nano Chiller but can't seem to find any in the UK.. any thoughts welcomed.
Regards
Phil
Hi Phil, looks great.
cant help with the nano chiller but what about a peltier cooler?
I have a cyber 24 and Im torn between a halide or replacing the stock lighting with two 35w PC light with remote ballasts, should solve your problem and may work out cheaper than a chiller mate ;)
Thanks Kev
What is a Peltier Cooler?
I do like the Compact lighting in the Nano Cube and it appears to be fine for Macro algae and my Ricordia. I also like the compactness of the lid too.
If you go for the Halide a chiller of some sort is going to be vital..I would think.
Can anyone help in identifiying a nocturnal critter...I was observing my tank last night in the dark and all of a sudden this "thing" swam past the front of the tank and appeared to go mad, swimming everywhere in all directions.
It was about 1cm ish maybe longer and looked like eel shaped, when I put on the moon ligts to get a better look, it apeared to shimmer as if it were silver.
If anyone can help identify this "thing" I would be very grateful!
Cheers
Phil
Thanks Kev
What is a Peltier Cooler?
I do like the Compact lighting in the Nano Cube and it appears to be fine for Macro algae and my Ricordia. I also like the compactness of the lid too.
If you go for the Halide a chiller of some sort is going to be vital..I would think.
Can anyone help in identifiying a nocturnal critter...I was observing my tank last night in the dark and all of a sudden this "thing" swam past the front of the tank and appeared to go mad, swimming everywhere in all directions.
It was about 1cm ish maybe longer and looked like eel shaped, when I put on the moon ligts to get a better look, it apeared to shimmer as if it were silver.
If anyone can help identify this "thing" I would be very grateful!
Cheers
Phil
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=34&products_id=299
Not a peltier, will dig that out later!
I reckon T5's with the external ballasts will help you out no end, with bulbs stc around £65!!
Hi Kev
Would be interested to see some latest pics, if possible.
What are you looking to stock your nano with.
I recently had a 5ft rena fully stocked etc but had to sell as we have downsized on our house and it couldn't come so we have gone to a nano. how much rock have you got.
email adi kevin@goodalls2002.fsnet.co.uk
Hi Kev
Would be interested to see some latest pics, if possible.
What are you looking to stock your nano with.
I recently had a 5ft rena fully stocked etc but had to sell as we have downsized on our house and it couldn't come so we have gone to a nano. how much rock have you got.
email adi kevin@goodalls2002.fsnet.co.uk
H mate, Im still buying for mine at the mo so its sitting empty in my livingroom Im afraid!! :(
Crazy Graham
19-09-10, 14:19
hi there mate just want to know if you yver put a sump in this as i am thinking about doing mine and would like to know how it went for you thanks
Is your cube near a rad? it shouldn't get too hot otherwise.
Have you tried turning the fans around so they are both blowing in? help with temp otherwise what about upgrading the fans? you can get better 60mm ones on fleabay or go for larger fans i.e. 80mm. Threefishes has done a mod with these and doesn't get any heat issues and he runs 4 x 36w!
ps Rockpoolie do you still have your nano? it was your cube which actually got me interested in marines. Just want to say it was a fanstic tank!
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