12g Nano Cube

[MadMackay]

Hi,
Im new to this forum so thought i would share with u my new nano set-up.Only been set-up a couple of months. Its a clone version of the 12g nano cube(badged up as 'JAD').Although it cost half the price of the D&D nano, it didnt have very good lighting as standard nor was it fitted with cooling fans.
If i was to do things again i would of purchased the D&D, saved myself alot of headaches!!.
Anyway the main thing is ive done alot of mods and now its better then the standard D&D!!
The first thing i did was remove standard pump and replace with Maxi-jet 600(soon to be upgraded again with either 900 or 1200.)
Im running Purigen and Rowaphos in chamber 1, along with one of the original sponges cut in half. I have LR rubble in chamber 2 with Cheato growing on top(lit by Superflux LEDs) Just have heater and pump in chamber 3.
My main modification has been to the tank lighting. As standard it had 13w tube(which as u can see by picture was pathetic!)
Im now running x4 24w Compact tubes giving me 96w of lighting.
Had to fit new modified heatshield to accomadate all the tubes.
Tubes are powered by x2 electronic ballasts.
Had to fit x2 60mm fans due to massive heat generated by tubes.
Now with fans fitted dont get any overheating issues, in fact hood is cool to the touch. Although downside is fans are very noisy, but found some ultra quiet ones on a website which i will be ordering shortly.


http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Light01.jpg

Crappy light!!

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Light02.jpg

Better Lights but no fans, meltdown time!!

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Fans.jpg

Fans Added. All cool now!

Not much to look at yet. Havnt got much livestock, spent all money on upgrades!! Thought it would be best to get all the equipment i needed up and running first. I just have a couple of pulsing xenia frags, mushroom rock and a few crabs and snails.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/NanoFront.jpg

Mushrooms not happy on that pic, been acting abit strange lately. Sure they settle down.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Xenia01.jpg

Xenia is already splitting and multiplying at a very fast rate. The frags i started with was very small

[zimreef]

Cool - look forward to some pics!

John

PS: Welcome to UR.

PPS: Help re loading pics here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=143635)

[zimreef]

See you've figured out re the pics! Very neat mods to the lighting - nice work. Best to stock slowly anyway IMO!!

John

[cajen]

Hi, MM and a warm welcome to UR. Cute little tank and well done on the mods - looks very professional! Keep posting pix....

[MadMackay]

Thanks for welcome guys
Just added a small Zoa rock today and 7 various hermits.
Slowly getting there!

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/ZoarockOriginalForum.jpg

[MrFish]

Very nicely modded.

I've got a similar set up, well I did have but have changed it now, but can offer a few pointers.

It looks like your mod has no cover on it so the lights will get caked in salt creep/condensation, so you need to keep an eye on the electrical connections to ensure they don't get damp or you will end up with rusted cables and connectors, and possibly electric shock.

The fans will fail eventually, again due to salt creep and condensation, so have a spare one around for when it does, mine lasted around 6 months each time. I tried siliconing them but didn't seem to make any difference.

You can get variable power supplies for the fans so you can turn the voltage down, which slows the fans down and makes much less noise. I'm not convinced the low noise fans are anything more than fans that have a lower rpm to decrease noise but a lot more expensive. Look at the rpm and the CFM rating.

Also get a habistat cool control for the fans so they are only on when needed.

Have fun

:)

[kevo66]

Lookin good mate, are you US based as that looks like a nanocustoms heatshield, or did you ge it shipped? Looks a good job!!

[MadMackay]

Hi, Mr Fish, i have got cover over lights, just removed it on last picture so u could see fans.(u can see it on previous pics)
Just today got variable voltage supply for fans, gonna run them at 7.5volts. Fans are on timer and only activated when lights are on.

Kevo heatshield is from nanocustoms, im UK so got it shipped over. Sourced ballasts and caps in UK. But now ive seen heatshield u could easily make one. Its only galvanised bit of plate with holes predrilled.
Saying that it didnt cost much to buy anyway.

[kevo66]

Kevo heatshield is from nanocustoms, im UK so got it shipped over. Sourced ballasts and caps in UK. But now ive seen heatshield u could easily make one. Its only galvanised bit of plate with holes predrilled.
Saying that it didnt cost much to buy anyway.


Ah right, gotcha. Looks sweet mate. I love that site, so many tepting things to buy, might buy one of thier waterblock chillers for compartment 3, depending on how my heat issues are with my halide!

[MrFish]

Have you cut vents in the cover to allow air flow to the water or are you just using them to cool the lights?

If they are light coolers only then you will need to think about the summer months as the water will still need cooling as well, due to heat build up from the ambient room temperature and the pumps.

[MadMackay]

Fans are only to cool hood at the moment, Mr Fish.
Will think about other mods in summer if overheating becomes an issue.
There is always the option of the water block cooler as mentioned by Kevo(Can get one shipped over for 64quid all in) But cant see any real problems, my hood is running completely cold not even any heat build up on splash cover. Time will tell i guess.

Kevo what halide u using? is it the Viper. Or u got one fitted inside hood?