Should I do it

[lcstorc]

As many of you know, once it is my turn on the list I will be getting a pair of Woodstock's clowns. I have 3 tanks now but one has a pair of Clarki and another has a mean momma maroon and the third is going to have my seahorses so currently I have no home for the new babies.
I have been debating a solana but just can't justify the money and really can't figure out where to put it.
Then I made the mistake of wandering through a couple of web sites just to see what is happening in the fish world.
Wandered to Fosters and Smith and on the opening page for fish they are having a special on JBJ nano cubes.
28g with 150w HQI and stand for $500. I really know very little about these tanks but it has a built in skimmer etc. Assumng it is a good little tank it would be perfect for a pair of clowns and a RBTA. I still have the question of where to put it but I am going to have to solve that at some point anyway.
Anybody have an opinion on these tanks?
Anybody have an opinion on the price?
I'm going to have to do something, but I was going to wait a bit and see if I could afford the Solana. This just seems like too good of a deal to pass up.

[rmlevasseur]

Lynn:

I can't speak directly to that system but I can share a few thoughts. I purchased a 60 gallon acrylic rimless cube in June, and had a local guy make the stand so it matched my 180 stand. The purpose for the cube was to house a single anemone and a pair of clowns.

I wanted to take advantage of the 180's superior skimmer and sump, so I simply drilled a new bulkhead in the 180 sump and plumbed it to the new cube, and had the cube drain to the same sump.

I have been very happy with this dedicated system, however if I did it again I would change a few things:

First, I now realize how much I HATE acrylic. It scratches if I look at it too hard, and its very hard to clean the exterior. Seems like there are always smudges that don't come off like glass. Plus the extra width necessary for the rimless makes mag-floats tough to use, and I don't trust them on the acrylic anyway. In short, makes cleaning a real bummer.

Second, although I love the look of the rimless tanks, they are a real PITA. Some of my more tidal snails crawl right out of the thing and I find them on the floor. Never had the problem with my euro-braced 180. Also, when I have to put my hands in or float a bag or something like that a little water always overflows the rims.

Although I have seen many people keep beautiful nanos, I am very happy that I didn't go less that 60 gallons with my cube. Since I'm keeping a haddoni I needed sand, and I like a decent amount of rock. Before you know it there just wouldn't be that much water in there for the animals (another reason I tied it into the 180).

[lcstorc]

Well I had an Aquapod tied into my 125 and while there were some advantages for water quality since we had to raise the lid it just really didn't work. Plus it was supposed to be my seahorse tank and I just couldn't keep it cool enough for the seahorses. This one does have a closed lid with HQI halides so I shouldn't have to worry too much about wandering critters and should have enough light for an RBTA. I have a pair of clowns and RBTA in a 20g with T5s now and we have managed to keep the quality pretty good on that one. It helps that we are set up for very easy water changes and do a lot of them. The acrylic is something I wasn't thinking about. I would have to get new mag floats and other acrylic safe stuff to keep it clean. Keeping the corraline off without scratching it would also be a challenge.
Still debating though. Hopefully somebody with a JBJ will stop by and tell me if the tanks are good or not.
Thanks for the input you have made me think of a few things I missed.

[Witfull]

get rid of the mean maroon and wha-laa,,,,a free tank for free~

[lcstorc]

Now that sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, Frank won't go for that. It is "his" fish. Well maybe if she bites him again. Hmm, I'll have to find some corals on that side of the tank that need to be moved. The tank does already have a RBTA and is getting a Solaris next week.
But I want a new toy. Hmm why do you have to be so practical Witty?

[michael_cb_125]

I would save up for the solana. The JBJ you are looking at would need to many upgrades IMO. By the time you get it how you want it, you will have more in it than you would in the Solana. First off the JBJ have a protein skimmer (you would rip it out and add another) It uses an air stone.
Then heat. There is no way JBJ can convince me that their system is not a little easy bake oven. A 150w MH in a nano-cube just seems dangerously hot to me. I would way out the two. I think you will lean towards waiting and getting what you really want.
~Michael

[Frankie]

Personally I hate any round cornered tank. The view is distorted and its a PITA to clean.

[lcstorc]

You both make very good points.
I could get another regular 20 or 30g and get another Aqua C Remora and T5 lights for not much difference.
It wouldn't be quite as pretty and I would have to make or get a stand but it would be a lot easier to mod to my purposes as I change my mind etc.
Still under debate though. It just seems so easy and relatively cheap.

[Witfull]

Originally Posted by lcstorc

Hmm why do you have to be so practical Witty?

because im poor~

[yungreefer2410]

for real some people buy real expensive stuff on here

[lcstorc]

You only live once.
I'm always broke but somehow I manage.

[yungreefer2410]

i'm not even old enoguh for a job lol i have to go off of allowence

[Spex]

It doesn't get any easier when you have a job......Im already like 1200 down and all I have to show for it is algae hahaha.

In my personal opinion I just like the look of old fashion glass tanks.......cheaper too. But in the end do what you really feel suits you best.

[BarbMazz]

Hi, Lynn! I just bought a modded JBJ 28g nanocube from Nanocustoms.com - nanocustoms. They had a booth at macna and I spent a lot of time talking to them. I spent more, but I got extra fans for cooling, a remote ballast for the MH, and pc supplementation. Mine was $622 with the mods. Shipping was included in the price. The stand was $150. This cube is also the 2008 model that has some improvements, so you may want to check what model year the DFS cube is.

I have an aquapod and the curved corners do distort. It's not bad when you're LOOKING at it, but photographing it is very difficult. They're not hard to clean, however, so far. The magnets slide right around the corners no problem.

I bought the 'cube for my clowns from Doni Marie... it's due to be delivered on Tuesday. I'll let you know how it is because I'll be unpacking and filling it immediately! I'm #4 on the list!! I putting black sand... I think it will be very sharp!

How's Frank doing with that whole salad thing? lol Tell him I said HI