[NanoCube 12 DX] what now?

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by justsunnie

TBH I wasn't testing for a while. This weekend when I tested a day after adding a couple lbs of LR with polyps, trates were 0. So no, I guess I haven't been having nitrate problems.

Can't beat that. Zero is about as good as it gets

Allen

[justsunnie]

So when are you gonna put up some pics???

[BigAl07]

Good question... It's still at my house waiting for me to make some decisions.... I am TRYING to take my time and do it right from the beginning. Still trying to decide on the rock and other aspects of it. I actually have to admit I spent my "rock-fund" on a new golf club for a trip I am taking this weekend. Once I KNOW which direction I'm going I'll start ordering stuff and getting it categorized.

Thanks for your interest!

Allen

[justsunnie]

Originally Posted by BigAl07

Good question... It's still at my house waiting for me to make some decisions.... I am TRYING to take my time and do it right from the beginning. Still trying to decide on the rock and other aspects of it. I actually have to admit I spent my "rock-fund" on a new golf club for a trip I am taking this weekend. Once I KNOW which direction I'm going I'll start ordering stuff and getting it categorized.

Thanks for your interest!

Allen

I'm sure you'll get plenty of use out of that golf club!
Mine have been sitting in the closet for at least six months.

I see that you posted some pics, so I'm going to go peak.

[BigAl07]

Well actually I will.. leaving in a couple of hours on a weekend long golf trip (company business of course ). I think I need to figure out how to count it off as a "business" expense!!

I think I am really close to going ahead and ordering the LR from Dr F&S. I may do that Monday or Tuesday! About time to get this thing GOING!!
Allen

[BigAl07]

Finally got some things "settled" down here in my world.
I don't have a CLUE how to put my TXT along with the picture it goes with so bare with Me if you would...
First pic is the "new arrival" from UPS here to my office

Next is the "Cube" unpacked and inspected for damage/commissions1 (it's all here and actual some FREEBIES as well...

last in this series are two pics of the cube "cycling" here in my office...

[BigAl07]

It's now day 2 of the new set-up and the LR is shipped and should be here tomorrow...

Should I go ahead and put the Cheato in the back middle chamber now even though I haven't added the light yet?

Is it OK to have the Cheato in the tank during cycling? will it help or hurt the whole Cycle process?

How much LRR Rubble do I put in that middle chamber under the Cheato?

Should I run the stock sponge(s) in chamber ONE until the process is complete and just clean/change them often (yesterday and today about every 2 hours to help clear the water.

Should I go ahead and run the carbon mess bag that came with it? I have removed all the "Bio" thingies per instructions with the Cube and also from MANY suggestions.

Below is what I am planning (please help me tweak this)

Chamber #1 Stock sponge(s) If suggested
Chamber #2 Cheato & LR Rubble (will have to "modify" for light
Chamber #3 New MJ 900 pump & submersible heater

Inside the tank I am planning to try out the HyDor FLO
Wavemakers: Hydor FLO Rotating Deflector Wavemaker

and see what that does for the tank.

Right now with no heater and the lights running non-stop for 6 1/2 hours the tank temp is steady at 77 degress.... a little low from what I have at home but not bad with no heater and the lights on. I'll set the heater to approximately 79 when it comes in.

Any suggestions? Ideas?

Donations?

Here is today's pic... a little more clear but not THERE yet....

[justsunnie]

yay! pictures!

[BigAl07]

My LR is on a plane somewhere over the US right now headed here. It should be to my office sometime before 4:30 EST tomorrow. The humor is that the plane will actually fly directly OVER my house and keep going only to land, unload and then have to be trucked back this way 3 hours. Logistics BABY!!!

Now if I can just get some pinpoint advice on what goes in which chamber and in what amounts....??????

Allen

[saltwaterfarm]

There aren't any exact #'s... I put everything in the center back chamber in my bio cube... not quite sure how the nano cube is setup. If you are putting it (LR and chaeto) in the same chamber I would just put the LR in the bottom, about half full and then chaeto on top. I would like to offer this little tidbit... When I removed the sponge that was between the center chamber and the return pump chamber I managed to suck up a bunch of chaeto into the pump. Not a good thing. I would try to figure out a way to maybe put chaeto in 1st chamber, rock in 2nd. I don't even know if there is any way to do that in your nano... just an idea...

[BigAl07]

I would imagine there IS a way to put it into #1..... I'll look into it..

My cube has 3 distinct compartments... #1 has the intake from the tank.... it "under-flows" into chamber #2 which then "over-flows" into chamber #3... which has the pump submerged in it with the output coupling at the top. Very simple design in my eyes anyway....

Thanks for the advice.

Allen

[saltwaterfarm]

OK that is the reverse of my bio cube... and I've got all that false bottom stuff going on there... Anyway, you should be fine either way... just keep an eye on it.

[BigAl07]

I added LR Rubble to chamber 1 & 2 (only HALF full so there is room for Sponge in #1 and Cheato in #2).

The rock is IN but it's too much rock and not aquascaped. I'll do that once it's cured and the rock that goes into my HOME tank is out.

My tank runs about 74 degs over night (no lights) and gets up to about 78 - 79 with lights on all day long. Should I add the heater into the 3rd chamber and set it to about 78-79 to minimize temp swings?

Also do I need to keep the lights off mainly during the "curing" process?

Allen

[BigAl07]

because I need it

A.

[lcstorc]

I would run the heater at night. That is just a bit too much temp swing for me to be comfortable with it.
Most people cure the rock with lights out. I was never sure why but it is often recommended.