My JBJ Nano cube 12DX

rattyE36

rattyE36

New member
So I'm finally ready to start my build thread for my JBJ 12. So far it has sand, ~7lbs of dry rock, I upgraded the stock pump to a maxi-jet 900, upgraded the stock "duckbill" output to a hydro-flo, added a Bio-cube powerhead, replaced the stock filtration as follows: Chamber 1: filter floss/ stock sponge. Chamber 2: Filter floss, chemi-pure, filter floss, purigen, filter floss. Chamber 3, pump and thermometer. All I have left to add equipment wise is a heater into probably chamber 1. I bought the API master test kit and a small siphon to for maintenance.

I'm going over to Old Town Aquarium here in a bit to get 10 Gallons of their pre-mix. One the aquarium is going for a day or two with water im going to get a cup of "live sand" and a few pounds of live rock to get things going! I'm also going to be adding a dose of "cycle" once the tank is running. I'll get pics up once the tank is running!

Comments, questions, suggestions all welcome!
That's all for now! :thumb:
 
That's an awful lot of filter floss! Have fun changing all that out every couple days. Really only one big wad of filter floss is necessary in the most effective place you can easily reach it to replace once it gets covered in reef snot. So you have decided to go the slow cycle method with dry rock? Or are you going to add live rock as soon as you have water in the tank to speed up the initial cycle?

Edit: Nevermind that dumb question I totally missed the part about the rock after reading about the sand.
 
That is a lot of filter floss just put it above the spong in first chamber change every 5-6 days


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FishBeard said:
That's an awful lot of filter floss! Have fun changing all that out every couple days. Really only one big wad of filter floss is necessary in the most effective place you can easily reach it to replace once it gets covered in reef snot. So you have decided to go the slow cycle method with dry rock? Or are you going to add live rock as soon as you have water in the tank to speed up the initial cycle?

Edit: Nevermind that dumb question I totally missed the part about the rock after reading about the sand.
Click to expand...

just added ~5lbs of live rock from a reef being parted out on craigslist I also got some star polyps on one of the rocks and the guy seemed to think that they MIGHT make it through my cycle which would be awesome...but i wont hold my breath!

mr_z said:
That is a lot of filter floss just put it above the spong in first chamber change every 5-6 days


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Click to expand...

I'm starting to think that may be true! After my first water change I'll probably change it to just the sponge and filter floss in the first chamber, media in the second, and pump/heater in the third.

PICS COMING SOON!
 
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Trying to get the aquascape perfect!

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You can see my freebie colony of star polyps all freaked out! I REALLY hope they make it through the cycle and open up. The guy said he's has his all retract like that for two weeks just from reaching into his tank to he said not to worry if I don't see them for a while.

Based on the fact that water and liverock and my filter media all went in yesterday, when should I do my first water change and when should I do my first water test and what should I be testing? Also I think my salinity is right on the money at 1.025!

That's all for now! :D
 
when i ordered my star polyps they were just like that. they opened up in my tank about about 12 hours.
 
Your polyps shouldn't be too affected by the cycle. Lots of hitchhikers make it through as well.

Nice looking tank keep us updated.
 
Nice meeting you & good luck this time around.

I see you went with some dry rock. I think it was a good choice. It helps keep pests out from the start... now you need to make sure to dip anything you add in your tank so it stays this way.

Also, here is a link to ideal tank parameters: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php I found it to be helpful when I started.
 
Tangency said:
Nice meeting you & good luck this time around.

I see you went with some dry rock. I think it was a good choice. It helps keep pests out from the start... now you need to make sure to dip anything you add in your tank so it stays this way.

Also, here is a link to ideal tank parameters: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php I found it to be helpful when I started.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link Jeff and tanks also for the hydrometer..it works fine!

So I came home from work just now and about 3 polyps had opened! Hopefully they stay out and more keep coming out! However some of the colony looked like the "pores" with the polyps had closed even more to the point where I cant even see a tip on green anymore. I suppose if any of it makes through the cycle then it can re-generate from there...we'll see!

I'll post a pic of the Polys tomorrow if they are still open.


That's all for now!
 
The GSP's are nice, depending on what kind of reef set up you do. I preffer them on an island rock isolated so they don't spread to other rocks. I have a hard time controlling the ones that are on my rockwork. I wish I never put them there. Now all they do is irritate my SPS, I'm contemplating taking out the colony GSP rock and nuking it. You might not like them spreading on your aquascape as that will limit you adding more corals in the future. It's hard to stop them when they start to spread.
 
The green star polyps decided to grace me with their presence today!
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Wondering if this is a problem? That's with no heater in the tank! Do I need a little chiller or is that not a big issue?
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93f is bad, top range is low 80s in a reef tank. Leave your feeding lid opened and that should help drop temps a few degrees alone. Also if the tank is located near an outside wall try moving it to an interior wall. My nano is on an outside wall, and on hot days spikes near 80-81 degrees midday. I would try another thermometer just in case you have a faulty one, but if that's accurate, you will definitely need a chiller to keep corals in the summer where the tank is now.
 
Gonna buy a thermometer that doesn't cost $2...Not sure if I go digital or stick old school? Any recommendations on one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Also the tank is on an interior wall but as most of you know yesterday it was like 100 degrees in Chicago and I was gone all day and had the windows open and the A/C off! I got home, sealed up the place, and cranked the A/C! Today the tank is reading +81 so I'll just see if it will stay there otherwise I'll have to figure something out...I'm glad I'm noticing this stuff now before there's actually livestock in the tank because I'm sure I would have boiled a clown fish if he were in there yesterday!
 
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