8 gallon BC ideas

ReefQueen · Feb 17, 2016

Hey guys! So I just got ahold of an 8 gallon biocube and I don't know what I want to do with it. So let's here some ideas for this little tank

I am in the process if filling it up now to start cycling and will add the live sand in a few min and maybe a few pieces of rock from my sump if I feel like messing with it anymore tonight lol.

Joeganja · Feb 17, 2016

Make it a zoa garden. Soft corals tend to adapt better to let's say there should be any parameter swings do to a smaller tank. Plus if you make it a zoa garden you can make some money on the side and frag them.

ReefQueen · Feb 17, 2016

Well softies may be my only option at the moment because I can't find a good light to fit in the hood and I am very leary of trying to do my own leds in the hood. I have to keep the hood on because I have a toddler that will definitely throw things into it lol. Although I could possibly make one out of acrylic.

cmcoker · Feb 17, 2016

Maybe shoot the guys over at nano box an email. They do retrofit kits, and there other stuff looks plug and play. Pretty popular on my local club forum..

ReefQueen · Feb 17, 2016

cmcoker said:
Maybe shoot the guys over at nano box an email. They do retrofit kits, and there other stuff looks plug and play. Pretty popular on my local club forum..

Thanks, I'll check it out. I pretty much need plug and play when it comes to electrical stuff lol.

Diesel · Feb 17, 2016

Yoo @ReefQueen go to HD or Lowes and find a nice hanging light pendent

Order a NR 12 from Orphek.

Put it all together and start a Sexy Shrimp softie garden.

Everybody will love your tank

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 17, 2016

I havent done a real nano in a while. I loves finding the small bits and pieces of rock and putting them together to look like a big tank. flat back wall piece, some stag horns only 3in tall, stuff like that.
Actually many stony corals are ok in lower lighting. (and many/most zoas like higher sps level light)
The blastomussa welisi (the tree like one)grew like a weed in my nano. 1 8in power compact and 2 blue led strips. had a few ricordea, they dont get big, some shrooms and nano fish and crabs.
kinda plain ish green metallics shrooms look amazing in the nanos as they can be the biggest thing in there.
some of the birdsnest grew so much I had to trim it a lot so i took it out.

ReefQueen · Feb 17, 2016

I had thought of sexy shrimp

and I may be able to do a par 38 if I made a new hood for it. I have some acrylic laying around the house, I might try to see what I can come up with after work tonight. I'm trying not to break the bank with this little tank because I'm already getting the stink eye over all the equipment I've recently ordered for my cube lol.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 17, 2016

Diesel said:
Yoo @ReefQueen go to HD or Lowes and find a nice hanging light pendent

Order a NR 12 from Orphek.

Put it all together and start a Sexy Shrimp softie garden.

Everybody will love your tank

Genius! Do they make a par16? you cold leave the hood on

ReefQueen · Feb 17, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
Genius! Do they make a par16? you cold leave the hood on

I plan on putting this on an end table in my living room right next to the couch. My son is 22 months old and a whirlwind of destruction. There is no way I can have it top less lol.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 17, 2016

ReefQueen said:
I plan on putting this on an end table in my living room right next to the couch. My son is 22 months old and a whirlwind of destruction. There is no way I can have it top less lol.

the par 16 are tiny. leave the hood on.

http://coralcompulsion.com/PAR16-ACTINIC
or led strips. they are easier to diy.
http://www.ecoxotic.com/aquarium-led-lights/stunner-led-strips.html
strips would be better. and easier to do.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 17, 2016

oh whats in the hood now?

ReefQueen · Feb 17, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
oh whats in the hood now?

It's just the stock lighting. 2 compacts and 2 moonlights. Sorry I'm at work and trying to keep up with the posts and also look productive at the same time

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 17, 2016

Oh...is that you over there???? I wondered.

and dont feel obligated to answer in real time.
The PC's actually work well and are SUPER cheap and will grow alot. the down side is a bit of heat.
the strips are a good way to go IMO. 12v with a plug. like plugging in a phone.
check out those links when you get the chance. NOBODY want the 12" ones so good prices to be had there for name brands

ReefQueen · Feb 17, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
Oh...is that you over there???? I wondered.
and dont feel obligated to answer in real time.
The PC's actually work well and are SUPER cheap and will grow alot. the down side is a bit of heat.
the strips are a good way to go IMO. 12v with a plug. like plugging in a phone.
check out those links when you get the chance. NOBODY want the 12" ones so good prices to be had there for name brands

I definitely will! And it seems the coralife pcs were discontinued, at least the actinic is. Any good replacement recommendation? I probably will just stick with softies so I might keep the stock lighting for now... maybe lol

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 17, 2016

ReefQueen said:
I definitely will! And it seems the coralife pcs were discontinued, at least the actinic is. Any good replacement recommendation? I probably will just stick with softies so I might keep the stock lighting for now... maybe lol

on the cheap and easy (so ya dont get in trouble) and can justify the upgrade later

thses guys on ebey sell Oydssea brand,I have used the 65w ones & the smaller ones in my nanos. a truly mediocre brand, and likely sold under many other brand names

lots of colors to chose from. but for $10 each HEY!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CF-18W-Powe...347257?hash=item19d73e00b9:g:XYIAAOxy66pRuJ25
and keep in mind an 18Wpc is really bright 12" off a sand bed.

ReefQueen · Feb 17, 2016

Awesome thanks. I've used odyssea before. Definitely not something I would use on my 45, but fine for a "next to the couch to keep me occupied while paw patrol is on all day" tank haha

Diesel · Feb 17, 2016

ReefQueen said:
I plan on putting this on an end table in my living room right next to the couch. My son is 22 months old and a whirlwind of destruction. There is no way I can have it top less lol.

Diesel likes topless............ just look at my tanks