Jbj 12 gallon nanocube

[ap1194]

hello everyone, I am about to buy a jbj 12 gallon nano cube for a pretty decent price. The only thing is it doesn’t have a return pump.
Planning on upgrading lighting as well.
Any suggestions on a replacement pump??
Also a decent light for this tank??
Thanks for any info and I would like to see your builds as well

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I'm not sure of the dimensions of your return section but any small pump should work fine. Maybe something like this (pictured). Or even a cheaper Chinese pump from ebay

As for the lights, are you planning to keep the lid on the tank or ditching it?

 

[ap1194]

I'm not sure of the dimensions of your return section but any small pump should work fine. Maybe something like this (pictured). Or even a cheaper Chinese pump from ebay

As for the lights, are you planning to keep the lid on the tank or ditching it?

I’ll be ditching the lid. Hoping to find a decent led light

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I’ll be ditching the lid. Hoping to find a decent led light

Price range?

 

[ap1194]

Price range?

Trying to stay around $130 or so. I’ve seen multiple AI prime around that price, but I’ve always miss them.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Trying to stay around $130 or so. I’ve seen multiple AI prime around that price, but I’ve always miss them.

That must be a used price? I would advise against a used light unless the seller can prove that it's relatively new. Most leds start having components break after about 3-5 years of use. Not to mention the bulbs themselves get dimmer.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

So at that price range you will be pretty limited especially if you looking for something that can grow all kinds of corals. For a fish only there are some nice options though. If you just have easier corals and don't care about ramp up and down features then the aqua knight is a nice cheap fixture. I'll try to find a link. Black boxes can be nice too but would be overkill on a 12g tank

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Keep in mind this aqua knight is a decent little light that can grow coral but the ai prime you mentioned is definately a better fixture in every sense.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

As for name brand I would look at ai prime, reefbreeders, sb reef, reefi, and Kessel. Reefi is the nicest out of the bunch imo (but you'll have to up your price range a bit for these options).

If your not doing corals then the current USA lights are pretty nice cheaper fixtures

 

[Nano sapiens]

Personally, I wouldn't skimp on the pump. Nothing worse than a piece of garbage that is too noisy, corrodes, is too brittle, etc. Just measure the inside of the chamber where the pump will go and verify on the pump's spec page that it will physically fit (length and width).

I use a Tunze 1073.008 Silence (210 gph) in an old Cadlights 12g. Quite quiet, as the name suggests. The Sicce Syncra 1.0 should be good, too, and has 40 gph more flow, but it's pricier.

As far as lighting, I have a DIY array I made back-in-the-day. Not sure what I'd go for today, but I'd make sure it has the capacity to provide enough light and complete spectrum for any type of coral (never know what you might want to keep in the future).