JBJ Nano Cube on the cheap.

[Rob in Puyallup]

I'm finally upgrading from an over stuffed standard 10 gallon reef to a 28 gallon cube.

I found the cube on Craigslist for a great price. Tank, stand, hqi (metal halide) hood, the filter pumps with "pulse controller". The seller threw in three great coral frags as well. All for $200.00.


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[Rob in Puyallup]

I also found cured live rock for $2.00 a pound. I bought about 30 pounds of it yesterday. It's currently in large pails of tank water waiting.

Found live aragonite sand on clearance at a LFS that is, sadly, closing business. Half price. Two twenty pound bags at less than $15.00 a bag.

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[Rob in Puyallup]

The cube is filled with tap water for the time being, checking for leaks and soaking for a good scrub down later.

I will say that I'm not entirely pleased how the front curved glass distorts the view, but guess I'll get used to it.

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[jhoffa92]

Yeah I had a 72 bow front and it made the view weird but you do get use to it but all in all if the tank diesnt leak good buy.

 

[Boostd2valve]

The corners take awhile to get used too.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Thinking I might replace the metal halide hood with the led fixture that's hanging over the 10 gallon reef.

Just have to come up with a way to hang it over the tank.

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[SeahorseKeeper]

These are great cubes! Can't wait to see it come together!

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Added 50 pounds of live aragonite sand and about 20 pounds of live rock (ran out of space!). Topped off the tank, and now the cycling begins.

Since the metal halide that I bought with the tank isn't working I'll be putting my Value LED unit over the tank as soon as I can figure out a way to do it...

Front, right and left. The fog is lifting.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

This afternoon. A bit of sediment on the glass, but the water is clear.



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[seancc317]

sweet deals! looking forward to seeing this packed.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

I found a new canopy for the tank. It's the compact fluorescent Quad. It was on Ebay and with shipping and a coupon it was less than $120.00. Not exactly cheap, but a lot cheaper than elsewhere.

It was delivered today. The fluorescents are very bright, and there are four blue "moonlight" LEDs.

(Having problems adding pictures.)

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

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[knap_123]

Nice , I love mine. I upgraded to Steve's Leds. Also I ran a solar flare 115 clip on for awhile that's nice. Its around $60 and will grow sps , Steve's also. But I wouald sugg the solar as a back up light. Fairly priced and reliable if something happens to your others. And it mounts perfectly.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Steve's LEDs? Is that the company name? I'll check the net. Thanks for the heads up.

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[knap_123]

Yup, and the Steve's fits inside your stock hood with some easy modification.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Tested parameters on the cube before this afternoon's 10 percent water change.

pH 8.0

Ammonia 0 ppm

Nitrite 0 ppm

Nitrate 10-20 ppm

Phosphate 0.25 ppm

I'm pretty okay with the results. I'll do another parameter check and probably a water change before adding more critters.

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[Rob in Puyallup]

Guessing the nitrates and phosphates may explain the diatoms.

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[Rob in Puyallup]

Tested parameters on the cube before this afternoon's 10 percent water change.

pH 8.0

Ammonia 0 ppm

Nitrite 0 ppm

Nitrate 10-20 ppm

Phosphate 0.25 ppm

I'm pretty okay with the results. I'll do another parameter check and probably another, larger water change before adding more critters.

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[Rob in Puyallup]

Tank inhabitants as of now. One blue legged hermit crab and lots of pods. The live rock needs a bit of cleaning up.

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[Rob in Puyallup]

Added a few things...

Got a couple of Ocellaris Clownfish and a Royal Gramma. The clowns out and about, the gramma still in hiding, somewhere within the live rock.

I also hung up the led fixture. Finally!