NickNiz's 12 Gallon Nano Cube

[NickNiz]

Latest Update:

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Hello everyone! Recently, I started a 12 Gallon Nano Cube that I received pre-cycled from a friend. This isn't my first reef aquarium; it's actually a downsize from a Red Sea Max 250. The tank has been set up for two weeks, so I will post old pictures as well as current pictures to start off, and then provide updates on new purchases as well as hardships that I come across! Enjoy! These images are approx 1.5 weeks old, with the exception of the frogspawn being 1 week old.

 

[NickNiz]

Here's what it currently looks like. In a full algal bloom. I turned down the LED intensity but I might start turkey basting the rock soon... I picked up a Zebra Turbo Snail yesterday and he's eating away!

The cleaner shrimp who can be seen in the original image died after molting. Not sure if something didn't molt completely or if it was the water change I did the day before... I also picked up a banded serpent starfish! (Not shown in pictures)

The orange Acans aren't looking too good, but they're on the rise from how they looked a few days ago... Thinking it might be light as water parameters (from what can be tested using API Reef Master) are great and Salinity is 1.026...

Also picked up the green Acans for $25 this past Friday!!!

 

[NickNiz]

Another update!!! I picked up a Banded Serpent Star, Scooter Blenny, and Red Candy Cap Monti!!! Also picked up a Zebra Turbo and two red-leg hermits for the CUC. Turkey basted the algae off of the rocks, and now the snail is keeping everything clean...

If anyone has any coral recommendations for higher flow, please let me know. I am set on corals for the sand bed... Want to fill in the rock some more now.

Also concerned about over feeding... I've been changing out five gallons a week, but I want to get to doing 2-3 gallons... I've been doing so much because my nitrates have been 30-40 ppm. I've been feeding 1/3 to 1/2 cube of Mysis a day. Is this too much? Got the hermits and star to relieve some of the leftovers..

 

[NickNiz]

Just a minor update! I chiseled some of that giant piece of rock to make it smaller, and ended up putting the rubble in the middle chamber of the filter. Also have a bleaching Monti (probably due to lighting) so I taped over most of the LEDs to help it acclimate.

Updated full tank shot

Better picture of the banded serpent star during feeding

Some very hungry green Acans trying to grab some Mysis

And the orange Acans that weren't looking great before are looking a lot better. Reduced amount of Reef Energy I dose, as well as mixing it with water before putting it into the tank seemed to have helped. Hoping the reduced LED intensity helps as well.

 

[CoralManz]

I would feed a bit less and turn the pump off to prevent waste.What filter media are you using?

 

[NickNiz]

I've been at college and am now home on spring break, so I've decided to post another update...

I left the emerald eye favia with a friend back in January since it wasn't looking very good. He's been taking care of it and it's even been growing a little bit!

So far over spring break, I've picked up two new Acan frags, a blasto (I think), and a very small bicolor angel... I hope he doesn't start nipping.

I've also changed my coral feeding from Mysis and Reef Energy to Polyp Booster and Reef Roids. The results have been AMAZING!!! When I got home the orange Acans looked like they were going to bail, and so I had planned to give them to my friend to keep... Since I started target feeding the Roids though, they have doubled in size, even though they still look sad. I didn't cut out Mysis completely though. I put a little in for the angel and target feed the serpent star.

The frogspawn seems to have had a lot of skeletal growth so far, but no second head yet... And the light green Acans on the right of the FTS have grown a few heads as well.

 

[NickNiz]

Just a few updates!!!
Since my last update, I have been out of town and things have gone south... The person taking care of the tank forgot to turn the Koralia pump back on after feeding the coral, resulting in several dead zones... For six weeks. Came home to very shrunken and sad looking coral. A tiny bicolor angel had passed, but all of the inverts were fine. The orange Acans in my previous update (both frags) look very sad but are actually bouncing back! I couldn't even see any of them when I got home and thought they bailed... At least I can see some polyps.

I've been using reef Roids (every other day since the near tank crash when I got home) and have no complaints about them! I've been changing 3gal 2 days a week to compensate for nutrients and the corals, although still looking worse than before, are definitely getting better. If you're in the market for a supplementary coral food, I would strongly recommend trying them.

Here are the new additions since the last update.
Jack-O-Lantern Lepto
Green trumpets (3head)
Green leather
Palys (unsure of type, basic and cheap)
Burgundy Acans(4-5 heads)
Rainbow Acan (1 damaged head)
Green mushroom (zapped by another coral)
Stunner Chalice

All of the new additions are doing great but the Lepto has proven difficult so far.. It's my first SPS but I hear mixed things about placement. Some say it needs high flow/lighting like most SPS, and others say it's a deep sea coral and it prefers overhangs and moderate flow.

 

[NickNiz]

It's been a while since the last update, and a lot has changed.

The Jack-O-Lantern didn't make it. I just couldn't find the right placement for it. I tried shade, sand bed, low/medium flow and nothing seemed to work.

The Chalice experienced necrosis (from what I think was an infection) and there wasn't enough of it for me to frag.

The toadstool hasn't opened up in a long time. Debating whether to remove it from the tank in the case that it's dead, but think there's a small chance it could be alive.

Otherwise, the corals that struggled before from the pump being off have really rebounded. I've got a few new polyps on the dark green Acans, and the injured Rainbow Acan is now almost a full polyp again.

New coral additions include another Acan colony, a green frogspawn, a green Acropora, scolymia, palys, and another favia.

Non-coral additions include 2 False Perc Clowns and a green BTA. These were purchased separately from different tanks, but were paired within a day of adding to the tank!

 

[NickNiz]

Here's another small update! I purchased the leather Coral and orange chalice today and will see how they will do... everything is looking great after bringing Alk down to 8.9 (from 12.5). I finally got around to investing in salifert kits to keep it monitored! Unfortunately the Acro didn't make it, most likely due to the high Alk levels.

Other older additions that weren't in updates yet include GSP, Rasta Zoas, and neon orange Ricordea. The tank is pretty overstocked so I'm going to stop adding new stuff (If I can help it), and just focus on growth.

 

[NickNiz]

I ended up getting an AI prime HD about a week ago and am really enjoying it! I like the ability to make a schedule and change intensities, as well as the addition of the royal blue and UV LEDs... Not using the red or green since they encourage algae growth.

Everything has expanded and colored up so nicely. Unfortunately the orange Acans turned cheeto orange, so I got another Acan colony to put in the middle for diversity (pink with green centers).

Right before adding the prime

Acan close-up

 

[NickNiz]

I wasn't actually home when I posted the last update, but now that I am, here's an updated FTS including the new Prime HD!

 

[NickNiz]

Just a few updates!

Unfortunately, one of the clowns passed away. No known cause... No signs of bullying or parasites, or behavioral changes. Just found it stuck to a pump one morning...

I also picked up a few more corals.
A "white lightning" Lepto (at least I think so based on JF's website)
Neon green trumpets (6 polyps, much more vibrant but smaller than my existing ones)

Also noticing some growth! Acan polyps are growing huge, leather is as well... Rasta zoas went from 1.5 polyps to 4 polyps in a matter of 3 weeks. Also noticing that my (Raging waters?) chalice is beginning to spill over the edge of the rock it's on! I will post pics when lights are on this afternoon.

 

[Katrina71]

Sorry you lost one

 

[NickNiz]

Just a small update! I recently picked up a brand new 28g Nano Cube w/out hood for a great price... I also found a local guy in Jacksonville who is building an incredible custom stand for the new tank! Once I fill the new tank and cycle it, I will move everything over and dismantle the 12 gal... Probably sell it, too. I'm currently researching mods and skimmers I can add to the new tank!

The BTA has moved from its perfect spot not being stung, to the top of the rock work where its constantly fighting the corals... I don't have anywhere to move the leather, and the anemone is looking a little bit damaged on the foot... When I move everything over, I'll take the rock that the anemone is on and the clown back to the LFS, or sell it with the tank if someone wants it! Pictures coming soon...

 

[NickNiz]

Here are some pictures from today... you can see the white lightning lepto to the left of the BTA.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Looks like stuff is happy! Good job!