12 Gallon Nano Cube Deluxe: Good Start?

subielover

Active Member
Ok, well I must admit after months of "just looking" I am hooked. I want to get started, probably when I get my stimulus check from "the W."

At first I thought I would buy a biocube 14 as I really like them and my LFS has them in stock along with the stand. Of course they are crazy expensive there, so I have been searching for some deals. I found the 12 gallon nano cube deluxe with a stand for $211 shipped. I thought that it was a pretty ridiculous deal myself, but what do you all think. I have some time until I make a decision, probably May or so. I am just trying to make the best decision, especially considering I am a noob

Hopefully my wishlist would include a clown fish and some kind of goby.
I have read a lot of the information on this site, for beginners which was really helpful, if not exhausting and overwhelming.

Does anyone here have the tank, and could share their experiences? Thanks for all the input, and I look forward to building my reef
 
$211 sounds like a good deal to me with a stand and all. Nano's can be expensive, so $200 or so is great! 12 gallon is a good start too, I think you will be just fine, you should love it. I started with a 22 gallon, and I now have a 10 gallon as well. Love both of them, but for some reason I just love smaller tanks, though they are harder to take care of, but well worth it!
My advice, take your time on setting things up and don't be in a rush to add fish, let your tank fully cycle first, and don't overstock your tank either.
Keep us posted and post pics when you get something.
 

subielover

Active Member
WILLLOVESFISH- Thanks for the input!

I thought it sounded like a good deal. As far as cycling goes, the fellow at my LFS said they have water that he can sell me, as well as LR and LS. Of course his LR is $10.00/lb, but i will work on that. I am just going to really take my time, I want to have my live rock in there, until all of my parameters are in order. I am very patient, so I know not to just start dumping in stuff, just to say I have stuff. My first thing will probably be a clean up crew, of some turbo snails some hermit crabs and maybe a shrimp, not all at once though. Eventually I think I would like some type of goby and a pair of clowns. I think that would be ok, but probably max out my tank. The fish will be great but I am really looking forward to adding coral, and hopefully an anemone to host after a while. I am so freakin excited, I can't wait, but I still have time. I have just been reading and taking notes of everything that I think will help me.
 

sigmachris

Active Member
$10 per pound sounds very high unless it is some exotic rock. Typically rock is about $6 per pound and then they start discounting it when you buy 50+ pounds.
 

subielover

Active Member
Yeah, I thought so. As of now it is the only LFS I know of. I am going to go online and see what other local I can find. I guess I could always order it from here, right?
 

subielover

Active Member
OK, update: I found a nice looking lfs about 9 miles from me

Anyhow they have a sale going for a 24 Gallon AquaPod Nano Reef Aquarium with stand for $250. Sounds good to me. What do you all think?
 

beenbag497

Member
Originally Posted by subielover
http:///forum/post/2496283
OK, update: I found a nice looking lfs about 9 miles from me

Anyhow they have a sale going for a 24 Gallon AquaPod Nano Reef Aquarium with stand for $250. Sounds good to me. What do you all think?
i have the aquapod 24 ga;lon and i love it......thats a way better deal than 211$shipped for an aquapod 12
 

subielover

Active Member
I am going over there today, I wish I could buy it but I have to wait for awhile yet. I am going to see the new lfs and see what they got. I would rather buy it from a lfs as opposed to a online retailer anyway, just for the peace of mind. Plus maybe I can work a deal, with getting setup with some fiji LR and LS all at the same time. Ok, heading to the store now
 

blazin2k6

Active Member
Goodluck and hope you can get your tank soon so we can all see how it comes along. This forum is such a great place to keep up with your fish and look back at them and see how far you have came along. Take care
 

nwdyr

Active Member
Thats a great price!! can't wait to see pic's of you'r tank, it sounds like you have it well planned out. Good luch to you and I will be checking on you'r progress. By the way , where in PA do you live? I lived in Philly for a year and just moved back to Chicago about 8 months ago.
 
As others have said 250 is a great deal on a 24 gallon with stand. You will be much happier with a bigger tank too. For sure post up pics.
 

subielover

Active Member
nwydr-I actually live about 1.5 hours north of philly, I went to school down at West Chester University, so I was always in Philly.
I originally wanted to start with a 24 or a 29, but I thought it would be too much $$$. But hey for that price, what the heck. I went to the lfs that I was talking about, and it is AWESOME! All they have is saltwater tanks and fish and coral and anemones and crabs and....well you get the point. I spoke with the owner for about 45 minutes and she really helped me out. They also did have a biocube 14 with a stand for $180.
, but now that I have seen the aquapod 24 in person, it is definitely not too far in my future. She also recommended that if I did get the 24 to upgrade the pump to a maxijet 1200, or something like that. She had lots of different types of live rock for 6.95/lb, which is great considering the other store wanted 10.00/lb. It took some serious willpower not to just buy the tank right then and there, but I want to wait and do it right. She also sells her saltwater for $1.00/ gallon, and RO for .50/ gallon. I am pumped, she said since she is a pretty large online retailer that she is constantly getting all types of animals in. I am so happy that I found this place, I will probably be going there quite often. Thanks for all the comments folks, I will definitely be keeping a log/diary from day 1.
 

jschulzpt

New Member
I have the 12G nanocube delux, good tank, no problems. I went to the tampabay saltwater company for stocking it with live rock, I couldn't be happier with the rock I got. The rocks were coated with plants, sponges, a gorgonian, and a bunch of small crabs. Good luck.
 
F

faleshockjp

Guest
Originally Posted by beenbag497
http:///forum/post/2496382
i have the aquapod 24 ga;lon and i love it......thats a way better deal than 211$shipped for an aquapod 12

And a way better deal than my 800 dollar 34 gallon red sea max that i drove 30 miles to pick up in my SUV that gets a whole 15 miles per gallon.
 

jse5019

New Member
subielover,
send me an email at jse5019 at comcast dot net
I want to tell you about a HUGE LFS that you probably arent far from.
 

subielover

Active Member
halostalker-I have seen your thread and your tank, it is definitely on its way. I have tried to look at so many different tanks to get an idea of what I really want. I of course, love demartinis and katz, both of theirs are phenomenal. I am really excited to get started.
 

subielover

Active Member
OK so, quick question: My LFS has the Aquapod 24 that I want, but for $110.00 more I can get it with a 150w sunpod. What should I do?
On a side note, I do have a cat anybody have experience with that, maybe some type of mesh hood?
 
I would only go with the Sunpod if you want corals someday. Don't need the upgraded lighting if you just have fish and live rock. If you want corals though which most people eventually do then you may want to upgrade now. You can always do it later but it might cost you more.
 

subielover

Active Member
Will_Those were exactly my thoughts. I already know that I will want coral. I believe the sunpod goes for around 250, so I just thought that maybe it is worth getting right away. I am also worried about the open top. I have read that gobies like to jump as well as percs, and I also have a very inquistive cat(not sure if there is any other kind really
) With a difference of only 110., for a 24g aquapod with the sunpod I think I should make the upgrade right away. Oh well...more planning
 
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