2009 Nanocustoms Nanocube 12DX - 3.24 Series (72w)

[kevin_bullis]

I am pretty sure I am going to get this as my third nano, but I want it to be a SPS only tank. Would the 72 watt over it be good enough for that, or should I look for a 70-150W MH to go over it?
Thanks,
Kevin

 

[spanko]

IMO 72 watts of power compact lighting will not be enough to sustain light demanding SPS coral.

 

[kevin_bullis]

So should I retrofit a 70 watt MH on it? Would that sustain the higher lighting demands of acro and monti's?
Kevin

 

[spanko]

Yes and Yes but you may have to deal with a heat issue. 12 gallons of water is not a lot and will heat up fairly quickly under the halide.

 

[kevin_bullis]

I have a 20 gallon tank just laying around, so again same question would 70w MH be enough light to sustain them in a 20 gallon tank?
Kevin

 

[spanko]

Standard 20 gallon (not 20 high) yes IMO. But depending on the fisture you are talking about you may not get full coverage side to side. May end up with nice bright spot in the center 1/2 of the tank with fading light out to the sides. To me this is not a bad thing and can be scaped and coral placed to take advantage of it.

 

[kevin_bullis]

That's what I was thinking, One of the clamp on fixtures, like the 150 or 70W versions, and have just a column in the middle for the SPS and then surrounding areas with like zoos, shrooms, ect. I just want a prodominant amount of SPS in there...what do you think?
Kevin

 

[spanko]

A nice patch reef..................................island of rockwork in the center for the SPS and then some sofites and photosynthetic gorgonian down low on the sides of the island. Good stuff.

 

[kevin_bullis]

Sounds like a plan, do you thing I could have a piece of staghorn in there, or would it get to get? I mean I could frag it off right?
Kevin

 

[spanko]

Sure.

 

[kevin_bullis]

How much live rock would you suggest, I have about 15-20 lbs base rock I could seed. It would make a pretty decent "Island", how much sand also? This will be my frist actually sustaining nano, as I used to have them, but never really took care of them becasue I was uber lazy and they failed. I am determined to get this one to work and not be a lazy bum sitting on my arse all the time.
Kevin

 

[spanko]

Well it is only a 12 gallon so for the rock you will need to determine how much sand flat room around the center island you want to have. I would make a template of the bottom of the tank, then use it to create the island on with the base rock. I would also use reef safe epoxy or even drill holes in the rock to insert rods to hold it together. This would allow a taller structure with a smaller footprint.
A 20 lb. bag of dry aragonite will give you around a 2.5 inch sandbed depth.