My new 12GL NANO tank

curiousnano

Member
Very New to salt water tank. There is still lots of things to learn.
Just set up running. Hope it will turn out nice.
All procedure helps, suggestion, comments are appreciated.
My tank feature:
* Live Sand, Live Rock 13lbs, Premix salt water ($1/gal local store)
* 12Gal Aquapod
* 1-27W Dual Sunpaq Daylight 6700k/10000k (Current USA brand)
* 1-27W Dual Sunpad Actinic 420nm/460nm (Current USA brand)
* CMF Cooling fan
* Built-in Nocturnal Blue Lunar lights
* Rear Overflow Filter system
* Pump
* Ceramic Rings, Biolballs, Activated Carbon.
 

curiousnano

Member
Hello SCSInet
Thanks for asking.
I have a dream to set up full of corals and some fish just like the pic below Can you please help me step by step...
 

jacksonpt

Active Member
Nice - I have the same tank. Here are a couple of suggestions...
1) replace the stock pump with a maxi-jet 900. It runs cooler (so your temps stay more stable) and adds a bit more flow to your tank.
2) block off the lower 2 "intake" vents in the back left corner. This will force the filtration part of the tank to pull all the water from the surface skimmer. This will help keep the surface of the water clean.
3) consider using LR rubble in teh two middle chambers instead of the ceramic rings. Some poeple like bioballs, some don't. You could use LR instead of the bioballs as well if you wanted to.
4) keep a close eye on your temp. I've found that with the canopy closed and all the lights on, it's very hard to keep the tank under 84 degrees. I ended up removing the feeding lid to let the tank air out - problem solved.
 

curiousnano

Member
Thanks Jack
Here is my question.
I like to ADD all kinds of SOFT CORALS / FISH to my this 12g tank - so all suggestion are appreciated. This is my first time.
1) replace the stock pump with a maxi-jet 900. It runs cooler (so your temps stay more stable) and adds a bit more flow to your tank. Where I can buy this pump, how much would be?
2) block off the lower 2 "intake" vents in the back left corner. This will force the filtration part of the tank to pull all the water from the surface skimmer. This will help keep the surface of the water clean. How I can block it? with what?
3) consider using LR rubble in teh two middle chambers instead of the ceramic rings. Some poeple like bioballs, some don't. You could use LR instead of the bioballs as well if you wanted to. I heard people using LR in the two middle chambers. But how? Do we have to break the LR to a pieces and put them in a bag (just like they did with the ceramic rings)?
4) keep a close eye on your temp. I've found that with the canopy closed and all the lights on, it's very hard to keep the tank under 84 degrees. I ended up removing the feeding lid to let the tank air out - problem solved. My lights is 56watts now. I don't have a heat for this tank yet - should I buy it. If the lights heat up the tank, how about at night, when we off the lights? Whats best temp for corals in general? Do I have to turn both Daylights & Actinic lights on or just turn on either one?
After one week cycle, what can I add? I am not sure about those English name cause its my first time with salt. If you give the name, please write the whole words. Maybe a picture (link website or attached) that help a lot. Thanks a million
 

jacksonpt

Active Member
Originally Posted by curiousnano
Where I can buy this pump, how much would be?
It's a pretty common powerhead. Your LFS might have it, and they are pretty easy to find online. Probably $20-$25 or so, and it's a direct swap in.
Originally Posted by curiousnano
How I can block it? with what?
I've read about people using the flat clear part of old cassette tape cases. I used a piece of plastic from a circular saw blade packaging. Look around your house, you've probably got somethign that will work, just clean it up before you put it in your tank. I think the clear plastic from fruit juice bottles is probably the best option - easy to cut, food safe (so tank safe) easy to get...
Just cut it to fit. Then either glue it in (use reef-safe glue/epoxy from your lfs), or if you can get it to work, the sponge prefilter that came with yoru tank will hold it in place. this can get tedious, but it works.
Originally Posted by curiousnano

I heard people using LR in the two middle chambers. But how? Do we have to break the LR to a pieces and put them in a bag (just like they did with the ceramic rings)?
I had some LR that I couldn't fit in my tank, so I put it between 2 clean dish rags and wacked it with a hammer a few times. Once the pieces are small enough (grape sized to golfball sized for me), I just dropped them in the back of the tank. You don't need any bags or anything.
Originally Posted by curiousnano

My lights is 56watts now. I don't have a heat for this tank yet - should I buy it. If the lights heat up the tank, how about at night, when we off the lights? Whats best temp for corals in general? Do I have to turn both Daylights & Actinic lights on or just turn on either one?
I would, just to help keep the temp stable. Without one, you are likely to get high temps during the day when your lights are on, and low temps at night when the lights are off. This fluctuation can be very hard on livestock (fish, corals, and inverts). A heater will help keep the temp stable, especially at night. I like the Marineland Dual-temp heaters. They seem to be very reliable, and are nice and small. I have a 25watter, but a 50watter is probably a better choice. They fit nicely in 4th chamber (where the pump is). I have mine set at 78degrees. With the heater and feeding lid open, my temps are night are 78 and ~80 during the day when the lights are on.
k">
Originally Posted by curiousnano
After one week cycle, what can I add? I am not sure about those English name cause its my first time with salt. If you give the name, please write the whole words. Maybe a picture (link website or attached) that help a lot. Thanks a million
Again, don't just assume your cycle is over. Either test the water yourself or take it to an LFS and have them test it for you. Once your parameters are stable and in acceptable ranges, then you can start adding livestock.
As for what to add, it depends on what you want to keep. With a 12g tank, you are limited to what you can keep. Clowns, Blennies, and Gobies are popular, but you'll have to look around and decide what kinds of fish you like.
Inverts (crabs, shrimp, snails) are very important to keeping a tank clean and heathy. Some feed on algae, some are scavengers, and a good variety will make your life a lot easier.
Corals you have a bit more flexibility with because they don't affect the tank the same way fish do. Fish poop, and that poop needs to be processed by the tank. Corals don't do that, so you can pretty much add whatever you want whenever you want (assuming you have enough lighting). Corals are photosynthetic, so they need proper lighting to survive.
Spend some time in SaltwaterFish.com's livestock section. Look at the pictures and the descriptions. Find stuff that stays small, is relatively easy to care for, is peaceful/friendly/reef safe, and that don't require ultra high levels of light (this is for corals only).
As you look through the livestock, if you have questions about individual species, let us know.
If you just want someone to tell you want to keep, I'd say go wtih 2 percula clowns, 1 citron clown goby, 5 cerith snails, 5 nassarius snails, 3 turbo snails, 5 dwarf zebra hermits, and 5 scarlet reef hermits. For corals, look at mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, button polyps, Xenia, and green star polyps.
 

curiousnano

Member
Man ... Jack
Thanks a lot for all details.. I need to take a note down .. lots of work ... I will update here little later.. I think this is a big help not for me only .. but for some new salt water starter.
Thanks guy . .million
 
Top