Starting a Nanocube

[mtbikedr]

Hello All,
I have just ordered a 12 gal Nanocube for my 11 y.o. daughter. She wanted to start her own reef and I got one on ----, but it arrived shattered!! I did salvage the live sand, power head, light, and all the supplies that the seller had included, so this turned out to be a profit, since the seller refunded me my money! The nanocube is perfect for her because it is small and self contained. I have read some postings in here that people have had some probs with water quality and clarity. I run a totally "natural" system in my 90 gallon reef. I have a 30 gal refugium that is full of live rock and live sand, and use R.O water. That is what replaced my Tidepool 2 that came with the system. I have had no water issues, and my coral, fish and inverts all grow well. I am planning on doinf pretty much the same to the nanocube, putting a nice deep sand bed of some live sand cultures from my tank, and grabbing some chunks of live rock frags that I fill my refugium with to use as her filtration. What do you all think?

 

[barry cuda]

That's exactly what my wife is doing in the nanocube she's cycling right now. Too early to tell if she'll have any issues, but she says her research shows a lot of people with nanocubes do the same thing. For a great resource on recommended mods to nanocubes, go to a site in the domain for commercial websites with nano, a dash, and reef in the name (if that's not clear enough while still avoiding the prohibition on links, let me know ).

 

[reverai]

I don't think I'd go with a deep sand bed on a Nano Cube simply because adding 4 to 5 inches of sand takes to much water away from the Cube! I think have 1 to 2inches thoughout my tank and that seems to work fine when it comes to filtering what for what the snails need.
You should check "http://www.nano-reef.com" which is the real experts hang out when it comes to Nano Reefs!
Steve