Thor's NaNu Nano 18 Cube

3Reefers!

As some of you may know, my build for my 90 cube as been put on the back burner until a few real life changes finalize. Not to worry! That thread will be coming back and will be even bigger and better than the original once I know where I will be laying my head at nights.

In the meantime, I needed a little something to keep me sane and allow me to get my fix! So, the CADLights 18 Cube I had relegated to quarantine status has been promoted to Display Tank status. Here is where I stand:

CADLights 18 Gallon All-in-one Cube
Tunze 9002 Skimmer
Tunze Osmolator ATO
Vortech MP10
AI Sol Nano.

I played around with the scape, and then threw it all into a plastic tub on the back deck, filled it up with some salt I had laying around, threw in a 200 watt heater in for good measure, and got the rock cycle started this past weekend.

I placed an order to Bulk Reef Supply for various bric-a-brac such as test kits, reagents, a heater, and various other sundries to get this bad boy up and running like a champ. So, hopefully in 4 weeks or so the rock will be cycled and ready to go live on the tank.

I'm considering my options as to the direction to go with this tank, but in all likely hood have a mixed reef, focused more on SPS.

So, keep your eyes peeled. Subscribe to the thread if it suits your fancy. It's gonna be a fun ride!

Thor, out!

 

Subscribed.

 

me too!

 

Not much to look at, but here is my rock cycling away on the back deck:



I am about a week in, and since this was really dry rock, as expected I've got some serious phosphate. Here are the params so far:

Ammonia: .2ppm
Nitrite: .2ppm
Nitrate: .2ppm
Phosphate: .32ppm
Salinity 1.026 steady
76 Degree's

The nitrogen elements all are fine and I anticipate those to rise quite a bit over the next week or two before the bacteria is established.

The one that currently requires attention is the phosphate. Way too high. So, I've put a media bag of gfo in a high flow area, and today added a media bag of PhosGaurd. My goal is to drop this as quickly as possible, and since there is no live stock I can be as aggressive with it as I want. May hook up my dual media reactor to run the GFO and PhoseGaurd in. I want to get those to zero before I consider adding them to my take to minimize fights with phosphates early on.

I am considering buying some Kent Marine Phospate sponge as well.

So as far as a rock cure goes, this one seems to be right on track.

Go work to do in the meantime, such as hook up the RODI, hang the lighting, and dial in the equipment. All that should be done by the time the rock is ready go.

BTW, this is what the final 'scape will look like once it is in the tank.


Cheers!
Thor

 

moving right along! like the scape!

 

Update on my params:
Ammonia:0
Nitrite: >1ppm
Nitrate: >50ppm
Phos: .07

So the above lends me to conclude that phase one of the nitrogen cycle is complete. Only time will tell when the nitrites drop, much less before the nitrates start to drop.

Progress! Even if not as quick as I would like to hope for.

Hope all you reefers are having a great evening!

 

A month out sounds normal. Previous posted images not available. :-(

Hope your evening is great as well.

Looking forward to see the AI Nano over the tank. From what I have seen of the AI Nano should fit perfectly.

 

Doh! I must have moved around photos, I will try and fix them this weekend.

Agreed, timing seems just about right. Tons of detritus, which explains the nitrate. It will all be gone once I transfer the rock to the tank when the cycle finishes.

Yeah, I think the nano will work well but we will see!


I'm just excited it's almost go time .

 

Also, in debating in my head the bare bottom vs sand. Considering going black sand? I vacillate. Also, just fixed the pics...

 

black sand would be very cool