New Reefer! Sparty's new 24gal Nanocube

SPARTAN VI · #1 08/04/2007, 12:05 AM

tropicalfishoutlet.com got me almost everything I need to get started. Unfortunately, when I went out to get tubing for my chiller, I forgot to purchase 25 gallons of SW. D'oh!

Also on my shopping list:

- Surge protector
- API SW Test kit
- Thermometer

Would a gravel vac be necessary for a SW tank? I can't imagine it working well without sucking up all my LS.

Anything else I may/may not need for a new set up?

Now the pics!

24 gallon Nanocube w/ 150-watt HQI lamp

HQI lamp/canopy:

JBJ 1/20 HP chiller:

Fiji liverock:

Live sand:

I do have a heater, but forgot to snap a picture of it.

Couple of my Tiger barbs... teehee..

Really looking forward to being a nano reefer!

Tree6foot6 · #2 08/04/2007, 12:57 AM

Cant wait to see how everything comes togather

Good Luck! and keep us posted.

cherubfish pair · #3 08/04/2007, 01:04 AM

How many HQI's? Almost looks like their is two.

SPARTAN VI · #4 08/04/2007, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by the cattleman
How many HQI's? Almost looks like their is two.

Just one, that must be the reflection.

Illuminati · #5 08/04/2007, 10:31 AM

Nice looking setup, looks like your well on your way.

Interested to see how the chiller works for you and how you plumb it.

SPARTAN VI · #6 08/04/2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by colinadam
Nice looking setup, looks like your well on your way.

Interested to see how the chiller works for you and how you plumb it.

It's going to be very amateur, that's for sure.

The tank is only going to sit on the counter there for a few months until we get new hard wood flooring in the family room. THEN my dad and I can get "fancy."

Little disappointed with the Fiji LR. I was hoping for 3 or so smaller pieces, not two huge chunks. Can't make the typical cave or underpass that the fish can swim under with two huge pieces.

Illuminati · #7 08/04/2007, 07:23 PM

All you need is a hammer and chisel and you can break it up how you want it.

I personally have Marshall Island Live Rock in my tanks, by far the best shapes.

SPARTAN VI · #8 08/04/2007, 08:49 PM

Well, having trouble with the plumbing. Can anyone recommend a good pump for the chiller? I picked up some $30 pump at the LFS, but it barely trickled water into my chiller.

Hmmm, wonder if I should've hosed down the LR before placing it in the tank. Looks like there's mud all over the place.

Anyhow, this is my cloudy tank just a couple hours after adding water.

The big black chunks on the bottom is the mud I was talking about.

Apachie · #9 08/04/2007, 09:41 PM

lookin good
keep us informed

jlt23 · #10 08/05/2007, 12:44 AM

I use a MJ1200 for my nano chiller. I do have a separate pump for my chiller than my return. I haven't tried using the chiller pump for the return. Good luck.

SPARTAN VI · #11 08/05/2007, 04:42 PM

Having trouble locating a Maxi-Jet 1200. Is that a submersible pump?

How about a Rio Plus? http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113041

I'd have it pump through just under 10' of tubing. Is that what the "Max head" data is for?

NanoReefWanabe · #12 08/05/2007, 06:15 PM

rio's have a generally bad reputation...from what i have heard...

yes a MJ1200 is a submersible pump/power head it can be used inline aswell. like in my Closed loop..

"Max Head" is the height above the pump, that the pump can pump water...the vertical lift...beyond this height the pump will fail...either burn out or shut off or just do nothing...

as head pressure goes up the flow rate goes down...ie a MJ1200 is rated for 295gph@1' and at 3' it is around 150gph...

as for horizontal..i believe that every 4' is equivalent to 1' vertical..

Max jet power heads will be found in most LFS with the smaller rios and koralia pumps...

or you can easily goggle it and buy one online...

jlt23 · #13 08/05/2007, 11:02 PM

Maxi-jets are generally considered a power head so that's maybe why you can't find them. You can order them here http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...N=2004+113040.

SPARTAN VI · #14 08/05/2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jlt23
Maxi-jets are generally considered a power head so that's maybe why you can't find them. You can order them here http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...N=2004+113040.

Ah, thank you both.

As for the MJ1200, should I opt for the highest GPH? It'll be pumping through around 10' feet of tubing, going up and out of the tank, and a small vertical loop before it gets to the chiller (tubing is a little longer than it should be, but necessary when we move the tank).

Thanks!

jlt23 · #15 08/06/2007, 10:10 AM

My NC24 is on the JBJ stand with the chiller on the floor to the right. I have the MJ1200 in the third chamber and it pumps in to the chiller and all the way back to the third chamber. Works fine. You can't adjust the flow rate on the Maxi-jets. There's probably a better way of doing it than they way I have it plumbed, but it works. Good luck.

SPARTAN VI · #16 08/06/2007, 03:01 PM

Awesome, order placed.

danoreef · #17 08/07/2007, 02:54 PM

nice job. cant wait to see updates

ILM75Dodge · #18 08/07/2007, 03:32 PM

Nice tank were running similar equipment let me know how it works out!! The chiller works great for my tank!!

SPARTAN VI · #19 08/07/2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ILM75Dodge
Nice tank were running similar equipment let me know how it works out!! The chiller works great for my tank!!

Cool, how did you plumb your chiller? Did you use the jbj installation kit tubing, or buy your own tubing?

I've been out of town for the past few days. Well, since my set up actually. According to the parents, the tank has already cleared up, but they're reporting a feathery/web-like growth. I'm guessing they're describing hair algae.

Being this is only day 4, I'm not in a frantic rush to get rid of the pest... but would like to know what live stock I could add in the coming weeks to control this. If I remember correctly, some shrimp as well as surgeon fish eat hair algae (don't think 24g is enough for the latter, so I think shrimp will have to do).

Also put in an order for a couple more pieces of fiji LR. Just smaller pieces to stack on my larger ones.

ILM75Dodge · #20 08/08/2007, 01:04 PM

I ended up using the JBJ installation kit just because it seemed like the simplest way to do it!

SPARTAN VI · #21 08/08/2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ILM75Dodge
I ended up using the JBJ installation kit just because it seemed like the simplest way to do it!

Yeah, after buying some 20 ft of tubing, I'm starting to feel an itch to just buy the jbj kit. We'll see once the MJ1200 comes in. Thanks!

SPARTAN VI · #22 08/13/2007, 08:24 PM

Major set back. After getting my MJ1200, I hooked it up to the unpowered chiller to make sure everything was working. Well, the MJ1200 works perfectly, but something was apparently leaking. I didn't see anything coming from the hoses, so it must be the chiller as water was trickling out of the bottom (the feet, I guess).

Made a nice mess of things. Good thing it was on tile.

Second problem, I got back from my vacation to find a ton of brown algae. I can only guess they're diatoms, even though my family's been turning the HQI lamp every morning, and turning it off every night. Should I just let it run its course and exhaust its supply?

Thanks!

Jamie1210 · #23 08/13/2007, 09:04 PM

Hi, I was wondering where you got your 150 watt light/canopy from? I love the closed top look, but the ones that I've seen are always open top.

thanks!
Jamie

SPARTAN VI · #24 08/14/2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamie1210
Hi, I was wondering where you got your 150 watt light/canopy from? I love the closed top look, but the ones that I've seen are always open top.

thanks!
Jamie

I purchased it from a coworker who owns Tropicalfishoutlet.com. One of reefcentral's sponsors. I don't believe he sells it on his website, but he was able to put this entire package together for me.

ILM75Dodge · #25 08/14/2007, 01:51 PM

Did you get the chiller set up well? after the set backs?