12 gallon nano cube mod

Indermark · 06/13/2006, 09:14 PM

Today while I was at work I was thinking about doing some maintence on my nano cube. I started thinking about how I hate all the sponges that was in the back. I got an idea to take one sponge out and replace it with live rock rubble. The sponge I took out was the closest one to the power head pumping the water out of the back. Is this gonna do any good? I was thinking it would have to aid in filtration as all live rock does. Has anyone else done this? Should I keep the ceramic media in there as well or pitch it? Anyone have any other mod ideas?

Ryan

BubbaPhish · 06/14/2006, 01:20 AM

Your best bet is to remove all media from the back filtration areas and go with the live rock. the ceramnic rings and even the sponges can lead to nitrate problems down the road. There is a small protein skimmer that will fit in there but I have heard mixed reviews on it. It is called the fission skimmer from Current USA. It's about $30. But in a nano cube weekly waterchanges should keep everything in check ( is what I do, I change 5 gal. a week in mine)

As far as mods there are a ton of things you can do from lighting to increasing water flow, ect. Check out the nano tank forums or do a osearch on nano cube mods.

HTH,

Bubbaphish

Indermark · 06/14/2006, 06:48 AM

I have all ready removed the bio balls and have replaced the powerhead that came with it. I replaced it with one that was a little more powerful. Even with all the sponges in there my Nitrates have been very low. Which surprises me. I guess I should have posted this in the nano tank forums. I tried using the search button, but it never works for me.

Thanks

Ryan

newnano · 06/14/2006, 09:27 AM

i always used just one small sponge to catch the stuff coming over the overflow. it keeps your pumps cleaner. besure to wash it out ever cpl days. personally i would not put LR in the back. my buddy did this and it made things worse. a ton of detritus was back there. keep up on the water changes

Indermark · 06/14/2006, 10:16 AM

I am going to leave in the first two sponges in the first section to collect large debris from the water. I have another sponge currently in the next chamber with live rock on top of that. The next chamber I have the ceramic media, along with a purigen bag with live rock in that as well. Even with all four sponges in there, there is still alot of detritus in the back. Its rediculous how they designed this type of tank/system. To remove the sponges you have to get your hand in a little hole that smashes the sponge taking it out leaving behind lots of detritus. The search button was actually working earlier and I could not find any info on doing mods on a 12 gallon nano anyone got any ideas on how to get the sponges out without them getting squeezed?

Ryan

06/13/2006, 09:14 PM	#1
Indermark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Troy, Illinois Posts: 670	12 gallon nano cube mod Today while I was at work I was thinking about doing some maintence on my nano cube. I started thinking about how I hate all the sponges that was in the back. I got an idea to take one sponge out and replace it with live rock rubble. The sponge I took out was the closest one to the power head pumping the water out of the back. Is this gonna do any good? I was thinking it would have to aid in filtration as all live rock does. Has anyone else done this? Should I keep the ceramic media in there as well or pitch it? Anyone have any other mod ideas? Ryan

06/14/2006, 01:20 AM	#2
BubbaPhish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sumter, S.C. Posts: 317	Your best bet is to remove all media from the back filtration areas and go with the live rock. the ceramnic rings and even the sponges can lead to nitrate problems down the road. There is a small protein skimmer that will fit in there but I have heard mixed reviews on it. It is called the fission skimmer from Current USA. It's about $30. But in a nano cube weekly waterchanges should keep everything in check ( is what I do, I change 5 gal. a week in mine) As far as mods there are a ton of things you can do from lighting to increasing water flow, ect. Check out the nano tank forums or do a osearch on nano cube mods. HTH, Bubbaphish

06/14/2006, 06:48 AM	#3
Indermark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Troy, Illinois Posts: 670	I have all ready removed the bio balls and have replaced the powerhead that came with it. I replaced it with one that was a little more powerful. Even with all the sponges in there my Nitrates have been very low. Which surprises me. I guess I should have posted this in the nano tank forums. I tried using the search button, but it never works for me. Thanks Ryan

06/14/2006, 09:27 AM	#4
newnano Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NWI Posts: 720	i always used just one small sponge to catch the stuff coming over the overflow. it keeps your pumps cleaner. besure to wash it out ever cpl days. personally i would not put LR in the back. my buddy did this and it made things worse. a ton of detritus was back there. keep up on the water changes

06/14/2006, 10:16 AM	#5
Indermark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Troy, Illinois Posts: 670	I am going to leave in the first two sponges in the first section to collect large debris from the water. I have another sponge currently in the next chamber with live rock on top of that. The next chamber I have the ceramic media, along with a purigen bag with live rock in that as well. Even with all four sponges in there, there is still alot of detritus in the back. Its rediculous how they designed this type of tank/system. To remove the sponges you have to get your hand in a little hole that smashes the sponge taking it out leaving behind lots of detritus. The search button was actually working earlier and I could not find any info on doing mods on a 12 gallon nano anyone got any ideas on how to get the sponges out without them getting squeezed? Ryan