NewB with 28g nano Cube HQI

[rkaiser]

Hi all, I have been browsing a number of sites, and all of you have such great suggestions. I can't begin to tell you how much money you have saved me already just by sharing your experiences. THANK YOU.

I am picking up my nano on the 26th. My reason for getting into the hobby is rather unique. My daughter has SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) and is speech delayed. In short, her brain does not process things the way the average person does. We were recently at the eye doctor, and she was completely mesmerized by a reef tank they had there. When I mentioned it to the doctor, he said her brain was most likely stimulated by the vast color variations. Needless to say, I began my research. She will be 5 on the 26th. I know I won't be able to stock the tank for a few weeks at minimum, but I can't wait to see her reaction. I will be setting it up on the 26th, but still have to get my hands on live rock, I have everything else. A friend of mine mentioned people are selling LR all the time on here, but I thought maybe you guys had some store suggestions. I think 30-35lbs should be enough. I'll most likely check out hidden reef, and a few local stores to work in Union NJ.

Thanks for all the great input, and I look forward to reading more of your posts.

Thanks,
Ron

 

[REEFLECTIONS]

i for one, cannot wait to see this thread develope...

 

[Candi]

Welcome Ron (and your little girl). I hope that both you and your daughter enjoy the tank you're setting up and also can't wait to see how it progresses along. Once you're cycled and settled and ready to start adding corals let me know, I have at least a couple I can frag for you guys (free of charge, I have a soon to be 5 yr old daughter myself and love to see them enjoying and learning about reefs).

Do you have any stocking plans? Specific corals or fish?

Looking forward to updates!

Candi (& Aliya 3/31/04)

 

[Hawkeye]

welcome ron - I'll be tagging along to see how your tank goes. It's a great reason to build a tank and hopefully we can help you avoid all the common pitfalls everyone else goes thru.

If you haven't purchased equipment for your nano (test kits, food, etc.) - you could join our group buy with premium aquatics. I see you have already signed up to be a part of this family - I mean club. Welcome!

 

[rkaiser]

Candi, Hawkeye Reflections, thanks for the warm welcome. I hope you are all settled in for the holiday season. I am sure Aliya is enjoying it. I have become immune to watching Frosty several times a day

This will make you laugh, but I haven't thought that far ahead concerning the stocking of the tank. A friend of mine (Dan Javan), who is also a member here, put together a NewB must have list. So I am confident in the mechanics. As far as Coral, all I know is, the more color the better for Jessica. I saw a great example here: http://www.planetrj.com/reefaquarium/docs/aquarium/biocube/20080312biocube.JPG. I am finding it a little challenging to name them all. I guess that is part of the fun, the learning and experimentation. I am starting to put together a list of items, of course for any little girl; a clown fish has to go in there. If you have any suggestions, I am open to anything. Thank you so much for your generous offer.

I will be sure to update the post with the progression and will definitely hop on board with the group buys, if you guys don't mind me tagging along hahahaha.

Item List:
Nano-Cube HQI Aquarium 28g
Big Digital Temp Alert
Visi-Therm Stealth Heater 100W
Visi-Therm Stealth Heater 150W
Portable Refractometer
Maxi-Jet Powerhead/Pump (295gph) Model 1200
Glass Only Mag-Float 30g tank
Arag-Alive 20LB Bag Fiji-Pink
Tropic Marin Pro-Reef 200 gallons
Python No Spill Clean 'N Fill siphon
Top-it-Off Kit **Deluxe**- DIY KIT
3" FISH NET
RedSea Reef Lab
RID-VOLT GROUNDING PROBE
GCIF outlet, a 8 plug power strip
Aquamend epoxy, and adhesive gel.
1" PVC pipe

This is everything I have or that is on its way. I do need about 30-35lbs of Live Rock, the recommendation was Fiji. Know anyone that has some? We are filling the tank on the 26th and am willing to drive for pick up. I threw a note in the members trade/sale section. If you see anything I might have missed, please, I am open to all suggestions.

 

[Candi]

I'll let others chime in on the supplies. Yes, you'll likely need a "nemo" LOL other colorful fish might include a purple firefish (probably my favorite nano fish) and the color would play nicely off the orange in the clown, a royal gramma is another very pretty choice (purple & yellow/orange) both of these fish should be out in the open most of the time. A skunk cleaner shrimp is great, bright white and red and mine is also very animated and out in the open (I allow my daughter to stick her finger in the tank, only when I allow and have washed her hands well obviously, and the shrimp runs up and climbs on her hand which she thinks is the neatest thing ever).

Google frogspawn & hammer if you're not familiar, I know I'll have some of each you're welcome to...and I still have some of my neon green tyree le toadstools which I didn't sell yet and will surely have one or a frag I can share (which you can see here http://picasaweb.google.com/candi.daitch/ReefStuff?feat=directlink they are a great brilliant neon green, you might even end up with your clown hosting it, mine did)

Some of the corals in the link you posted and mushrooms and ricordias, both great options for a beginner as they are easy to keep and very colorful... check out www.sealifeinc.net when you're ready, won't find better priced gorgeous ricordias or a nicer seller and priority mail shipping charge can't be beat <grin>

-C

 

[rkaiser]

Thanks for the tip. This site http://aquamasteraquariums.com.au/pages.php?page=corals had some good pics, with the names and particular needs of the coral. I like the fish you suggested, I am also looking at a Flame Angel, and yellow tail Blue Damsel as well, but will take things slow.

What I have read, the Flame Angel needs a mature tank (6 months) with enough algae to sustain it, and the Damsel might be a little on the aggressive side. Both seem properly sized for the tank.

I am just running through a checklist I made for myself, so I can get setup to cycle on the 26th. This is a little more intimidating then my Koi pond construction.

 

[Candi]

flame angels are beautiful, but very hit or miss with the nasty habit of eating corals... I'd stay away, you'd hate to become attached to your beautiful corals only to have the fish eat them... become attached to the fish and have it eat your corals. A damsel is another pretty but risky choice, even clowns in smaller tanks can cause issues as they age (had to sell the one from my 24g aquapod as it started harassing my firefish) so personally I wouldn't try a damsel, you read more stories about people trying to remove them then any other fish.

 

[REEFLECTIONS]

i'm with candi, i have a couple little frags i would be happy to throw in to keep candi's frags company... ;D

 

[Candi]

Checking in, today is the big day right? Let us know if you need any tips or pointers on the initial setup. If you want to avoid a sandstorm add your water in slowly either pumping it into the rear chambers and letting it flow out slowly through the grills, or you can pour it in over a plate or similar placed at an angle down to the sand, if you do it slowly enough you'll barely have any clouding of the tank, any you do can be removed even quicker by adding some filter floss (ie polyfill) in the rear by the grills

 

[rkaiser]

Well, have some bad news. Not everything was shipped and of course it is a few of the critical items. I called FedEx and they said their office is running on a skeleton crew today(Friday), and they may be able to give me an update on tracking Saturday, but chances are packages will not arrive until Monday. I didn't want to waste Dan's time, so I figured, we will meet up Monday to put everything together. I also managed to get some live rock from a buddy of his for 2.00/lb. So things will happen Monday. Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure and pour slowly, and see if I can't filter the water in through the back. Hope you all had a great holiday. Talk to you soon.

 

[qwik]

I also have some frags for you,free of course . I can frag you a few different colorful zoo's and I have frags of pulsing xenia your welcome to . I'll also look around to see what else I can prune if your interested .Have fun building your reef .

 

[rkaiser]

The Build:

Lighting test:

Aquascaping: Does anyone else see the skull on the right?

Adding Water: Sorry, its a little blurry

Tank 12 hours later:

The tank is currently at 75 degrees and rising. I am working on my DIY auto fill, and a few other things this morning. Thank you all so much for the encouragement and frag offers. My daughter has been starring at the tank. I can't wait to see her reaction when the coral, and fish are in there.

 

[danthemanj]

Ron,

Welcome to NJRC and the reef hobby (or as my wife calls it, the reef obsession). The tank looks great. You will find a ton of information and help out here so if in doubt or need of help, all you have to do is ask. You will probably get more free frags than you could possibly fit into your nano, good excuse for an upgrade ;-)

Dan

 

[Candi]

Yippie it's starting! How live is your rock, notice anything creeping around yet (check at night after the lights are off with a flashlight)? You'll likely be amazed at how many hours you'll find yourself sitting and staring into a "empty" tank LOL

 

[Hawkeye]

The tank is currently at 75 degrees and rising. I am working on my DIY auto fill, and a few other things this morning. Thank you all so much for the encouragement and frag offers. My daughter has been starring at the tank. I can't wait to see her reaction when the coral, and fish are in there.

Hey - you know - you look just like another member named danthemanj. WOW.

;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[rkaiser]

ha ha, I know, but somebody had to take the picture. Besides, Dan deserves alot of credit. Besides helping me pick the right items and saving me a bunch of money (by changing my car insurance to geico ) He was there bright and early working on the system with me. Thanks again Dan.

 

[malulu]

Candi,
the live rock was from my sump... they are very live... Dan also scoop up a cup of many live bugs/pods/live-sand from my tank too.


Ron,
Once your tank is ready to add stuff, I already told Dan that you can have a 3-4 heads frogspawn, some mushrooms and some zoas from my tank.


have fun on your quest...

 

[ricwilli]

Can't wait to see it up and running. Ron, let me know when is ready. I have a few frags to give you and your daughter. Your daughter is very lucky to have a DAD like you.

 

[Candi]

So are you guys expecting much of a cycle? I'm assuming you didn't have the rock out of water very long and shouldn't really see much if any of a cycle.