Hello Every One This Is My First Post

[john.o]

Hello every one

This is my first post on this site all though I have been reading the threads for a while now.
Very good reading {excellent forum }

There is odviosoly a lot of very experienced keepers willing to offer there advice on this site that’s why I have joined

I am looking at getting a jbj d-d 24G nano cube from calico aquatics in cumbria
http/www.calicoaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/D...m_Solution.html

They supply the Nano Cube and Cabinet & 12 kilos of Cured Live Rock + cured water for £349
I would like any advice on protein skimmers extra power heads ect and any known problems or mods that should be made with this set up

Also stoking level
I was think of
A clown fish
A blue damsel
A boxer shrimp
+ corals
Any suggestions would be much appreciated

 

[csjasona]

One thing to do when you get it is to make the holes for cables at the rear of the hood assembly a bit bigger. When supplied it is only large enough for one cable and as soon as you add a heater and extra water pumps etc, the hole is too small and the hood will compress the cables. You can make the holes bigger with a sharp hacksaw, and cut slowly.

You will need extra waterflow - either with a nano Tunze powerhead or similar.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome

If the shop is selling cured water then find somewhere else to shop. There is no such thing. Cured rock yes, cured water no.
You can use natural seawater for the tank or make up your own using artificial marine salts mixed with tap water. Aerate it for 24-48hours and it is ready to use.

A pair of clownfish, shrimp & corals will be fine but watch the damsels. Most of them can be trouble. Also in that size tank the clownfish will take it over when they mature and chase or kill any other fish they consider a threat.

 

[Nim]

I would have thought a 24 gallon may be a bit too small for a pair of clowns? but then I am not experienced in saltwater yet

Nim

 

[Morn]

I would have thought a 24 gallon may be a bit too small for a pair of clowns? but then I am not experienced in saltwater yet

Nim

People keep a pair of clowns in 10g US tanks, this will be plenty big enough if water changes etc are kept up.

 

[john.o]

One thing to do when you get it is to make the holes for cables at the rear of the hood assembly a bit bigger. When supplied it is only large enough for one cable and as soon as you add a heater and extra water pumps etc, the hole is too small and the hood will compress the cables. You can make the holes bigger with a sharp hacksaw, and cut slowly.

You will need extra waterflow - either with a nano Tunze powerhead or similar.

Thanks Jason
Grate tip never thought of that will def have to do because was thinking off putting a V2 120 NANO SKIMMER in and also another power head

 

[john.o]

Hello colin
Sorry for the confusion I said that the shop would supply the Nano Cube and Cabinet & 12 kilos of Cured Live Rock + cured water what I meant was mature water out of there main display tank
Also thanks for the advice on the fish that has given me some thing to think about , I was looking to go down a nemo type theme for my children { a clown fish and a blue damsel as a replacement for a regal tang ect}

 

[john.o]

I would have thought a 24 gallon may be a bit too small for a pair of clowns? but then I am not experienced in saltwater yet

Nim

People keep a pair of clowns in 10g US tanks, this will be plenty big enough if water changes etc are kept up.

hello morn
how much water would you recommend I change I was think 2.5G a week also how long can I keep it in a container the shop has given me 14g to much

 

[Crazy fishes]

Welcome
If you shop on the internet for your tank and cabinet you can save a packet! I recommend 1st4aquatics.com that is the cheapest I have found it for; £220. If you look on there DON'T buy the starter pack it is rubbish. I made that mistake since I have recently just started my 24g D&D; the salt they supply is old stock (it was removed from the market because it is so bad) and you will have nothing but trouble with the water chemistry. The test kits well less say it's more accurate to guess and £60 for a swing arm hydrometers is really what you are paying for. The tank and cabinet are fine (touch wood).

Many people, if you read, replace the stock pump with a maxijet 1200 but it's not necessary. I left the stock pump in and added extra flow with a Hydor koralia nano which is working great. The thing here is you may need to get another little pump so that your turnover is about 25x/hour.

100W heater should suffice.

Stock filter can be left in works fine but needs to be cleaned every month or so. SH, one of the moderators, has turned the middle chamber into a refugium which is a really good idea. He swears by it and so do many others. I'm sure if you look for Crazy fishes thread 'From the beginning' he showed me how to in there. Since I got some macroalgae in my tank it has been transformed, but that is just my experience.

You don't want old tank water, it is full of nasties that is why they are removing it from their tank!! Get R/O water (either buy it or get a R/O unit) and mix fresh saltwater yourself. Buy a decent salt; good examples are seachem reef salt or reef crystals.

Buy live rock from your local fish shop; it is the best way to buy it. Get about 15kgs it pays in the long run.
Get live sand enough for about 1.0-1.5 inch deep bed, add rock first to tank and then place sand around. In theory it is more stable and you use less sand which is slightly cheaper.

Run your tank with your salt water for a day or two before getting the rock and sand. Once the rock and sand are in you will have started to cycle.

Before any of this though..... go away and do a load more reading because the one thing I have learnt is that rushing and marine tanks just don't mix!!
Try reefkeeping.com for more information; I really like this site.

Hope this helps and any more questions just ask

Kindest regards