Nano Cube (24g) Questions

[kevinrepeat]

What is a good ATO and where to buy it at? WHat about the lighting for the refuge chamber? Are those bubbles mentioned above a normal good thing?

 

[nanocubeking]

JBJ, they make them Ato's I mean. Check steelhealrs thread he talks about a light for the refuge. I dont think bubbles should take 2 hours to go away. It's something that doesnt ring a bell. I wouldnt keep the bio-balls either. And I read badlandz post.... take out some water and then add the rock.

 

[kevinrepeat]

I'll take a look at the ATO's. When that media or pump is messed with in the back there is salt or sand that spits out into the front. This normally doesn't happen is that right? I should be able to change media and/or mess with the chambers without it affecting the front and making everything cloudy. Should I drain it and re mix the salt or something?

 

[nanocubeking]

There is something wrong some where maybe you could take out all the media and wash it off. Its hard to mess with the stuff in the back and not blow out bubbles. Let the tank run for a few days and see if it keeps doing that. HOw long has it been set up?

 

[kevinrepeat]

I just set it up this past Sunday. I actually had all the media out and washed all of it and put it back in and then tried it again today and it did the samething.

 

[nanocubeking]

Thats weird. Put your hand out if front of the outlet for the pump and mess with the stuff in the back. See if it feels like anything or is still just the water on your hand.

 

[kevinrepeat]

It doesn't feel like anything is coming out except just the water. When I pull out a sponge or mess with the stuff back there, the chambers cloud up with what looks like sand or salt and then it blows it out into the tank. Should I drain all the water and start over or what would be the best thing to do?

 

[nanocubeking]

EEEhhh.... I really don't know what to do I could be excess debris. Turn off the pumps off and mess with stuff then turn the pumps back on and see if it still does it.

 

[kevinrepeat]

I've tried that too. I've rinsed the media and just about everything I could think of. It seems like I'll have to drain it and start over or something. Maybe I shouldn't have mixed the salt in the tank

 

[Crazy fishes]

I mixed the salt in the tank and my water is clear. Well it was until the river shrimp I have in there started commiting suicide!!! They are fanatical about jumping into the filter and getting sucked through the pump. Now my tank has a lovely marine snow effect (chucks of obliterated shrimp ) which is not going to be good with regards water chemistry.

Why not do a 10% water change and wash all the media in the tank water you removed. Then you can replace in along with some fresh SW. Just an idea!!

Regards

 

[kevinrepeat]

I tried that and I rinsed all the media but whenever I mess with anything in the chambers in fogs up the tank. I just drained the whole thing and thought I'd start over. So, what would be the best way for mixing salt or adding sand and Live rock?

 

[steelhealr]

You mix the water and salt FIRST. If you put live sand in and than add WATER.....that could kill the bacteria.

1) Mix water and salt and let cure for a day or 2....check s.g. and adjust to the level that you want.
2) Remove 1/3rd of the SW and save it and add your LR directly to the glass bottom...just a base layer
3) Fill in around the LR with 1/2-1 1/2" of sand
4) add the rest of the LR and aquascape
5) refill with the SW
6) cycle...let the dust settle; turkey baste off the LR to remove dust

There are many other ways to do this.

SH

 

[kevinrepeat]

Hello Steel
I appreciate the help!
So, is the sand that I originally had in the tank ruined since I mixed the salt and water inside the tank? Just to be sure should I just not use that batch of sand? When mixing the salt, I have two 5 gallon buckets, so I'll need to add a few of these after the buckets have been sitting for a couple days, right?

When cycling does the media need to be left inside the chambers?

 

[steelhealr]

If you mix your first batch of SW..do it in the tank......no need for buckets the first time. You should only need one 5 G Home Depot red bucket. Use the sand. You can use the media that came with the setup...I'd just remove the charcoal and sponges after cycling and change to what you prefer. SH