Coral Keepers 28 gallon Nano-Cube HQI diary.

[Eddiecorrea]

$3 each? LMK if that's too high and we can work something out.

I'll give you $9 each.:thm:

[GregAW]

I'll give you $9 each.:thm:

Plus shipping and handling? :jaw: :evil_lol:

[Eddiecorrea]

Plus shipping and handling? :jaw: :evil_lol:

Yup. Just so you cant get them.:evil_lol:

[GregAW]

No S&H required, I can drive over and pick up in about 30 minutes. Less if the traffic is light. ;)

[Eddiecorrea]

But I will still pay $9 per shroom and cover the shipping and handling. Muhahahaha.

[Coral Keeper]

But I will still pay $9 per shroom and cover the shipping and handling. Muhahahaha.
Really? LOL

[Eddiecorrea]

Really? LOL

If it keeps them out of Greg's slimy little paws then yes. lol jk. But if I lived down there I would. Thats a good price for a shroom that good looking and that big.

[GregAW]

If it keeps them out of Greg's slimy little paws then yes. lol jk. But if I lived down there I would. Thats a good price for a shroom that good looking and that big.

Slimy paws huh? You don't even know me. Oh well, he'll have more. Your tank is set up, small as it is. :D and I have another jet boat to build and it'll take me a few weeks to get my tank up and running and then a month to cycle it properly.

[Eddiecorrea]

Slimy paws huh? You don't even know me. Oh well, he'll have more. Your tank is set up, small as it is. :D and I have another jet boat to build and it'll take me a few weeks to get my tank up and running and then a month to cycle it properly.

lol. Im just messin. They are all yours. But you better hurry because if for some reason I make it down there for business Im not leaving without them unless they are already in your tank. I have 3 tanks. A 55 gallon, a 10 gallon, and a 5.5 gallon. So I wouldnt say the 55 is small. Its medium lol.

[GregAW]

Eddie, I don't even have my tank set up yet so if you want some go for it. I've got 3 aquariums, none of which are set up. I've also got 4 other tanks but they hold fuel for the boats. Approximately 50 gals. total. :D

[GregAW]

Here are a couple of shots of some rock I picked up this evening. It's not live but has some nice shapes. Sorry the arches and small caves don't show up.

[Coral Keeper]

You have everything to set up the tank and you didn't set up the tank yet?? That's a sin! lol

[GregAW]

It's the space in the living room that I have to make. Not to mention take out the carpet and lay down some sort of hard surface flooring. Also want to put in a drain in case an accident happens and I need to drain down the tank. I've got a honey-do list that won't quit. I've got too many things I need to get done and too many hobbies to keep up with. 2 CNC machines, one in the build stage, 2 jet boats to be restored, and others. I hope to be able to set up the tank in the next week or so.

[Eddiecorrea]

Well I would put those bad boys in a tub of saltwater now to start the curing of them.

[GregAW]

I'm going to try to get to that tomorrow or Sunday. I've got a 30 gal. Rubber Maid container ready for doing just that. That's only a part of the rock I have on hand. SOme of the stuff I have is base rock and I thought I would break it into smaller pieces for the sump.

[deadon2]

Reading this blog has been enjoyable, and informative. I'm tempted to use this as a roadmap for migrating from freshwater/planted, to marine/reef. CoKe, what is your weekly (daily?) maintenance regimen? I've heard that tanks this size require constant monitoring. Do you agree?

[Coral Keeper]

Reading this blog has been enjoyable, and informative. I'm tempted to use this as a roadmap for migrating from freshwater/planted, to marine/reef. CoKe, what is your weekly (daily?) maintenance regimen? I've heard that tanks this size require constant monitoring. Do you agree?
I clean the glass daily to keep it as clean as possible(not necessary to clean the glass daily), dose cal and alk daily, feed the fish daily(not necessary to feed daily), and do weekly water changes. That's it. No, its really easy to maintain.

[Eddiecorrea]

I clean the glass daily to keep it as clean as possible(not necessary to clean the glass daily), dose cal and alk daily, feed the fish daily(not necessary to feed daily), and do weekly water changes. That's it. No, its really easy to maintain.


Same routine here. Although I feed everyother day.

My tanks except for one are smaller. I have a 55reef, 10reef and a 3reef. All are selfsustaining. No filtration or anything. Just LR and LS and a good CUC. I dont clean my glass daily because I like coraline. Although its out of control on my 10gallon. I need to work on that lol.

[Coral Keeper]

Although its out of control on my 10gallon. I need to work on that lol.
lol That's good it aint out of control in my tank because I clean the back too, which would be a pain in the but if coraline was out of control. lol

[Eddiecorrea]

I love the look but my front on the 10gal is pretty covered. I need to take a razor blade to some of it. But I also have a wall of xenia growing too so I cant really use the magfloat all that much. And Im still waiting on my nimble.

[GregAW]

Where's your thread about your tanks?

[suekim]

I clean the glass daily to keep it as clean as possible(not necessary to clean the glass daily), dose cal and alk daily, feed the fish daily(not necessary to feed daily), and do weekly water changes. That's it. No, its really easy to maintain.

How long do you have the lights on in your tank daily. I also have a bit of a coraline issue and the back of my 29 gal nano is nearly covered. I didn't think that it was a problem (kinda looks cool) although I was told that could be the reason I am having a hard time keeping the calcium up. Maybe I need to go on a scraping spree?

[Coral Keeper]

How long do you have the lights on in your tank daily. I also have a bit of a coraline issue and the back of my 29 gal nano is nearly covered. I didn't think that it was a problem (kinda looks cool) although I was told that could be the reason I am having a hard time keeping the calcium up. Maybe I need to go on a scraping spree?
My MH is on 9 hours a day. I just clean the back and front before the coraline has a chance to growing. Yeah, coraline takes up calcium.

[Coral Keeper]

Forgot to mention that I got some Seachem Reef salt and 2 damsels a couple of days ago. I also just came back from a LFS and I got E.S.V B-Ionic 2 part and I also traded with a local reefer and got a acan!http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/images/smilies/bigg.gif Will post pictures later today.

[TURBO_CORAL]

Ok, interesting (yet long) read on your nano-cube. I have a few questions if you don't mind.


1. I noticed you lifted the hood off the tank, i was wondering why exactly you needed to do that.

2. After having this tank setup for the past 6 months i would like to ask how happy are you with it? pros/cons?

3. I noticed you got a new bulb for the tank shortly after setting it up; what was the major reason for the bulb change?

4. How often do you maintenance the filter system?

5. At my LFS they had this setup with the stand for $500 does that seam like a reasonable price?



You tank looks amazing, i have a 120gal tank now, but i am looking to perhaps buy one of these to start on corals. Thanks for any help or advice you have to offer.

[TURBO_CORAL]

Forgot to mention that I got some Seachem Reef salt and 2 damsels a couple of days ago. I also just came back from a LFS and I got E.S.V B-Ionic 2 part and I also traded with a local reefer and got a acan!http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/images/smilies/bigg.gif Will post pictures later today.


Damsels can really be aggressive towards other fish, not to mention once they are in your tank they can be very hard to remove.

[Coral Keeper]

Ok, interesting (yet long) read on your nano-cube. I have a few questions if you don't mind.


1. I noticed you lifted the hood off the tank, i was wondering why exactly you needed to do that.

2. After having this tank setup for the past 6 months i would like to ask how happy are you with it? pros/cons?

3. I noticed you got a new bulb for the tank shortly after setting it up; what was the major reason for the bulb change?

4. How often do you maintenance the filter system?

5. At my LFS they had this setup with the stand for $500 does that seam like a reasonable price?



You tank looks amazing, i have a 120gal tank now, but i am looking to perhaps buy one of these to start on corals. Thanks for any help or advice you have to offer.

1.So my tank wont over heat.

2.Yes, I am extremely happy with this tank.

3.I didn't like how my tank looked with the stock bulb.(too yellow for my taste)

4.My main filtration is chaeto, live rock, and live sand. I have the stock skimmer and a single filter pad that I clean weekly. The only reason I have the filter pad is so that light from my fuge wont go into the DT through the overflow.

5.That's a great deal!!!


Thanks! Sweet! Don't forget to post pictures if you do get a nano!

[Coral Keeper]

Damsels can really be aggressive towards other fish, not to mention once they are in your tank they can be very hard to remove.

I know. They are in my 8 gallon biocube and they are the only fish in there.

[TURBO_CORAL]

1.So my tank wont over heat.

2.Yes, I am extremely happy with this tank.

3.I didn't like how my tank looked with the stock bulb.(too yellow for my taste)

4.My main filtration is chaeto, live rock, and live sand. I have the stock skimmer and a single filter pad that I clean weekly. The only reason I have the filter pad is so that light from my fuge wont go into the DT through the overflow.

5.That's a great deal!!!


Thanks! Sweet! Don't forget to post pictures if you do get a nano!

I assumed that was why you lifted the light, it seems like a poor design if that is the result when used properly. The LFS has them cheaper then i can find online to it looks like that is where i will buy this unit. How often do you feed this tank?


I'll post pics if/when i pick this up.


BTW what bank did you have to rob to afford all of that coral. LOL

[Coral Keeper]

I assumed that was why you lifted the light, it seems like a poor design if that is the result when used properly. The LFS has them cheaper then i can find online to it looks like that is where i will buy this unit. How often do you feed this tank?


I'll post pics if/when i pick this up.


BTW what bank did you have to rob to afford all of that coral. LOL
Normally if you don't raise the hood yourself, you need to buy a chiller unless your going to put the tank in your basement. I feed my fish every other day.


Ok.


I robed a big bank. :evil_lol:

[TURBO_CORAL]

Normally if you don't raise the hood yourself, you need to buy a chiller unless your going to put the tank in your basement.


Where your tank it located; what would you say the average room temp is?


What i am trying to figure out is if i buy this tank and keep it in a room that is normally between 70-77 degrees would i need to mod this unit.


What kind of fresh water top off units do you guys use?

[Coral Keeper]

Where your tank it located; what would you say the average room temp is?


What i am trying to figure out is if i buy this tank and keep it in a room that is normally between 70-77 degrees would i need to mod this unit.


What kind of fresh water top off units do you guys use?
My tank is in the living room and the temp varies a really lot. From 66F in the winter to 84F in the summer.


I think you will need a pretty good fan in the back during the summer.


I have a RO/DI unit.

Here is a link to a really good thread.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1492246&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

[Coral Keeper]

Here is a picture I took 5 minutes ago.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/terrariumman/Picture154-1.jpg

[GregAW]

Looks darn nice!!!!

[dirtydawg10]

Looks great!

[Coral Keeper]

Thanks!! :D

[TURBO_CORAL]

Your tank looks amazing.




ok so when do you get a brain coral?

[Coral Keeper]

Your tank looks amazing.




ok so when do you get a brain coral?
Thanks! :D



I'm not going to get a brain coral because I don't have any room. LOL

[GregAW]

I've got a long way to go and a long time to get there. Your green plant sure seems to be growing well.

[Coral Keeper]

I've got a long way to go and a long time to get there. Your green plant sure seems to be growing well.
Yeah, the most important thing in this hobby is patience. Yeah, I can give you some if you want. lol

[Coral Keeper]

Just thought I'd share a picture of the Sweet Tooth Micro.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/terrariumman/Picture192-1.jpg

[GregAW]

I'll wait for my display tank to get set up first. Thanks!

[Coral Keeper]

Here is a picture of the Lava Flow Chalice
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/terrariumman/Picture254-1.jpg

[GregAW]

Those are nice. I need to go find some coral plugs to mount some of mine to. One of these days we might do some trading. :)

[Coral Keeper]

Those are nice. I need to go find some coral plugs to mount some of mine to. One of these days we might do some trading. :)
Thanks! Yeah.

[Coral Keeper]

Well, I have a few updates! I got a CPR Bakpak 2 skimmer!http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/images/smilies/party.gifhttp://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/images/smilies/banana.gif

[GregAW]

Well, I have a few updates! I got a CPR Bakpak 2 skimmer!http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/images/smilies/party.gifhttp://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/images/smilies/banana.gif

And?????

[Coral Keeper]

And?????
Its very nice!! It added a gallon to my tank! :D

[Coral Keeper]

Here are a few pictures of the skimmer! :D
BEFORE I cleaned it.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/terrariumman/Picture478.jpg



AFTER. :D
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/terrariumman/Picture482.jpg

[GregAW]

How long did it take to get that dirty?

[Coral Keeper]

How long did it take to get that dirty?
No, it was like that when I bought it. I only got it yesterday night. lol I set it up, then cleaned it. lol

[HeebyJeeby]

Yikes! Just gone trough all 56 pages on this post.

I first came across this post way back last summer when I was looking for info on the HQI 28 but had to put a hold on my fish keeping until now - and after a few hours managed to track this thread down again.

It's been great reading about your experiences and It's definitely helped in me staying with my original decision - just about to pay for a HQI now. It's new but the seller isn't sure if all the parts are with it as it's was won in a competition.

Let's hope it's all there, as I can have it tomorrow.

[GregAW]

No, it was like that when I bought it. I only got it yesterday night. lol I set it up, then cleaned it. lol

OH, I thought you bought it new. Cool!

[Coral Keeper]

Yikes! Just gone trough all 56 pages on this post.

I first came across this post way back last summer when I was looking for info on the HQI 28 but had to put a hold on my fish keeping until now - and after a few hours managed to track this thread down again.

It's been great reading about your experiences and It's definitely helped in me staying with my original decision - just about to pay for a HQI now. It's new but the seller isn't sure if all the parts are with it as it's was won in a competition.

Let's hope it's all there, as I can have it tomorrow.
Nice!! Can't wait for pictures! :D

[Coral Keeper]

OH, I thought you bought it new. Cool!
lol I got it used from a local reefer. :D

[GregAW]

lol I got it used from a local reefer. :D

That's cool! Looked like new after you cleaned it up.

[Coral Keeper]

That's cool! Looked like new after you cleaned it up.
I'll take that as a compliment. :D

[GregAW]

It was. How is it working?

[Coral Keeper]

It was. How is it working?
Ty. Its working really well!! Its skimming out a bunch of dark gunk.

[GregAW]

Ok, PHOTOS!!! :D

[Coral Keeper]

Ok, PHOTOS!!! :D
I'll try to take a few today. :)

[Coral Keeper]

Here are a few pictures of the CPR BakPak 2 skimmer that I took 5 minutes ago. :D
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/terrariumman/Picture513.jpg
Here is a picture of the collection cup. As you can see, it skimmed out a ton of nasty dark gunk. That's about 3.5-4 days worth of skimmat.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/terrariumman/Picture526.jpg

[GregAW]

That's a cool light box there. :D I replaced my SeaClone 100 skimmer with the AcquaC Remora.

[Coral Keeper]

Thanks! :D Nice!! Don't forget to post pictures! :D

[GregAW]

I will over in my Frag to Reef thread. I don't want to high jack your log. :D

[Coral Keeper]

I will over in my Frag to Reef thread. I don't want to high jack your log. :D
Ok. lol

[TURBO_CORAL]

ok, i am getting one of these, the 28nano with teh stand for $500, how many lbs of sand should i get, and is there and change in the filter i should make now?


I was thinking of also runny a polyfilter pad in the back to help control the levels in this tank. Any suggestions would be helpful, i will pick it up in the next few days, thanks.

[Coral Keeper]

ok, i am getting one of these, the 28nano with teh stand for $500, how many lbs of sand should i get, and is there and change in the filter i should make now?


I was thinking of also runny a polyfilter pad in the back to help control the levels in this tank. Any suggestions would be helpful, i will pick it up in the next few days, thanks.
Sweet!! I have 30 lb of sand in my tank. You should take out all the filter pads and such and replace it with chaeto and some LR rubble. Here is a drawing of the back my tank.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/terrariumman/thebackofthe28gall-1.jpg

[Eddiecorrea]

How is this tank doing CK? And what is with the light on the skimmer?

[Coral Keeper]

How is this tank doing CK? And what is with the light on the skimmer?
Its doing good. Thanks for askin. The light is for the chaeto. I have chaeto in the skimmer. lol

[ChrisK]

cool setup

[Coral Keeper]

Thanks! :D

[svaha]

Very nice

[Coral Keeper]

Thanks! :D

[Eddiecorrea]

Its doing good. Thanks for askin. The light is for the chaeto. I have chaeto in the skimmer. lol

Oh lol. Didn't even notice the chaeto. That is odd to say the least.

[abob60]

welcome to the world of nano.

[Reefkid 07]

How agressive is your Maroon towards the wrasse?

[Coral Keeper]

How agressive is your Maroon towards the wrasse?
Shes not aggressive to other fish what so ever.

[ucerider]

Looks good I just got the same set up a few days ago finished putting it together last night gonna fill it up this weekend

[pufferfreak]

Nice thread :D.