8 Gallon Cube

frontline · #1 07-25-2007, 02:14 AM

my roommate in the tank was not all that bad. Made up mind about going salt water.
Here are a couple snapshots: First is of the whole tank. Don't mind the smudged glass.
The tank is in the kitchen in the enclove where a microwave oven usually sits. I am revamping the kitchen and am making an encloser around the tank so all you see is the curved face. Should turn out pretty cool. As long as I do it all while the girlfriend is out.

tankshot.jpg

frontline · #2 07-25-2007, 02:18 AM

I have yet to do any mods. What did you do to yours? I am going to put some small pieces of LR instead of the bioballs. Besides that I am pretty fresh to the salt world

close up of upper right side.

closeup.jpg

justinl · #3 07-25-2007, 03:18 AM

are you leaning that rock against the glass? aren't you afraid of scratching it up?

the mods i did to my biocube were really quite simple. removed the bioballs and replaced with LR rubble (roughly ping pong ball sized), removed stock filter pad and replaced with a sock with a bit of carbon, and widen (not deepen!) the overflow between chamber 1 and 2.

i may replace the stock pump with an MJ 900, but im still sittin on the fence for that one.

is that you heater on the right side? why dont you throw that into one of the back chambers? mine fits inside chamber 1 with the sock of carbon.

frontline · #4 07-25-2007, 04:04 AM

I don't think it is against the glass. Will check though. the heater is just sitting there as of yet to use it. I am planning on putting it into chamber one. I think that the flow in the tank is quite good would not mind branching the nozzle to help redirect water though.

frontline · #5 07-26-2007, 11:30 PM

Water Parameters as of 830pm last night.
temp: 80 degrees
Ph: 8.2
Nitrate: 0
Phosphates: 0.2<
Calcium: 315mg/L
Alkalinity:250ppm
Side note rock is not quite touching the glass

frontline · #6 07-30-2007, 12:23 AM

Update. Tank cycled quite nicely. I am quite enjoying this nano cube. Currently have about 15 lbs of rock now. Added a Couple of hermits and three chromis, so the g\f would see that fish "could actually live in there." My heater does not fit into chamber one. Any suggestions on a heater type that will? Have had to lately have the lid up and been blowing a fan across the surface. Looks like a chiller maybe in order for the new bigger tank.
Will provide picture update tommorow.

justinl · #7 07-31-2007, 12:52 AM

good to hear that it's going well and that you're enjoying the tank.

i would remove two of those fish though. in an 8gal tank, especially one with no skimmer or sump, i would say maximum one fish (size of a chromis) or two - maybe three - small goby sized fish. you have to be careful with small tanks because they require much less of a screw up to crash.

you should also stock much slower as well. one fish at a time and give the tank at least a couple of weeks to settle before introducing anything else significant.

I have a visitherm stealth that fits just right. i cant remember if i had to take out the false bottom or not. just take a wire (like from a coat hanger), and make a hook. you should be able to pull out the false bottom (it's like a grate) using that.