Due to some space considerations I'm having to move from my 55gal FO tank to a new 12gal JBJ Nano Cube. I've currently got three 3-stripe damselfish fish (going back to the store), two tomato clown fish and a dwarf red tip hermit crab. I've done a lot of reading on these forums and gathered tons of great information, but like any newbe I've got some questions.
First off, I plan on updating the pump one of my Maxi-Jet 1200 from my larger tank as shown at http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=58149&st=0 and my tank came with a surface skimmer so it's definitely going on. I'll use the sand from my 55gal tank for the floor of the new 12gal, but I also noticed that some people are removing the sponge filters and replacing them with sand.
I was curious how much sand they are putting in the first chamber and how often do you have to clean it? The sponge came in three sections, don't I need to leave at least one to keep the sand from spilling into the second chamber?
In the second champer, I'm going to put the activated carbon bag in first (I'll switch to the Chemi-pure later), the bio-balls second, and place the filter media from my CPR Aquatics Backpak skimmer/filter. I figure by using the water/sand/filter media from my old tank the new one won't cycle.
The third chamber will have my Maxi-Flow 1200 pump and later on the heater. Many posts I read said that the skimmer makes the water levels in the back more variable, so I'll wait and see how everything goes before putting the heater in the back.
Am I missing anything? I read through a lot of older posts, so I hope that I'm not being redundant. Hopefully once I get the tank going good, I'll add some live rock and move slowly towards a reef tank. Thanks for any help/advice you can provide.
First off, I plan on updating the pump one of my Maxi-Jet 1200 from my larger tank as shown at http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=58149&st=0 and my tank came with a surface skimmer so it's definitely going on. I'll use the sand from my 55gal tank for the floor of the new 12gal, but I also noticed that some people are removing the sponge filters and replacing them with sand.
I was curious how much sand they are putting in the first chamber and how often do you have to clean it? The sponge came in three sections, don't I need to leave at least one to keep the sand from spilling into the second chamber?
In the second champer, I'm going to put the activated carbon bag in first (I'll switch to the Chemi-pure later), the bio-balls second, and place the filter media from my CPR Aquatics Backpak skimmer/filter. I figure by using the water/sand/filter media from my old tank the new one won't cycle.
The third chamber will have my Maxi-Flow 1200 pump and later on the heater. Many posts I read said that the skimmer makes the water levels in the back more variable, so I'll wait and see how everything goes before putting the heater in the back.
Am I missing anything? I read through a lot of older posts, so I hope that I'm not being redundant. Hopefully once I get the tank going good, I'll add some live rock and move slowly towards a reef tank. Thanks for any help/advice you can provide.