djconn's 6 gal nanocube

djconn

djconn

New Member
After selling my 20 gallon tank (kept for 2.5 yrs) and having my 5.5 crash on me when I was out of town, I decided to try my luck at a JBJ 6 gal Nanocube. Of course, I decided to order from our site sponsor and ended up with the Nanocustoms Modded JBJ 6 3.18. Here are the specs from their website:
We took a stock JBJ 2005 Nano cube 6 and removed the ballast (in the hood) and replaced it with a higher quality Fulham PONY 226 electronic ballast. We packaged the ballast in a sleek anodized aluminum ballast enclosure, and reworked the cooling system.

Enjoy the following features:

Increased Lighting Intensity
More Spectral choices
Sunset/Sunrise - Staged Lighting
Increased airflow
Better bulb Performance & bulb life
Remote mounted aluminum enclosed ballast (2x18) + (1x18)
Stock NVM moonlighting system
Comes standard with choice of 50/50 (10000KDay/7100KBlue), 7100K Daylight, or Actinic Blue
(5.95 extra per bulb)

It came shipped nicely



Peanuts kept everything safe


Nice and clean install with the lights


Tried out some new sand this time. Its Caribsea Aragonite with black volcanic rocks


2" sandbed


The essential nanoskim was also ordered


First fill up 11/18/05
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
I think that sand will make a neat little difference between all of the other tanks, it just has a different look to it. I thought about upgrading the lights on my 6 like that, Chris said awhile back that they would be releasing a DIY kit for the same upgrade. Have you made any changes to anything else on the cube like return pumps, nozzles, etc? Keep the pics coming, Skip
 
Dickie52

Dickie52

New Member
That is ONE sweet upgrade!!!

If you hear that they have an upgrade, would you let me know. I have already bought the stock six.
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
sweet Dj
Does the kitty approve :lol:
What were you able to save from both of your tanks and did you get it in to the 6 yet? any more pictures .........Is this the only tank that you will have now ??? Cant wait to see pictures :)
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
The tank cycled for about two weeks using my pre-existing live rock and the Caribsea live sand that I purchased. I also put some rubble in the 2nd chamber so I figured the cycle wouldn't take very long.

Yeah, so far I'm really liking the sand. It has just a very different look to it. Yes, my kitty approved of the sand as well and he really wanted to get into that bag! This is the only tank I have going now. I've gone from four tanks to just one in the last five months. I figure I just want to concentrate on making the cube the best it can be without worrying about all the other tanks.

As far as mods, this is all I've done:
1) light and fan upgrades - bigger and better
2) nanoskim attachment - a must
3) sponge, chemipure, sponge in 1st chamber - like dragon79 and andre use

This is what I plan to do:
4) upgrade pump to MJ606 - more powerful but hopefully less heat
5) Y nozzle attachment - better flow to more areas
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
Heres a pic after the sand settled and I added a few pieces of LR the next day.

11/19/05

 
djconn

djconn

New Member
I'm transferring eveything that survived from my 5.5 after it crashed and putting it into the NC6. I've been keeping everything alive in a 5 gal bucket with a heater, powerhead and some lights over it for about 3 weeks. I've done this a few times now and surprisingly, everything survived and did just fine.

I moved some of it in last night and I'm reaquascaping today. Its looking really nice. I'm also taking some frags out that were too big and also getting rid of some LR that I don't need in there. I'm going for a simpler look this time around. My 5.5 was way too packed. I plan to put four to six sexy shrimp in the tank. I'm also looking for a goby/pistol shrimp pair if anyone knows where to get a nice pair online. Also might add a neon goby or clown.

Setting up a brand new tank is just so fun. I swear, I tear down tanks and put them back up just for the fun and 'newness' of it all. We post some pics very soon.

:new
 
D

dragon79

New Member
Dj, sorry I have missed this post, but hey....is that the 2006 model? I was hoping you held out for it. Youd know cuz the back of it, shows a stick with the manufactured date. That pump that comes in the 2006 is better than the mini-jet 606.

Also your light upgrade from nanocustoms has me very jealous and pissed at the same time. My lights do not look that professionally done. They are not even aligned right, the middle actinic light sits in crooked because it was measured wrong. Also because of how its' done, it does not have a screw on the top middle part as yours does. Also because of it's lack of of precision, it blocks most of my moonlights, so at night, you are practically staring at a fully dark tank with a slight tint of blue on the left side.

I am taking that Chris made it for you since mine was not made by Chris. (although on the phone I told him to make it, both times!!) Also I think through my complaints it's helped fix the craftsmanship of future hoods. What kind of fans did he put in there? In mine I have some crappy ones he said was "upgraded" but they are rattering and making noises. (I've replaced one of them, now the other is crappin' out) :cry: What's needed in there are ball bearing fans....I am going to get them from Frys' and do it myself.

If you need anything just let me know, I've had and know much about this tank and the mods since March this year.

Also before I go, your tank does indeed look very nice, and I am sure you'll be very happy bro, so congrats on a very nice tank!
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
how cool is that it is looking good cant wait to see it as it progressess....I was also looking into the Nano cube but no one locally has them or will order them ..I like the clean llok that they offer , I can help but wonder is it all one power plug or multipule I know dumb question but just wondering....... I am loving the sand too but the only thing we get here is the the " regular" live sand ....All ican say is that is gonn be a sweet little tank . Also since you have been keeping the corals and residents in a bucket I guess I wont sweat it should I need to order something else to replace mine by the way is it the 6 or the 12 gallon that has a breaking issue , cant remember ....
 
M

MFish

New Member
sadielynn said:
how cool is that it is looking good cant wait to see it as it progressess....I was also looking into the Nano cube but no one locally has them or will order them ..I like the clean llok that they offer , I can help but wonder is it all one power plug or multipule I know dumb question but just wondering....... I am loving the sand too but the only thing we get here is the the " regular" live sand ....All ican say is that is gonn be a sweet little tank . Also since you have been keeping the corals and residents in a bucket I guess I wont sweat it should I need to order something else to replace mine by the way is it the 6 or the 12 gallon that has a breaking issue , cant remember ....
Click to expand...
6 and 24, from what I've read they break the most
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
dragon79 said:
Dj, sorry I have missed this post, but hey....is that the 2006 model? I was hoping you held out for it. Youd know cuz the back of it, shows a stick with the manufactured date. That pump that comes in the 2006 is better than the mini-jet 606.

Also your light upgrade from nanocustoms has me very jealous and pissed at the same time. My lights do not look that professionally done. They are not even aligned right, the middle actinic light sits in crooked because it was measured wrong. Also because of how its' done, it does not have a screw on the top middle part as yours does. Also because of it's lack of of precision, it blocks most of my moonlights, so at night, you are practically staring at a fully dark tank with a slight tint of blue on the left side.

I am taking that Chris made it for you since mine was not made by Chris. (although on the phone I told him to make it, both times!!) Also I think through my complaints it's helped fix the craftsmanship of future hoods. What kind of fans did he put in there? In mine I have some crappy ones he said was "upgraded" but they are rattering and making noises. (I've replaced one of them, now the other is crappin' out) :cry: What's needed in there are ball bearing fans....I am going to get them from Frys' and do it myself.

If you need anything just let me know, I've had and know much about this tank and the mods since March this year.

Also before I go, your tank does indeed look very nice, and I am sure you'll be very happy bro, so congrats on a very nice tank!
Click to expand...
My model is the 2005 version. I didn't want to redo my 5.5 or keep all of my corals in a bucket any longer so I just went with it. I'm pretty sure I could always just order the improved pump from JBJ if I wanted to. Other than that, I don't think there are any more improvements. I was happy with the mod that Chris did on this tank. Its very pro looking.

Sadielynn, the upgraded Pony ballast that nanocustoms gave me with the mod does have individual on/off for actinic and daylight. The moonlight stays on 24/7.
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
What I was referring to was does each thing have a plug the power heads , lights , filter , ect . sorry that I did not write the question clearly :mrgreen: ,I have never seen the nano cube up close , that now brings the up the question wont that cause the moons to burn out quicker even tho they are leds ?
 
D

dragon79

New Member
the moonlights are are small cheapy bulbs, they aren't high intensity or anything.. just a dull blue. With a creative mind you could replace them with a more high intensity blue bulb.
 
aromano

aromano

New Member
That is nice light upgrade DJ.
I did the DIY Retro Kit (54W) and I am really happy with the results.
My temperature runs at 82 with the lights on, but the corals adjusted to it and are doing really well.
I use a PFO Flat mount LED Moonlight, which is a bit expensive, but it makes the tank look absolutely stunning at night.

Congrats for the tank and Good Luck w/ the new project :)
Keep us posted, this is going to be a sweet tank!
 
ripcurrent

ripcurrent

New Member
you opted for a really nice combination of mods. awesome little tank.

Now you got the equipment on lock... what are your plans from here?
 
S

sadielynn

New Member
Dj that is looking awsome :mrgreen:
Great job with it LOVING them little zoas in the last picture middle of the picture with pink and the greens on the botom left :mrgreen:
 
M

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hey man,

This tank appears to have been stolen; the Guerrero museum of awesome looking nanos has been cracked.

Dragon, quickly check your inventory for a stolen tank because this one appears ours!!!

Just kidden, DJ you really pulled out a winner on this one, you incorporated shrooms, button polyps, ricordias and more shrooms. I love the blanket of shrooms and polyps across the sand bed and back on to the rocks.

Dragon I'm going to make sure I lock down my other tanks so Sadie or anyone else doesn't get any funny ideas, J/K.

Your tank is beautiful....

Mike G
 
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