atntion nano cube owners

[Guest bill33]

hey,

i got a regular nano cube for xmas    and i was wondering what mods you guys did?

 

thanks

Bill

[Gatortailale]

Look at Nathan's page  - few pics of skimmer mod he did.

 

Jbj nano review

[Guest bill33]

thanks

[Guest Moa]

i described a skimmer I built in a Nov thread that fits under the hood of a nano without any cutting of the hood. simple design, works well.  i've also upped the output of the pump in back and split the outflow with a y connector to mix up the current.  nano-reef.com has major info on mods, of course.

[Guest bill33]

how did you cut the acrilic?

[Guest Moa]

i used a jigsaw as the score and snap method didn't work for me for the long thin pieces of the plan.  my first time using acrylic.   ill bet there are some wamas members that are acrylic masters.

[Guest bill33]

how much did it cost you? for everything, even pump

[Guest Moa]

i used the pump that came with the cube as i'd already upgraded that pump with a Mini-Jet 606.  I think the Mini-Jet was like $15.  That acrylic place in Alexandria acutally just gave me the acrylic gratis (scrap pieces).  The Weld-On and applicator was around $5.  The CPVC was maybe $4 including the elbow connectors.  I already had the airline tubing and flexible tubing that connects to the pump.  So, about $10 given what I already had on hand.  Not too bad. . . .

[Lee Stearns]

Most folks have added the mini-jet 606 vice the 404 that came with it as MOA said. Also lots of folks have added a second light inside the canopy - The unit does not surface skim, If you do not want to make the cut in the back for the skimmer, many have also cut 1/4 inch teeth at the top bulkhead inside to allow surface skimming to occur. I have not added any sps but have 16 different varieties of soft corals in the nano that I have been running about a year- 1 gallon water changes every couple of weeks and the purigen and carbon filters I think have kept this thing going pretty much hands off- suprising to me with such a small water volume.

[Guest bill33]

were do you find 10" t5 lighting or 10 watt?

[Guest Moa]

There are a ton of threads on light upgrades for the cube on nano-reef.com.  Adding 32W of PC lighting seems to be the most popular upgrade.  Like Lee, I have all softies and they are flourishing under the stock lighting.  Sorry, but don't have more info on lighting as I haven't gone there.  I'm anxious to hear about Nathan's review of LED lighting upgrade that he's said he'll describe soon.

-Joe

[Guest bill33]

ok thanks man im gonna try and to the skimmer plan that you made  lets se how that goes :p

[Lee Stearns]

That is what I added a 32 W 50/50 PC with only the ballast hanging outside the tank- $39. I think at hello lights, but might have been Premium Aquatics- just do not remember- It was easy to add in the existing reflector.

[Guest Moa]

Lee, is this an easy mod?  Worthwhile in terms of the perceived increase in lighting? I'd like to do some LPS but have stopped short with the stock lights.

-Joe

[Guest bill33]

my light wouldnt fire so i looked, and my bulb cracked and the conections are crap. so.... i have to replace the leads and stuff

[Guest Moa]

jbj had some probs in the past with their ballasts.  LFS and JBJ replaced a bunch.  perhaps you might get LFS or JBJ to replace given history of probs some have had?

[HowardofNOVA]

Billy,

If this is a defect in the unit, maybe it would be good to return and pay the difference to upgrade to the DX unit. Alot better system for the money and little if any mods needed. Pretty much plug and play.

Wally's in Annandale are selling them at $175, the older unit is going for $139 and of course cheaper on the web, but not by much with S/H added.

Howard

[Guest bill33]

UPDATE.     drsfostersmith.com were i bought it from is sending me a label for a free return. and i might just upgrade to the dx model.     they were telling that they had some type of recall or something that the wiring frays and the balast frys

[Lee Stearns]

I agree. If  I was doing it again the DX model would be what I snagged. The DXs upgrade has a fan I understand, as well as surface skimmig.

Joe- The lighting mod was pretty simple and worked for me- I was not getting any growth in my softies. So I thought more light would help. It was definitely brighter but built up a bit of heat that has slightly melted the clear plastic shield in one place.  Everything is growing in this old nano cube I have now, so I am relatively happy with the mod- I never ceased to be amazed at how hands off the little cube runs as long as you are not pushing the parameters of coral or fish stocking.

[Guest Moa]

Glad that the return is working out, upgrading to the deluxe sounds like the ticket.  

 

Lee, thanks for the info. I too am happy with the hands off nature of the cube.  it's in my office and has really done well.  I had thought about a light upgrade in order to add some frogspawn and perhaps a trachyphyllia but given that my softies are growing well may hold off a bit.

[Guest bill33]

whats the difference on the 1st and 2nd edition models?

[wirick21]

1st model had 1 light.  2nd model has 2 lights and a fan I think? I put a 96 watt power quad in mine.  It works great and I have great coriline groth.

 

Brian

[Guest bill33]

i thought it was the longer guard?      they said they sent me a slip for free return on the cube.      nanocube dx here i come :p

[Guest bill33]

the dx is on its way