My Cube

[Gwai Low]

Im so happy i have a Nano Cube now
ive had it going for about 3 weeks now and it looks great
all the readings are bang on and its looking great execpt the snails aren't doing that great a job.
just gotta get a few more corals like some mushrooms and a few more zoos and im happy as a pig in well you know
a few mods i wanna do is more light and im going to turn the rear into a refugium when i get the lights for it :)
heres some pics

i have no clue what all those little swimming white things are in the nano now
they showed up last night/ this morning

[steve w.]

Looks good Gwai Low.Do you do water changes off your 75gallon?
My son has a 10gallon and I just use water from my system because I know it's balanced.

[Gwai Low]

lol
i think my Nano has better water then my 75gallon
i used R/O water with it from Big Al's so i know its pure
and i still need an R/O so that i can just top off the 75gallon that way.
and the bigger tank doesn't have a sump yet just a crappy canister filter
waiting for my sump/refugium to be built which shouldn't be much longer :)

so right now my 75gallon is just treated tap water and the Nano is R/O water
but my fish in the 75gallon and the inverts seem to be ok
i was told by my dad's friend that works for the water company that Oshawa/Whitby water is the best water around right now in the GTA
but that doesn't stop me from wanting an R/O
maybe boxing day

i know you from the MAST meetings
im the guy that bring his Girlfriend to the meetings
i wont be at this one tho well i don't think i will be cause i have to work afternoons this week :(

[Gwai Low]

well its been a month and all the nitrates,nitrites, all the other levels are perfect so far so good
plan on putting a fish or 2 in soon :)
i want that Yasha Hashe Goby for it

heres an updated pic now :)
its alittle dirty. i need one of those magnet brush thingies

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/GwaiLowRSG/DSC03048.jpg

[Cellenzweig]

i was told by my dad's friend that works for the water company that Oshawa/Whitby water is the best water around right now in the GTA Durham region as a whole seems to have very good quality tap water. If your interested, you can get the quarterly water quality report from the durham works website.

http://www.region.durham.on.ca/works.asp?nr=/departments/works/reports/waterreports.htm&nav=b&setFooter=/includes/worksFooter.txt

[Gwai Low]

Nano update
left the lights on awhile i was away for the weekend and opps to much algea so i have like 10 astra snails in there now and now 2 Blood Shrimps, 2 Peppermint Shrimps, a Mandrine Goby, and various corals :D

i love it
stupid micro bubbles happened during this pic :(

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/GwaiLowRSG/NanoDec26.jpg

[StevieK]

Nice pics Gwai,

i too have bought a 12g ... just for fun. i have modified the back with filter floss in the first chamber, chemi-pure and LR in the second and an upgraded maxijet1200 in the third (more LR). I was thinking about adding some calurpa in the second ... but have not come up with how the lights would work. Also covered up the overflow and cut some groves along the top and made it a surface skimmer.

let me know how the refuge idea comes about ... your a month ahead of me.

[in_flight]

that nano is way too small for the mandarin, i know big al's was clearing them out for $15 but it must suck for them to slowly starve to death

[Mugster]

that nano is way too small for the mandarin, i know big al's was clearing them out for $15 but it must suck for them to slowly starve to death





I totally agree. Do yourself and the Mandarin a favour and return it to the store for a credit or sell it to someone who can properly care for it. Your tank is too immature to support a Mandarin. They feed almost exclusively on pods and your tank is too small and too young to provide the constant supply of pods that it requires to remain healthy.





Kev :twitch:

[Gwai Low]

thanks for the advise but the rocks and substract are covered in them :)

[220G]

covered with pods now, but they eat constantly - betting the little guy wll have less than 2 weeks to live in there

If you don't sell/trade him - learn from the experience


thanks for the advise but the rocks and substract are covered in them :)

[Gwai Low]

i might
i really want one of those Yasha gobys

[220G]

The Yasha goby is really cool - mine disappeared overnight in my system :(


i might
i really want one of those Yasha gobys

[Sohal Tang]

Nano = suicide for the mandarin....


Save it! Quick!

Picture it faded and being chewed on by hermit crabs when you find it....eyes gone...tail down to bone
and the crabs are JUST GETTING STARTED....
Is that what you want? Great...then GET RID OF IT QUICK BUD!

Good luck,

Tim

[Gwai Low]

ah i don't think ill be getting rid of the mandarin anytime soon
he's eating Brine Shrimp.
YEA IN YOUR FACES!!! :bananas:
shot some in the tank and he took it all
did back flips :D

[Mugster]

ah i don't think ill be getting rid of the mandarin anytime soon
he's eating Brine Shrimp.
YEA IN YOUR FACES!!! :bananas:
shot some in the tank and he took it all
did back flips :D




Brine shrimp are not part of their natural diet and very low in nutritional value. They REQUIRE pods to remain healthy.

I'm not going to harp on this any more as you've been given sound advice from experienced members who all agree your tank is too small to sustain an appropriate supply of pods for a Mandarin. The ball is in your court and if you so decide to keep it then more power to you. Just remember we told you so.





Kev :soapbox:

[Gwai Low]

alrighty then
i know brine shrimp isn't a great diet for him but he eats it :)

umm Who want him?
ill trade for some frags or something

[Sohal Tang]

Gwai Low....all the ones that DIE ...ate brine shrimp....
He will NOT SURVIVE my friend on brine shrimp....

Your a daisy if you do it...but I am almost guaranteeing you that he is on major borrowed time.
And..I am not a pro but this one is darn near
a slam dunk.....

No copepods = DEAD mandarin.....
Verrrrrry difficult fish to keep alive for long time
in large tank let alone cube....

Get the bag pipes ready....AMAZING GRACE anyone?

hehe

sORRy....I am on your side..and I hope you can do it...but ....I am definitely BETTING AGAINST you on this one...any money on this you would like ta wager?? hahahaha

Tim

[Gwai Low]

dude relax
whats your problem
you say your on my side but then bash me?

[Sohal Tang]

So sorry Gwai Low....my apologies...
I was only kidding but I am sorry if I got carried away...again...sorry about that.

Tim

[Gwai Low]

cool cool

p.s.
i think theres someone interested in it
but before that fully happens
where can you buy copepods?

[Sohal Tang]

Reef Crew sells copepods

Tim

[Gwai Low]

do i have to grow them or are they alive aready?

im having a look now

[Sohal Tang]

They are alive...but not cheap...and I thinkkk the problem is that the mandarin eats so many of them that you will not be able to multiply them fast enough in a nano for the mandarin not to gobble them up....If you had a refugium hooked up then you might be able to pull it off...

[Gwai Low]

well ill have a sump/refugium in like a week or less
so i guess i could buy them and then once i have the refugium i can just pour them in there and hope they breed

[Sohal Tang]

Hey.....you might be able to do that....
I would recommend you get input on this subject
from Tom or Flavio at ORG...they surely can answer
how to do this....Reef Crew themselves of course
would also be able to guide you properly on this....
Yes...if you get the copepods starting in the refugium
you might be off to the races......

is the refugium below the tank or above it?

If it is below many critters get killed in the pump
I am told...

If it is above the tank then gravity feed will surely
help the survival rate of the critters....that is what I have been told at least...I do not use a refugium...
Although I may on my next tank for my desire to keep a mandarin is high also...gorrrrrgeous fish...I think best fish on planet for the money.
Certainly one of the most gorgeous.

Best of luck again,

Tim

[Gwai Low]

the refugium will be under the 75gallon
but it will be a Sump/Refugium
so the refugium spills into the return area so theres really no pump in the refugium
i think i might go buy some pods soon but the scarbrough big al's is the closet to me that sells it

heres a pic

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/GwaiLowRSG/MySump.jpg

[Mugster]

the refugium will be under the 75gallon
but it will be a Sump/Refugium
so the refugium spills into the return area so theres really no pump in the refugium





Tim was referring to the fact that if your fuge is lower than the display tank that the pods will have to pass through the return pump on their way to the display tank. Some may make it through ok but most will be chopped up.






Kev :twitch:

[Sohal Tang]

Gwai, again, even with the refugium I am not certain a nano is adequate for a mandarin....meaning....I surely would not try that and I certainly do not encourage you to try it.... I merely mentioned reef raft because you asked about copepods....
Honestly...get more input on this one from others...
I really in my heart do not think it will work....
Anyone else have input on this can help him???

Thanks
Tim

[Gwai Low]

ugh
my head hurts im going to watch some tv lol :)

[Mugster]

Gwai, again, even with the refugium I am not certain a nano is adequate for a mandarin....meaning....I surely would not try that and I certainly do not encourage you to try it.... I merely mentioned reef raft because you asked about copepods....
Honestly...get more input on this one from others...
I really in my heart do not think it will work....
Anyone else have input on this can help him???

Thanks
Tim




IMHO, unless you're prepared to buy pods on a weekly basis, and I'm sure that will get expensive, keeping a Mandarin in a nano is really not feasable. Mandarins hunt for pods continuously. Mine would even hunt after lights out.






Kev :twitch:

[DevinJM]

Question??? If the entire point of this hobby it to watch something in it's "natural" simulated habitat then WHY would you keep an animal in a habitat where it is pretty well guaranteed to die???


I am not meaning to be offensive, but I am looking for a good answer to that question, and "because he is pretty" isn't a good answer.

[Gwai Low]

you know what guys theres no point on talking about this anymore
my nice thread is killed 100% now so if you wanna continue to flame the **** outta me do it somewhere else or to my face
thanks :(

[Cellenzweig]

if you wanna continue to flame the **** outta me do it somewhere else or to my face Who's flaming you? All I've seen in this thread is constructive criticism.

[Poontang]

Gwai Low,

try feeding it mysis or other prepared foods, some have been successful. Or gut load your brine shrimp with Selcon and phyto. If you're unable to train it to eat other food, then sell it, at least you tried.

[Gwai Low]

like i posted earlier
i got it eating Brine and everyone was saying thats not good for it cause it lacks nuterition
but if he's eating brine then i can try mysis

ive had him for a few weeks now and he's a good healthy size
so im happy with it
ill try mysis
if he doesn't eat that then ill sell him

[Cellenzweig]

i got it eating Brine and everyone was saying thats not good for it cause it lacks nuterition
but if he's eating brine then i can try mysis

While I agree that brine lacks nutrition, getting the mandarin to eat anything is definately a good first step. If you can get it eating mysis, that's great. Another thing you may want to try is the tiny sinking pellets. I remember reading about a guy who had success with these on another site.

[Gwai Low]

Another thing you may want to try is the tiny sinking pellets. I remember reading about a guy who had success with these on another site.

been triing that but the shrimp just take them faster
ill continue to try tho :)

[xoticaddiction]

u may want to consider hatching your own brine and gut loading them making them a much healthier diet

[Gwai Low]

i triied one of those hatcheries where you use the 2L bottle and what a pain in the ass that was and loud :(

any suggestions for some other way to hatch them?

[xoticaddiction]

Loud ? if u were using an air pump they jsut get a valve to reduce the air flow some and jsut out them somewhere like a closet where u dont need to hear them

u could also try the continous method using a small aquarium like a 5 gallon

[Gwai Low]

thats not a bad idea
i got 2 5gallon tanks just sitting here

[BrySecord]

I have a sump\fuge bellow my tank and I have tons of pod's in my main and in my sump\fuge. I dont think to many die when they go through the pumps! Never see too many dead floating around, plus I have a mandarin and he keep's getting bigger and bigger! He is not afraid of anything, the bravest fish in my tank! Saved him from Big Al's where it was anorexic!

[Gwai Low]

heres a new pic for you guys to see and my clam :D
i just to them today
i need one of those little fluvals full of charcol for the rear chamber to clear up the water

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/GwaiLowRSG/Jan13th.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/GwaiLowRSG/NanoClam2.jpg

[in_flight]

nice clam, crocea? where'd you get it from and how much?

[DevinJM]

Ditto, Nice clam!!!

[Gwai Low]

picked it up at Extreme Marine on their closing day
i think this one was the nicest out of the 6 that were still there

paid $69 for it :)
i think its about 3" or 3.5" not sure didn't measure it

i belive its a Maxima

[Poontang]

It's a Crocea, they're rock dwellers like Maximas. Croceas needs a lot of light, much like SPS. It looks stressed, it is gaping.

[in_flight]

picked it up at Extreme Marine on their closing day
i think this one was the nicest out of the 6 that were still there

paid $69 for it :)
i think its about 3" or 3.5" not sure didn't measure it

i belive its a Maxima

i believe crocea's have smoother shells unlike maxima's which have fairly pronounced ridges

it does look like its gapping

[StevieK]

I also have a 12g NanoCube ... wondering is the light is enough? 2x24W PCs ?? Or have you upgrading the lighting ?

[Poontang]

I also have a 12g NanoCube ... wondering is the light is enough? 2x24W PCs ?? Or have you upgrading the lighting ?

Squamossas and Derasas are more suitable for that amount of lighting. Croceas will definetly not do well. A gold Maxima might be ok under that lighting.

[Gwai Low]

i thought it was a maxima thats why i got it
whats gapping?
i thought it looked normal cause thats what it looked like in the store to
what should i do?
im looking to upgrade the lights more but i was under the idea that it was a maxima

[lotus02]

Croceas are one of the most light demanding clams they require at least 250w MH or it will slowly die , also most sensitive to temp swings and water quality these will stress your clam and ultimately cause it to perish. It will not do well in a nano unless you upgrade your lighting. If you are going to try and keep this clam move it up as close to the light as possible it may have a chance there but I have my doubts.
Gaping is a sign of stress croceas are famous for gaping.
Hope the clam proves me wrong.

[Gwai Low]

so when you say gapping do you mean the mouth is wider then normal?

i put him up on the rocks closer to the lights and he just shot himself back down to the ground
hmmm
i wonder if ORG will trade me for a Maxima\

i got a friend that im talking to right now that wants it for his 130gallon
perfect water and lights :)
ill get a Maxima

[lotus02]

so when you say gapping do you mean the mouth is wider then normal?

i put him up on the rocks closer to the lights and he just shot himself back down to the ground
hmmm
i wonder if ORG will trade me for a Maxima\

i got a friend that im talking to right now that wants it for his 130gallon
perfect water and lights :)
ill get a Maxima

Yes gaping means the mouth opening is very large and clam is stressed.
Don't get a maxima they are even more sensitive and one of the hardest to keep clams ,you'll just have the same problems.
Here's a link for reference one easiest clams to hardest to keep clams.
http://www.clamsdirect.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=1506

[Gwai Low]

ok so this guy is saying



Easiest to keep to hardest, IMO & IME

1. derasa

2. gigas

3. squamosa

4. crocea

5. maxima

[lotus02]

Exactly . Barry is by far very experienced in clam keeping.
So go with a Derasa.

[Gwai Low]

are their any other colours for those clams other then the goldish black?

[in_flight]

i've been looking for a small derasa snail and no one seems to have any

[Gwai Low]

ORG has a few now
not snails
clams

[Poontang]

As far as I know, the more unusual patterned and colourful Derasas and Squamosas comes from Pohnpei. I've seen an emerald green Gigas at Clams Direct.

[ZX10-R]

Good looking nano:bravo:

[deacon hemp]

It looks like you broke many nano rules with this tank.Its pretty much destined to turn out crappy,i'd suggest researching your buys before buying them! Your brown button polyps look like they are dying,so you tank probably wasnt very stable,you have 3 fish in a 12 which is why you have algea already all over the place.I wouldnt add a clam to this tank at all,your water params cant be good enough to add a clam,let alone the lighting.Learn your lesson.

Again not a flame.

[Malvado]

This is not a flame.

I have run a nano for more than 2 years with no issues. once you make a few changes to it.

The biggest thing with the Nano is lighting, once you can upgrade the lights to something better then you are in good shape.

The second thing if the stock filter media, get rid of it all, use Live rock rubble and get a small submersible light and turn one of the chamber into cheato factory. Also run ChemiPur and RowaPhos.

The last thing about a nano is regular water changes, I do mine every 2 weeks and I have not lost live stock in almost 20 months now. (had newbie syndrome when i first started and added to much to fast)

I had almost 40 lbs of rock in my 12G nano, and 15 lbs of crushed coral, maxi-jet 1200, 3 CFL 28w Lights, 2 50/50 and 1 10,000.

I keep all kinds of things and they have done very well in my 12G that is one of the reason's why I upgraded to a 24G.

You can keep just about anything in a Nano if you have the time and patenience to keep up the work, they do need more attenton then a larger tank.

As for water quality you can maintain good quality if you don't over feed and keep up with regular water changes.

Great Job on the Nano and keep up the good work.

If you need a hand to modifiy your nano let me know.

[Gwai Low]

see finally someone that actually knows what they are talking about
the only bad move in the tank is the Mandarin which is gone now
nothing in the nano has died yet cause of water quailty the only thing that was close to dying was the hammer cause it didn't get rid of the Aptasia early enough but now it looks GREAT

all you gotta do is Regular Water Changes and turn the rear chamber into a refugium and you can hold anything in the Nano

for all those ppl that think there are "rules" to this then they haven't done enough research, cause if you look at www.nano-reef.com (http://www.nano-reef.com) you can see what ppl have been able to do and it blows the narrow minded ppl outta the water.

heres more recent pic of it (the mandarin was still in it here)
that frogspawn is like 3 times the size right now (i hate that candy cane corals but the girlfriend wanted to keep it)
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/GwaiLowRSG/Jan1806.jpg

[deacon hemp]

Dude i know what im talking about,ive been on nano-reef.com since it started im one of the original members! Ive been nano reefing for 5 years (since there were nanos) and trust me if you posted there you woulda gotten flamed hard. Im not wanting to argue here,it really looked like you didnt research any of your purchases,and just got whatever looked cool at the store.Blue max under pc's good luck to ya,i dont even think derasa's would thrive under your lighting but thats me.

Good luck....Deacon

[Gwai Low]

ive posted there before go look
dude man i read ever thread on that forum about nano modding and anything that caught my eye for 3months straight before i decided what to do
don't be haten cause im doing good, were you might have crashed before
can't find your name on nano-reefs.com

[Malvado]

(i hate that candy cane corals but the girlfriend wanted to keep it)


If you ever want to get rid of this let me know, My wife likes them as well.

Good Luck - BTW I also have an extra hood for 12G if you feel like going nuts with mods :)

[Gwai Low]

you got pm