JBJ 12 gallon Nano cube questions

[Beano1169]

I filled up my 12 g JBJ nano cube today to test out all the parts, and I noticed as I filled the display the back chamber filled up at the same level as well. I have never had a Nano cube AIO so I am wondering if this is normal?

[Nano]

Could have a bad seal somewhere causing the water level to be the same through out, it could also be too much water.

[Beano1169]

if it were a bad seal, should I take out the old seal and re silicone it?

[Northernseacorals]

if it were a bad seal, should I take out the old seal and re silicone it?

If it's indeed a poorly executed silicon job, it's not a problem to put a little more on, just remember to use reef safe grade.

[Beano1169]

of course. haha It was odd, cause when I filled it the back chamber filled from the bottom. I was assuming that i would fill the display untill it filled the chambers.

As for the silicone job, will silicone adhere proberly to other silicone?
TBH I havent ever been the best DIYér out there lol

[Beano1169]

Tank filled dry rock in, just waiting to move it around. Ordered a hydor flo 360 deflector, and a maxijet 1200 for an upgrade in the pump from an old crummy maxijet 900.
the circulation flow rate on the maxijet1200 is about 1300 gph with the deflector and a nano 240 will this be too much flow for softies, nems and, LPS? if it is, what SPS corals may work for a high flow tank?

[ChizerBunoi]

Chamber 1 should have a small drain hole on the middle halfway point. Its normal for the back chamber to fill to same level as display when pumps are off. That is how the JBJ was designed.

Can you cancel the hydor order? I have one you can have.

That should be enough flow for softies. You might need a stronger powerhead depending on how you aquascape it.

[Beano1169]

rats haha my order just shipped, thanks though for offering perhaps someone else will use it knowing that it is available. I ordered a maxijet 1200, which is rated at 1300gph for circulation . which I hope means that I will get the most amount of flow out of that pump verus the old crummy maxijet 900. Will post picks of aquascape in a bit.

[Beano1169]

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/IMAG0422_zpsf5695992-1_zps8d2cc045.jpg

There will be more rock and also sand going into the tank, as where is it set up isnt its perma home! haha
about 8-10 pounds in now, and about 3-5 more in the older tank which will be added, might have a picture up on the vison where other rock and corals will go.

[gregzz4]

Curious to know if you've done anything yet about the internal leak ?

[Beano1169]

I checked it out, and I think that it was just the hole underneath the overflow, I did a test with paper towel to see if a leak was in the silicone, and nothing significant showed up. The only thing Ive noticed is that the back chambers are starting to get a film on the top of the water, nothing in there but foam and polyfibre and purigen for first round cycleing, so far sg is 1.025 haha not testing yet since its all base rock and old cured live rock

[gregzz4]

I checked it out, and I think that it was just the hole underneath the overflow
Maybe it's not a big issue
Wouldn't hurt to find out what's going on :smile:

[Beano1169]

yes that is true, well I do have to move it soon so, hopefully then when I drain it I will figure out whats up. Ill keep you posted

[Beano1169]

Tank is setup, added some life stock all is good
nitrae sitting a bit high, so I will be adding a fuge in chamber 3 above the return pump to grow some cheato

But I have decided that I hate PC lighting, and need some ideas for either a retro fit stunner strip led system, or possibly a DIY project. Only problem is that I have heard the stunner strips get excessively warm, and also I have never done a DIY hood in my life.
If anyone has a build or a step by step on how to go about this upgrade/mod
I would be extremely greatful!
thanks.

ps pics up soon

[craigwmiller]

I have a JBJ 12 that I will be listing for sale shortly, which has an LED retrofit (original lid), and refugium & skimmer... I'll direct you to the pictures when I get them up - I spend a bunch of time making it as slick as I could, maybe it'll help you out with some ideas.

[Beano1169]

awesome thanks very much :)

heres some pictures of my tank

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/IMAG0437_zps04d257e2.jpg

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/IMAG0438_zpsd47afc83.jpg

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r613/Beano1169/IMAG0439_zps24a151db.jpg

[gregzz4]

Nice job on the 'scape

[The Grizz]

That's a good looking nano cube Beano, well done indeed. Even if there is a small internal leak it really isn't a big deal cause it internal & your return pump will be higher flow then the leak itself.

[Beano1169]

Thanks everybody!
glad to hear my scape is canreef worthy
I do however have to secure every frag in the tank still
I need some good puddy from somewhere and figure out which type of glue to use for securing the pieces

I do have one question, it seems my zoas are a bit agitated, they barely open during the light cycle. What reason could there be to this, plus it is close to WC day so that could contribute.
if you have any opinions Im all ears!

this would be the revamped stock list and harware list:

Stock:
Coral: Frogspawn
torch
GSP
Pulsing xenia
watermelon zoos
purple green acan
green hammer
rainbow yuma
purple yuma
green furry mushroom
superman shroom
orange burst rhodactis

inverts:
hermits
narcissus snail
3 x sexy shrimp (1 m, 2F)... both preggers
neon yellow maximini nem

fish:
firefish
cleaner wrasse (pending pick up tuesday hopefully)

Hardware:
stock PC lighting, 1 X 50/50, 1 X 10k
2 blue leds stock
surface skimmer addon, some bioballs for fun till fuge
colbalt maxijet1200 return pump
biocube 14 skimmer (starting to wonder)
filter garbadge consists of, 110ac carbon bag, purigen, some cemipure elite, sponge, and poly fibre (waiting on fuge mod)

[Beano1169]

ok so everything is going well, but now I have noticed that for that for whatever reason my hydor 360 reflector or my mj1200 is blowing a few small bubbles into the tank. micro bubbles from what I understand are not good for reef envrionments? any suggestions?

[craigwmiller]

On my JBJ12 microbubbles was either low water level, or one time the hose from the pump up to the outlet had a small crack in it where air was sucked in by the passing water.

[Beano1169]

awesome tahnks for the advice perhaps my hose is cracked at the moment. May I ask if you run a skimmer and if so where is it located? which camber if that is it sits in the back

[craigwmiller]

Yep skimmer -- the Oceanic one, works great for this tank (much better than it does in the oceanic BC 14 :D)

All in the photo:

Chamber 1: heater, bag of GFO, bag of Carbon
Chamber 2: skimmer
Chamber 3: chaeto (on a "tray" sitting on top of the pump)
Output: Hydor FLO rotating deflector

Water level in the back kept at the chamber 2->3 overflow level -- which is good for the chaeto and seems ideal for the skimmer... skimmer makes very thick buildup, not much liquid, which is ideal for such a small system.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/53801997/jbj14/2013-01-18%2015.38.18.jpg

[Beano1169]

Thanks that helped alot I tried it in C1 but its a bugger to deal with. I am doing my weekly change out tuesday, so I will swap er then haha.
I do have a question for anyone out there who uses Chillers on nano tanks, my tank at night sits at about 79.2 F recently I have discovered, that with the warmer weather if I do not take percautions to close my room door, the tank may get as high as 85.6 F. Im a little worried about this and would like to know the best solution to correct it, I am planning on an LED upgrade with stunnerpros from Modular but until then I need a solution.
Thanks for the help everyone, and hope to hear some responses soon.

[Xadieu]

If you are prepared to spend few hundreds on chiller then go for it, imo it's not worth it for nano tanks. Once you upgrade to LEDs it will help a bit with the temp. I would just move your tank or something.

[Beano1169]

Hey all, update on the tank staus. It has been going swimmingly hahaha but i have list a few corals along the way. Most recently a torch coral. The real reason I'm posting is I need help adding in a new fish to the tank. I have 3 sexy shrimp 2 females 1 male and the male ia quite small. I am concerned about what fish to add that would get along with thr sexy shrimp and the single firefish. In the tank. Please let me know.

[Beano1169]

I have a question. what is the best way to plot out a good colour scheme for my coral layout and also, how would I add extra sand/crushedcoral (if sand is too light with my pumps) and possibly attempt to rescape a bit more? suggestions very appreciated.