12 gallon Nanocube

[Puffy]

now i know alot of people have this thing but i still love it! I have one and i am currenly building a stand for it, i didnt know they made stands for it, but mine is still half the price and looks just as good almost! lol but anyways, i was plannin, agronite sand (dead) and about 15-20lbs of LR, how much would u suggest?? I'm turning the back filtration system to a refuge, with LR, sand and macro aglae. I plan on a cleaner shrimp and one purple fire fish, plus a clean up crew, but i just dont what to get for the clean up crew!! Also i am going to order my LR online, since my LFS's LR is 8.50$ per pound! :shock: For corals i was just gonna have some differnt color mushrooms, and i was wondering with the 24watt PC lighting do u think i could have zoos and some Xenia too?? I can upgrade to a 2x32watt lighting kit if i need to for the xenia and stuff, i think it would be worth it. Anyways any help is helpful!! I love the site and i'm glad to hopefully get back to the SW fun, never have before but i've read bout it some. thanx all :o

[reefpaddler]

What macro algae are you going with?

[MattGecko]

I have a similar set up to yours Puffy. If your not going to keep any predatory fish, than your main tank will be kind of like a fuge. That's how mine is, Mythis shrimp and pods everywhere it's pretty need actually. I do keep chaeto algae behind the false wall/sump, along with all the equip.

[Puffy]

I was thinking of keeping Chaeto back in the back and having good looking macro algae in the main tank with shrooms and zoos

[newtofish]

You will be fine with the 24 Watt but you will probably happier with the 2x32 watt fixture. If you run one 10000k and the other bulb 50/50 you should get some nice color and your corals will be happy.

[Puffy]

Well...upgradeing the lighting would be nice but I dont really see it a must have. If the macro aglgae, shrooms, and zoos will grow under a 50/50 24watt PC then I think I should just leave it.

[newtofish]

In a 12 with the depth you will more than fine leaving the 24w. I would go with a 10000k and skip the 50/50 but I like white!

[Sugar Magnolia]

If you're happy with the selection of corals that you'll be able to keep under that lighting then by all means go for it! Personally I like the look of a shroom and zoo tank.

Stay away from caulerpas and halimedas. The caulerpa grows quite fast and can become invasive very quickly. Both caulerpa and halimeda can turn your tank to green soup if they go sexual on you. I had halimeda in my 2.5 that did that. What a mess! Try some maiden's hair...very pretty grass like macro.

[Puffy]

I cant remember the plants that was going in the main part of the tank, I believe the plants I wanted to get for the tank plus the corals are Maiden's hair plant, and shaving brush plant. IDK what kind of macro in the "fuge" Part. Yes I love shrooms and zoos thats why I decided to get them, I also love Pulsing Xenia, which I could keep a branch of that too :cry: Also the only fish i'm going to have is a Purple firefish. Any idea for a clean up crew?

[MattGecko]

1 shrimp (skunk cleaner or fire shrimp), about 4 hermit crabs (led legs seam to be less aggressive) , and misc small snails

[Puffy]

you think a skunk cleaner shrimp and a purple firefish would work in a 12? I mean, thats alot of bio load for such a small tank

[Sugar Magnolia]

That's actually a great combination. Alot of bioload was my 7 minibow with a clown, a six line wrasse and a neon goby. :shock:

As long as you keep up with the weekly water change, one fish will be fine. The skunk cleaner and the rest of your clean up crew will keep the detritus to a minimum.

I love those purple firefish, always have wanted one of those or a helfrich's firefish, but with no tight fitting lid I may as well just toss the fish on the floor myself instead of waiting for it to jump.