Maroun.c 26 G nano cube build thread

[maroun.c]

Always had a weak point for nano cubes and ran my nano cube continuoulsy while having a 150 and upgrading to a 400 G tank. Yet it ran at all times and acted as a storage or a mini frag tank rather than a well scaped and filled tank which is allowed to grow and fill up.
So decided to go for a fresh start taking out all the rocks,bleaching them, rescaping and loading with a nice collection of frags to fill the relatively small space than what I’m used to.

The one thing I hate most in reefing is scaping, yet I decided to experiment with drilling and supporting with acrylic rods to maker a floating edge that would not break after few weeks.

-Rock drilling

Fill up with Epoxy

Acrylic rod in the base rock

Floating ledge

And a bit of epoxy to support from outside

 

[maroun.c]

And Voila

As rock was bleached I left it out to cure for 24 hours

Then came a few scape choices with following considerations.

It had to be minimalistic and allow for a bit of space for fish to swim yet allow for a reasonable number of corals to be placed as the target is SPS dominated mixed reef. Tank is also visible from 3 sides (2 sides much more than the third) so it had to have a nice look and relatively good visibility on corals from all sides.
All of the above isn’t easy to do in a small tank especially when one is used to larger setups.

Started with a single island setup

found it too simple and decided that it will not allow for the amount or shape of corals I want.

so added the upper rock and I liked how it looks better

Looked at it and decided that the tank still lacked something in the front like a small island to just add some more dynamic look.

Then experimented with few more simple rocks I had on hand and came up with this

Kept going back and forth between layout 2 and 3 and ended up choosing the later one for following reasons
it offered a more non standard Higher rock in the front. usually all my tanks and most of the tanks I see go from low to high to allow more visibility and a sense of added depth.
I really like the fact that from certain angle the high rock obstructs the view of whats behind it and leads you to physically turn and look from an oblique view (observed 2 persons instinctively do the same when checking out the layout. that led to a nice ravine shape which is nice and not easy to accomplish in a small setup.
In the end if it doesn't work out the rock just goes out to another tank and I place the small rock back

 

[maroun.c]

I went with an instant fill of corals (frasg from my tank and Frag tanks and also few new SPS frags to make it look a bit different.
I love waiting for tiny frags to grow and fill up as it allows me to shape them the way I want the tank to look. I just filld up my 400G tank with moslty frags and waiting for it to grow and fill up so a 26G gallon shouldn't be much of a wait in comparison to get a nice view hopefully.
Decided to go with 4 separate islands:
Chalices, Acans, Zoanthids, Ricordeas. (in order of prefernce)

Ricordeas and mushrooms.
had these to start with and might make some changes as I source out some nicer Ricordeas

Zoanthids
Not the fanciest ones but a good start and will switch a few as I get s few more interesting ones

 

[maroun.c]

My chalice collection had suffered lately most probably due to an Alk spike or when my water got too clean. But still had 3 pieces I liked for starters.
Non ID tiny frag with some potential.

Psychedelic chalice.

Not sure of the ID but looks very close to SC shocker Chalice.

Acans.
had acquired a few single head Aussy Acans in the last period so placed a few in there to build up an Acan garden. Will modify placement and selection as they fill in.

 

[maroun.c]

One Euphilia for a bit of motion.

Leptoseris

Not sure if this one will stay or not.

And a Coco worm I have had for around a year

 

[kschweer]

Wow very nice!!! Love what you did with the scape.

 

[maroun.c]

Wow very nice!!! Love what you did with the scape.

Thanks.
Scaping is what I hate the most as my OCD kicks in with 1000 considerations before deciding on a final scape which is never as good as the first trial scape that I can never come back to

 

[maroun.c]

Went with frags from the DT that I wanted to have a back up for and will also be adding a few new frags for the nano to look different than the DT.

Front Island got the following so far:
Setosa, Strawberry shortcake, Garf Bonsai

On the back side it got a Green monti and and a green tabling acro which will go face to face against a blue efflo and a red monti on the back island

Back Island

Blue efflo, still ahs a lot of growing and coloring to show up. (My Favorite tabling accro )

ORA Green Birdnest

Paletta pink tip acro (wild colony)

 

[maroun.c]

Red planet

Blue acro

Red Monti

Milka Stylo

Purple Acro

Blue tip Acro

 

[maroun.c]

And FTS to end with
Front

Rt side
Still needs to add some frags

Lt Side

And an oblique view shot

 

[drernesto]

Amazing scape & coral collection! Always been a fan of ur tanks... This Shocker chalice is so hot!

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks.
This chalice has kept me on my nerves in the last few months.
Looks like it finally decided to start growing and color up.

 

[fabutahoun]

looking good Maroun, how is the corals growing, you should post some update.
Any Idea about what is the scientific name for " pink tip acro (wild colony)" ?