Maxspect Dice AIO 12G

[jonesy9]

Hi all,

Starting up a new nano tank for beside my desk after waiting for a black Friday deal.
I have an existing Waterbox peninsula mini 25 but haven't managed to convince my wife that a tank in the living room is a good idea. So I've got with a 2nd nano tank instead.

Started the cycle with some seeded bio media, filter floss and other filter material. Also dosed some rapid cycle too. Now comes the testing and waiting.
A bit of wavemaker adjustment too, getting used to the tiny nano Vs the Nero 3. Made a replica of the Mariana trench the first night.

Last photo minus light as the Maxspect jump that came with the tank had poorly threaded screw holes to attach to the mount. So that's being swapped over by the retailer. Might help to keep the algae at bay whilst it cycles.

Now comes the fun part of imagining what to add to the tank when it's ready. I'm leaning towards a nano goby first.

https://reefvibe.co.uk/tanks/public/d156d20d-c7d8-4b92-a937-692def458395

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following! I personally would put a lot more rock in there. Your livestock need areas to hide in and rocks to swim around in. Not to mention having more rock allows you to have more space to grow corals.

 

[jonesy9]

Yeah you're right. I've got a bunch more rock that I can add. I'm just struggling to work out where to fit it whilst keeping a good amount of sand for a goby or similar sand bed dwelling fish.

 

[jonesy9]

Added another chunk of rock at the back. So there's about double the amount now.

Still a little nitrite showing and low levels of nitrate.

Got the replacement light in too. So will be interesting to see how the next week or so goes with ghost feeding and reading.

 

[jonesy9]

Starting to see some life in the tank, and the cycle is improving.

ReefVibe - Aquarium Parameter Tracking

Track, analyze, and optimize your reef tank parameters in real-time

reefvibe.co.uk

 

[MikeyZo]

Hey I was wondering what you decided to do in the rear chambers? Are you just utilizing the biomedia it came with? I have one started and I was trying to figure out what to do back there.

 

[jonesy9]

Yeah, so in chamber 1 I have a bit of filter floss then the brick that came with the tank to keep the water clear.
Chamber 2 I have the bio media it came with and a heater. Chamber 3 is the return pump, temperature probe and ATO.
All seems ok, though the water seems quite still in the back chambers compared to my waterbox AIO.

With that setup, here's my current parameters

ReefVibe - Aquarium Parameter Tracking

Track, analyze, and optimize your reef tank parameters in real-time

reefvibe.co.uk

 

[MikeyZo]

I was looking for a media basket but haven’t found anyone who makes one. Do you just have it stacked back there?
Which ATO are you using?

 

[jonesy9]

I dropped in a generic 3d printed basket in there that came with my used Waterbox 25mini. It seems like a pretty standard size chamber I think.
But to be honest I just have the square of floss rested on top of the basket with nothing in the basket itself.

I'm using the D-D Advanced ATO.
I wouldn't recommend it though. Id recommend the Red Sea ATO+ which I have in my Waterbox. So much easier to install and use.

 

[MikeyZo]

Thanks for the info

 

[jonesy9]

Thanks for the info

Anytime! Let me know if you want any pictures. Keen to see your tank too!

 

[MikeyZo]

Here’s the start. I changed out the return with a sicce syncra 1.0. Added a AI Nero 3, threw in a BRS titanium heater on an inkbird, and I have a nature dimensions fleece roller coming to replace the filter sock. Right now the middle chamber just as the heater. I have a buocube that I put a media basket in with rubble rock and chaeto… I was thinking of maybe doing something similar.

 

[jonesy9]

That looks brilliant! I've added a Nero 3 to mine too.
I ended up with a replacement return pump, as the original made some very nasty noises, even after cleaning. I've purchased a TMC Compact 500 too, which i'll swap out when I get some time.

One thing i've noticed is that my Zoas, Duncan and Frogspawn are all rather unhappy.
Parameters are all pretty stable and in good shape:
Desktop - Current Parameters

Alkalinity: 8.10 dKH
Calcium: 435.00 ppm
Magnesium: 1335.00 ppm
Phosphate: 0.02 ppm
Nitrate: 7.50 ppm
Ammonia: 0.00 ppm
Nitrite: 0.00 ppm
Salinity: 1.026 SG
Temperature: 25.50 °C

View full tank: https://reefvibe.co.uk/tanks/public/d156d20d-c7d8-4b92-a937-692def458395

I've also tested PAR using a Danoplus PAR meter. They are seemingly <100 on the sandbed, where these corals are located. However all 3 are regularly closed up.
The Duncan is much more open when the lights are off.

I've relocated the Duncan and frogspawn to under the arch so it's shaded, and will see how it goes.

However do you have the stock MJ-L230 light? If so, are you finding it too powerful at all?