Maroun.c 26G 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
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0125_zps0bufyqxg.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0126_zpsqilv2gvc.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0123_zpsj8by2vel.jpg

Fill up with Epoxy
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0128_zpsocw3e94i.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0129_zps8vqnwgik.jpg

Acrylic rod in the base rock
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0130_zpsayf5aiqm.jpg

Floating ledge
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0132_zps1dpvqv2x.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0133_zpsehn3yht9.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0134_zpsqa514lxo.jpg

And a bit of epoxy to support from outside
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0135_zpsi1swbkid.jpg

[maroun.c]

And Voila
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/IMAG0137_zpsj96shtjw.jpg
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
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2956_zpsgvhfsizh.jpg
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
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2962_zpszogu6xol.jpg

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.
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2965_zpsvkiwne0o.jpg
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2967_zps5jlvlrqw.jpg
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2966_zps1wemsblo.jpg

[maroun.c]

Then experimented with few more simple rocks I had on hand and came up with this
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2977_zpsttoxyfdt.jpg
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2976_zpsfygpzogg.jpg
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2980_zpsuqwfi8om.jpg
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2981_zps3drxhl3l.jpg
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Scape/_DSC2982_zpsjvcycyvc.jpg

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

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3007_zpsph6pag8k.jpg

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

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3028_zpso8dapalj.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3026_zps3dughtpu.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3023_zpss9rf0n3z.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3021_zpsekieqvje.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3020_zpsuwhsa9hs.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3017_zpshl8olcov.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3016_zps83oswy38.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3014_zpswfc1mytc.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20Softies/_DSC3010_zps3auoxiak.jpg

[leviburns89]

Are those super long zoas fairy dust? I have some that are almost 3" tall.

Once under higher lighting they shrunk to about 1.5" but still far taller than any other I've come across

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[maroun.c]

Not sure of the ID but they look very close.
Yes these extend more than other and even at higher lights. not sure if its how they are or if they are really higher light Zoas. I tried positioning where they get more light than other zoas in the tank to see if they'll go shorter. they are look longer also in the frag tank and in my DT under 250W MH and LED

[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.

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3037_zpspjhvo8vp.jpg

Psychedelic chalice.

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3036_zpscnkmeqv8.jpg

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

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3034_zpsgjfnbu1a.jpg

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.

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3042_zps7cbu9ofu.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3043_zpsf4ir6hdx.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3046_zpszno8j1xn.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3048_zpsouiihidj.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3049_zps7jqhf9ru.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3050_zps4bvxokyh.jpg

[maroun.c]

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3053_zpstfsixtt9.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3054_zps6nc02hkv.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3057_zpsayl6dl9r.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3058_zpsytpijzgq.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3061_zpsuivfexrf.jpg

One Euphilia for a bit of motion.
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3062_zps9kix4ajy.jpg


Leptoseris
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3063_zps2xxifyzo.jpg

Not sure if this one will stay or not.
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20LPS/_DSC3040_zpsh9nk4hha.jpg

And a Coco worm I have had for around a year

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Inverts/IMAG4925.jpg

[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

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3064_zpsh5gvecy6.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3065_zpsmzhakbgf.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3066_zpss5l2tyyl.jpg

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3067_zpsgyjuxiug.jpg

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

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3070_zpsd41nskpj.jpg
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3071_zpskrcq14mx.jpg

Back Island
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Tank%20Views/_DSC3069_zpsljxfhgif.jpg

Blue efflo, still ahs a lot of growing and coloring to show up. (My Favorite tabling accro :) )
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3072_zpsr8btumyj.jpg

ORA Green Birdnest
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3079_zpsj8azzn6j.jpg

[maroun.c]

Paletta Pink Tip accro (wild colony)
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3080_zpsyyb9oz2u.jpg

Red planet
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3088_zps9uib04gq.jpg

Blue acro
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3089_zpshzp969bs.jpg

Red Monti
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3102_zpstcwbjvzw.jpg

Milka Stylo
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3085_zpsn6kssgzm.jpg

Purple Acro
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3086_zpsd5oize3k.jpg

Blue tip Acro

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Coral%20SPS/_DSC3090_zps9ytanrbp.jpg

[maroun.c]

And FTS to end with
Front
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Tank%20Views/_DSC3105_zps3vo1bx1b.jpg
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Tank%20Views/_DSC3091_zpsr0rcfsa5.jpg

Rt side
Still needs to add some frags

http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Tank%20Views/_DSC3094_zpssxi3fhkf.jpg

Lt Side
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Tank%20Views/_DSC3092_zpsllobbdzj.jpg

And an oblique view shot
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u374/mcaqua23g/Tank%20Views/_DSC3093_zpsutqbthtk.jpg

[krusieski]

thanks for pictures gives me good ideasa


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[leviburns89]

How on earth do you clean your glass?

I have a 55, and had to build my own scrubby with a peice of wood and the rough side of a sponge, and still can't get to the sandbed in certain spots due to corals in the way

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[maroun.c]

thanks for pictures gives me good ideasa


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Glad to be of help :)
Setting up a Nano?

[maroun.c]

How on earth do you clean your glass?

I have a 55, and had to build my own scrubby with a peice of wood and the rough side of a sponge, and still can't get to the sandbed in certain spots due to corals in the way

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

I made sure when placing the rocks that the magnet cleaner has space. Frequent cleaning should avoid having to use a scrapper. If scrapper is needed then ill only use it n reachable areas and I'll use a cutter blade held by hand to clean the areas close to corals. Being a smaller tank this shouldn't take to much effort. Corals won't be placed close to glass and will be trimmed to not go there.
Guess only time will tell hoe easy it'll be to keep glass clean but any corals in the way will be just a few accidental more frags :)

[Aquafred]

Looks like an amazing start.
Any updates?

[fadi_abu_tahoun]

Subscribed, nice rook work, can't wait to see it fill up with corals

[maroun.c]

Looks like an amazing start.
Any updates?

Thank you.
As this is mostly a one time fill I will mostly update on monthly basis to show progress if any and also growth when frags kick up.
Updated pics on the way :)

[maroun.c]

Subscribed, nice rook work, can't wait to see it fill up with corals

Thanks Fadi. Can't wait to see it filling up too. I'm hoping it won't be too long :)