Nano Cube question

[NavyNano212]

Anyone with a nano cube out there? I have a 24G and was wondering if anyone else who has one cleans the "stuff" behind the tank...the black sponges(?), bio balls, ceramic rings and the back in general??

Usually every few months I take out the big "sponges" and rinse them out in tank water I am removing to ensure they are always in saltwater. Alot of gunk comes out and I was wondering if that is good or bad??
I don't completely clean them until they are squeaky, but pretty clean.

Just wondering everyone's thoughts.:bablefish

Thanks as always

 

[chazertis]

most people don't run them with sponges, bioballs, or ceramic rings. i used a sponge for awhile just for mechanical filtration. i got tired of cleaning it so often so i did away with that too.

 

[NavyNano212]

Fair enough....but the tank is two years old. If I remove it all, won't that cause problems? What do you use back there?

 

[chazertis]

well if its worked for you for 2 years then maybe not change it? i have a 12g nanocube, almost 4 yrs old. i don't use anything in the back except for a small bag of carbon or chemipure. like i said, i occasionally will use a sponge for some mechanical filtration. but if everything is doing well after 2 years i'd stick with your plan. how many lbs of live rock do you have? how much sand?

 

[KathyC]

If I remove it all, won't that cause problems?

yes, it more than likely would since your bacteria is colonizing a good sized area back there.
If you have multiple sponges that you are using as mechanical filtration..only rinse one out at a time and leave a few days between cleaning them. That will give the 'cleaned' one time to recolonize again.
The bioballs and ceramic rings are usually not a good idea unless you are doing fish only as they can only support 1 type of bacteria, and that can through your balance of bacteria out of whack. not what you want in a reef tank..or nano reef

 

[NavyNano212]

Thanks for the advice...I usually do clean one of the sponges at a time.
Can I slowly remove the bio balls one at a time(one per week??)and add some LR to the back? Might that be helpful to the tank? I have small pieces lying around my tank I could use.

 

[gcfd191]

I have a 24G Aquapod which is similar to the Nano Cube. In the back, I took out all sponges, bioballs & ceramic pieces. Instead, I have LR rubble, and a poly filter between the 2 chambers. It works great. No ammonia, nitrates, nitrites or any other levels.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have the 24 pod as well. I have no sponges inside the back and the bio balls were never added. They can turn into nitrate factories. Since your tank is running like this to remove them all at once would shock your tank in my opinion I would slowly remove the bio balls 1 per day and if you want the sponge in there I would clean that once per week in RO water to make sure it's nice and clean.

 

[NavyNano212]

Thanks for the advice. I removed one today...will do it slowly and add some LR rubble to the back.

 

[JJSBLM]

lr rubble is a very good idea, as bacteria can still adhear to this quite well

 

[Lolli631]

Navy

I also have the 24g aquapod. I did not run the included media at all. I have an eggcrate shelf built into the rear chamber with chemipure and filter floss on top of it. Water flows into the rear chamber over the floss. I change the floss weekly, its much easier than the sponges.

I believe the rock rubble in the back would trap detrius and become a nitrate factory the same as the bioballs and ceramic. Be sure you have enough l/r in the display for the bacteria to colonize. As previously said remove everything slowly.

Scott

 

[JJSBLM]

rubble has worked for me over many years,

but then again i've never kept any corals other than an anenome..... mostly just fish