AquaRank.com

FishProfiles.com Message Forums

faq | etiquette | register | my account | search | mailbox
# FishProfiles.com Message Forums
L# General
 L# Aquascaping
  L# Step by step Nano Cubes
   L# Pages: 1, 2
 New Topic
SubscribeStep by step Nano Cubes
Anti Fishman
*******
-----
Banned
Posts: 478
Kudos: 402
Votes: 0
Registered: 11-Apr-2004
male usa
Oh yeah, sounds awesome. I am not sure if there are any tank shops around here, maybe can I make one out of plexiglass and silicone? I would like to make even just one, because it sounds so awesome. Could ghost shrimp be kept in them? I think it would be neat to house shrimp in them, ghost, amano, cherry, all kinds. I just think these are so cool.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile PM Edit Report 
Falstaf
 
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 785
Kudos: 1211
Votes: 196
Registered: 12-Feb-2004
male mexico
Actually yes, you can do them yourself, I was going to, but then I ask these guys to quote me on the price of the 9 and it was so affordable so I just went for it.

I was also thinking to add shrimp, but we don't get all the cool ones, only ghost shrimp, but I would love to have a cherry! They sure will be happy in there, you just have to think how to cover the tanks, they do jump.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile MSN PM Edit Report 
Anti Fishman
*******
-----
Banned
Posts: 478
Kudos: 402
Votes: 0
Registered: 11-Apr-2004
male usa
Yeah, maybe make a plexiglas hood with hinges that covers all of them. Put some holes in the top with a drill and there you go.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile PM Edit Report 
Anti Fishman
*******
-----
Banned
Posts: 478
Kudos: 402
Votes: 0
Registered: 11-Apr-2004
male usa
Okay, I might try it. I am not sure on the price of plexiglass either. Maybe check next time i go to the hardware store.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile PM Edit Report 
Curare
*******
-----
Enthusiast
Posts: 196
Kudos: 130
Votes: 0
Registered: 23-Jun-2004
male australia
I've been running a Nano tank not much larger than your ones.

250mm x 250mm x 250mm.. It's planted with ludwigia and some watersprite to keep the nitrates down..

How are you dealing with filtration and heating? If you are?

Just curious
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile Homepage MSN PM Edit Report 
Falstaf
 
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 785
Kudos: 1211
Votes: 196
Registered: 12-Feb-2004
male mexico
Antifishman, get a sheet of glass and have them cut to the size you want, just remember that the base has to be larger the thick of the glass you choose added to each side of the bases.

Curare, I won't use heating as the room temperature it's enough, at least for bettas and plants, as for filtering i did some DIY film canister filters they work just fine! In fact i'm amazed with them, the only variation i did with them is that i used the Advantix kind? they are oval instead of round and they give you a little more space to work with.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile MSN PM Edit Report 
Falstaf
 
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 785
Kudos: 1211
Votes: 196
Registered: 12-Feb-2004
male mexico
Ok as promised, here is the step by step story of the nano cubes.

First I have to say I didn't do the cubes myself I had them made, they are 15x15x15cm made of 3mm glass and they were about $2.00USD.

1.-Since the rack didn't worked I used my DIY Book Shelf, which is made out of 2" wood boards on top of regular terracotta bricks.
2.-I had this old lamp waiting to be used, it's a 12W Fluorescent so I thought it was perfect to illuminate 4 cubes. Each cube holds a little less than one gallon. so I would have more less 3WPG, a little less on the side ones but it's ok.
3.-Equipment needed, was a tool box (screwdriver, hammer, screws, electric tweezers), a 5kg bag of azoo's Plant Grower Bed, scissors, many pieces of treated Welaby Wood boiled for 20 minutes, planting tweezers, plants. (Cat NOT included ).
4.-Actually this was the tricky part of it all, to fix that hood onto the upper shelf, it had to be drilled and screwed into the board with the lamp disassembled, so it was a pain!
5,-Light on!! and they work!:88).
6.-Filled cubes with 1" of substrate and already positioned in the shelf.

So far that's where I am, but it's time for the fun part AQUASCAPING!!! Yeeeey! I'll try to post one by one as I finish them.
Falstaf attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/381806.jpg"]
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile MSN PM Edit Report 
Falstaf
 
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 785
Kudos: 1211
Votes: 196
Registered: 12-Feb-2004
male mexico
CUBE 1

1.-First I had to borrow my betta bowl light because I couldn't see!! so all set up now.
2.-Half filled the cube with tap water, this substrate is like really messy as you can see, it settles quick but still very messy.
3.-Fixed anubia nana petit with staples to piece of welaby wood, and in it goes
4.-With planting tweezers I planted micro sword, dwarf sword, and a dwarf Val in the back. (All you micro sword fans, GET THIS SUBSTRATE!! it rules for planting it, it just stayed in the first attempt!)
5.-Top view of the cube, here is the little secret, after you are done planting, you take an air hose and siphon all the water out, so the substrate can settle once again, then you fill it the same way all the way to the top.
6.- Voila! finished cube and on to the shelf! (they take a while to do, specially if you have big hands!)
Falstaf attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/381898.jpg"]
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile MSN PM Edit Report 
Falstaf
 
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 785
Kudos: 1211
Votes: 196
Registered: 12-Feb-2004
male mexico
I know what you mean!!! it can really drive you nuts!

There is a tiny canister filter that Azoo has for it's palm tanks, and it's great, a little bit pricey but it sure worth it, you can run it not all the time, but every other day for 20 minutes in each tank, and it really does it's job.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile MSN PM Edit Report 
jake
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 594
Kudos: 875
Votes: 2
Registered: 21-Mar-2004
male usa
I always enjoyed the nano cubes that did not contain fish. Usually the tops were glass and made to look like the tank was completely sealed when the top was on, although it wasn't, of course. I think if you work on and perfect a small aquascape in a nano cube, it's worth leaving it fishless That way it looks like a minature version of a large tank in a way and you can get lost a bit , just sitting back and looking at it. . hard to do if godzilla is smashing through the countryside, hehe. Congrats on the cheap cubes, and good luck on the project.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile PM Edit Report 
Anti Fishman
*******
-----
Banned
Posts: 478
Kudos: 402
Votes: 0
Registered: 11-Apr-2004
male usa
Oh, how awesome! I just want to make one. Where did you get the substrate and the wood? I have never heard of either of those around here... Also, did you rins ehte substrate? I would assume so. So, they can't be made of plexiglass? I might look for something, I am not too sure of the price of glass. I mean, if this thing cost over $50, I guess I am out of it. I only get $20 a month! It sure sounds like a bunch of fun to make! Good luck with it!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile PM Edit Report 
Falstaf
 
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 785
Kudos: 1211
Votes: 196
Registered: 12-Feb-2004
male mexico
Thanks Jake, I totally agree with you, if these work out as I hope they'll do, they will remain fishless.

Anti Fishman, I don't know if plexi glass is cheaper there, here is more expensive than glass, so that's why plexus chose to go with glass. The Mini Welaby wood, plexus got at my LFS and it's labeled by Pets International Ltd. I'm sure you can find it online. (there is no web address on the label), the substrate is by Azoo, any azoo dealer will carry it. And no, plexus didn't rinsed the substrate, it will never get clear, it's kind of a peat pellet, so if you rinse the only thing you will accomplish is to dilute the pellets and flush it down the drain, it will settle in a night and with time it will get less "loose"
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile MSN PM Edit Report 
Falstaf
 
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 785
Kudos: 1211
Votes: 196
Registered: 12-Feb-2004
male mexico
CUBE 2
Falstaf attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/381949.jpg"]
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile MSN PM Edit Report 
me is already in use
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 596
Kudos: 99
Votes: 25
Registered: 02-Dec-2003
male usa us-california
I was wondering, for a plantless tank how do you give nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia to the plants?
I think they use ammonia and nitrites...
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:26Profile PM Edit Report 
# Pages: 1, 2
New Topic
Jump to: 

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies