Thomas' 12g JBJ Nanocube DX

[Darkxerox]

Started this tank back in 2004 https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/43646-my-new-nanocube-dx/#comments , then brought it back in 2007 briefly to train a harem of baby clowns from Robin https://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1082963 , then finally resurrected it about a year ago with some sand from @Coral reefer after about 15 years of being in the basement. The old photos didn't survive, but I basically made a few mods to the overflow to eliminate surface oils and replaced the return with a mini jet pump.

This iteration was designed to help train a target Mandarin to eat prepared food and quarantine new corals. Then I started conditioning other fish before adding them to my 29g or giving them away to other members.

Everything looked as expected under 20 year old power compacts (bad).

 

[Darkxerox]

So I figured maybe swap out the light for a 12" AI Blade Grow since it would fit the form factor. Got one on an open box deal but noticed an issue right away:

There was a huge gradient of color likely due to the recessed holes for each LED cluster and how they're all the same orientation. I submitted a return to AI and they sent out a new unit with the updated clusters rotated 180° every time (easiest to see with the white LED):

Then came the surgery:

 

[Darkxerox]

PC before:

Cool white only:

Blended blue, royal, cool white:

 

[Patio]

very cool. giving me flashbacks of nanotuners/nanocustoms.com

 

[Darkxerox]

Updated photos after trading away some things. Got the porites and worms living in here since there's no skimmer and they get more time to eat phyto. Surprised people online really have trouble keeping porites alive, they seem easy.)

Still no dosing, just ~30% water changes every week or two with red sea black bucket blended with Tropic Marin.


May 19th:

July 21st:

Only thing unhappy so far is the cabbage leather which I think got burned by the new lights when it was up top. Hoping it survives. Added the Kessil shroom in the front right and a few other swap mushrooms.

 

[Darkxerox]

Picked up this from @Kensington Reefer! Might finally be able to knock back these planaria:

 

[BAYMAC]

That's going to be one fat slug nudi