biocube lighting and flow?

thunderjohnsonx · 05/22/2011, 07:16 AM

Hey I have a 29 gal biocube and am really interested in putting a bubble anemone in it for my clown fish. Also I would really like to buy this soft coral starter pack I say on liveaquaria. It has a starburt polyp, hetero xenia, taro tree coral, and a pineapple coral. My question is, is the stock lighting in the biocube enough to for the anemone and coals? R there any coral in that pack that wouldn't work specifically and maybe I could give a friend? I have seen upgrades for the biocube making it 3 or 4 bulb fixtures. Also is the stock pump enough for these guys, and if not, would an extra 240 gph circ pump be enough extra flow? Any help and multiple opinions would be welcome. Thanks

bnumair · 05/22/2011, 08:09 AM

for softies u mentioned lights would not be that big of issue. so is the flow as well. but if u decide to go with sps or lps u will need lot more flow and lot more light. right now u should be fine.

jimmy_beaner · 05/22/2011, 08:13 AM

I also have the Biocube 29, and started with PC lighting. The PC lighting worked fine for me for brain coral, candy cane coral, blastomussa merletti, zoas and I even had an RBTA under the PC lights for 2 months. I also upgraded the stock pump to the MaxiJet 1200. If you want to keep a BTA, you may wish to bump up the lighting a bit. I "got by it" by feeding it 2-3 times a week, which definitely helped. I switched to LED lighting (DIY project that fits into the stock hood) and the RBTA is much happier now and will allow me to keep any coral I want (at least those that would've been off the list because of light).

If you're interested in going the LED DIY route, I have a thread I posted on this forum that briefly describes what I did. To me, it's very clean and looks stock.

thunderjohnsonx · 05/22/2011, 09:24 AM

Can u give a link to the thread. By "get it by" u mean the bta was fine. Or on the verge of death?

fish77 · 05/22/2011, 11:46 AM

The pc lighting on the biocube will be fine for softies. But for lps,sps and anemones you will need to upgrade your lights and flow.
this site has great options for upgrading BC 29 lights.

http://www.nanotuners.com

lordofthereef · 05/22/2011, 04:50 PM

I think it's worth noting that you shouldn't get a BTA as a beginner, nor for a new tank. Get a softie starter pack and see how you do. It sounds like this is your first go at keeping corals. The last thing you want to do is rush into things, get discouraged, and dump the hobby.

I am also personally of the opinion that this size tank is a little small for a BTA, especially considering all of the other things you are planning to keep in there. These guys expand out to the size of a dinner plate or larger.

ozzyvega · 05/22/2011, 06:36 PM

For flow I'd go with upgraded return to a mj1200 then a k nano or equal in the display. I dis this and loved it. Just opinion I wouldn't put a BTA in anything that small like said they get big and kill nearly everything they touch. So it will end up basically a nem only tank.

jimmy_beaner · 05/22/2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderjohnsonx

Can u give a link to the thread. By "get it by" u mean the bta was fine. Or on the verge of death?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2022342

It was ok... some times it wouldn't be super happy and would roam a little. The stronger lights of the LED should make it a lot happier. It grew under PC lighting.

05/22/2011, 07:16 AM	#1
thunderjohnsonx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rocky Point (long island), NY Posts: 77	biocube lighting and flow? Hey I have a 29 gal biocube and am really interested in putting a bubble anemone in it for my clown fish. Also I would really like to buy this soft coral starter pack I say on liveaquaria. It has a starburt polyp, hetero xenia, taro tree coral, and a pineapple coral. My question is, is the stock lighting in the biocube enough to for the anemone and coals? R there any coral in that pack that wouldn't work specifically and maybe I could give a friend? I have seen upgrades for the biocube making it 3 or 4 bulb fixtures. Also is the stock pump enough for these guys, and if not, would an extra 240 gph circ pump be enough extra flow? Any help and multiple opinions would be welcome. Thanks

05/22/2011, 08:09 AM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	for softies u mentioned lights would not be that big of issue. so is the flow as well. but if u decide to go with sps or lps u will need lot more flow and lot more light. right now u should be fine. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

05/22/2011, 11:46 AM	#5
fish77 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 335	The pc lighting on the biocube will be fine for softies. But for lps,sps and anemones you will need to upgrade your lights and flow. this site has great options for upgrading BC 29 lights. http://www.nanotuners.com __________________ Addicted.... Current Tank Info: 100 gallon reef in the works

05/22/2011, 04:50 PM	#6
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	I think it's worth noting that you shouldn't get a BTA as a beginner, nor for a new tank. Get a softie starter pack and see how you do. It sounds like this is your first go at keeping corals. The last thing you want to do is rush into things, get discouraged, and dump the hobby. I am also personally of the opinion that this size tank is a little small for a BTA, especially considering all of the other things you are planning to keep in there. These guys expand out to the size of a dinner plate or larger. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

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05/22/2011, 08:13 AM	#3
jimmy_beaner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Clive, IA Posts: 692	I also have the Biocube 29, and started with PC lighting. The PC lighting worked fine for me for brain coral, candy cane coral, blastomussa merletti, zoas and I even had an RBTA under the PC lights for 2 months. I also upgraded the stock pump to the MaxiJet 1200. If you want to keep a BTA, you may wish to bump up the lighting a bit. I "got by it" by feeding it 2-3 times a week, which definitely helped. I switched to LED lighting (DIY project that fits into the stock hood) and the RBTA is much happier now and will allow me to keep any coral I want (at least those that would've been off the list because of light). If you're interested in going the LED DIY route, I have a thread I posted on this forum that briefly describes what I did. To me, it's very clean and looks stock.

05/22/2011, 09:24 AM	#4
thunderjohnsonx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rocky Point (long island), NY Posts: 77	Can u give a link to the thread. By "get it by" u mean the bta was fine. Or on the verge of death?

05/22/2011, 06:36 PM	#7
ozzyvega Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 53	For flow I'd go with upgraded return to a mj1200 then a k nano or equal in the display. I dis this and loved it. Just opinion I wouldn't put a BTA in anything that small like said they get big and kill nearly everything they touch. So it will end up basically a nem only tank.