Nuvo 16 vs Biocube 14

Endevor · 10/30/2012, 10:49 PM

I'm currently still in school and the dorm policy is that there are no tanks allowed over 10g which makes it harder for anyone really wanting a saltwater tank. Nevertheless, I'm stubborn enough to do it anyway. I've always built freshwater and have a 30g freshwater with angels and a rainbow shark at home and they're doing well. I decided I want to dip into marine life a little bit. Using an old 10g tank, and despite warnings online about small marine tanks, I set it up with live argonite and 20lbs of live rock. Currently it has some reef lights I picked up from Petco a while back and I got an AquaticLife Mini Internal Skimmer 115 and a Penguin Bio-wheel 150 and a heater. I'm using an old internal mini fountain pump as a powerhead, but I plan on getting a real one soon. It now houses 2 damsels and several crabs including an Emerald and a Sally

Anyway, regardless of all that, I'm looking at possibly getting a new tank and the ones I have in mind are the BioCube 14 and the Nuvo 16. There's a place where I live called Ocean's Floor and they have one set up and it looks amazing. On the plus side, it looks smaller than it is so no one (Not that anyone really checks anyway) will notice. Another plus is it looks like I can fit my skimmer in the back so I wouldn't have wasted any money or need to get another. Only thing I've heard bad is that some people think the lighting may not be efficient for coral, but the guys at Oceans Floor had all sorts on display in there and a clown and they said they haven't had any problems with the lighting. Only other issue is the price.

I don't know much about the BioCube 14 and haven't seen one in person yet. I have seen the 29 though and seen several videos online about them. I've seen several people modding the BioCubes to fit various components. I would really like to use my skimmer in my new tank without modding it. Also heard some people saying the lights get too hot for corals.

My goal is to have corals and a small fish or two, clowns probably. I'm leaning towards the Nuvo if it wasn't for the price. Any suggestions?

ryeguyy84 · 10/31/2012, 02:02 PM

I'm not sure if the skimmer will fit in either of those tanks. It's a tight fit in my biocube 29.

if you pick up a used biocube 14 and retrofit some LED ($150) it could be coral heaven. or even a new biocube 14 plus the Rapid LED kit would be the same price but have better performing lights.

have you considered the Nuvo 8? I have a Nuvo 4, I gutted the light and put 4 Cree LEDS in its place and it's great.

ryeguyy84 · 10/31/2012, 02:03 PM

also watch that fountain pump, if it's not rated for salt water it might rust or release chemicals into the tank.

Endevor · 10/31/2012, 02:14 PM

The fountain pump is one of the reasons I was looking at the nuvo since it has two powerheads built in. Also, seeing it in person, it does look like my skimmer would have a real tight fit, but it looks like it still would. It would also be a bigger tank which I've always heard is better with a Marine tank.

You said you replaced the lighting on yours. Is the lighting that comes with the nuvo inefficient for coral?

ryeguyy84 · 11/01/2012, 08:42 AM

I have the Nuvo 4, it comes with 4 watts of LED (3 white, 1 blue) and after everything was setup for a while i started having mushrooms detach and float around. so I thought it was a water quality issue as I've never had a tank this small so I started to look at that and didn't find any issues. Then my dunkin was looking weak and my hammer wouldn't even open so I spent $60 for 4 new LEDs and everything is looking great now. I think the Nuvo 16 comes with 16 watts of LED light so it could be better.

View Poll Results: Which do you prefer?
Nuvo 16	15	68.18%
BioCube 14	7	31.82%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll

10/30/2012, 10:49 PM	#1
Endevor Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 29	Nuvo 16 vs Biocube 14 I'm currently still in school and the dorm policy is that there are no tanks allowed over 10g which makes it harder for anyone really wanting a saltwater tank. Nevertheless, I'm stubborn enough to do it anyway. I've always built freshwater and have a 30g freshwater with angels and a rainbow shark at home and they're doing well. I decided I want to dip into marine life a little bit. Using an old 10g tank, and despite warnings online about small marine tanks, I set it up with live argonite and 20lbs of live rock. Currently it has some reef lights I picked up from Petco a while back and I got an AquaticLife Mini Internal Skimmer 115 and a Penguin Bio-wheel 150 and a heater. I'm using an old internal mini fountain pump as a powerhead, but I plan on getting a real one soon. It now houses 2 damsels and several crabs including an Emerald and a Sally Anyway, regardless of all that, I'm looking at possibly getting a new tank and the ones I have in mind are the BioCube 14 and the Nuvo 16. There's a place where I live called Ocean's Floor and they have one set up and it looks amazing. On the plus side, it looks smaller than it is so no one (Not that anyone really checks anyway) will notice. Another plus is it looks like I can fit my skimmer in the back so I wouldn't have wasted any money or need to get another. Only thing I've heard bad is that some people think the lighting may not be efficient for coral, but the guys at Oceans Floor had all sorts on display in there and a clown and they said they haven't had any problems with the lighting. Only other issue is the price. I don't know much about the BioCube 14 and haven't seen one in person yet. I have seen the 29 though and seen several videos online about them. I've seen several people modding the BioCubes to fit various components. I would really like to use my skimmer in my new tank without modding it. Also heard some people saying the lights get too hot for corals. My goal is to have corals and a small fish or two, clowns probably. I'm leaning towards the Nuvo if it wasn't for the price. Any suggestions?

10/31/2012, 02:02 PM	#2
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	I'm not sure if the skimmer will fit in either of those tanks. It's a tight fit in my biocube 29. if you pick up a used biocube 14 and retrofit some LED ($150) it could be coral heaven. or even a new biocube 14 plus the Rapid LED kit would be the same price but have better performing lights. have you considered the Nuvo 8? I have a Nuvo 4, I gutted the light and put 4 Cree LEDS in its place and it's great. Last edited by ryeguyy84; 10/31/2012 at 02:09 PM.

10/31/2012, 02:03 PM	#3
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	also watch that fountain pump, if it's not rated for salt water it might rust or release chemicals into the tank.

10/31/2012, 02:14 PM	#4
Endevor Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 29	The fountain pump is one of the reasons I was looking at the nuvo since it has two powerheads built in. Also, seeing it in person, it does look like my skimmer would have a real tight fit, but it looks like it still would. It would also be a bigger tank which I've always heard is better with a Marine tank. You said you replaced the lighting on yours. Is the lighting that comes with the nuvo inefficient for coral?

11/01/2012, 08:42 AM	#5
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	I have the Nuvo 4, it comes with 4 watts of LED (3 white, 1 blue) and after everything was setup for a while i started having mushrooms detach and float around. so I thought it was a water quality issue as I've never had a tank this small so I started to look at that and didn't find any issues. Then my dunkin was looking weak and my hammer wouldn't even open so I spent $60 for 4 new LEDs and everything is looking great now. I think the Nuvo 16 comes with 16 watts of LED light so it could be better.