New Biocube 29, New to Saltwater

[reefkeep3r]

Hello,

I would like to introduce my self, I have been reading Reef Central for over a year now. Finally taking the plunge.

Mods: if this is in the wrong spot, please move it.

Background: I have been in freshwater all my life with different tank sizes, fish, etc. along the way. I have always been interested in trying the other side. So now I am. I just set up a really small freshwater setup with some tetras in it and the fiance got hooked. . So with the green light given, I am taking advantage of it.

I have read all the sticky's I can find about new setups and beginner's advice. I originally wanted to start off in the 100+g range but can't afford all the equipment plus stocking. So I decided to start small and actually get nice equipment and learn along the way with out dishing out my life savings.

I convinced my self that a AIO was the way to go in my case. After some research I think I settled on the Coralife Biocube 29g. Nothing is ordered yet so I am looking for guidance or suggestions on everything. I also don't have a LFS around and the one I do have, when I need a long drive, I don't trust for advice. Plus they have steered me wrong on the Freshwater side.

We would like to start off with LPS and softies for corals and damsels, clowns, firefish etc. for fish.

First item besides the tank I have looked at would be a RO/DI.
I was looking at the SpectraPure® Maxpure 60 GPD RO/DI System 169.99 or SpectraPure® CSP RO/DI System w/ Manual Flush - 60 GPD 249.99. Not sure if I should save money and get the Maxpure with flush kit or CSP with the bells and whistles.

Next now I need some kind of skimmer, should I be looking at HOB or something like the Tunze Nano DOC Protein Skimmer 9002. I seem to see this one pop up a lot around here. The tank will be in the living room so I need it to be as quite as it can be.

I know there are mods to be made to the cube so I wan't to do them before water is added. Guidance to what ones should be done would be great. AKA, chamber mods, filter/pump mods, media baskets, fuge, lights, etc. I do not want to drill the tank unless there is a really good reason.

For sand we need enough for 4" correct, if so what brands would be recommended. We like rock work so I think a little more LR will be in order. Again what is a good source/type etc.

At last what other equipment should be on hand to get started the correct way.

Thanks in advance, looking forward to joining the club.

[Krazie4Acans]

Welcome to the salty side of the world.

First, I think the tank choice is not a bad one. Should work out good for a starter tank.

Second, I don't think you want 4" of sand for two reasons. 1 you don't need that much sand (not enough to be a deep sand bed and too much to be a shallow sand bed.) ~1-1.5" is plenty if you want a sand bed. 2 there isn't much room in a nano so giving up that much space to just sand would most likely be something you would regret later.

Third, the RO/DI system. Stick with a quality unit that is proven. You can add bells and whistles later for not a lot of money (TDS meter ~$25, floats and switches ~$22) so no need to dump it all in upfront.

Fourth, I believe there are mods to make the Tunze 9002 skimmer fit in your tank. Keep in mind that a slightly larger HOB will give you better overall result long term than one that fits in the rear chamber. The HOB may be visible from the front of the tank so aesthetics may be something to consider. HOB for capacity and quality, inside chamber for aesthetics and average bio load.

I don't have the same nano that you are considering so as far a mods I wouldn't be much help. If you think you will ever want to use a sump or external filtration then drill the tank while it's dry even if you end up just plugging the bulkheads for now.

Hope that helps. Krazie

[ryeguyy84]

Welcome... I have the oceanic biocube hqi so it's a little different. My word of caution on the HOB skimmer is although they will work better than one shoved in the back chambers if for some reason they start to skim extra wet (like if you added a bacteria, or coral glue) they skim wet outside the tank. Then you have a wet floor.

As far as mods, I went with the aquatic life 115 skimmer and a steve t media rack that holds Gfo/carbon. I've heard there are fitment issues with the Corallife cube and the skimmer I have so you might want to looks that up.

Other than that don't forget an auto top off.

[reefkeep3r]

Krazie,

Thanks for replying. I am glad you are in agreement with the tank. I plan to order it in the next day or 2.

2. I am glad your telling me I don't need 4" of sand. I knew space will be a premium so I didn't like the idea, but everything I read touting the benefits of DSB's says it was all or nothing in my understanding. I am assuming it should all be live then to start instead of a mix. I have heard conflicting information about buying bags of live sand so is there a brand that is suggested to use. I don't think I will have any way of seeding it. Only the live rock.

3. Again liking the saving money part to start with.

4. I plan on getting the tank first so I can see what it looks like in the room. I am more for HOB for the reasons you said, but since its not just my choice I will have to see what I can get.

[Surefire1]

I put 30lbs of live sand In my biocube, gave it about a 2in sand bed, which in my opinion looks pretty good (you can see my tank further down in this forum). I went with the HQI version and am glad I did. The corals I've gotten (lps and soft) absolutely love the MH. I ditched the skimmer the tank came with after reading varying reports (mostly negative) instead just doing a 5g WC weekly. This seems to work well. I'm by no means trying to talk you out of a skimmer, just more of an FYI.

[reefkeep3r]

ryeguyy84: Thats a good point, don't think I would have realized that until it was to late. Now I will be looking into that.

Surefire1: I saw your tank and hope mine looks like that in time. Do you have the Coralife or Oceanic version. I cant find the Coralife version with HQI. Thanks for the skimmer info.

Next: I was planning on buying a RO/DI tonight. Questions I have would be what size. 60 or 90gpd. Not sure how you pick. I would like to have it last so I can use it on future tanks. Much bigger then this I hope. I know it will be a SpectraPure because they always seem to have high reviews for the prices.

Thanks.

[footballdude2k3]

Before you spend money, have you looked on Craigslist at all? Where are you located in the country? There are a lot of people that are usually looking into getting out of the hobby, you could get lucky and find somebody getting out with a little bit nicer than what you can afford new.

Live sand is a waste of money, do not get it, your rock will be live that you get, that will seed the sand.

Find your local club, this will generally save you money as well.

[Surefire1]

Originally Posted by reefkeep3r

ryeguyy84:

Surefire1: I saw your tank and hope mine looks like that in time. Do you have the Coralife or Oceanic version. I cant find the Coralife version with HQI. Thanks for the skimmer info.

Mine is the Oceanic version.

[ryeguyy84]

Originally Posted by reefkeep3r

ryeguyy84: Thats a good point, don't think I would have realized that until it was to late. Now I will be looking into that.

I noticed when I had a brown wall stain because the skimmer was to close...

Have you tried bulk reef supply for the rodi? The difference between the 60 and 90 gpd is going to be how long it takes you to make the water you need. I'm impatient so I went with the 100gpd

[reefkeep3r]

footballdude2k3: why didn't I think of that

ryeguyy84: I would have had some explaining to do, walls are newly painted.
I looked at BRS but was finding mixed reviews.

Today I am ordering the tank. It will be the Coralife Biocibe 29g. I plan to start with the stock lighting and lunar light LED add in. Any one have reviews on the Biocube led strip or a aftermarket one.

After I have the tank I will consider drilling it so I am ready for the future, I will also see how it will work in the room and make a skimmer selection then.

I am also ordering a SpectraPure® CSP RO/DI System w/ Manual Flush - 60 GPD. I know a 25gpd will work but I like having more then I need. The 40gpd is more expensive then the 60 so that solved that problem. I know SpectrPure is more expensive but I have yet to see a bad review about them.

Hopefully this is going to start to turn into a build thread.

[ryeguyy84]

All good choices... I wish I drilled mine, I've been really wanting to add a sump lately.

[tankedncarolina]

Sounds like you are off to a good start. At least you are taking the time to ask questions and research before making the purchase. I am also doing a custom build on a 29 biocube. It is one I have had for a while and just wanted to make it something special. I am going to be using an AI Sol light with a drilled third. Hamber overflow into a refugium. All of this will be inside of a custom stand with canopy that I built. Keep us up to date on how this build of yours goes.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

[reefkeep3r]

Well tank is on its way. Let the fun begin.

tankedncarolina are you going to have pics as you go. I would like to follow your build to see how things go. The AI stuff looks pretty nice. But time for a stupid question, what do you mean "drilled third"? Since we are on the subject of stupid questions, what is a hamber overflow?

[tankedncarolina]

Sorry about that. My thumbs got in the way of my words. It was supposed to say drilled third chamber for an overflow. I used a 45mm diamond bit hole saw and drilled the back of the tank. I do have a few pics I can share. I plan on doing a complete build thread once I am a little further along but here are a few for now.
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[reefkeep3r]

That stand looks really nice. Good job on the stand. Min will be sitting on a old flat stand I have sitting around so not nearly as nice as your looks. Can I asked why you drilled the third chamber. I was thinking the first would make more sense but not actually having the tank could be why.

What are you doing for filters, I was thinking to start, in chamber 2 have media bags running purigen and chemi-pure elite, with a fuge running chaeto on reverse light cycle, then a HOB skimmer somewhere in the mix. Or running the skimmer in chamber 2 with media and somehow making a fuge in chamber 1 or 3. I was thinking about skipping the poly floss to avoid the problems of build up. Going to as self sustaining as I can get. I really wanted a full fuge with a DSB since there wont be one in the DT however I cant do that until I get a real sump. Don't think I can afford that to start but at least I will be drilled and ready when I can.

In other news RODI is on order. For salt, I was thinking D-D H2Ocean Magnesium Pro PLUS Saltwater Mixing Kit. Seems to work good for others.

[tankedncarolina]

I chose to drill the third chamber for two reasons. First if I had drilled the first then I would end up with stagnant water I. The second and third chambers unless I kept the original pump in place. Now I will have steady flow through all three chambers and I can use the factory return hole in the back wall from my fuge. Also with the setup I have in mind I can put a reef octopus bh1000 hob skimmer and let the intake line sit in chamber 1 and the return line back to chamber two. I have an eshopps rs-75 on order that I will use as a fuge with some live sand, fuge rubble and macro algae. I have a 350 gph pondmaster that I purchased for the return pump. My lfs recomended it and it carries a 3 year warranty. They use it on their in house display tanks.

[reefkeep3r]

That makes sense. Can you post picture as your coming along. Your set-up seems to follow closely to what is in my head.

[tankedncarolina]

Sure. I am picking up the sump this friday so I will hopefully have my plumbing done this weekend sometime. Then I will order my skimmer.

[tankedncarolina]

Sump made it in. Most of the plumbing is ready. I have made a few last minute mods to my stand and my ro/di filter arrived from pure water club today. Its definitely not the most rugged looking unit but it is simple enough and you cant beat 65 dollars shipped for a 100 gpd unit that other reefers have recommended. Anyway, I should be piecing the rest of it together this weekend and I will take the pics as I go.

[reefkeep3r]

I was wondering how your setup was going. My tank came in put had a scratch. New one is on the way. I have been thinking about how I am going to set up filtration so I am glad your making progress. Can't wait to see pictures.

[tankedncarolina]

So it has been a while since I gave u an update, but my cycling has been going. I am doing a live rock curing cycle so it is taking a little while to get ready for the livestock. My ammonia has reached zero just working on the nitrite now. Patience is not my strong point.
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[reefkeep3r]

Thats looking really nice. I am forgoing the custom stand idea and just using the stand designed for the cube. However I am planning on drilling chamber 1 and 3 with a 1" drain. I wan't to make a "herbie" style so chamber 3 will be primary and 1 will be a emergency with it set at the water height. I am debating if I want to run the stock pump with a T into the return from the sump or just take it out. I plan on having 2 P.H. on each side of the back wall to be able to create a gyre with the return in the middle towards the surface. Maybe kicking on the stock pump for increased flow every now and then. I will also be using mostly dry rock with a little live maybe. I might just run live rock in the sump. So chamber 1 will be emergency over flow to sump and possible heater depending on sump size, chamber 2 will be Intank media baskets with carbon and other media, possibly Tunze 9002 or 9004, or skimmer in sump, again need to determine sump size. Chamber 3 will be drain to sump, return and stock pump(maybe). DT will have 1.5-2" live sand and dry rock with 2 P.H. on back wall. Sump will have at least a fuge with live rock and probably cheato. Possibly sand as well, still reading pro/cons. ATO will be set up for the sump. Going with stock lighting now but will upgrade down the road. Let me know what you think or should I modify my plans. I plan on drilling in the very near future.

[tankedncarolina]

Sorry for the late response. I opted do do without any carbon or any other filtration like the seachem prime. I am only using the natural biological filtration from the live rock and I will be adding macro algae to help with phosphates shortly. As for drilling chamber 1 and 3, I was nervous enough drilling the one. Doing both may be overkill and I am not sure you have enough room at the top of chamber one on the back wall for a 1" drain and still get the water level in that chamber high enough to spill into chambers 2 and 3. So far the single 1" seems to be more than enough for me. I removed the stock return which I believe was rated for about 250gph. I am using a pondmaster 350gph in my sump which was a surprisingly affordable suggestion by my lfs. They use them on their display tanks and they come with a three year warranty. I believe it only ran me about 90 dollars with tax. 350 gph is a good flow rate for the 29 gallon since youre getting roughly 10 complete water cycles through the tank per hour. That is going to be enough water flow for most setups unless you get into corals that require a higher flow rate in which case I think a single mp10 on the opposite side of the tank from the return would produce plenty of cyclonic action in the water flow. And for the tunze skimmers I have read that a lot of people are very happy with them. I think I am going to go with the reef octopus bh1000 which is a hob. You should check it out. Not the bh100 it has an internal pump, I think the bh1000 is supposed to be its upgraded design.

[Outkast Gaming]

nice looking stand