Xenon's 29g Biocube with upgrades!

xenon · 09/25/2008, 11:46 AM

I bought this 29g biocube about 1month ago thinking it would be good enough to keep LPS but that didn't last long. Next thing I knew I was upgrading the lighting, flow, filtration and so far I am very happy with the results!

I estimate that I have about 40lb of Haitian live rock and 30lb of Caribsea aragonite sand.

I added two Tunze 6025 (660gph) powerheads that I put on a timer. I alternate each powerhead every hour so both are never on at the same time.

I removed the false floor in chamber#1. I removed the bioballs and added a Tunze 9002 skimmer in chamber #2. I then decided to replace the return pump in chamber #3 with a maxijet 1200 to add even more flow.

I bought a 20" Sunpod 150w MH light that I replaced with a 20" Nova Extreme Pro 6x18w T5 fixture. The Sunpod was great but I could not live without actinics and the colors are so much better with the Nova. Check out the full review here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1478041

I had to figure out a way to add moonlights because the Nova does not have any. I got two Coralife 1watt LED lights and placed them in the rear corners.

I use a Purely H2O Optima CA ro/di system. I dose 8ml of Kent Marine Tech CB part A and 8ml of Kent Marine Tech CB part B daily. I split up the dosages in the morning and night to minimize any spikes. I replace 5gallons of water every week but that may change now that I have my skimmer dialled in.

xenon · 09/25/2008, 11:47 AM

mrsw227 · 09/25/2008, 12:11 PM

WoW! Beautiful tank. I like your rockscaping. It's different from anything I have seen. What did you use so keep it all stable?

xenon · 09/25/2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrsw227
WoW! Beautiful tank. I like your rockscaping. It's different from anything I have seen. What did you use so keep it all stable?

I used aquascpae construction epoxy but most of the rock is locked together like a puzzle.

HomeSlizzice · 09/25/2008, 02:33 PM

Looks really good man, keep up the good work.

2_zoa · 09/25/2008, 05:38 PM

Wow that looks really nice!! Are you running the maxi jet through the factory nozzle?

xenon · 09/25/2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2_zoa
Wow that looks really nice!! Are you running the maxi jet through the factory nozzle?

Yep!

LulusMoogle · 09/25/2008, 10:49 PM

Beautiful aquascape!

I really like what you did with the bottom right corner of the tank. Nice caves.

I think I'm gonna end up like you... Planning to keep mainly LPS but then catching myself upgrading to T5s and getting a better skimmer and what not.

Memeber007 · 09/26/2008, 12:15 AM

Your rockwork is really cool! ...and I agree with sunpod that's why I changed my bulb to 20k instead of 14k.

xenon · 09/26/2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Memeber007
Your rockwork is really cool! ...and I agree with sunpod that's why I changed my bulb to 20k instead of 14k.

I actually loved the color that the 14k Current USA bulb produced. What I did not like is the lack of actinic lighting!

I love my dusk/dawn effect. The colors of my corals really pop!

xenon · 09/26/2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LulusMoogle
Beautiful aquascape!

I really like what you did with the bottom right corner of the tank. Nice caves.

I think I'm gonna end up like you... Planning to keep mainly LPS but then catching myself upgrading to T5s and getting a better skimmer and what not.

Thanks!

I can't really take much credit. The shapes of my live rock makes aquascaping a blast! It's really too bad Haitian live rock is banned now.

scram2 · 09/26/2008, 01:26 AM

Tank looks really good

The T-5s deffinitly make your colors make the tank look way better! do you dose anything for your sps?

xenon · 09/26/2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scram2
Tank looks really good The T-5s deffinitly make your colors make the tank look way better! do you dose anything for your sps?

I dose cal/alk daily. The tank uses up 8-10ml per day of each part.

I adjust the magnesium once a week after a water change.

Nick Fr. · 09/26/2008, 04:44 AM

Wow nice reef that rockwork is awesome

Bios · 09/26/2008, 07:25 AM

Your LR are very very beautiful...Your aquascape is great...
Nice Job...
I hope that your sarcophyton will not growing quickly because this coral is very large and your nano isn't big...lol

xenon · 09/26/2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bios
Your LR are very very beautiful...Your aquascape is great...
Nice Job...
I hope that your sarcophyton will not growing quickly because this coral is very large and your nano isn't big...lol

That is the only coral I did not glue down. I could sell that in a heart beat.

boaconchicken · 09/26/2008, 09:22 AM

i like the rock work a lot

xenon · 09/26/2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by boaconchicken
i like the rock work a lot

i posted this same thread on multiple forums and that seems to be the #1 compliment.

I can't wait till all the rocks are covered in corals.

2_zoa · 09/26/2008, 06:27 PM

what are you using to dose your alk/cal?

xenon · 09/27/2008, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2_zoa
what are you using to dose your alk/cal?

Kent Marine Tech CB 2part twice a day.

2_zoa · 09/27/2008, 10:59 AM

Thank you

El Camaron · 09/29/2008, 10:38 AM

awesome, i just went from halides to this nova pro and i am amazed with the light output and the colors.

xenon · 09/29/2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Camaron
awesome, i just went from halides to this nova pro and i am amazed with the light output and the colors.

Compared to the Sunpod the light output was less intense but it spread the light throughout the whole tank much better.

I really do love the color combo though.

flamron · 09/29/2008, 12:14 PM

Interested in the light on your other thread.

Thanks,

Ron

xenon · 09/29/2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flamron
Interested in the light on your other thread.

Thanks,

Ron

I posted up the Sunpod in the used equipment section.

09/25/2008, 02:33 PM	#5
HomeSlizzice Angelfish/Wrasse Nut! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 921	Looks really good man, keep up the good work. __________________ Baby, I'm like that item on the top shelf that you just can't reach. Current Tank Info: 24 Gallon Aqaupod, and wanting an upgrade

09/29/2008, 12:14 PM	#24
flamron Professional Stick Gluer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 2,216	Interested in the light on your other thread. Thanks, Ron __________________ Ronnie 60g cube - Ghost Overflow - ATI 8 bulb dimmable sunpower - Apex - MP10s - Synergy sump

09/25/2008, 11:46 AM	#1
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Xenon's 29g Biocube with upgrades! I bought this 29g biocube about 1month ago thinking it would be good enough to keep LPS but that didn't last long. Next thing I knew I was upgrading the lighting, flow, filtration and so far I am very happy with the results! I estimate that I have about 40lb of Haitian live rock and 30lb of Caribsea aragonite sand. I added two Tunze 6025 (660gph) powerheads that I put on a timer. I alternate each powerhead every hour so both are never on at the same time. I removed the false floor in chamber#1. I removed the bioballs and added a Tunze 9002 skimmer in chamber #2. I then decided to replace the return pump in chamber #3 with a maxijet 1200 to add even more flow. I bought a 20" Sunpod 150w MH light that I replaced with a 20" Nova Extreme Pro 6x18w T5 fixture. The Sunpod was great but I could not live without actinics and the colors are so much better with the Nova. Check out the full review here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1478041 I had to figure out a way to add moonlights because the Nova does not have any. I got two Coralife 1watt LED lights and placed them in the rear corners. I use a Purely H2O Optima CA ro/di system. I dose 8ml of Kent Marine Tech CB part A and 8ml of Kent Marine Tech CB part B daily. I split up the dosages in the morning and night to minimize any spikes. I replace 5gallons of water every week but that may change now that I have my skimmer dialled in. Last edited by xenon; 09/25/2008 at 11:55 AM.

09/25/2008, 11:47 AM	#2
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Last edited by xenon; 09/25/2008 at 12:15 PM.

09/25/2008, 12:11 PM	#3
mrsw227 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 37	WoW! Beautiful tank. I like your rockscaping. It's different from anything I have seen. What did you use so keep it all stable? __________________ Jen ~*~ Current Tank Info: 125g. freshwater community planted tank. 20 g cichlid tank (belongs to my oldest son). 20 g guppy tan(belongs to my daughter). 29g reef setup biocube(my newest tank). 500g koi/goldfish pond in my front yard.

09/25/2008, 05:38 PM	#6
2_zoa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,840	Wow that looks really nice!! Are you running the maxi jet through the factory nozzle?

09/25/2008, 10:49 PM	#8
LulusMoogle Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 370	Beautiful aquascape! I really like what you did with the bottom right corner of the tank. Nice caves. I think I'm gonna end up like you... Planning to keep mainly LPS but then catching myself upgrading to T5s and getting a better skimmer and what not.

09/26/2008, 12:15 AM	#9
Memeber007 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 589	Your rockwork is really cool! ...and I agree with sunpod that's why I changed my bulb to 20k instead of 14k.

09/26/2008, 01:26 AM	#12
scram2 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PASADENA Posts: 649	Tank looks really good The T-5s deffinitly make your colors make the tank look way better! do you dose anything for your sps?

09/26/2008, 04:44 AM	#14
Nick Fr. Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 67	Wow nice reef that rockwork is awesome

09/26/2008, 07:25 AM	#15
Bios Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: France Posts: 93	Your LR are very very beautiful...Your aquascape is great... Nice Job... I hope that your sarcophyton will not growing quickly because this coral is very large and your nano isn't big...lol

09/26/2008, 09:22 AM	#17
boaconchicken Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 67	i like the rock work a lot

09/26/2008, 06:27 PM	#19
2_zoa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,840	what are you using to dose your alk/cal?

09/27/2008, 10:59 AM	#21
2_zoa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,840	Thank you

09/29/2008, 10:38 AM	#22
El Camaron Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: G-town, Maryland Posts: 577	awesome, i just went from halides to this nova pro and i am amazed with the light output and the colors.