New Tank Build - 29 Gallon Biocube

freddie40 · 08/24/2008, 11:49 AM

This may not be for beginners, read the second to last paragraph for an explanation.

Equipment:
Biocube 29 with stand.
Stealth 100 watt heater
Aqua C Remora
MJ 1200 (upgrade from the oceanic pump supplied with the tank
60 lbs of aragonite sand
28 lbs of worm rock
Aqua Medic TC150 chiller (with MJ 900 for the pump)

I picked up this tank 2 months ago, and took my time to set it up. The very first day I cut the back of the canopy to fit the remora (a skimmer sitting in my extras pile). I also upgraded the stock pump and added the 60 lbs of sand.

It then sat for 2 months. On Aug 18th I added 15 gallons of fresh salt water (made with H2Ocean salt and RO/DI water) and 6 gallons of water from my 75. I then went to a friends house to pick up my rock. This is rock that I bought dry and stored in her sump for 2 months to make it live. After adding the rock I added some zoo frags that I had been storing in my 75. Over the next 5 days I have added more zoas, A devils hand, A brain (won in a SCMAS club raffle), A Purple scroll with green polyps (won in a SCMAS club raffle), more zoas and a pair of B&W oscellaris clowns. Heat has been a major issue (due to my house) so a friend lent me a chiller that has been doing a decent job keeping it at about 80.

The theme of the tank is this. This are about 12 different pieces of LR. I want to place the zoas on the rocks so they kind of create a rainbow effect. Over the next year I hope they totally fill the rock with the different colors. On the sand I will have a few different LPS and softies. I will stick with just the 2 fish and add 1 or 2 shrimp. Keep it simple is the idea.

So, why is this not necessarily for beginners. Corals and fish really should not be added this quickly. Typically when setting up any tank it will cycle and the cycle in hard on fish and corals. I am hoping to get around this by this simple solutions. 1) A huge skimmer. 2) I added 28 lbs of lr directly from my friend's sump to my tank. Rock will typically cycle if it stays out of water for a period of time. 3) Adding water from my existing 75. This will add important bacteria. 4) Coral typically add a low bioload so they shouldn't necessarily make the tank spike. 5) The 2 clowns are tiny and this are adding a low bioload.

As of today everything looks good. I need to drill some holes to pop the plugs into the rock. Hopefully I get the motivation to do this soon. I now have 11 different colors of Zoas and hope to get a few more today. Hopefully it all works out in the long run.

Dave

BTW: The par of this tank is 100 in the sandbed. I am using the stock lighting.

spleify · 08/24/2008, 09:56 PM

Looking good Dave!!

Spleify

PotHuntR · 08/25/2008, 12:05 AM

Mr T-5 Maybe you need these. Good Price.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1452548

Krim · 08/25/2008, 01:55 AM

Just curious. What types os sand did you use?

Thanks

freddie40 · 08/25/2008, 07:17 AM

Carb-Sea aragonite.

Dave

Linina · 08/25/2008, 07:30 PM

Looks great, LOVE the clowns!

mainstreat · 09/06/2008, 08:48 PM

Im wanting to add a remora to my biocube 29. Can you post more pics showing how you cut the tank so it fit? Did you have to cut the grill in the bottom of the back compartment? Thanks

freddie40 · 09/06/2008, 09:35 PM

The hose just to the left of the hole is from the chiller. I used a cheapo dremel to cut the hole.

08/24/2008, 11:49 AM	#1
freddie40 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aurora, Co Posts: 1,415	New Tank Build - 29 Gallon Biocube This may not be for beginners, read the second to last paragraph for an explanation. Equipment: Biocube 29 with stand. Stealth 100 watt heater Aqua C Remora MJ 1200 (upgrade from the oceanic pump supplied with the tank 60 lbs of aragonite sand 28 lbs of worm rock Aqua Medic TC150 chiller (with MJ 900 for the pump) I picked up this tank 2 months ago, and took my time to set it up. The very first day I cut the back of the canopy to fit the remora (a skimmer sitting in my extras pile). I also upgraded the stock pump and added the 60 lbs of sand. It then sat for 2 months. On Aug 18th I added 15 gallons of fresh salt water (made with H2Ocean salt and RO/DI water) and 6 gallons of water from my 75. I then went to a friends house to pick up my rock. This is rock that I bought dry and stored in her sump for 2 months to make it live. After adding the rock I added some zoo frags that I had been storing in my 75. Over the next 5 days I have added more zoas, A devils hand, A brain (won in a SCMAS club raffle), A Purple scroll with green polyps (won in a SCMAS club raffle), more zoas and a pair of B&W oscellaris clowns. Heat has been a major issue (due to my house) so a friend lent me a chiller that has been doing a decent job keeping it at about 80. The theme of the tank is this. This are about 12 different pieces of LR. I want to place the zoas on the rocks so they kind of create a rainbow effect. Over the next year I hope they totally fill the rock with the different colors. On the sand I will have a few different LPS and softies. I will stick with just the 2 fish and add 1 or 2 shrimp. Keep it simple is the idea. So, why is this not necessarily for beginners. Corals and fish really should not be added this quickly. Typically when setting up any tank it will cycle and the cycle in hard on fish and corals. I am hoping to get around this by this simple solutions. 1) A huge skimmer. 2) I added 28 lbs of lr directly from my friend's sump to my tank. Rock will typically cycle if it stays out of water for a period of time. 3) Adding water from my existing 75. This will add important bacteria. 4) Coral typically add a low bioload so they shouldn't necessarily make the tank spike. 5) The 2 clowns are tiny and this are adding a low bioload. As of today everything looks good. I need to drill some holes to pop the plugs into the rock. Hopefully I get the motivation to do this soon. I now have 11 different colors of Zoas and hope to get a few more today. Hopefully it all works out in the long run. Dave BTW: The par of this tank is 100 in the sandbed. I am using the stock lighting. __________________ At D.A.R.C. we are all Premium Members. Current Tank Info: 75gal with T5 lighting and 29gal Biocube with LED lighting

08/24/2008, 09:56 PM	#2
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Looking good Dave!! Spleify __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

08/25/2008, 07:17 AM	#5
freddie40 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aurora, Co Posts: 1,415	Carb-Sea aragonite. Dave __________________ At D.A.R.C. we are all Premium Members. Current Tank Info: 75gal with T5 lighting and 29gal Biocube with LED lighting

08/25/2008, 07:30 PM	#6
Linina Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aurora, Colorado Posts: 366	Looks great, LOVE the clowns! __________________ 40 breeder, Elos Mini Current Tank Info: 40 breeder, elos mini

09/06/2008, 08:48 PM	#7
mainstreat Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: nc Posts: 1	remora aqua c Im wanting to add a remora to my biocube 29. Can you post more pics showing how you cut the tank so it fit? Did you have to cut the grill in the bottom of the back compartment? Thanks

08/25/2008, 12:05 AM	#3
PotHuntR Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Downtown Denver Posts: 546	Mr T-5 Maybe you need these. Good Price. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1452548

08/25/2008, 01:55 AM	#4
Krim Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 69	Just curious. What types os sand did you use? Thanks

09/06/2008, 09:35 PM	#8
freddie40 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aurora, Co Posts: 1,415	The hose just to the left of the hole is from the chiller. I used a cheapo dremel to cut the hole. __________________ At D.A.R.C. we are all Premium Members. Current Tank Info: 75gal with T5 lighting and 29gal Biocube with LED lighting