BioCube 14g starter for a noobie?

j86miu · 11/27/2011, 09:23 PM

I posted earlier and asked if the fluval would be a good starter kit and thanks to your responses I don't think that's the best starter tank for a noobie.

I'm very close to buying the 14g biocube and would like and experience or advice for this tank.

http://www.amazon.com/Oceanic-82051-...2449617&sr=8-1

I want to start out with FOWLR but will eventually like to add corals. Is this tank saltwater ready? is the pump/mechanical filter and lighting strong enough? I plan on using my live rocks and sand is the biological filter so would I need to make and adjustments or pick up accessories?

and when would i need to get a protein skimmer? Thank!

kingfisher62 · 11/27/2011, 09:54 PM

The 14g biocube is a great tank. The lighting is enought to keep any softy or LPS coral.
I had one for five years but upgraded to a 29G biocube last year. I have never used a protein skimmer on either. If you keep up with the water changes you should be fine with out. Although I did by a nanoglo refugium light that I mounted on the back window of the 29g cube where I grow chaeto and use that to export nutrients.
You will need a heater and I recommend an additional power head.

The one warning i might give you is that a small tank is a lot less forgiving than a larger tank. Things can go wrong very quickly with such a small amount of water volume while with a larger water volume it is more stable.

So if you can afford to go larger it might be a good idea. If not, just make sure you take things slow and do a lot of research.

SushiGirl · 11/27/2011, 10:12 PM

Don't forget to research the size, type, and quantity of fish you'll be able to keep in such a small tank.

small alien · 11/27/2011, 10:49 PM

I would chose a 20high or 20long with a 4 bulb T5 fixture, a powerhead and as big an aquaclear hob filter as you can afford filled with liverock rubble. Its a lot more versatile imo and a better footprint and water volume. Do basically the same but with a 40 breeder if you can afford it. You will not regret it.

crobattt · 11/27/2011, 10:53 PM

Great tank, but the thing is that if you mess up even just a little, the entire biocube could go die, you just MUST be sure to pay attention to what you are doing while starting with such a small tank.

Fish Biscuit · 11/28/2011, 01:03 PM

+1 with the water chemistry changing fast, researching fish before hand, & going bigger if you can afford to.

It is not impossible to start out small, but like most I already want a bigger tank. The biocube 29g would be good if you don't want too much larger, otherwise the 20 L is nice. I'm debating on a 20 L or 40 breeder for myself down the road.

TjwBlake · 11/28/2011, 01:41 PM

Biocubes are great.
but like everyone has said you need to be ontop of things with a small tank. I started into this hobby with my BC8 and it has been very good to me so far, I just make sure to take time everyday to look things over and keep on top of it.

There are LOTS of DIY mods that can be done to them, research some of the simpler ones, they are worth it (example: cutting the tab between chambers 1 and 2 in order to increase water flow, or replacing the bioballs with media baskets)

sandwi54 · 11/28/2011, 01:56 PM

It's generally not a good idea to start the hobby with a small tank. Like what everyone said, any small mistake you make results in a big disaster in a small tank. a bio cube 29 would be a more forgiving tank. Even better, a 50 gallon tank is what I recommend to beginners. you are allowed to make small mistakes (which you most likely will) without impacting the water chemistry too much.

11/27/2011, 09:23 PM	#1
j86miu Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Queens NY Posts: 114	BioCube 14g starter for a noobie? I posted earlier and asked if the fluval would be a good starter kit and thanks to your responses I don't think that's the best starter tank for a noobie. I'm very close to buying the 14g biocube and would like and experience or advice for this tank. http://www.amazon.com/Oceanic-82051-...2449617&sr=8-1 I want to start out with FOWLR but will eventually like to add corals. Is this tank saltwater ready? is the pump/mechanical filter and lighting strong enough? I plan on using my live rocks and sand is the biological filter so would I need to make and adjustments or pick up accessories? and when would i need to get a protein skimmer? Thank!

11/27/2011, 09:54 PM	#2
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	The 14g biocube is a great tank. The lighting is enought to keep any softy or LPS coral. I had one for five years but upgraded to a 29G biocube last year. I have never used a protein skimmer on either. If you keep up with the water changes you should be fine with out. Although I did by a nanoglo refugium light that I mounted on the back window of the 29g cube where I grow chaeto and use that to export nutrients. You will need a heater and I recommend an additional power head. The one warning i might give you is that a small tank is a lot less forgiving than a larger tank. Things can go wrong very quickly with such a small amount of water volume while with a larger water volume it is more stable. So if you can afford to go larger it might be a good idea. If not, just make sure you take things slow and do a lot of research. __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

11/27/2011, 10:12 PM	#3
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Don't forget to research the size, type, and quantity of fish you'll be able to keep in such a small tank. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

11/27/2011, 10:49 PM	#4
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	I would chose a 20high or 20long with a 4 bulb T5 fixture, a powerhead and as big an aquaclear hob filter as you can afford filled with liverock rubble. Its a lot more versatile imo and a better footprint and water volume. Do basically the same but with a 40 breeder if you can afford it. You will not regret it. __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

11/27/2011, 10:53 PM	#5
crobattt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 786	Great tank, but the thing is that if you mess up even just a little, the entire biocube could go die, you just MUST be sure to pay attention to what you are doing while starting with such a small tank. __________________ Phil 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

11/28/2011, 01:03 PM	#6
Fish Biscuit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,164	+1 with the water chemistry changing fast, researching fish before hand, & going bigger if you can afford to. It is not impossible to start out small, but like most I already want a bigger tank. The biocube 29g would be good if you don't want too much larger, otherwise the 20 L is nice. I'm debating on a 20 L or 40 breeder for myself down the road. __________________ Michele I enjoy vodka entirely too much to share with the fish. Current Tank Info: 65 rimless with Eshopps R200 sump, current inhabitants randall goby, helfrichi, possum wrasse, barnacle blenny, mandarin, pistol, peppermint, & fire shrimp, snails, hermits, & LPS

11/28/2011, 01:41 PM	#7
TjwBlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kitchener, ON. Canada Posts: 404	Biocubes are great. but like everyone has said you need to be ontop of things with a small tank. I started into this hobby with my BC8 and it has been very good to me so far, I just make sure to take time everyday to look things over and keep on top of it. There are LOTS of DIY mods that can be done to them, research some of the simpler ones, they are worth it (example: cutting the tab between chambers 1 and 2 in order to increase water flow, or replacing the bioballs with media baskets) __________________ Current tank: JbJ Nanocube 28. 1 Falco Hawk, zoas, cabbage leather, trumpet coral, GSP, mushrooms, CUC Current Tank Info: JbJ Nanocube 28

11/28/2011, 01:56 PM	#8
sandwi54 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 2,332	It's generally not a good idea to start the hobby with a small tank. Like what everyone said, any small mistake you make results in a big disaster in a small tank. a bio cube 29 would be a more forgiving tank. Even better, a 50 gallon tank is what I recommend to beginners. you are allowed to make small mistakes (which you most likely will) without impacting the water chemistry too much. __________________ 375g Envision FOWLR + 125g sump 40g Reef Current Tank Info: 375g FOWLR, 40g Reef

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