It's here!

ThePrincipal · 05/03/2016, 04:20 PM

[IMG]

Ok peeps, I know it isn't a huge tank or something spectacular, but I am extremely excited to get this here and ready to go. Biocube 29. It's a new build so any advice upfront would be greatly appreciated. I am taking the bio balls out, going to create a refugium in the back of it, and eventually upgrade the lights. First step, build a stand and canopy.

ThePrincipal · 05/03/2016, 07:34 PM

sorry I have no idea why the pictures are not coming up.

zelie_dad · 05/05/2016, 08:17 AM

The links are just added from your desktop. They were something like Users\leagribel\desktop\...

You need to use a image hosting service like imgur, my personal favorite.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

pyithar · 05/05/2016, 08:27 AM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1905405

how to post photos^^

SeattleReefer · 05/05/2016, 04:23 PM

IMHO using the back of the Biocube 29 as a refugium is pointless. There simply is not enough room back there for any meaningful growth of macro algae to make a dent in nutrient export. The only useful purpose I could find for that space was to host a bunch of marinepure balls as biological media.

In my Biocube the first problem I encountered was the daily need to top up replacement water. Fish can easily go several days without food but you HAVE to be there to top off of or the pump will start sucking air and your salinity will quickly get into the danger zone. So your first purchase should be some sort of auto top off system.

The lights are wimpy, and expensive to upgrade. You can try to retrofit something inside the hood but personally I just took off the top and used a chinese black box LED which was WAY more power than needed but could be turned down. If you like the look of the existing hood you can certainly keep low light things like mushrooms.

I tried 2 different nano sized protein skimmers but both were expensive failures in part because the water level in those back chambers is highly variable without an ATO, so the skimmer did not have a constant water level rendering it useless. That means that water changes will be the main source of nutrient export. If you can commit to 5 gallon water change per week your cube will most likely be successful.

05/03/2016, 04:20 PM	#1
ThePrincipal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 13	It's here! [IMG] Ok peeps, I know it isn't a huge tank or something spectacular, but I am extremely excited to get this here and ready to go. Biocube 29. It's a new build so any advice upfront would be greatly appreciated. I am taking the bio balls out, going to create a refugium in the back of it, and eventually upgrade the lights. First step, build a stand and canopy.

05/05/2016, 08:17 AM	#3
zelie_dad Always bring a towel Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Zelienople, PA Posts: 363	The links are just added from your desktop. They were something like Users\leagribel\desktop\... You need to use a image hosting service like imgur, my personal favorite. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk __________________ "The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without" ~Dwight D. Eisenhower Current Tank Info: 40B/40B mixed reef

05/05/2016, 08:27 AM	#4
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1905405 how to post photos^^ __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

05/03/2016, 07:34 PM	#2
ThePrincipal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 13	sorry I have no idea why the pictures are not coming up.

05/05/2016, 04:23 PM	#5
SeattleReefer Moved On Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 230	IMHO using the back of the Biocube 29 as a refugium is pointless. There simply is not enough room back there for any meaningful growth of macro algae to make a dent in nutrient export. The only useful purpose I could find for that space was to host a bunch of marinepure balls as biological media. In my Biocube the first problem I encountered was the daily need to top up replacement water. Fish can easily go several days without food but you HAVE to be there to top off of or the pump will start sucking air and your salinity will quickly get into the danger zone. So your first purchase should be some sort of auto top off system. The lights are wimpy, and expensive to upgrade. You can try to retrofit something inside the hood but personally I just took off the top and used a chinese black box LED which was WAY more power than needed but could be turned down. If you like the look of the existing hood you can certainly keep low light things like mushrooms. I tried 2 different nano sized protein skimmers but both were expensive failures in part because the water level in those back chambers is highly variable without an ATO, so the skimmer did not have a constant water level rendering it useless. That means that water changes will be the main source of nutrient export. If you can commit to 5 gallon water change per week your cube will most likely be successful.