Bio Cube Owner's Thread - Page 13

cjscott · 08/17/2008, 10:05 PM

So my tank has been up for about 5 months. I was thinking about taking the bio balls out and adding live rubble. Can I just turn off the pump and pull out the bio balls? How much rubble do i need to add? Does anyone have pictures?

El Camaron · 08/18/2008, 09:19 AM

yeah just turn it off and pull them out, as far as rubble it depends on how small it is and also on if your pulling the false compartment out. I would say about a pound to two at the most though.

Why not put a skimmer in there?

reptar15 · 08/18/2008, 11:17 AM

hey guys, i'm thinking about getting a biocube 29
can owners tell me how often and how much you need to top off your biocube 29's with stock lighting?

Thanks

El Camaron · 08/18/2008, 12:34 PM

with stock lighting is not much and it would depend on you, you could add water every day or two days depending on the amount of evaporation. To make it easier on you just get an ATO.

reptar15 · 08/18/2008, 12:41 PM

how much would i expect to top off though

i'm new to salt water so just want to get an idea before i get a biocube.

vonodie1 · 08/18/2008, 02:09 PM

That would depend on a few things. How long would you run your lights for? What is the room temperature? Would you be running a clip on fan to keep water temp stable?

I have my house temp at 78*. I turn on the main lights at noon. The fan stays on 24 hours. Turn off the main lights around 6 or so. (I don't have timers yet) My evaporation is probably an inch or two per day. I don't know what that calculates out to be. I have an aquadoser that I drip, but I haven't got the drip rate mastered just yet.

chrismunn · 08/18/2008, 07:06 PM

my house temp stays at 78* or below, the tank stays at 84* or below, my light phase on at 10am and off at 10pm, and the lid stays closed. i literally never top off.

vonodie1 · 08/19/2008, 08:11 AM

When you guys do a water change do you do it from the display or from the back chambers?

jkrentz2515 · 08/19/2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vonodie1
When you guys do a water change do you do it from the display or from the back chambers?

Display. I do this so I can suck up everything stuck on the rockwork, and so I can clean the sandbed.

jmadison · 08/19/2008, 07:06 PM

x2
I do however pour my new SW in the second chamber so that it can go through my filter floss in there and so that it doesnt disturb the sandbed.

Quote:

Originally posted by jkrentz2515
Display. I do this so I can suck up everything stuck on the rockwork, and so I can clean the sandbed.

Cali-girl · 08/19/2008, 09:22 PM

thought i'd get in on the action in this thread...

BC29 switched over from a BC14. All together it's been running for almost 10 months. I have a 150W sunpod over the top with a 14k phoenix bulb, modded 1st chamber with the crappy Biocube skimmer, 2nd chamber turned into a fuge, and stock return pump with the heater in the 3rd. I also have an added Koralia nano in the display for extra flow, thinking about adding another on the opposite side.

Here she is...

nimrod19 · 08/20/2008, 11:33 AM

Just a general question, what's the advantage of removing the false floor in the middle chamber of a BC 14 if you're not running a fuge?

Just wondering if I need to do this since all of my filtration materials (purigen, chemi-pure, phosguard) are all in that chamber. Not sure if that helps with flow...

El Camaron · 08/20/2008, 01:18 PM

if your not using it for a fuge or to place a skimmer then leave it, should not restrict flow much if any.

xenia2 · 08/20/2008, 05:30 PM

You guys know how I can remove the hood without breaking it? Upgrade my lighting soon

chrismunn · 08/20/2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vonodie1
When you guys do a water change do you do it from the display or from the back chambers?

i also do water changes from the display. the reason also becasue i siphon durnig water changes. i also turn off the pump and power head so that when the water level gets too low im not blowing bubbles. how am i supposed to see detritus if there are bubbles? i actually wish i could do water changes from the back becasue when the water level goes low enough, i have a few montiporas, a frogspawn, a pipe organ, and mushroom that are all exposed. the only one i realy care about exposing is the frogspawn because whn its out of the water the tentacles hang in mid air.

all the suff in the top 1/4 of the tank gets exposed during a 2g-3g water change...

chrismunn · 08/20/2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xenia2
You guys know how I can remove the hood without breaking it? Upgrade my lighting soon

there are 2 hinge pins inside of the hinges. just pop them out with a screw driver or something pokey

JsL30629 · 08/21/2008, 01:54 PM

Picking up a BC 29 tonight and was wondering what is a good heater that I can hide in the 3rd chamber?

I'm afraid of buying a heater that is too long and will stick out. Thinking about the Rena 150 or the Ebo Jager 125W...any recommendations on wattage?

nimrod19 · 08/27/2008, 02:18 PM

Anybody running or knows if a Tunze 9002 skimmer will fit in the middle chamber of a BC14? I'm running without the hood so there is no height issue, just the width and length. Thanks.

buttons buster · 08/27/2008, 07:09 PM

I have a biocube 8.
It's been up since about christmas time 2007.
It's gone through massive amounts of changes as my thoughts and idea change.
right now it has black sand with minimal liverock and a couple zoa colonies.
I wanted a very minimalistic look.
I'm thinking about putting a harlequin shrimp pair in there.

Post pis when I can

chrismunn · 08/27/2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by buttons buster
I have a biocube 8.
It's been up since about christmas time 2007.
It's gone through massive amounts of changes as my thoughts and idea change.
right now it has black sand with minimal liverock and a couple zoa colonies.
I wanted a very minimalistic look.
I'm thinking about putting a harlequin shrimp pair in there.

Post pis when I can

when is that gonna be? i want to see it now

Justinandkrista · 08/27/2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JsL30629
Picking up a BC 29 tonight and was wondering what is a good heater that I can hide in the 3rd chamber?

I'm afraid of buying a heater that is too long and will stick out. Thinking about the Rena 150 or the Ebo Jager 125W...any recommendations on wattage?

i recomend taking out the first chamber filter and remove the plate and get a 125w jager or 150 w

cjscott · 08/27/2008, 11:47 PM

The stock pump on my BC29 went out tonight. What are some suggestions as to what I can pick up?

buttons buster · 08/28/2008, 12:12 AM

haha I'll see if I can get some good pics tomorrow. My friend is supposed to bring his camera over so hopefully everything goes swimmingly

JsL30629 · 08/28/2008, 12:47 AM

What HOB skimmers do you guys recommend? Warner Marine, Octopus, etc?

I had a remora on my last tank, and would like to try something different. I don't have $500 lying around, so the deltec is out of the question.

Justinandkrista: Thanks for the reply.

El Camaron · 08/29/2008, 11:39 AM

to replace the stock pump you can use Mj 900 or 1200 i think.

As far as other hang on skimmers i like CPR brand, i have the SR3 in my biocube and works great. If you want to do a fuge in the middle chamber and thats why you want a HOB you could also do the CPR SR3 and buy a HOB penguin filter and turn that into a small fuge. either way would work.

08/17/2008, 10:05 PM	#301
cjscott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oakdale Posts: 578	So my tank has been up for about 5 months. I was thinking about taking the bio balls out and adding live rubble. Can I just turn off the pump and pull out the bio balls? How much rubble do i need to add? Does anyone have pictures? __________________ Colin 62g mixed reef, 29g Biocube frag tank/overflow

08/18/2008, 02:09 PM	#306
vonodie1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: OK Posts: 188	That would depend on a few things. How long would you run your lights for? What is the room temperature? Would you be running a clip on fan to keep water temp stable? I have my house temp at 78*. I turn on the main lights at noon. The fan stays on 24 hours. Turn off the main lights around 6 or so. (I don't have timers yet) My evaporation is probably an inch or two per day. I don't know what that calculates out to be. I have an aquadoser that I drip, but I haven't got the drip rate mastered just yet. __________________ Stacy Current Tank Info: an empty 180 gallon

08/18/2008, 07:06 PM	#307
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	my house temp stays at 78* or below, the tank stays at 84* or below, my light phase on at 10am and off at 10pm, and the lid stays closed. i literally never top off. __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

08/19/2008, 08:11 AM	#308
vonodie1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: OK Posts: 188	When you guys do a water change do you do it from the display or from the back chambers? __________________ Stacy Current Tank Info: an empty 180 gallon

08/27/2008, 11:47 PM	#322
cjscott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oakdale Posts: 578	The stock pump on my BC29 went out tonight. What are some suggestions as to what I can pick up? __________________ Colin 62g mixed reef, 29g Biocube frag tank/overflow

08/18/2008, 09:19 AM	#302
El Camaron Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: G-town, Maryland Posts: 577	yeah just turn it off and pull them out, as far as rubble it depends on how small it is and also on if your pulling the false compartment out. I would say about a pound to two at the most though. Why not put a skimmer in there?

08/18/2008, 11:17 AM	#303
reptar15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 11	hey guys, i'm thinking about getting a biocube 29 can owners tell me how often and how much you need to top off your biocube 29's with stock lighting? Thanks

08/18/2008, 12:34 PM	#304
El Camaron Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: G-town, Maryland Posts: 577	with stock lighting is not much and it would depend on you, you could add water every day or two days depending on the amount of evaporation. To make it easier on you just get an ATO.

08/18/2008, 12:41 PM	#305
reptar15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 11	how much would i expect to top off though i'm new to salt water so just want to get an idea before i get a biocube.

08/19/2008, 09:22 PM	#311
Cali-girl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orange County Posts: 13	thought i'd get in on the action in this thread... BC29 switched over from a BC14. All together it's been running for almost 10 months. I have a 150W sunpod over the top with a 14k phoenix bulb, modded 1st chamber with the crappy Biocube skimmer, 2nd chamber turned into a fuge, and stock return pump with the heater in the 3rd. I also have an added Koralia nano in the display for extra flow, thinking about adding another on the opposite side. Here she is...

08/20/2008, 11:33 AM	#312
nimrod19 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 13	Just a general question, what's the advantage of removing the false floor in the middle chamber of a BC 14 if you're not running a fuge? Just wondering if I need to do this since all of my filtration materials (purigen, chemi-pure, phosguard) are all in that chamber. Not sure if that helps with flow...

08/20/2008, 01:18 PM	#313
El Camaron Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: G-town, Maryland Posts: 577	if your not using it for a fuge or to place a skimmer then leave it, should not restrict flow much if any.

08/20/2008, 05:30 PM	#314
xenia2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 437	You guys know how I can remove the hood without breaking it? Upgrade my lighting soon

08/21/2008, 01:54 PM	#317
JsL30629 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Newark, CA Posts: 801	Picking up a BC 29 tonight and was wondering what is a good heater that I can hide in the 3rd chamber? I'm afraid of buying a heater that is too long and will stick out. Thinking about the Rena 150 or the Ebo Jager 125W...any recommendations on wattage?

08/27/2008, 02:18 PM	#318
nimrod19 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 13	Anybody running or knows if a Tunze 9002 skimmer will fit in the middle chamber of a BC14? I'm running without the hood so there is no height issue, just the width and length. Thanks.

08/27/2008, 07:09 PM	#319
buttons buster Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,428	I have a biocube 8. It's been up since about christmas time 2007. It's gone through massive amounts of changes as my thoughts and idea change. right now it has black sand with minimal liverock and a couple zoa colonies. I wanted a very minimalistic look. I'm thinking about putting a harlequin shrimp pair in there. Post pis when I can

08/28/2008, 12:12 AM	#323
buttons buster Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,428	haha I'll see if I can get some good pics tomorrow. My friend is supposed to bring his camera over so hopefully everything goes swimmingly

08/28/2008, 12:47 AM	#324
JsL30629 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Newark, CA Posts: 801	What HOB skimmers do you guys recommend? Warner Marine, Octopus, etc? I had a remora on my last tank, and would like to try something different. I don't have $500 lying around, so the deltec is out of the question. Justinandkrista: Thanks for the reply.

08/29/2008, 11:39 AM	#325
El Camaron Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: G-town, Maryland Posts: 577	to replace the stock pump you can use Mj 900 or 1200 i think. As far as other hang on skimmers i like CPR brand, i have the SR3 in my biocube and works great. If you want to do a fuge in the middle chamber and thats why you want a HOB you could also do the CPR SR3 and buy a HOB penguin filter and turn that into a small fuge. either way would work.