Bio Cube Owner's Thread

[BoDiddley]

good to know i will be putting the nano in my tank in the next 30ish min

[Orangetruck94]

Would the nano Koralia be to much for my Bio 14?

[BoDiddley]

depends on the flow rate that you choose there is the 425gph which i chose and i believe the 240gph. I am in love with the 425gph model its so tiny and really compliments the MJ1200 that i am using as a pump for the 3rd chamber

[cmac23]

bodiddley did you end up putting your k2 behind the rocks? i have a k1 its on the right side of my tank, but may hide it behind the rocks

[BoDiddley]

that is where i put my nano its so small that its hard to see but i may hide it, just not to sure where to put it

[Rhodes19]

Originally Posted by Orangetruck94

Would the nano Koralia be to much for my Bio 14?

No, I have one in my BC 14 and its just right.

[Rhodes19]

Originally Posted by BoDiddley

that is where i put my nano its so small that its hard to see but i may hide it, just not to sure where to put it

Try moving it up to the back right corner and have it pointing down and towards the center. That should give you some flow near the bottom front and might help with your cyanobacteria.

[BoDiddley]

thanks for the advice moved it and the cyano is movin around i dont think it likes it

[inTankLLC]

Originally Posted by Orangetruck94

Would the nano Koralia be to much for my Bio 14?

I think the question is, is it enough?

I would go with a K1 in a BC14. A nano will work but you may want more flow. Def. K2 in a BC29, nano is too weak

[JOHN4AVIATION]

Originally Posted by BoDiddley

thanks for the advice moved it and the cyano is movin around i dont think it likes it

It sould be that your lights are old and not producing the correct spectrum thus producing the Cyano.

[Rhodes19]

Originally Posted by JOHN4AVIATION

It sould be that your lights are old and not producing the correct spectrum thus producing the Cyano.

More likely lack of flow and increased nitrates and phosphates. I added a Korella nano and once I switched over to RO/DI water and started feeding every other day, my cyano disappeared. Cyano is a bacteria and doesn't need light. If it was an algae, then old lights shifting to a lower spectrum would be suspect. HTH

[JOHN4AVIATION]

Originally Posted by Rhodes19

More likely lack of flow and increased nitrates and phosphates. I added a Korella nano and once I switched over to RO/DI water and started feeding every other day, my cyano disappeared. Cyano is a bacteria and doesn't need light. If it was an algae, then old lights shifting to a lower spectrum would be suspect. HTH

There are many factors that will contribute to a Cyano bloom, like insufficient water flow, high levels of nutrients (Phosphates and nitrates), and including lower spectrum lights. I've had blooms before and a quick temp solution is to leave you tank with out lights a day or two, but it’s not a permanent solution.This works for red slime cyano and Diatoms.

Please read this article about red slime (Cyano bacteria)


http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/dia...slimealgae.htm

[Rhodes19]

Originally Posted by JOHN4AVIATION

There are many factors that will contribute to a Cyano bloom, like insufficient water flow, high levels of nutrients (Phosphates and nitrates), and including lower spectrum lights. I've had blooms before and a quick temp solution is to leave you tank with out lights a day or two, but it’s not a permanent solution.This works for red slime cyano and Diatoms.

Please read this article about red slime (Cyano bacteria)


http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/dia...slimealgae.htm

Yeah, I've read that article before but didn't find it helpful. I've tried the turning the lights off but it never worked for me.

[chrismunn]

Originally Posted by Orangetruck94

Would the nano Koralia be to much for my Bio 14?

i have a k-nano and a k-1 in my bc14 and dont think its enough!

[MattNoyes]

I have a K2 and maxijet 1200 in my BC29...and I and thinking of adding a K1 to add extra flow and make it a little more random in the tank

[r_jay]

So after many sleepless night pondering lighting options for my BC 29 I decided that the 600$ LED retrofit (after options) was just OUTRAGEOUS since I eventually would like to get a bigger setup and would not be transferring the setup and I would never get my money back for such an investment. So I researched T5 lighting vs. MH and decided MH was the way to go. then did I want a pendant or clamp-on... I found the JBJ Viper K-2 Deluxe:



My inhabitants LOVE this new light!

[Rhodes19]

Originally Posted by r_jay

So after many sleepless night pondering lighting options for my BC 29 I decided that the 600$ LED retrofit (after options) was just OUTRAGEOUS since I eventually would like to get a bigger setup and would not be transferring the setup and I would never get my money back for such an investment. So I researched T5 lighting vs. MH and decided MH was the way to go. then did I want a pendant or clamp-on... I found the JBJ Viper K-2 Deluxe:



My inhabitants LOVE this new light!

Nice R Jay,

What wattage did you go with and what were the deciding factors for going MH?

[Brooklyn8]

Hey all, I just picked up a BC14. The previous owner also included a Saphire Aquatics skimmer that he used in the center chamber. Any experiences with these? I have heard there have been some issues.

I have stock lighting right now, in the near future I would like to go to either LED retrofit kit, or a 70W MH Viper HOB. I would prefer the LEDS's, but are they as good? Anybody put the LEDs on their 14G?

Anything else I should look for? I am going to pick up a koralia nano shortly...

[r_jay]

I decided to go with metal halide because after seeing that while t5s save energy they don't last as long and having to buy 4-6 new t5 bulbs every 6-10 months would not be worth the electric savings, plus the light looks less artificial with a Metal Halide and many hobbyists are switching from t5 to Metal Halide and the only ones getting rid of MH are getting LEDs, but even if I get 5 years life out of a 500$ LED retrofit it wouldn't transfer over very well to a bigger setup which I plan on in the next 1-5 years, and if I wait LEDs will be WAY cheaper by then anyway.
Originally I was set on the 150W cause I figured it was enough for the depth of the BC29... but while I was at my LFS I casually asked (not planning on investing 300 on a light for a few more months) and while they didn't have the 150W, they had 1 250W that they offered to sell for the price of the 150W... yeah, I can't pass up 100$ in savings, so I crumbled, and my wife didn't speak to me for a whole 20 minutes (it was great, lol)! Anyway it's a great light and it's nice that it has 2 moonlight LEDs on the arm, that are way brighter than the 3 stock moonlights in the hood. My corals are happy and my GBTA is too, which makes me happy.

[JHall651]

Can I get verification from someone that the Rio 6HF fits inside the 3rd chamber just like the stock pump of a Biocube 29g. I also have the Biocube 29 HQI where the stock pump is a 243 gph so I hope it is the same stock pump size as the the original Biocube 29. Anyone???

[BoDiddley]

looks awesome R Jay, wish i could do a similar setup but my cat has claimed the top of my BC29 as her napping place

[JOHN4AVIATION]

Originally Posted by r_jay

I decided to go with metal halide because after seeing that while t5s save energy they don't last as long and having to buy 4-6 new t5 bulbs every 6-10 months would not be worth the electric savings, plus the light looks less artificial with a Metal Halide and many hobbyists are switching from t5 to Metal Halide and the only ones getting rid of MH are getting LEDs, but even if I get 5 years life out of a 500$ LED retrofit it wouldn't transfer over very well to a bigger setup which I plan on in the next 1-5 years, and if I wait LEDs will be WAY cheaper by then anyway.
Originally I was set on the 150W cause I figured it was enough for the depth of the BC29... but while I was at my LFS I casually asked (not planning on investing 300 on a light for a few more months) and while they didn't have the 150W, they had 1 250W that they offered to sell for the price of the 150W... yeah, I can't pass up 100$ in savings, so I crumbled, and my wife didn't speak to me for a whole 20 minutes (it was great, lol)! Anyway it's a great light and it's nice that it has 2 moonlight LEDs on the arm, that are way brighter than the 3 stock moonlights in the hood. My corals are happy and my GBTA is too, which makes me happy.

I think that 250w is way to much for the aamount of gallons, 8.6 watts per gallon. Do you have any heat issues?

[JHall651]

Originally Posted by JHall651

Can I get verification from someone that the Rio 6HF fits inside the 3rd chamber just like the stock pump of a Biocube 29g. I also have the Biocube 29 HQI where the stock pump is a 243 gph so I hope it is the same stock pump size as the the original Biocube 29. Anyone???

Anyone?

[r_jay]

Bo-D I think your cat would learn it's lesson after one last jump up there, lol! I thought 250 would be too much also but never found anyone with any issues using the current usa 250W Sunpod and those were suspended only 4-6 inches above the water surface, the clamp on at least is about 10 inches above and the built in fan is MORE than enough to keep it cool but as of yet I have not seen my temps go over 80.2, and if I keep the fan on its a stable 79 which is amazing since using the stock hood/lights/fans my temps were always unstable usually getting over 82. now all I have to do is top off more often but thats better than buying a chiller IMO. Really though I think 250W is more than necessary for the BC but I am in for investing in the future for when I get a 50g I could use the same light and supplement it with some powerbrite LEDs and not have to buy a whole new lighting setup.

[inTankLLC]

Originally Posted by JHall651

Can I get verification from someone that the Rio 6HF fits inside the 3rd chamber just like the stock pump of a Biocube 29g. I also have the Biocube 29 HQI where the stock pump is a 243 gph so I hope it is the same stock pump size as the the original Biocube 29. Anyone???

Yes the Rio 6hf pump fits. Very popular pump for the BC29

• 350 gph
• Connections: 5/8" output
• Dimensions: 3.9" X 2" X 2.5"
• Titanium impeller shaft with ceramic bearings
• Complete with mounting bracket, suction cups, strainer and inlet and outlet adapters
• Must be fully submersed
• 120V AC
• Max head: 6 feet