Bio Cube Owner's Thread

[chrismunn]

Originally posted by skye144
Ive been lurking the RC forums for months now and have read an uncountable number of posts about everything and I feel like I have not even covered the tip of the iceberg but I have a few questions about the biocube, what kind of evaporation do you get daily? Can you be successful with mushrooms and zoos with the stock lighting, or do you just have to do the upgrade? I have never kept a saltwater tank so I am just doing my research, I will probably not feel ready to set one up for years though.

evap is so minimal that its almost not an issue. in my bc14 i probably lose 1/4 cup per day, if that?

the stock lights are perfectly fine for shrooms and zoas. i keep monti cap, shrooms, zoas, rics, pipe organ, gsp and a bta under the stock pcs. you just have to be sure you replace them regularly. (7-9 months)

[2_zoa]

Originally posted by chrismunn
i have to disagree. i had a hair algae problem in my bc14 that i couldnt get a handle on for jack! i scraped the paint off the back of the middle chamber, threw a ball of cheato, some live rock rubble and a 10w spiral pc back there and noww i dont have a single trace of anymore hair algae, and i have tons of pods! in my personal opinion i think it was the single most beneficial thing thing that ive done to my tank out of all the things ive done to my tank.

What spiral compact would this be? I am fighting a hair algae prob now and need to do something before it gets worse.

[skye144]

thanks for answering my questions chrismunn

[chrismunn]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...0#post13466470

2_zoa if you scroll back a few pages in this link you'll be abl;e to see exactly what i did to create my refugium.

no problem skye144., and by the way.,..


To Reef Central

[Kristinkarol]

Anyone have problems keeping a BioCube 8 cool. Mine is running at 82 pretty constant. I want to add coral but I am afraid to because of the temp.

[Reef Newb11]

Leave the feeding door open and if that doesnt cool enough Throw and extra fan on it to blow some air across the water.

[Kristinkarol]

I have tried leaving feeding door open...only while I am in the room and has made no differance. The reason I am doing this is because I have lost 1 Goby from jumping out at the pet store I took him anyways and he died within 48 hours. They replaced him and while they where putting him in the bag he jumped too. So I am scared to leave door open unattended...is jumping normal for Gobies???I have never heard of this but I have had my first 2 jump.
Should I get an additional fan that sits on feeding door opening or invest in a chiller?

Thanks
Kristin

[Reef Newb11]

i would just put the fan into the feeding door it will help a lot with the heat

[Kristinkarol]

Ok, so I will try the fan first...should a 1 fan unit be fine or should I try and find one with 2? Alot cheaper to try fan first. Thanks for advise..Kristin

[Reef Newb11]

2 would be better but 1 should bring your temp down as well, I would try 1 first if not happy with temp, try 2, I have 4 with a 150w MH light built into the hood and I keep my temps at 79-80

[chrismunn]

my tanks temperature runs in between 82 and 86 degrees with no problems at all. i don't keep anything that's very picky about parameters, but no less its all fine.

[Kristinkarol]

Thanks Guys!

[tapiana]

I have a BC29g and am curious about the powerheads that people use for circulation. Are they really necessary? I know you want good ciruclation around the tank - but I seem to have that already - or would a PH be better? If so what type would be recommended?

Also -

Interested in keeping Zoas, Rics, Shrooms, and some Poly's in the tank - I have the standard 72w lighting - will these be ok or do I really need to upgrade the lighting?

Thanks,

Taps

[Reef Newb11]

you should be fine with the stock lighting for what y ou have listed, but you will want to add some flow, with just the return pump of 305 gallons per hour you are only getting a little over 10x turnover in your tank, I would put atleast 1 hydor koralia #1 in there.

[chrismunn]

definitely add more flow tapiana.

[tapiana]

Can anyone recommend a pump to put into the BioCube to increase circulation?

I will add a PH - it seems to me that the Koralias are really popular. So would a number 1 be ok?

I have read that skimmers are really good for removing Nitrates from the water as they break down the bad stuff in the water and syphon it off - I am really torn about this. Anyone have comments about the BC skimmer?

[Reef Newb11]

a #1 would be ok..2 #1's would be better. but you should be fine with 1

[tapiana]

Thougt I would post a pic of my uncompleted tank

I am searching for the right LR to add another shelf towards the back on top of the first shelf.

I also wanted to add 2 smaller shelves on the bottom 2 LR

What do you think? Suggestions?



Thanks,

Tapiana

[FrankyV]

Hi
I just picked up a BC-14 used locally with the 3-24 watt pc upgrade and fan upgrade. I have the tank set up in my daughters room on her dresser>while this tank is cycling i would like to take advantage and do what ever mods needed before corals and fish get introduced. in the first chamber i have the filter pad in place and second chamber has bio-balls. I like the idea have haveing a small fuge in the middle chamber but how do i get a light to it without removeing the hood ? and can i add a skimmer into the first chamber ? which brand ??

cheers
i will post a pic as soon as i can figure out how to post it

[goat585]

I am planning on upgrading to the 3-24watt pc bulb nanotuners setup for my 14 Biocube. I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion on what combination of bulbs they would use or are using?

[Reef Newb11]

Originally posted by FrankyV
Hi
I just picked up a BC-14 used locally with the 3-24 watt pc upgrade and fan upgrade. I have the tank set up in my daughters room on her dresser>while this tank is cycling i would like to take advantage and do what ever mods needed before corals and fish get introduced. in the first chamber i have the filter pad in place and second chamber has bio-balls. I like the idea have haveing a small fuge in the middle chamber but how do i get a light to it without removeing the hood ? and can i add a skimmer into the first chamber ? which brand ??

cheers
i will post a pic as soon as i can figure out how to post it

You can add a skimmer to the first chamber but the only one I know of that will fit the first chamber is the one made by oceanic. it is not as bad as people make it sound and pulled a decent amount of tea colored skimmate while I had it, but it works with an airstone that gets really nasty and should be replaced monthly. Although you should not need a skimmer for a biocube 14 you could do well with only water changes.

If you do want a skimmer most are made for the second chamber of the biocube which would not let you do the refugium.

If you decide to make a refugium in the middle chamber you can get light in there by scraping the black paint off the back which will make it like a little window allowing you to place a small light to shine through the glass. Search RC I know I have seen a few people do this.

[FrankyV]

Thxs for the info reef newb11 i will try it out.

goat585

my 3-24 watts came with a actinik, a 50/50 and a 10,000k

im curious to here what other nano reefers use

cheers

[2_zoa]

I am still just running the factory lighting. I have had pretty good luck so far I have the 29g. I am keeping a LTA as well. I have had it about five months. It went in the tank way to soon the tank has only been up about seven to eight months.

[Reef Newb11]

I am using a 150w MH and the two 36w compact florescents for actinic supplementation.

[oneoffcustom]

wow great thread a place wehere a biocube owner can be proud. I just got my first bio cube a 29 gallon. I am going to be doing the metal halide upgrade soon. I had to shutdown a 46 bow front build down and decided just to go all inclusive like my dad did. I originally gave him the advice to get the bio cube and then didnt take it now he has a nice tank and im still waiting. I hope to post pics soon still a little cloudy.