Bio Cube Owner's Thread

[Justinandkrista]

got before and after pics im considering this upgrade

[firebirdude]

Originally posted by Justinandkrista
got before and after pics im considering this upgrade

I just said:

Originally posted by firebirdude
I bought my Biocube with it already installed.

[itsdarrow]

guys with biocube 29 looking for more light. Just get the hellolights 150w Retro gut the hoot and put it in, That what i did with great results!

[Allen77]

itsdarrow

Do you have any issues with heat?

Allen

[Cichlid-Dave]

Our 29g Biocube a few months back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQvtB...e=channel_page

[30reef]

Anyone here use the Oceanic skimmer that fits the Biocube? I just got one for a non Oceanic tank and just started it up today. The little air pump makes quite a bit of bubbles. I had to make a mount for mine to get the skimmer body high enough to use the air pump on high. What do you think about it's performance? Does yours collect anything signifigant? Thanks

[BurninReefer]

I've been running the biocube skimmer on my 29 for a few months now, and it seems to be working better than I thought it would. I have to empty it about once every two days (i think i'm going to drill out a drain tube on it), and it usually produces a dark tea skim. Not bad for the price, but you have to give it time to get it going.

[BrentB]

I also have a 29gal BIO and really enjoy it. I support the idea of a BIO Cube owners forum. There are lot's of neat ideas and DIY stuff we can share. I'll get some pictures of mine up soon.

[30reef]

I have had my skimmer running for 2 days now and it is just now beginning to produce foam thick enough to rise, I think it will work out ok.

[Bill Cobb]

I've got a B29 running over 6 mos. for my 4 Erectus seahorses.
The unit has nice lines and looks and performs well.

Here is a list of my mods:

1). Installed a plenum.
2). Upgraded pump to Rio6HF hyper flow.
3). Removed 3/4 of false door from chamber 1. Reattached the solid left over piece under the filter frame.
4). Installed 100w heater in chamber 1.
5). Removed bioballs and installed a CPR S3 skimmer.
6). Installed ATO level sensor and ChemiPure Elite in chamber 3.
7). Installed the 3x36w and fan mod from nanotuners.
8). Cut top water intake with wire cutters so the water surface flows thru the grid. This will allow any oily film or surface debris into the filter chamber.

[2_zoa]

Originally posted by 30reef
Anyone here use the Oceanic skimmer that fits the Biocube? I just got one for a non Oceanic tank and just started it up today. The little air pump makes quite a bit of bubbles. I had to make a mount for mine to get the skimmer body high enough to use the air pump on high. What do you think about it's performance? Does yours collect anything signifigant? Thanks

I used the Bio cube skimmer on mine for a while. I liked it just fine, it produced a dark tea colored skim and filled up every couple of days. It was a pain to get dialed in and then once you got it where you wanted it it did not last to long as the air stone(wooden block) would get to the end of its rope. Make sure you change it often.

The wat you have it set up sounds interesting. I bet you will get a little more performance out of yours cause you are running it at full air and have more neck to fill up. The skim should be pretty dark and take a while to fill. Good luck.

[Megg0602]

I finished installing the nano customs light upgrade today. I went with the 50/50 bulb. this is a before and after picture, same camera settings on both pictures. I cant believe the difference!
BEFORE-10,000k and actinic

AFTER- with 50/50 bulb

[Rickinferno]

Hello to all Biocube owners!

So happy to have found this thread about biocube owners
I just got a biocube 8gallons last week and I love this little thing. Used to big aquariums decided that i needed a challenge so this is my challenge for the next year or so...

I am new to Reef aquariums but not to FOA, i have been keeping salt water fish for about 8 years and FW fish for more then 10 years now.

I will have tons of questions for you all in the near future since this is my first reef aquarium. I did purchased a few extra things to help with the original setup, here is a list;

Hydor Flo Rotating Water Deflector
ESU Digital Thermometer
Seachem Reef Complete
Seachem Reef Carbonate
Seachem Reef Strontium
Seachem Reef Trace
Seachem Reef Plus
Hydor Koralia Nano Water Pump 260 GPH x 2
Oceanic BioCube Protein Skimmer (Cheap will see if it works good)

I will remove the bio balls in the second chamber and add Cheato with some LR rubble. In the first chamber is the original carbon filter cartridge and a heater to keep the water at the same temp 24/7. 3rd chamber is the original return pump and sponge, I will probably change the pump eventually with a more GPH pump, I will remove the sponge and put Seachem Purigen and Seachem Matrixcarbon.

For now my water results are:

PH : 8.1
Alk: did not test yet
Calcium: 320
Salt: 1.024
Amonia: 0.2
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

I do have in the tank about 15lbs of LR and about 3 inches of crushed coral for tanks bottom.

If you have any suggestions on what I could do to put all the chances on my side PLEASE do not be shy and let me have it


Here is a pic of my 1 week old tank

http://cid-5b45f37ef5fc4f42.skydrive...MG%7C_5306.jpg

[2_zoa]

Ph, Salt, Calcium need to come up a bit. I guess the salt can stay the same if you don't plan on corals. It looks good tho, I am glade to see you don't have fish in there. I do see you are not a newbe.

Do you plan on removing the paint on the back for the chaeto or lighting it from the top?

[Rickinferno]

Yes I do intend to scrape the paint off the back to be able to have the light aim at the cheato.

The tank is still cycling and I am still working on bringing the PH to 8.2, salt to 1.025 and Calcium to around 420, but I need to go buy a Alk tester before palying to much with the calcium.

I do plan on having only a Clown fish, a few CUC and the rest will be soft corals.

Also I was wondering what you people think of Seachem Stability? It is what I am using to help with the cycling of the tank!

[sabrefan73]

Thanks to all for the input.

I ordered my 4.36 kit w/moonlight upgrade last night!

Can't wait to get it in and put it to use!

[2_zoa]

Originally posted by Rickinferno
Yes I do intend to scrape the paint off the back to be able to have the light aim at the cheato.

The tank is still cycling and I am still working on bringing the PH to 8.2, salt to 1.025 and Calcium to around 420, but I need to go buy a Alk tester before palying to much with the calcium.

I do plan on having only a Clown fish, a few CUC and the rest will be soft corals.

Also I was wondering what you people think of Seachem Stability? It is what I am using to help with the cycling of the tank!

Seachem from what I know is great.

The PH i thought about last night after I posted and it will be up and down a little bit as there is nothing in the tank. Sorry. Once the coral is in there it should stableize.

If you dose a two part then from what I understand it will raise the calcium and alk together. Something like C-Balance.

[Rickinferno]

2_zoa, thanks for the info, who makes that c-balance?

I tested my water again today (do it every day while it is cycling)

PH 8.2
CALCIUM 360
AMMONIA .4
NITRITE 0
NITRATE 0
PHOSPHATE 0
SALINITY 1.024
TEMP 79

Ammonia is going up wich means the cycle has started YAY ))
Still waiting for my Cheato to arrive at my LFS, very hard to find here in Montreal!

I am starting to get DIATOM algea also.

[JazzZero]

This is the last pic of my 29G BC before i switch to 30G finnex M-tank...

[Rickinferno]

Very nice tank JazzZero

[sabrefan73]

Beautiful tank jazzzero! How do you get outstanding pictures like that in your posts? Every time I try to upload one I get an error saying the file is too large.

On another note, is anyone else having issues with majano anemones? I had one pop up about 5 or 6 months ago, but I did not know what it was at the time, so I let it go. Now I have over 60 (keep losing count), and more pop up every week or so. My LFS, whom I trust very much, says they are really harmless. Does anyone else have an opinion on these? If so, I would like to hear them.

[vanisher]

Got a quick question:

For those using the middle chamber for chaeto, what (if anything) are you guys using for skimmers?

If you chose 1 way or the other, why?

[2_zoa]

Originally posted by sabrefan73
Beautiful tank jazzzero! How do you get outstanding pictures like that in your posts? Every time I try to upload one I get an error saying the file is too large.

On another note, is anyone else having issues with majano anemones? I had one pop up about 5 or 6 months ago, but I did not know what it was at the time, so I let it go. Now I have over 60 (keep losing count), and more pop up every week or so. My LFS, whom I trust very much, says they are really harmless. Does anyone else have an opinion on these? If so, I would like to hear them.

In your post put a link to a photo host like photobucket. it will show up big like that. Here you can only upload like 50mb wich is a thumb nail.

[2_zoa]

Originally posted by Rickinferno
2_zoa, thanks for the info, who makes that c-balance?

I tested my water again today (do it every day while it is cycling)

PH 8.2
CALCIUM 360
AMMONIA .4
NITRITE 0
NITRATE 0
PHOSPHATE 0
SALINITY 1.024
TEMP 79

Ammonia is going up wich means the cycle has started YAY ))
Still waiting for my Cheato to arrive at my LFS, very hard to find here in Montreal!

I am starting to get DIATOM algea also.

It is made by Two Little Fishies. www.twolittlefishies.com
I got mine from the LFS but for you I don't know. I know you can get it from Dr Fosters and Smith. There are other two part products out there that others like. I have used Kent Marine Nano Part A and B, but I like the C-Balance over the Kent product.

Yea with the amonia comming up it has begun. Just be patient.

[2_zoa]

Originally posted by vanisher
Got a quick question:

For those using the middle chamber for chaeto, what (if anything) are you guys using for skimmers?

If you chose 1 way or the other, why?

I use the middle chamber for chaeto. I do not use a skimmer on my tank. I use to use the Bio Cube skimmer and it was okay. Then I built my own 4' tall counter current skimmer and used it for a while. It produced WAAAAYYY more skim and did very well. Then I thought I would try keeping the tank without one. Made the fuge added the chaeto and nothing has shown ill effects and looks no different. So I haven't bothered to put a skimmer back on line. Less maintence.

I did however do some other mods to increase the surface skimming. I also use filter floss and carbon. I change the floss every few days as it catches some real nasty stuff. I figure the proten ladden surface is getting captured in the floss. The water changes do the rest.