BioCube 29 - Build Thread

[CCarlson]

Hi All, Ive been in the reefing hobby for 7 or so years and have had tanks of all sizes. Figured Id chime in with my new project.

Im downsizing from a 75 gallon reef, to a 29 gallon biocube, and have always wanted to do one of those "Cool build threads", so heres my attempt.

Please chime in with questions or whatever.

I will warn this thread will be filled with horrible photos. Im not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination.

75 Being torn down:


Here's yer standard BioCube. Pictured here - Log cabin wall, power strips, dremel, didgeridoo...you know..the normal stuff.

[CCarlson]

So, I read a bunch of other peoples build threads to see what the standard modifications were. Ill follow suit. I popped out the false bottoms in both chamber 1 and 2, also took a dremel to the plastic tab between chamber 1 and 2 and cut it out completly.

Tab in:


Tab out:


I also removed the standard pump, and replaced it with a MaxiJet 1200. Adding a Korallia 425 nano, and possibly a second with a wavemaker later. Skimmer and UV came with it. Skimmer is in for now, UV is not

[CCarlson]

My wife bought me an ATO a couple years back for Christmas (shes a keeper), so I didnt really want to get rid of it with the system selloff. So I figured Id try to integrate it with the new build.
The braket that it came with was not going to work for the chamber setup of the biocube.


Then, I got to thinking that I had some old magfloat pieces and parts laying around in storage. Magfloats, Zipties and Superglue are a reef aquarists best friends.


It fits really well in chamber 3, right by the pump



I also needed to modify the slots cut in the back of the lid for the power cords to fit.
NEED MORE POWER!!!!!!


Now....how to affix the filling tube to the tank, so it doesnt fly out and flood my floor (not like thats EVER happened before)...Hmmmm... Suction cups and Zip ties.


I wasnt sure how accurate or responsive my ATO rig was going to be, but I was really pleasantly surprised. I can only remove 2 1/2 ounces of water or so before my ATO kicks on. Not bad!

[CCarlson]

So, It gets filled.....



and salted.....few rocks added.....

[CCarlson]

I forgot to add, Im not using the Bioball media that came with the cube. I've replaced that stuff with a media bag full of carbon, Foster phosphate media, purigen and floss. Later I hope to add some LED lights in chamber 2 for a fuge.

Skimmer is in, not sure how much I like it though. Im coming off of using an ASM X2 on my bigger reef tank, to a limewood driven skimmer...Not sure thats going to float my boat. I suppose I could add one more thing to the shopping list.....Later.

This is hopefully going to be a zoanthid dominated tank, I have always had a liking for these corals, and they are by far my favorite. Ill probably add a few selected other species here and there, but not much.

[CCarlson]

When setting up this tank, I pulled a bit of live sand from my existing tank and all of the rock came from my existing tank. I also used about 15 gallons of tank water. I believe this nearly nullified any big cycling, I let it sit for 4-5 days and then added 4-5 snails. There are 20 snails in there, now.

[CCarlson]

Tank has been up for nearly 2 weeks now. Has found a few more additions from the other tank.

Couple Zoas/Palys, Some Mushrooms, Red Blastomussa, Duncans.

My 4 year old is "helping" me stock the tank this time around. I made a photo folder of our different stocking possibilities, and she picked out her favorite's. Heres where we are headed so far for livestock

1 Neon Goby (already in there, came from my old tank)
1 Fridmani Pseudochromis (already in there, came from my old tank)
1 Sixline Wrasse
1 Yellowhead Jawfish
2 Black Clowns



More to come, later.

[mcmyeye]

looking good. i am hoping to get a korallia 425 for christmas. i was gonna put mine in the middle of the tank instead of the top. do you think that will work or will it blow sand everwhere?

[nvdiz]

it should be fine, unless your k425 is aimed directly towards the sand and if your sand is sugar sized

[CCarlson]

Picked up a few things yesterday. Pics to come....

[CCarlson]

New additions, a pair of black clownfish. My daughter picked these out

[CCarlson]

Ordered some new coral for the tank too, heres some of whats supposed to come -

Yellow Jackets, Japanese PE, Whamn Watermelon, RDE's, Green Hornets, Supermans, Abyss', Fruitloops, Blue Eyed Demons, and 3 Mini-Maxi Anemones.

Also stocked up on the just in case stuff:

[CCarlson]

Stuff came this afternoon!

[skindeepdc]

I'm liking your reef build feed! Keep it up. I'm establishing my first tank in a bio29 also and should start posting pics and the such. I have a pair of black clowns and a six line wrasse so far also. great for this size tank! thanks for sharing your experience and insight!

[kaihonu82]

I like what you've done so far. I picked up a BC14gal recently so I'm looking around getting ideas on what I want to do with it.

How's that new coral working out?

[chgoblknazn]

Those clowns and the setup are nice.

Why the downsizing though?

[CCarlson]

Hi All,

Thanks for the comments. New coral & mini nems are doing well. Some of the frag plugs they came on were huge. Seriously, some of the biggest Ive seen. In large tank it wouldent be to bad, but its kind of an eyesore in a small tank. I think today Im going to take a few off the plugs.

It was time to downsize, new phase of life, got alot of things going on. Thought about getting out completly, but...Once your addicted to this stuff, you never get out completly

[kaihonu82]

Are you still using the skimmer that you got with it? You mentioned earlier that it might not quite meet your needs. Now that it's been a little while, do you still feel the same way?

[CCarlson]

Originally Posted by kaihonu82

Are you still using the skimmer that you got with it? You mentioned earlier that it might not quite meet your needs. Now that it's been a little while, do you still feel the same way?

Well, Im not sure yet It seems to be pulling skim. I just have some zoa's and a couple of lps in there. I dont see a huge need for a different skimmer right now. Maybe it will make it on the christmas list as a just cause type thing, but Im not sure.

If I was doing SPS, it would be a totally different story.