14g biocube build with mods step by step

bwoods113 · 12/22/2012, 11:29 AM

Hello everyone,

I have been reading the site and have come across so much great info I thought I would start this thread to document my exact approach to a 14g biocube build (and hopefully many helpful tips and suggestions along the way).

So that being said i have purchased a used 14g biocube with stand. I will take pictures and post in the next couple days.

As far as lighting goes i have purchased a desk lamp with a par 38 led bulb... good decision????

Tbonekilla · 12/22/2012, 12:35 PM

Here is a tip. I built my own media rack out of egg crate. It sucked. Water can go where ever it wants. I got an intank media basket. Wow, huge difference. Totally worth the price. Comes with a redesigned flow director that acts like a top plate for basket. Almost all the water goes through.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2

bwoods113 · 12/22/2012, 12:39 PM

Thanks for the response! I was planning to do an eggcrate one but.... I definitely see your point, better to do it right from the beginning I will order one. Thanks!

bwoods113 · 12/22/2012, 12:56 PM

Has anyone tried the rimless mod on the 14g??

sponger0 · 12/22/2012, 01:44 PM

Actually if you are really wanting to save a buck on the eggcrate made media rack, you can easily make one and not pay $60. You just have to think.

Using acrylic on one side will keep the flow directed through the rack.

I have a BC14 also and havent made too many mods. If its the older Oceanic, make sure you cut the tab between chamber 1 and 2.

I also put in my ATO hanging inbetween chamber 2 and 3.

I dont have any additional flow other than the stock pump in it. I plan on updating to a pump with slightly more flow but too much.

Im going with the RapidLEDs retro kit. I like to be able to dim and being such a small tank you would either need them to be dimmable or raise and lower the light until you find the sweet spot. Par38 bulbs will work I just think there are better options to go with.

bwoods113 · 12/26/2012, 07:26 AM

Ok so I went rimless on my 14g biocube, it was actually a lot easier than I has anticipated. Took pics through the process.

First took the pins out to take off the hood.
IMG_0269.jpg

Next I used a hacksaw to cut the plastic where it meets the back.
IMG_0272.jpg

Then used a cutter to cut through the silicone.
IMG_0273.jpg

Then scapped the extra silicone off.
IMG_0275.jpg

This is how it came out.
IMG_0277.jpg

bwoods113 · 12/28/2012, 07:14 AM

Here is where I am at so far, derimmed and cleaned. Also the lamp and par38 bulb came in will be adding water and sand tonight.

IMG_0282.jpg

sponger0 · 12/28/2012, 08:27 AM

It looks good but I would recommend using photobucket to post pics. Its looks better and uploading pics to RC, sometimes it takes users forever to load the pic or it wont come up. Or thats what happens to me.

bwoods113 · 12/28/2012, 08:46 AM

Thank you for the info I will do that from now on.

sponger0 · 12/28/2012, 08:50 AM

Im not saying you have to....but it is a preference of mine. Some threads I wont even look at if the photos uploaded to RC

bwoods113 · 12/28/2012, 09:00 AM

Testing it out hopefully I do this right

sponger0 · 12/28/2012, 09:09 AM

Try using the img code.

bwoods113 · 12/28/2012, 11:45 AM

When I got the tank 2nd hand it had black sand in it, the gentleman said that it was Tahitian ???? never heard of it. I like the the black but are there any risks to using it? Should i start with new sand if so what kind?? Thank you!!

19jeffro83 · 12/28/2012, 03:31 PM

Looks good. I went rimless on my 14 as well. Like the look so much better than the hood it came with.

bwoods113 · 12/28/2012, 08:53 PM

I know! it changes the whole look of the tank I cant wait to get it filled. Would you mind sharing any other mods that you have made???

bwoods113 · 12/30/2012, 07:32 PM

Ok so i have put the live rock in, I do have a question that im hoping somone can answer....

Does anyone know what these are?? They are a shade of very light pink they came on the liverock.

Here is a pick of the tank.

Thanks for looking.

bwoods113 · 01/05/2013, 01:34 PM

Ok I think it is abut time to add a cleaner crew anyone have any suggestions?

Track Rat · 01/06/2013, 03:27 AM

Has your tank completed it's cycle? Do you see an algae bloom? No need to add CUC if your tank isn't ready for it yet.

bwoods113 · 01/07/2013, 05:00 PM

Im not sure, if i got the rock out of another does it still need to cycle? What am I looking for an ammonia spike?

12/22/2012, 11:29 AM	#1
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	14g biocube build with mods step by step Hello everyone, I have been reading the site and have come across so much great info I thought I would start this thread to document my exact approach to a 14g biocube build (and hopefully many helpful tips and suggestions along the way). So that being said i have purchased a used 14g biocube with stand. I will take pictures and post in the next couple days. As far as lighting goes i have purchased a desk lamp with a par 38 led bulb... good decision????

12/26/2012, 07:26 AM	#6
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Completed the rimless mod. Ok so I went rimless on my 14g biocube, it was actually a lot easier than I has anticipated. Took pics through the process. First took the pins out to take off the hood. IMG_0269.jpg Next I used a hacksaw to cut the plastic where it meets the back. IMG_0272.jpg Then used a cutter to cut through the silicone. IMG_0273.jpg Then scapped the extra silicone off. IMG_0275.jpg This is how it came out. IMG_0277.jpg

12/28/2012, 07:14 AM	#7
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Progress so far.... Here is where I am at so far, derimmed and cleaned. Also the lamp and par38 bulb came in will be adding water and sand tonight. IMG_0282.jpg

12/28/2012, 09:00 AM	#11
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Testing Testing it out hopefully I do this right Last edited by bwoods113; 12/28/2012 at 09:30 AM.

12/30/2012, 07:32 PM	#16
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Live rock is in!! Ok so i have put the live rock in, I do have a question that im hoping somone can answer.... Does anyone know what these are?? They are a shade of very light pink they came on the liverock. Here is a pick of the tank. Thanks for looking.

12/22/2012, 12:35 PM	#2
Tbonekilla Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 38	Here is a tip. I built my own media rack out of egg crate. It sucked. Water can go where ever it wants. I got an intank media basket. Wow, huge difference. Totally worth the price. Comes with a redesigned flow director that acts like a top plate for basket. Almost all the water goes through. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2

12/22/2012, 12:39 PM	#3
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Thanks for the response! I was planning to do an eggcrate one but.... I definitely see your point, better to do it right from the beginning I will order one. Thanks!

12/22/2012, 12:56 PM	#4
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Has anyone tried the rimless mod on the 14g??

12/22/2012, 01:44 PM	#5
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Actually if you are really wanting to save a buck on the eggcrate made media rack, you can easily make one and not pay $60. You just have to think. Using acrylic on one side will keep the flow directed through the rack. I have a BC14 also and havent made too many mods. If its the older Oceanic, make sure you cut the tab between chamber 1 and 2. I also put in my ATO hanging inbetween chamber 2 and 3. I dont have any additional flow other than the stock pump in it. I plan on updating to a pump with slightly more flow but too much. Im going with the RapidLEDs retro kit. I like to be able to dim and being such a small tank you would either need them to be dimmable or raise and lower the light until you find the sweet spot. Par38 bulbs will work I just think there are better options to go with.

12/28/2012, 08:27 AM	#8
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	It looks good but I would recommend using photobucket to post pics. Its looks better and uploading pics to RC, sometimes it takes users forever to load the pic or it wont come up. Or thats what happens to me.

12/28/2012, 08:46 AM	#9
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Thank you for the info I will do that from now on.

12/28/2012, 08:50 AM	#10
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Im not saying you have to....but it is a preference of mine. Some threads I wont even look at if the photos uploaded to RC

12/28/2012, 09:09 AM	#12
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Try using the img code.

12/28/2012, 11:45 AM	#13
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	When I got the tank 2nd hand it had black sand in it, the gentleman said that it was Tahitian ???? never heard of it. I like the the black but are there any risks to using it? Should i start with new sand if so what kind?? Thank you!!

12/28/2012, 03:31 PM	#14
19jeffro83 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 102	Looks good. I went rimless on my 14 as well. Like the look so much better than the hood it came with.

12/28/2012, 08:53 PM	#15
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	I know! it changes the whole look of the tank I cant wait to get it filled. Would you mind sharing any other mods that you have made???

01/05/2013, 01:34 PM	#17
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Ok I think it is abut time to add a cleaner crew anyone have any suggestions?

01/06/2013, 03:27 AM	#18
Track Rat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 101	Has your tank completed it's cycle? Do you see an algae bloom? No need to add CUC if your tank isn't ready for it yet.

01/07/2013, 05:00 PM	#19
bwoods113 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Im not sure, if i got the rock out of another does it still need to cycle? What am I looking for an ammonia spike?