Bio Cube Owner's Thread

[Luna81]

Thanks to both of you. Yeah, we "stimulated" the economy by buying this with a stimulus money. We couldn't afford a lot of rock up front. The new piece is really nice, I'm very excited with how much it changed everything.

The only frustrating part is the Nem moved to where it did. The top of the rock is nice to put coral on, I just don't know if I can with him being so close.

We've been taking it very slowly. We only had the nem, frogspawn, GSP, and a few zoas and a ric until now. We lost zoas, but that was going out of town for two days and having an urchin. He just got a new home, so I'm buying some zoa frags this weekend.

Also just got an acan frag, and a trumpet frag. And a couple different colors of rics because they've actually been splitting and stuff.

I'm still trying to learn, and know I have a lot to learn, and just hope I don't screw it up.

Right now I'm frustrated because we put in a Tunze 9002 yesterday and it isn't pulling anything yet. Heh.

Again, thanks, and if anyone has any suggestions please, make them.

I'd love to do SPS, but it just isn't going to happen. I can't afford the light upgrades, and for now we need to stay with this type of tank. Don't want to feed my cats to the tank.

 

[Luna81]

Also, like the pile of sand? We have a goby who loves to pile everything right up front. Heh.

 

[chrismunn]

ive been meaning to show this thing for a while now but have just been lazy. most of you have probably seen the "DIY Swirler Stein" in the DIY forum? this is basically one of those, but i had to build a custom housing to get it to fit into my bc14.

 

[chrismunn]

im not sure whic one of these videos shows more detail???

 

[BrentB]

I was amazed by the variation in light intensity at various locations and levels of a Bio29 with stock lights. One of the members of this forum measured his lighting with a meter.
Seems like his readings were about 280 at the top center and 80 (+/-) in the lower sections.
I've used the information to place my inverts and it seems to make a significant difference.

 

[BrentB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14202846#post14202846 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrismunn
ive been meaning to show this thing for a while now but have just been lazy. most of you have probably seen the "DIY Swirler Stein" in the DIY forum? this is basically one of those, but i had to build a custom housing to get it to fit into my bc14.

I hope this isn't toooo dumb a question , but what is a Swirler Stein, how does it work, and do I need one?

 

[jmadison]

Luna-

The way I have maintained my nems movement is with a nem column. I have a pillar rock that has my RBTA on it, and since they dont like to travel across sand so much it pretty much stays put. It is about 60% down in the tank from the surface, but I am running 14k halides so it isnt even at the top of the column and is happy.

As far as worrying your going to do it wrong, atleast youre here asking ?'s, thats a good start. I will say that going slow and planning your moves and at all costs avoid impulsive decisions; will take you far in this hobby. Also you truly get what you pay for in this hobby, usually( and there are some exceptions) if something is drastically cheaper than the alternative there is a good reason for it.

Happy reefing and use this site and its members to the fullest, it's FREE!

 

[oneoffcustom]

Wow, i was begining to think i wouldnt get an answer to my question. Thanks for all who chimed in, and i think i got a general opinion. So it is possible and will do fine, but growth will be slow to none, and the higher i get it in the tank the better. Is that about it? I plan on waiting a little longer till tank establishes a bit more, but was very curiouse. As of right now the tank is planted with macros, and i wanted to do a macro / nem tank. the nanocustoms upgrades are crazy high and im not sure i want to spend the money on it, when for that money i would have a decent start on a larger tank.

 

[PerfectDark]

If I had to do it over again with what I know now and seeing the difference. I would not do it with a bio cubes stock lighting...JMO

 

[BrentB]

Lighting Upgrade

Lighting Upgrade

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14208198#post14208198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PerfectDark
If I had to do it over again with what I know now and seeing the difference. I would not do it with a bio cubes stock lighting...JMO

What do folks think about the nano-tuners lighting upgrade?
Seems like alot of money, and I want to make sure the improvement is worth the cost.... (?)

Otherwise, one might be better off setting up a tank (even a smaller one) designed to use the proper lighting system for clams, hard corals, etc.

Seems like Red Sea and Elos both make tanks to fill that nitche.

Cheers,
Brent

 

[jmadison]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14208105#post14208105 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oneoffcustom
growth will be slow to none, and the higher i get it in the tank the better. I plan on waiting a little longer till tank establishes a bit more,

Good idea on letting the tank establish for a good 6months or better. I wouldnt say no growth, if you feed it, it will def grow, but be forwarned; nems can dirty up your water really fast with its waste. Regular water changes are key!

 

[jmadison]

Re: Lighting Upgrade

Re: Lighting Upgrade

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14209212#post14209212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrentB
What do folks think about the nano-tuners lighting upgrade?
Seems like alot of money, and I want to make sure the improvement is worth the cost.... (?)

As for the nano tuners upgrades, for about the same price you can get a 20"sunpod 150w. You have less heat issues, don't have to listen to those garbage fans, but have more evap because of no hood (mine is about quart a day with room temp 70ish, tank 80ish, 9 hr photoperiod). I really REALLY like my sunpod!

 

[jmadison]

Re: Lighting Upgrade

Re: Lighting Upgrade

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14209212#post14209212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrentB


Seems like Red Sea and Elos both make tanks to fill that nitche.

I have heard that the Red Sea Max has a lot of probs keeping the tank from boiling, but otherwise is nice( a bit pricey considering you'll prob upgrade a lot of the stuff) and Elos makes a fantastic product, just a lot of $$$.

Hope that helps

-J-

 

[chrismunn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14202975#post14202975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrentB
I hope this isn't toooo dumb a question , but what is a Swirler Stein, how does it work, and do I need one?

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1483439

that ^ is a swirler stein. its a pretty neat little contraption. its pretty much just a motor, bearing and link inside of a box that rotates a down tube with a power head on the end of it. its pretty good for distributing flow inside of my bc14 without having to clutter up the tank with multiple power heads. eliminating a laminer current is always a good thing

do you need one? no.... but on the same note, do you need a fish tank?

i have a BTA in my bc14 with the stock lighting and i can say from experience that the nem does NOT like it very much. my BTA is always on the move looking for more lighting! as far as health is concerned there's no problem there, thats more of a water quality issue. but the lighting situation is a little bleak. the darn thing just runs up and down and back and forth stretching out as high as it can go sometimes. i wish i could get the thing out of my tank! its a freaking menace to all my other inhabitants! i really wish that ide never put it in!

 

[jmadison]

Chris- ummm SWEET!

First ? oout of my mouth is where did you mount that in your 14bc, and then I read on to see that mounting is usually the first and biggest problem. Either way, how'd you mount/how will you mount yours?

 

[Luna81]

See, mine hasn't moved until we redid the rock. Then he moved right where he wanted and hasn't moved since.

Not really sure if I want to get him out, or what the Clown's would do if I did. We'll have to see how things go.

jmadison: The column is a cool idea. I don't know, maybe I'll see how things go right now. He hasn't moved since he went to where he wanted to be. I don't know, should I get rid of him?

I'm excited today because the skimmer is pulling stuff. Not much, but it seems to be breaking in (I was worried at first). I am so glad I finally got it. I know with the 29 you can get away with just water changes, but come on...sometimes we're lazy/sick/hurt and it goes a few days passed when we planned on doing it.

So, with the stock lighting, does the adding of some zoas/acan/trumpet coral sound okay?

 

[PerfectDark]

Re: Re: Lighting Upgrade

Re: Re: Lighting Upgrade

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14209788#post14209788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmadison
As for the nano tuners upgrades, for about the same price you can get a 20"sunpod 150w. You have less heat issues, don't have to listen to those garbage fans, but have more evap because of no hood (mine is about quart a day with room temp 70ish, tank 80ish, 9 hr photoperiod). I really REALLY like my sunpod!

+1 I weighed the pros and cons of the nano tuners upgrade and then decided on the sunpod. I dont regret that decision one bit... I love my sunpod.

Although on my 40 breeder I went with a 6 bulb HO T5... help keep the electricity costs down and all.

 

[Luna81]

Why I don't think a sunpod would work for me:

 

[chrismunn]

your BTA should be ok, just be prepaired for it to bulldoze everything in the tank. my BTA touches everything in my tank at least once every 24 hours! :lol:

jmadison, i built that thing soooo freakin' tight that its literally pinned in place with the hood! there is only 11/16" of space to fit that thing under the hood! :eek2: im going to make some mounts when i get some free time but for now its fine. ill take pics when i do, but i think i might make a new one? i mis-measured by 1/8" while building this one so its actually too big.

 

[Megg0602]

Re: Lighting Upgrade

Re: Lighting Upgrade

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14209212#post14209212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrentB
What do folks think about the nano-tuners lighting upgrade?
Seems like alot of money, and I want to make sure the improvement is worth the cost.... (?)

Otherwise, one might be better off setting up a tank (even a smaller one) designed to use the proper lighting system for clams, hard corals, etc.

Seems like Red Sea and Elos both make tanks to fill that nitche.

Cheers,
Brent

i got the light upgrade for my 14g. but i didnt pay for it, i got it for christmas i like it just because i didnt want an open top, i wanted it "stock looking". my bf mounted it and the directionds were all messed up and it took a while and a lot of undoing and redoing. but in the end my tank,looks sooooo much better than i expected. i got a rbta and he seems to enjoy it. hes not reaching or anything hes found his spot near the bottomish part of my tank. so fat so i like. sorry no comparisons on prices