Bio Cube Owner's Thread

Alright guys... I just got a Biocube 8 off craigslist today. It came established with crushed coral substrate and some good size pieces of LR. I have kept reef tanks before but never an All in One like this. I've got some general questions...

What do you guys suggest for the compartments in back? I see alot of people use live rock rubble, some use chemipure, filter floss... And in what compartment area should I place said items?

I would like to upgrade the pump in this tank also... Suggestions on a efficient and quite pump would be great... The only one I have seen mentioned is the MJ 606.

Any other ideas or tips that you have just let me know I am open to all suggestions.
 
+1 on link directly above for qualty product, where I got the media basket and fish saver and nanoglo. Fish saver keeps goby in dt, its really hard to get a fish out of those small rear chambers. Top basket compartment level has floss, middle basket growing cheato and chemi pure elite in bottom. I run stock pump and an mp10.
 
Hello Everyone!

My name is Alita and I am new to this Forum and to this hobby. Well, not that new - I did have a saltwater all fish aquarium about 8 years ago, but it wasn't successful. Now I want to give it another try. This time I want to create a small reef tank. There is so much information online it makes my head spin!

Here is what I want from my aquarium:

I want a small tank (because I live in the apartment, and as a beginner, I don't want to start with a big one)

I want it to have live rock, soft corals (coral that are easy to maintain), a few fish - ones who can live in a smaller tank such as clown fish, a few shrimps and/or crabs, maybe a starfish. So I don't really need to have fancy fish that like big aquariums, I mainly want to be able to grow beautiful colorful soft corals!

Please advise me what is the smallest size (or the optimal size) tank I need to accomplish what I want from the tank.

I was thinking about getting the Bio Cube Nano Reef tank. Is this a good option? If yes, what would be the best size (8, 14, or 29 gal)? And should I get a standard one or HQI? I read that HQI is good if you want to keep hard corals, but at this time I just want some basic, easy to maintain soft corals. Would the lights and filters of standard Bio Cube be enough to grow soft corals?

Also, I currently have an opportunity to purchase a used, but in great condition 29 gallon Bio Cube that is already cycled, with a few pieces of live rock, snails and hermit, with stand and extra filter for $300! Should I get it??

I am really excited about starting this reef tank and I would be really greatful for any advise and comments!!! Thank you!
 
Hi Alita and welcome to RC. :)

I'd go with the BC 29, it's small enough for an apartment, big enough for good viewing, and has a larger water volume to help stabilize your water parameter (you still need to stay on top of them though). Your fish choices look ok but research the ones you want to get a see what the minimum size tank they should be in. Some clowns can get pretty big. Rule of thumb is 5 gallons of water to every inch of fish. If you want to keep softies, then the stock light in the BCs will be fine. You could also keep some of the low level light lps as well. If you want to keep higher level light lps or sps, you will need to upgrade your lights. If you get a BC, you may want to modify the filtration set up. Look over the BC threads and you'll see some nice mods. The BC 29 you're looking at sounds like it might be a good deal. HTH
 
Rhodes19 said:
Hi Alita and welcome to RC. :)

I'd go with the BC 29, it's small enough for an apartment, big enough for good viewing, and has a larger water volume to help stabilize your water parameter (you still need to stay on top of them though). Your fish choices look ok but research the ones you want to get a see what the minimum size tank they should be in. Some clowns can get pretty big. Rule of thumb is 5 gallons of water to every inch of fish. If you want to keep softies, then the stock light in the BCs will be fine. You could also keep some of the low level light lps as well. If you want to keep higher level light lps or sps, you will need to upgrade your lights. If you get a BC, you may want to modify the filtration set up. Look over the BC threads and you'll see some nice mods. The BC 29 you're looking at sounds like it might be a good deal. HTH
Click to expand...

Thank you for your response and advice! :) So, I did purchase locally a used 29G Bio Cube with Stand for $225 (different tank). The tank has been running for couple of years and came with live sand, few pretty big pieces of live rock which are covered with coralline and some mushrooms. There are also a ton of little white stars, a few little crabs, and some bristle worms (yak). The tank has some algae (coralline) on the walls, but overall the tank is pretty clean and everything seems to be working. Nothing has been modified. I'm really new to this and continually doing research as I'm setting up and establishing this tank.. So I might have a lot more questions! I wonder if I should open up a separate thread! :)
 
ziss said:
Thank you for your response and advice! :) So, I did purchase locally a used 29G Bio Cube with Stand for $225 (different tank). The tank has been running for couple of years and came with live sand, few pretty big pieces of live rock which are covered with coralline and some mushrooms. There are also a ton of little white stars, a few little crabs, and some bristle worms (yak). The tank has some algae (coralline) on the walls, but overall the tank is pretty clean and everything seems to be working. Nothing has been modified. I'm really new to this and continually doing research as I'm setting up and establishing this tank.. So I might have a lot more questions! I wonder if I should open up a separate thread! :)
Click to expand...

Congrats on the tank. If you just moved it, I would do a big water change say about 10 gallons. That will help out with the mini cycle you may get. The starfish you described may be asternia. Depending on who you talk to, they are ok or not. From what I understand, they are opportunistic and if there is not enough food, they may start munching on corals. I would start your own thread so you can document your build and the changes but still hang out in this thread because you can get a lot of your questions answered here. Lots of good folks and good ideas. :)
 
Can some people describe or share photos of how they use a fan to cool their biocubes? The only thing I can visually think to do is attach a clip on fan or similar and have it blow on the chambers in back.

I just purchased an Apex Lite, so I'll be using the fan with the apex, if that matters.

thanks for any suggestions.
 
I drilled two holes in the back panel of the hood and screwed on fans (just like the light fans already in the hood) blowing out. Works great with my Reefkeeper Lite.

Top down pic of the back of the tank.

ae6f13ed.jpg


Note I also covered up the vents in the back. This sucks air from further forward in the hood and cools more water surface.

--C
 
So I turned my phosban reactor into a hang-on-side refugium. Otherwise known as the Cheato Reactor™.

A neat mod for people who don't want to drill. Have to get a pic of it...
 
6-16-11371.jpg


Just picked one up about two weeks ago. So far I love AIO tanks. It has been modded for the third PC and will be getting a nice facelift soon enough to LED's.
 
Thanks Colin, that certainly gives me some ideas to try some stuff with computer fans.

Another questions for BC owners... how do people light up a refugium in the 2nd chamber? My BC has a window along the back, but it seems a little offset in the 2nd chamber, and I plan on using media baskets as shown on their website, so the window doesn't line up completely with the refugium specific media basket.

InTank has a submersible light that's relatively inexpensive, but I've also been looking at this (see link below) and the reviews seem ok.. there's a big jump in price, but it uses 1/2 the wattage and I'd assume wouldn't be as hot.

http://www.marinedepot.com/JBJ_Nano...ng-JBJ_Lighting-JB9315-FIRFRL-vi.html#Reviews
 
Hextall said:
Thanks Colin, that certainly gives me some ideas to try some stuff with computer fans.

Another questions for BC owners... how do people light up a refugium in the 2nd chamber? My BC has a window along the back, but it seems a little offset in the 2nd chamber, and I plan on using media baskets as shown on their website, so the window doesn't line up completely with the refugium specific media basket.

InTank has a submersible light that's relatively inexpensive, but I've also been looking at this (see link below) and the reviews seem ok.. there's a big jump in price, but it uses 1/2 the wattage and I'd assume wouldn't be as hot.

http://www.marinedepot.com/JBJ_Nano...ng-JBJ_Lighting-JB9315-FIRFRL-vi.html#Reviews
Click to expand...

I haven't done it but most fuges I've seen have an external light fixture attached to the back or the BC were the window is. The lights I've seen used range from CF, PC, T5's and LEDs. I've also read about folks using submersible LEDs with good success. If the window is off set, you can scrape some of the black paint off the back to make it bigger or more centered. HTH.
 
I currently have a mini t5 fixture on the back of my BC29 after scraping off the paint, but I also did a submersible light, but the light spread is poor and the bulbs heat the water as well.
 
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