Bio Cube Owner's Thread

[MSunkin23]

So I know there are some variations with the new biocube 14's... Anyone have a specific rundown of the changes?

So far I have noted...

-Vent from chamber 2/3
-Fish Guard
-Stronger Main Pump 156gph over 105gph ?

Changes I have made..
-Took out bioballs and filter cartridge from chamber 1/2
-plugged the vent from 2/3 with the sponge from the pump and some filter floss
-set up chamber 2 as follows...bottom up... [ Filter Floss, Bag of Carbon, Chaeto, Filter Floss]
- blocked most of the bottom intake vent to promote surface skimming

Other than that I dont know yet if I need more flow for this thing, the mushrooms and frogspawn are already flopping in the current

I would like a hydor to randomize the flow

btw chesney you should be good to go, just make sure to use RO/DI water from the LFS (Local Fish Store), and if you still have hair algae, maybe try some emerald crabs, although I hear they are a bit agressive.

-Mike

 

[fstar25]

My emerald crabs are angels and they love hair algae!

 

[fstar25]

Two months ago I bought a 14g biocube for my daughters room. I dont have any idea what I'm doing, and the lady at the fish store said this would be easy. It's not!! We got the live sand and live rock. Have 10 hermit crabs 5 snails and 1 shrimp. Also we have one clown fish. 0 nitrates, 1.028. I have a massive green hair like algea problem. After two months my tank looks nothing like any of the other tanks on this forum. I need help and lots of it. Thanks for all the advise, but like I said I have no idea what I'm doing. I dont have any idea what a refuge is...or any of the terms being used

My advice...go here http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074
read every last bit of it, then come back with questions still unanswered. Good luck and ultimately you will find the support you need on this forum.

 

[r_jay]

Two months ago I bought a 14g biocube for my daughters room. I dont have any idea what I'm doing, and the lady at the fish store said this would be easy. It's not!! We got the live sand and live rock. Have 10 hermit crabs 5 snails and 1 shrimp. Also we have one clown fish. 0 nitrates, 1.028. I have a massive green hair like algea problem. After two months my tank looks nothing like any of the other tanks on this forum. I need help and lots of it. Thanks for all the advise, but like I said I have no idea what I'm doing. I dont have any idea what a refuge is...or any of the terms being used

First thing is first, slow down. 80% of the tanks in this forum have been set up, changed around several times, and running for well over 6 months, and then by people who have been doing this for years. I was bummed out when I started too but this hobby takes time, we are attempting to re-create NATURE. At least 6 months will pass before you get things cycled and under "control" especially the algae problem. I agree with Fstar that emerald crabs are the way to go for your tank. Don't be discouraged! STAY STRONG!

 

[LawmanRob]

My emerald crabs are angels and they love hair algae!

My A** Turned my lights out tonight...An hour later grabbed my flashlight out to peep and found one of my emeralds tearing a chunk out of my duncan.... I got so mad that he took a ride down the porcelain highway. Good by and good riddance. Not to mention lost two clowns to ICK. My falmeback and sixline are at the LFS in quarantine. A very bad week for my 29g.

 

[fstar25]

LawmanRob - that is really a bad week. My sympathy to you. I've seen pictures of them ripping the meat out of duncans before. I feed the holy hell out of my tank, so my guys are never hungry enough to go after coral. but I can understand why yours went where he did. Good luck with the fish in quarantine and with the rest of your tank.

 

[LawmanRob]

Thanks the Flame and Wrasse only had one or two spots of ICK on them. I have a lot of faith in my LFS. On the brighter side my LFS gave me a good discount on some chemipure, water, and a K Nano.

 

[chesney1603]

So I know there are some variations with the new biocube 14's... Anyone have a specific rundown of the changes?

So far I have noted...

-Vent from chamber 2/3
-Fish Guard
-Stronger Main Pump 156gph over 105gph ?

Changes I have made..
-Took out bioballs and filter cartridge from chamber 1/2
-plugged the vent from 2/3 with the sponge from the pump and some filter floss
-set up chamber 2 as follows...bottom up... [ Filter Floss, Bag of Carbon, Chaeto, Filter Floss]
- blocked most of the bottom intake vent to promote surface skimming

Other than that I dont know yet if I need more flow for this thing, the mushrooms and frogspawn are already flopping in the current

I would like a hydor to randomize the flow

btw chesney you should be good to go, just make sure to use RO/DI water from the LFS (Local Fish Store), and if you still have hair algae, maybe try some emerald crabs, although I hear they are a bit agressive.

yeah I do 25% water changes every week with RO water that I cycle for 12 hours in a clean bucket. How do I mod chamber two and do away with the bio balls? Im getting the hair algea under control now. The thing that bothers me the most is seeing other tanks only 4 to 5 weeks in already showing life. My rocks have nothing....they are just bare rocks

 

[Rhodes19]

Two months ago I bought a 14g biocube for my daughters room. I dont have any idea what I'm doing, and the lady at the fish store said this would be easy. It's not!! We got the live sand and live rock. Have 10 hermit crabs 5 snails and 1 shrimp. Also we have one clown fish. 0 nitrates, 1.028. I have a massive green hair like algea problem. After two months my tank looks nothing like any of the other tanks on this forum. I need help and lots of it. Thanks for all the advise, but like I said I have no idea what I'm doing. I dont have any idea what a refuge is...or any of the terms being used

+1 to what others have said. You are going way to fast and that will put a load on the bio filters that they can not handle at the moment. You will get some algae when you start up your tank but if you have a lot of it then you have a nutrient problem. The biological filters are not establish yet and you may be over feeding which will contribute to your algae problem. Here is another good article on starting tanks.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.php Myth #15. Its a good read. HTH

 

[Rhodes19]

My A** Turned my lights out tonight...An hour later grabbed my flashlight out to peep and found one of my emeralds tearing a chunk out of my duncan.... I got so mad that he took a ride down the porcelain highway. Good by and good riddance. Not to mention lost two clowns to ICK. My falmeback and sixline are at the LFS in quarantine. A very bad week for my 29g.

LawmanRob, are those the only 2 fish you have in that tank? If not, you will have to quarantine the others as well and leave your tank empty of fish for 8 weeks so all the ich dies off. Sounds like you have a good lfs.

 

[LawmanRob]

No, just the two clowns,flameback and sixline. I have no complaints about my LFS.

 

[a-T-m]

will the cpr sr3 fit in a biocube 14?

 

[r_jay]

will the cpr sr3 fit in a biocube 14?

Pretty sure its too big and wont fit IMO

 

[a-T-m]

Pretty sure its too big and wont fit IMO

does anyone know of any skimmer that will fit in the back compartment of the 14? I saw a video somewhere of someone running a sr3 (or maybe it was the tunze 9002 nano) with a steveT media rack in the 29g's second compartment. So i assumed that just the skimmer or rack would fit in the 14g.

and

what are some ways to cool down the biocube? i dremeled out a section in the hood, and put in a fan to pull air out. Just wondering if there were some other options as well, the temp is still a bit above my preferred rage.

 

[r_jay]

does anyone know of any skimmer that will fit in the back compartment of the 14? I saw a video somewhere of someone running a sr3 (or maybe it was the tunze 9002 nano) with a steveT media rack in the 29g's second compartment. So i assumed that just the skimmer or rack would fit in the 14g.

and

what are some ways to cool down the biocube? i dremeled out a section in the hood, and put in a fan to pull air out. Just wondering if there were some other options as well, the temp is still a bit above my preferred rage.

You could try a hang-on skimmer, it may take some tinkering but would work. The temperature trouble can be lessened if you keep the back compartment open... well on the 29BC otherwise a fan upgrade would help. Personally I went topless and put on a clamp-on HQI with a fan attached and it keeps it cool with some egg-crate cut to cover the tank and reduce carpet surfing. and then a sheet of acrylic to reduce evap.

 

[r_jay]

I got my Rio 6HF installed and it fits good as long as you remove the plastic grate piece on the front intake side. It is just a tad bit louder than stock but I feel that it is worth it. I have a Y fitting coming of my return and the added flow works great with it.

Ok so after getting my 6hf it was a pain taking out that divider and I took a few small chunks of plastic out of the divider between the display and the sump area. What did you do to get it out, "post de facto" but the flow is awesome!

 

[a-T-m]

I've decided to go topless on my biocube 14, but i don't know what fixture to use. Has anyone got any suggestions? It's either buy one, or make a DIY LED, and i'd like to have a few to look at before i make up my mind. So what are you bc14 owners without tops using?

 

[crewchef]

Ok, when I said 5 it meant 500. :lol: And I think it's spelled education. spell check?

Anyways yeah I might have a lead on a PAR meter to borrow so stay tuned!

Isn't there anyone else on here with LEDs on a biocube?

Today is the 6th day with my tuners LED retro on my BC14. I did Edison strips w/ 50/50 mix and so far loving it. Non dimmable so using fiberglass screen x 3 in the splash guard. Will remove one screen every 10 days or so. So far things are coloring up very well. I had the 3.24 upgraded PC lighting prior to this.

 

[r_jay]

I've decided to go topless on my biocube 14, but i don't know what fixture to use. Has anyone got any suggestions? It's either buy one, or make a DIY LED, and i'd like to have a few to look at before i make up my mind. So what are you bc14 owners without tops using?

Viper K-2 HQI has a couple models to choose from for all kinds of price ranges and light intensity. You could also look into the Current USA powerbrites for a easier DIY LED setup I bet you would only need 3 for a BC14

 

[a-T-m]

I've decided to go with the MH over the LED, and I really like the 16.5" sunpod by current USA. But, i don't know where to find one online. Has anybody got a site where I can buy one? And some information on that fixture or any other metal halide fixtures would be great.

R Jay- I checked out the viper k-2 and it's pretty cool, I'd just rather have a fixture rather than a hang on. But it is pretty cheap and great, definitely my plan B.