Hi, new to the hobby. Setting up a Biocube 29. I was starting to fill it up and noticed water seeped into all 3 rear chambers and is level with the main display. Is this normal? If not, is it a big deal? I would assume filtration would be negatively impacted. Coralife must be closed today because they are not answering their tech support line.
BioCube 29 - leaking into rear chambers
- Thread starter Dos Ocho
- Start date
That's what i'm thinking. Once filled all the way up and the pump turned on, Chamber 2 and 3 dropped about 2 inches lower than the main display and chamber 1. I seem to have good water flow from chamber 1 into 2.
I'll still contact the manufacturer and see what they say, but since water seems to be flowing properly do you think it is a major concern or a minor concern? Fortunately the tank is not leaking onto my stand / floor.
I'll still contact the manufacturer and see what they say, but since water seems to be flowing properly do you think it is a major concern or a minor concern? Fortunately the tank is not leaking onto my stand / floor.
vikinglord13
New member
It sounds like the pump is pulling water normally, at least faster than what the leaks can handly. I'd say short term it's nothing to worry about; however, in the long term the leaks may widen and filtration may decrease. Worth double-checking with the manufacturer.
homer1475
New member
Probably not a major concern water is supposed to be in there anyways.
Depending on your setup(stock or with an InTank media basket), chamber 1 should be fullto the top, chamber 2 should be lower, and chamber 3 should be where chamber 2 is.
If your running a stock setup with the drip tray, chambers 2 and 3 should be full to the line on the side. If your running a non stock setup like I did, your water level in chambers 2 and 3 should be nearly to the bottom of the little overflow hole. Chamber 1 should always be full, and chambers 2 and 3 should be a couple inches lower.
Depending on your setup(stock or with an InTank media basket), chamber 1 should be fullto the top, chamber 2 should be lower, and chamber 3 should be where chamber 2 is.
If your running a stock setup with the drip tray, chambers 2 and 3 should be full to the line on the side. If your running a non stock setup like I did, your water level in chambers 2 and 3 should be nearly to the bottom of the little overflow hole. Chamber 1 should always be full, and chambers 2 and 3 should be a couple inches lower.
LQT
Active member
When you say "seeped". How did the water enter the rear chambers? If filling an empty biocube, the display and chamber 1 (the one with the slits on the bottom should fill at the same rate. Then as you continue to fill the display, water from chamber 1 should spill over into chambers 2 & 3. Those two chambers should then rise at the same rate as you add more water.
The way you describe the water levels in chambers 2 & 3 after you turn on the return pump make me think that your biocube is behaving normally. In fact, if you shut off your return pump, the display and all three rear chambers should even out and all be at the same level via gravity.
The way you describe the water levels in chambers 2 & 3 after you turn on the return pump make me think that your biocube is behaving normally. In fact, if you shut off your return pump, the display and all three rear chambers should even out and all be at the same level via gravity.
vikinglord13
New member
Well, one could run a non-stock wet-dry set up and it should still follow the lines on the side since those are for wet-dry. If a refugium is chosen than your second description is good. I prefer to keep my chamber 2 overflowing into chamber 3 because I noticed a bacteria film grows on the surface of chamber 3 if I don't let it be disturbed.
For future reference, if the sponge in chamber 3 gets clogged the water level in 3 will be below 2. It took me a couple days to figure out why my levels were different, I inspected the sponge and it had a lot of GHA in it.
LQT, I didn't check the chambers until it was just under 1/2 full. All 3 chambers had the same water level. Chamber 1 was not even close to overflowing into chamber 2, so it had to be coming in under the plastic.
Homer, my levels now with the pump running is exactly as you described, so I think I have good, although not ideal, water flow. I'll make calls tomorrow.
Thanks for all the replies and info. I'm very excited about this hobby and I'm sure this is the first of many speed bumps I'll hit.
Homer, my levels now with the pump running is exactly as you described, so I think I have good, although not ideal, water flow. I'll make calls tomorrow.
Thanks for all the replies and info. I'm very excited about this hobby and I'm sure this is the first of many speed bumps I'll hit.
homer1475
New member
I never had the problem of the water in 3 to get that film on it as my ATO dumped in there as well as my reactor.
I would hope one would know to just get rid of the sponge between 2 and 3, unless you plan on cleaning it every couple days which is a huge PITA depending on what you have in 2.
vikinglord13
New member
I have a pretty good filter pad so the only times I have to clean it are when I'm sucking oit GHA with a baster and shooting it onto the pad in chamber 2. Sometimes it falls between the cracks
