Biocube 29 Questions

[BennJabb]

I want to set up a Biocube 29 frag tank. I plan on buying my friends old Oceanic Biocube that he has been using for a few years. Is it worth $150 with the stand? It also comes with the inTank baskets and the Tunze 9002. I also dont know how to clean a used aquarium so if someone could give me a step by step I would appreciate it. I currently have an Aquaticlife Internal Mini Protein Skimmer lying around and I was wondering how it compares to the Tunze 9002. The reason I ask this is because I was told that there isn't a good way to have a fuge(without adding a hob) while using the Tunze 9002 as it is placed in the middle chamber. I currently have a 75 gallon reef and I am experimenting with different aquascapes. if you have a picture of a Biocube 29 with minimal rockwork please post a picture. Also if you are running a skimmer and fuge on the Biocube please post a picture of your filtration. As this is a frag tank, there will not be many fish(if any), therefor a low bioload. Please help me out.

Questions(If you don't want to read):
1)Is a used Oceanic Biocube 29 with stand worth $150?
2)How do I clean a used Biocube?
3)How does the Aquaticlife Mini protein Skimmer compair with the Tunze 9002?

Please post a picture of your Biocube's filtration if you are running a fuge, skimmer, or the two together. Also post a picture if your Biocube has minimal rockwork.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

Questions(If you don't want to read):
1)Is a used Oceanic Biocube 29 with stand worth $150? Yes, that is a good price if it includes the skimmer and baskets.
2)How do I clean a used Biocube? Soak it in a mix of vinegar and water for a week. Should be like new.
3)How does the Aquaticlife Mini protein Skimmer compair with the Tunze 9002? I dont have experience with the Aquaticlife but ive seen it and it is smaller than the 9002. My 9002 works like a charm and i love it.

Here is my aquascape back when i just set it up.

Good luck! Wiz.

 

[sponger0]

A new Biocube 29 and stand is close to 400 or more. Plus all the extras. $150 is a good deal. I bought a used biocube for 150. So it's worth it.

Secondly, if you use the tunze skimmer, you wont have any room in the middle chamber, but the Aquaticlife skimmer is tough to get in the first chamber. It will fit but not easily. Youll need to get a dremel and cut some of the rim off.

I never had the tunze, but when I had my acquatic life skimmer, it worked well. A little wet for my taste but pulled out the nasties nicely.

 

[mayjong]

my 29 has the 9002 and media basket in the center chamber. rather than run media in it, i have a LED puck light on the rear of the tank, and have chaeto in the media basket. works great, removed about half the chaeto last night. trim it about every 3-4 weeks. you would be surprised how the chaeto will completley fill the media basket and become a little "square". works for me, i have lps/sps/zoas/clam

also-
i think it is a great deal....

 

[sponger0]

The media basket isnt going to allow all that much room for macro algaes, which in turn isnt going to do much for phosphate/nitrate, which completely defeats the purpose of using macro algaes. If you want them to be even slightly effective, you best bet would be to use the middle chamber as a fuge.

Or skip using macros and use the middle chamber for a tunze skimmer and fill in with some other form of filtration

 

[mayjong]

macro is for nutrient export.
trimming 1/2 to 3/4 cup of packed chaeto every 3-4 weeks from a 29G tank is a decent export. to each your own, though.

like i said, it works for me, but i like to keep it simple

 

[sponger0]

For effective use of macros for nutrient export ie....phosphates/nitrates, you honestly need the biggest section of a fuge as possible.