Lights -
LED's are probably the safer bet. Search here, or use your favorite and look for Steve's or Rapid LED's. Both offer kits that will retro in the hood and provide more than enough light for any and all corals and clams. In fact, you will want to add dimming kits regardless because in most cases LED output is more intense than what the LFS is using. Not all cases, but some never the less. Plus, new corals that you bring home need or may need an adjustment compared to existing corals.
Filter -
Most, I'd almost say all, remove or do not use the bio-balls that ship with the cubes. Why they are there is beyond me when it is billed has a reef ready. Maybe people buy them for other things and they work, but not with reefs. I should say not recommended anyway for coral/reefs, etc.
Some use a media basket and put in chemi-pur and purgen. Others add a light either from the top down or wall (Oceanic BioCubes have a clear window if you will). Then add cheto or some other form of algae. This also works and is a natural way to reduce stuff. Of the two tanks we have here which are both biocubes one uses a media basket while the other uses nothing.
Protein Skimmer -
Neither of our tanks use them. I'm not sold either way that it is necessary so won't go down that rat hole
I've had a 100 gallon before and ran one. I later removed it. It depends on what sort of coral you are keeping in the end. Some like dirty water while others like it has clean as possible. Then there is stocking and bio-load. Since we are talking a biocube size it isn't like you are going to overstalk. Well, you can but shouldn't so I guess it is up to what you plan to keep and how many total.
Pumps -
Others have already recommended things like the marineland maxijet 1200, etc. The new 1200's are sort of dog poo'ish in that the impellers break. You will wake up in the morning and find 6 or so purple pieces of plastic spread out all over the bottom
Anyway, return it, get another one and hope it works. The 1200's are good and add a lot of flow or use others that have been recommended. Just be advised you will get more heat. Heat in these takes are a issue in my opinion which leads us to another item you asked. Water movement and additional power heads.
I use a pair of hydor koralia evolution 450's that I have on controller (reef angel). It will enable / disable the outlet based on a timer interval. They never come on at the same time and are located on the back wall of the tank. One on the right side, the other on the left. This way I get a burst/flow from opposite sides. The only time they come on is when there is a storm routine and it is only for a short burst. I run a deep sand bed and it helps. There are other powerhead type units mentioned that will work and run a range of dollars Just know you need something and go from there.
Sanitizer -
I don't run anything, nor ever have on any of my tanks.
Any other upgrades -
There are a couple good threads on biocube modifications. Removal of the false bottoms, trimming the first chambers overflow tab, adding media baskets, etc. Some people have actually drilled and added a sump. The primary thing I'd recommend is to add LED's then a dimmer via potentiometer or controller. I think this is the single biggest thing you can do if you want to keep corals.
Next, be aware of water volume and heat. LED's will help but at the end of the day there is only so much space in the nano tanks. Upgrading pumps or adding wave makers will cause a increase in heat. It is a closed system if you keep the hood. I'm just saying be aware that your tank may run a wee bit hotter once you are all said and done.
Futhermore, be aware of aquascape space. You may add some form of substrate then rocks. Rocks take up space and reduce water volume. Now you will add in coral. Rocks and coral will complicate water flow. You can sort of see where this is going. You don't want a bunch of rocks on the wall stretching from right to left. You will need to be able to remove alge, clean glass, trim corals, etc. I guess my point is think of a design as you add in rocks to make your job in tank maint a bit easier on you.
I think that is about it. Biocubes are nice. However, you will see in the course of a year maybe 2 max that you are out of space if all goes well
LED's are probably the safer bet. Search here, or use your favorite and look for Steve's or Rapid LED's. Both offer kits that will retro in the hood and provide more than enough light for any and all corals and clams. In fact, you will want to add dimming kits regardless because in most cases LED output is more intense than what the LFS is using. Not all cases, but some never the less. Plus, new corals that you bring home need or may need an adjustment compared to existing corals.
Filter -
Most, I'd almost say all, remove or do not use the bio-balls that ship with the cubes. Why they are there is beyond me when it is billed has a reef ready. Maybe people buy them for other things and they work, but not with reefs. I should say not recommended anyway for coral/reefs, etc.
Some use a media basket and put in chemi-pur and purgen. Others add a light either from the top down or wall (Oceanic BioCubes have a clear window if you will). Then add cheto or some other form of algae. This also works and is a natural way to reduce stuff. Of the two tanks we have here which are both biocubes one uses a media basket while the other uses nothing.
Protein Skimmer -
Neither of our tanks use them. I'm not sold either way that it is necessary so won't go down that rat hole
I've had a 100 gallon before and ran one. I later removed it. It depends on what sort of coral you are keeping in the end. Some like dirty water while others like it has clean as possible. Then there is stocking and bio-load. Since we are talking a biocube size it isn't like you are going to overstalk. Well, you can but shouldn't so I guess it is up to what you plan to keep and how many total.Pumps -
Others have already recommended things like the marineland maxijet 1200, etc. The new 1200's are sort of dog poo'ish in that the impellers break. You will wake up in the morning and find 6 or so purple pieces of plastic spread out all over the bottom
Anyway, return it, get another one and hope it works. The 1200's are good and add a lot of flow or use others that have been recommended. Just be advised you will get more heat. Heat in these takes are a issue in my opinion which leads us to another item you asked. Water movement and additional power heads.I use a pair of hydor koralia evolution 450's that I have on controller (reef angel). It will enable / disable the outlet based on a timer interval. They never come on at the same time and are located on the back wall of the tank. One on the right side, the other on the left. This way I get a burst/flow from opposite sides. The only time they come on is when there is a storm routine and it is only for a short burst. I run a deep sand bed and it helps. There are other powerhead type units mentioned that will work and run a range of dollars
Just know you need something and go from there.Sanitizer -
I don't run anything, nor ever have on any of my tanks.
Any other upgrades -
There are a couple good threads on biocube modifications. Removal of the false bottoms, trimming the first chambers overflow tab, adding media baskets, etc. Some people have actually drilled and added a sump. The primary thing I'd recommend is to add LED's then a dimmer via potentiometer or controller. I think this is the single biggest thing you can do if you want to keep corals.
Next, be aware of water volume and heat. LED's will help but at the end of the day there is only so much space in the nano tanks. Upgrading pumps or adding wave makers will cause a increase in heat. It is a closed system if you keep the hood. I'm just saying be aware that your tank may run a wee bit hotter once you are all said and done.
Futhermore, be aware of aquascape space. You may add some form of substrate then rocks. Rocks take up space and reduce water volume. Now you will add in coral. Rocks and coral will complicate water flow. You can sort of see where this is going. You don't want a bunch of rocks on the wall stretching from right to left. You will need to be able to remove alge, clean glass, trim corals, etc. I guess my point is think of a design as you add in rocks to make your job in tank maint a bit easier on you.
I think that is about it. Biocubes are nice. However, you will see in the course of a year maybe 2 max that you are out of space if all goes well
