Coralife BioCube 29g Build

[soulpatch]

Put the reactor pump in chamber 2 with the reactor in the stand. The only thing out the back would be the small tubing to and from the reactor. Being able to actually see the reactor is crucial in my mind so I can monitor tumble and see as the media exhausts itself and begins to clump and such.

And I hope you over ruled your wife on the pumps in the tank...

 

[timfederwitz]

Put the reactor pump in chamber 2 with the reactor in the stand. The only thing out the back would be the small tubing to and from the reactor. Being able to actually see the reactor is crucial in my mind so I can monitor tumble and see as the media exhausts itself and begins to clump and such.

And I hope you over ruled your wife on the pumps in the tank...

Of COURSE I overruled on the pumps!! I told her, if you want anything to be alive, we need pumps. LOL.

I was wondering if I could put the reactor in the stand like you mention, so I guess I will look into that. I just searched on the NextReef MR1"¦ is that what you would recommend? Again, I'm really clueless on this.

Can't wait to get back home tomorrow night.

 

[soulpatch]

If going in the stand go the route of homer and get the BRS mini reactor. Saves you room in the stand but you wont be using it on a future tank upgrade.

Though with your wife rampaging against pumps already I doubt a larger tank is in your near future. HA HA

 

[timfederwitz]

If going in the stand go the route of homer and get the BRS mini reactor. Saves you room in the stand but you wont be using it on a future tank upgrade.

Though with your wife rampaging against pumps already I doubt a larger tank is in your near future. HA HA

Okay, will look at the BRS.

I have a freshwater 60g high in the dining room (48 x 12 x 26 I believe). Thought about converting that one to marine, but the shallow depth and height combination made it less desirable as a reef tank. But because that took over a wall in the dining room, my wife was less than happy about me creeping into the living room.

However, on future tanks and larger tanks, two things will open that up for me. We converted the den into a bedroom for my 17 yr old, and eventually he will move out (I hope!), and we will be refinishing the basement and moving my office down there, so I will have a lot of room for more and larger tanks. The wife and I actually talked about eventually having a wall of nano species tanks.

 

[soulpatch]

When you renovate if you intend to keep numerous tanks make yourself a fish room. You will thank us later

 

[timfederwitz]

I was thinking of having the display tanks in the office, then plumbing through the wall to a massive shared sump in more of a utility room for all the guts. But it's all still just a dream at this point.

 

[soulpatch]

be careful with shared sump with various species tanks as they will all have different needs and if something goes awry in one it trickles to the others

 

[timfederwitz]

Yes, that was a concern. Like I said, it's a way off, so plenty of time to plan it out. I need to be able to be successful with my first one before considering going bigger.

 

[homer1475]

Look into the BRS mini reactor, works like a champ and the pump fits in the second chamber. The actual reactor will fit in the stand, and its small footprint is perfect for our nano's, and makes it easy to change out.

Have a look in my build thread, there's pictures if your curious on how its plumbed and what it looks like.

 

[timfederwitz]

Look into the BRS mini reactor, works like a champ and the pump fits in the second chamber. The actual reactor will fit in the stand, and its small footprint is perfect for our nano's, and makes it easy to change out.

Have a look in my build thread, there's pictures if your curious on how its plumbed and what it looks like.

Thanks! Heading there now to check it out.

 

[NMSREEFER]

I've had my 29 cube for most of this year and really like it. A few things I can offer:

1) the coralife skimmer is worthless. I took it out to increase flow.
2) cobalt makes a thin black heater that fits in chamber 1 nicely.
3) a circulation pump will help reduce diatom and cyano.
4) a couple of fighting conchs have done wonders keeping the sand clean.
5) Cheap timer- get an inexpensive power strip and 2 or 3 individual timers. You can set Led for the midnight hours. Blue actinic for daytime- Mine come on at 7 am and off at 8 PM. The white light comes on about 10 am and goes off about 6 PM. You can set it how you like.

I started with caribsea life rock- dry rock impregnated with beneficial bacteria and painted like coraline. I'm not sure I'd use it again. I think it leaches phosphate. The color however is indistinguishable from the real coraline growing.

I also started with a mandarin and two clowns with chaeto in the back and stocked with pods. All was well until I got a royal dottyback. The Dottyback wouldn't let the mandarin into the rocks to eat. He would have starved if I had not relocated him.

Evaporation is much slower with the tight fitting lid.
One common complaint about the cubes is the noise from the fans. I called coralife one day and they advised me to flip the fans over. I think it helped some. Others are replacing the stock fans with quieter ones.

Good luck. Post some pics.

 

[timfederwitz]

I've had my 29 cube for most of this year and really like it. A few things I can offer:

1) the coralife skimmer is worthless. I took it out to increase flow.
2) cobalt makes a thin black heater that fits in chamber 1 nicely.
3) a circulation pump will help reduce diatom and cyano.
4) a couple of fighting conchs have done wonders keeping the sand clean.
5) Cheap timer- get an inexpensive power strip and 2 or 3 individual timers. You can set Led for the midnight hours. Blue actinic for daytime- Mine come on at 7 am and off at 8 PM. The white light comes on about 10 am and goes off about 6 PM. You can set it how you like.

I started with caribsea life rock- dry rock impregnated with beneficial bacteria and painted like coraline. I'm not sure I'd use it again. I think it leaches phosphate. The color however is indistinguishable from the real coraline growing.

I also started with a mandarin and two clowns with chaeto in the back and stocked with pods. All was well until I got a royal dottyback. The Dottyback wouldn't let the mandarin into the rocks to eat. He would have starved if I had not relocated him.

Evaporation is much slower with the tight fitting lid.
One common complaint about the cubes is the noise from the fans. I called coralife one day and they advised me to flip the fans over. I think it helped some. Others are replacing the stock fans with quieter ones.

Good luck. Post some pics.

Thanks for the tips! I think I am going with the Aquaticlife 115 skimmer. Have heard good things about it, especially compared to the Coralife model. It uses a pin wheel instead of an air stone.

I ordered the Cobalt heater... should be waiting for me when I get home.

I am thinking I will get the Jebao rw4 for the pump, but I originally wanted two pumps (including the return pump). Maybe one will be enough, and I can always add a second later.

Still need to determine if I will start out with inexpensive timers, or splurge on an Apex controller. Would rather have the controller, but just may need to wait a bit to get it.

For rock and sand, including a CUC, I am going with the Tampa Bay Saltwater "The Package". If I didn't go that route, I was seriously considering the Caribsea Life Rock, but I like the TBS story and the rock looks amazing.

I will also probably (now) get the BRS Mini Reactor like homer has. Just not sure when I will get it.

And, as far as pics, I am still in Vegas until tomorrow night.:sad1: I left the morning after I got the tank and have been dying since.

 

[timfederwitz]

I have a BRS reactor. If you look at the IM reactor it looks to be a pain to set up and run since you have to manually adjust the levels and such in it.

I am looking at the next reef MR1 reactors for the next tank as they look to be a bit nicer to change out media but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Man, Soulpatch... I am only on page 12 of your build thread, and you have a sweet tank!! Can't wait to finish the thread and catch up! :spin1:

I noticed you were talking about the wife wanting to get an anemone... mine wants one too, and so do I actually. I've always loved them. Did you ever get one?

Since I am starting a tank with nothing else in it, would it make more sense to get that as my first thing so it can roam around and find a happy place before adding other corals? Obviously I mean after I get my rock and sand and the tank goes through a cycle.

 

[soulpatch]

I would normally say no to the anem for a new person since water quality is essential for them. You can give it a go and see what happens. Mike as ASR will allow you to bring it back should it not work out and you need to return it. I know a few of us have also done rescues or taken a piece from Mike that someone brought back to try to liven it back up. I have one acan in my tank that is a rescue and is doing great. And no I never got a nem myself mainly since I have so many corals in there now and have a larger tank build on the horizon that will have a nem in it.

I will caution that as you add things to your tank like corals and such that the flow will change in the tank. Your nem might wish to relocate and in doing so can take out corals in its path. If you wish to have a nem then plan on making it one of the focal points of your tank and plan your other coral purchases accordingly.

Just think about what you want in your tank long term. If you think you want a nem for the clowns to host then just know that they dont always host nems and at times are more then willing to host other LPS or mushrooms. Mine actually enjoy sitting in my GSP for some reason.


As for the TBS rock when are you ordering it? I woudl like to see it in person and would help you go through it for hitchhikers. I am still waiting on my new tank to come in before I place my order so would love to get a sneak peek.

Also for the rock order please ensure you have gloves. You should really get the shoulder length gloves to work in your tank but with the rock order since you will not know if there is a mantis or gorilla crab in the rock the gloves give some protection...

 

[timfederwitz]

I would normally say no to the anem for a new person since water quality is essential for them. You can give it a go and see what happens. Mike as ASR will allow you to bring it back should it not work out and you need to return it. I know a few of us have also done rescues or taken a piece from Mike that someone brought back to try to liven it back up. I have one acan in my tank that is a rescue and is doing great. And no I never got a nem myself mainly since I have so many corals in there now and have a larger tank build on the horizon that will have a nem in it.

I will caution that as you add things to your tank like corals and such that the flow will change in the tank. Your nem might wish to relocate and in doing so can take out corals in its path. If you wish to have a nem then plan on making it one of the focal points of your tank and plan your other coral purchases accordingly.

Just think about what you want in your tank long term. If you think you want a nem for the clowns to host then just know that they dont always host nems and at times are more then willing to host other LPS or mushrooms. Mine actually enjoy sitting in my GSP for some reason.


As for the TBS rock when are you ordering it? I woudl like to see it in person and would help you go through it for hitchhikers. I am still waiting on my new tank to come in before I place my order so would love to get a sneak peek.

Also for the rock order please ensure you have gloves. You should really get the shoulder length gloves to work in your tank but with the rock order since you will not know if there is a mantis or gorilla crab in the rock the gloves give some protection...

Yeah, I think the nem might not be the smartest thing to start with. And like you said, clowns will sometimes host in other things. I'd like to start with hardy livestock as I have no idea how well I will do with a reef tank as it's my first.

As for the rock, I wanted to order when I get back home, but I may wait until the end of the month as I still have a lot of things I need to buy or prep to be ready for it. It seems like Richard turns orders around wicked fast!

I would love to take you up on the offer to see the rock and help with hitchhickers!! In fact, I have been having nightmares thinking about all the unknowns (for me) and have read some threads about hitchhickers that sound horrible.

I ordered a bunch of stuff that should be waiting for me when I get home, but I need to take inventory to see what I'm still missing.

At a minimum I need to get a pump (rw4 most likely) and I would think the skimmer (Aquaticlife 115, unless someone tells me a reason not too). Do you think I should get the reactor first thing (BRS mini reactor)? Or can I wait on that?

I would love to get an Apex right away (thinking about the Jr to start as I can always migrate that to the freshwater if I upgrade), but I could also wait on that and do things on the cheap for now.

Finally, I have to get a RODI at some point, but am thinking I don't need that immediately, and that will take some planning anyway. I think I can *only* make it work in my laundry room, and it's not a big room, so my wife is gonna LOVE that idea.

So many questions!!

I know there is no way I can do this without making mistakes, but am hoping to minimize expensive ones while having good success.

 

[timfederwitz]

Waiting at the airport in Vegas to come back home. I'm supposed to land at 7'ish, so won't be home until 8:30-9 I would guess, so won't even be able to do much tonight. And then I'm sure I will have other things on my plate this weekend for the family (I have 5 kids and haven't been home for 6 days).

[sigh]

 

[timfederwitz]

I've been thinking about livestock. Since I'm going to be getting "the package" from TBS, I should be good on CUC, but I would LOVE a Coral Banded Shrimp (I believe that's what it's called). They are so interesting to me, but am not sure if it will cause issues with my other livestock choices.

For fish, I don't want a ton, but would like the following:
2 x Clowns (love the bright orange of the false clowns that I've seen) - I realize it's difficult to get a mated pair, but that would be my goal
1 x Flame Angel
1 x Firefish
1 x Flasher Wrasse

Some of those could change, but so far I love all of those.

Anybody see any compatibility issues?

From all the research I've done, these don't seem to bother corals, so I feel like that should allow me to be fairly loose on what corals I get.

 

[soulpatch]

Yeah, I think the nem might not be the smartest thing to start with. And like you said, clowns will sometimes host in other things. I'd like to start with hardy livestock as I have no idea how well I will do with a reef tank as it's my first.

As for the rock, I wanted to order when I get back home, but I may wait until the end of the month as I still have a lot of things I need to buy or prep to be ready for it. It seems like Richard turns orders around wicked fast!

I would love to take you up on the offer to see the rock and help with hitchhickers!! In fact, I have been having nightmares thinking about all the unknowns (for me) and have read some threads about hitchhickers that sound horrible.

I ordered a bunch of stuff that should be waiting for me when I get home, but I need to take inventory to see what I'm still missing.

At a minimum I need to get a pump (rw4 most likely) and I would think the skimmer (Aquaticlife 115, unless someone tells me a reason not too). Do you think I should get the reactor first thing (BRS mini reactor)? Or can I wait on that?

I would love to get an Apex right away (thinking about the Jr to start as I can always migrate that to the freshwater if I upgrade), but I could also wait on that and do things on the cheap for now.

Finally, I have to get a RODI at some point, but am thinking I don't need that immediately, and that will take some planning anyway. I think I can *only* make it work in my laundry room, and it's not a big room, so my wife is gonna LOVE that idea.

So many questions!!

I know there is no way I can do this without making mistakes, but am hoping to minimize expensive ones while having good success.

RW4 from amazon prime and can be to you in 2 days.
You can skip the reactor for a bit and buy that later. Run carbon in bags in the rear for now.
Apex - cant help you there but the jr is probably enough for the cube. If you intend to move up eventually you should look at the regular.
RODI - Do not hink about this one but buy a unit. Too often we have to make water for top off, qt tank, ect. Spend the money and get a unit. I would recommend a BRS unit as they are cheap and packed with features.

You have never mentioned a QT tank. You really want to reconsider that if you were planning on not running one. Get a 10 gal tank with a hob filter from petsmart or petco. Costs like $30 total. Put all new fish in there for 30 days. You dont want disease or ich to get into your main system. I have a spare 10gal tank you can have if you want to clean it out but you will need to get yourself the heater and filter.

 

[soulpatch]

I've been thinking about livestock. Since I'm going to be getting "the package" from TBS, I should be good on CUC, but I would LOVE a Coral Banded Shrimp (I believe that's what it's called). They are so interesting to me, but am not sure if it will cause issues with my other livestock choices.

For fish, I don't want a ton, but would like the following:
2 x Clowns (love the bright orange of the false clowns that I've seen) - I realize it's difficult to get a mated pair, but that would be my goal
1 x Flame Angel
1 x Firefish
1 x Flasher Wrasse

Some of those could change, but so far I love all of those.

Anybody see any compatibility issues?

From all the research I've done, these don't seem to bother corals, so I feel like that should allow me to be fairly loose on what corals I get.

flame angel can pick on corals. I think the wrasse is ok though. I am not sure about having both an angel and wrasse in the tank together though. I would pick one or the other. I would also recommend something like a tail spot blenny to give some live around the rock work.

I dont have a coral banded so I cant speak to that but I so have a cleaner shrimp and love the guy. He sets up a station on the rock and will clean my fish. When I reach in the tank he will clean my hand or follow me around to clean anything I disturb in the tank.

 

[timfederwitz]

RW4 from amazon prime and can be to you in 2 days.

You can skip the reactor for a bit and buy that later. Run carbon in bags in the rear for now.

Apex - cant help you there but the jr is probably enough for the cube. If you intend to move up eventually you should look at the regular.

RODI - Do not hink about this one but buy a unit. Too often we have to make water for top off, qt tank, ect. Spend the money and get a unit. I would recommend a BRS unit as they are cheap and packed with features.



You have never mentioned a QT tank. You really want to reconsider that if you were planning on not running one. Get a 10 gal tank with a hob filter from petsmart or petco. Costs like $30 total. Put all new fish in there for 30 days. You dont want disease or ich to get into your main system. I have a spare 10gal tank you can have if you want to clean it out but you will need to get yourself the heater and filter.

The biggest issue I am having with a QT tank is where the hell to put it! LOL I believe I have a 15 gallon setup that was a freshwater tank for my middle son (probably somewhere in my basement). I'll have to dig around for that this weekend. And I guess I can put it in my younger sons room, but kind of unfair when it's between livestock QT"¦ ahhh, who am I kidding?!? That thing will probably be constantly stocked with something waiting to make its way into my tank! LOL

For the pump, will probably order that shortly"¦ as in, before I get on my plane. Gotta love Amazon Prime!

I saw the RODI unit you got. I assume you like it, but if you were buying it again would you get the same exact one?