Do I HAVE to modify the 14 gallon BioCube?
- Thread starter smartang22
- Start date
kingfisher62
New member
I really don't think you can over skim!
I like the look of the tank being all self contained. Maybe thats why people don't do it!
I like the look of the tank being all self contained. Maybe thats why people don't do it!
smartang22
New member
Hello again. I know this is an old post, but I wanted to note the changes I am making. I am getting maxijet 900 to replace the stock pump, purigen and chemipure to replace the stock filter, removing the bio balls and replacing with live rock rubble and filter floss over the drip tray. I am going to remove the false bottom in the first chamber and put the heater back there.
Great advice!! I hope this improves the quality of my tank!!
Next is lighting: I want to keep a few easier, peaceful corals. Any suggestions for lighting upgrades?
Thanks again to everyone who posted!!!!
Great advice!! I hope this improves the quality of my tank!!
Next is lighting: I want to keep a few easier, peaceful corals. Any suggestions for lighting upgrades?
Thanks again to everyone who posted!!!!
smartang22
New member
I have not tried it yet...but it looks like it is going to be difficult from what I have read. My bottom has grates (does yours?) that I will probably stick a butter knife in it and wedge it around and try to loosen. I am going to have a spotter with me to make sure I don't break anything and nothing jumps out while I do that. I think I am going to try it this weekend. Good luck!
itsboosting
New member
i actually used the actual heater itself to push the grate down to remove from the first chamber.
smartang22
New member
Well, I finally did those mods and I am very happy with them. Everything together only cost me about $40 extra. That isn't so bad when you end up with an even healthier tank.
Pump: $15
Purigen: $5
Live rock rubble: $5.99/lb. x 2 lbs
Filter floss: $4
Cleaner, healthier, happier tank: Priceless
I changed out the stock pump with the Maxijet 900 and the flow is so much better now. It actually moves the water through the whole tank now and not just the one side. I also threw the heater in that same chamber as the pump. The heater is smaller so it fits on the other side of the pump. I got rid of the bio balls and put the live rock rubble back there with filter floss on top of the overflow. The final mod was removing the filter that comes with the BioCube. I put some purigen and some phosgaurd back there.
And I just could not remove that false bottom. I might try again later. I was too afraid of busting through the plastic or knocking over the tank.
Pump: $15
Purigen: $5
Live rock rubble: $5.99/lb. x 2 lbs
Filter floss: $4
Cleaner, healthier, happier tank: Priceless
I changed out the stock pump with the Maxijet 900 and the flow is so much better now. It actually moves the water through the whole tank now and not just the one side. I also threw the heater in that same chamber as the pump. The heater is smaller so it fits on the other side of the pump. I got rid of the bio balls and put the live rock rubble back there with filter floss on top of the overflow. The final mod was removing the filter that comes with the BioCube. I put some purigen and some phosgaurd back there.
And I just could not remove that false bottom. I might try again later. I was too afraid of busting through the plastic or knocking over the tank.
kingfisher62
New member
Smartang is there enough water in the last chamber with the pump? Mine always seems low. That will be the lowest chamber with evaporation especially since you have a more powerful pump and you don't want to burn your heater out! Just keep an eye on it.
Let me know how the maxijet 900 works for you . I would like to get the extra powerhead out of my display tank. In a few week any dead spots will be marked by problem algaes. That is if there are any dead spots!
Let me know how the maxijet 900 works for you . I would like to get the extra powerhead out of my display tank. In a few week any dead spots will be marked by problem algaes. That is if there are any dead spots!
smartang22
New member
Well, yes that chamber seems to lose water the fastest. After adding some extra H2O it seemed that the tank was almost too full. But I keep that third chamber filled up to about two inches from the top.
The new pump is great! I can see the flow goes from one end to the other. When I had it in the tank the flow was overwhelming and kicked up a lot of sand. But replacing the stock pump with the new pump make a huge difference. I guess the real test will be whether or not the cyano comes back with a vengence. My water is still cloudy from the treatment.
The noise that the pump makes is just a little more noticable then the stock pump, but not bad at all. I have learned to tune all of that out. I am looking out to see if it is making the temp rise or not.
Now if I can just get that false bottom out of the first chamber....
The new pump is great! I can see the flow goes from one end to the other. When I had it in the tank the flow was overwhelming and kicked up a lot of sand. But replacing the stock pump with the new pump make a huge difference. I guess the real test will be whether or not the cyano comes back with a vengence. My water is still cloudy from the treatment.
The noise that the pump makes is just a little more noticable then the stock pump, but not bad at all. I have learned to tune all of that out. I am looking out to see if it is making the temp rise or not.
Now if I can just get that false bottom out of the first chamber....
kingfisher62
New member
That first chamber would be a safer place but i understand your fear getting that bottom off!
I used a metal skewer and bent the end pushed it thru a vent on the panel and pulled up!
I used a metal skewer and bent the end pushed it thru a vent on the panel and pulled up!
smartang22
New member
Kingfisher: What do you mean the 1st chamber would be safer? Is that for the heater in the first chamber?
The heater is small so I am able to push it far down into the third chamber but it is not touching the pump or the bottom (at least as far as I can see/feel.
The heater is small so I am able to push it far down into the third chamber but it is not touching the pump or the bottom (at least as far as I can see/feel.
Not to add to the confusion but here is what I did to mod my BioCube 14g:
Chamber 1: Did not remove the bottom grate. I removed the stock filter and replaced with ChemiPure and Purigen bags and a small Algone packet. Plus, added my heater.
Chamber 2: I cut (using wire cutters) the top of the wall between Chamber 1 and 2 just a little more to increase water flow to Chamber 2. In Chamber 2 I have about 3lbs of LR rubble and chaeto. I scraped the black paint off the outside back and have a flourescent under counter light taped to the back to light the chaeto. I bought standard pillow stuffing from Walmart and use a handful of that on the top tray.
Chamber 3: I removed the sponge and replaced it with a small piece of LR rubble. I changed out the pump to a variable flow Eheim.
In the tank, I installed a HydorFlo.
I did all of this *AFTER* the tank was live and cycled. Not by choice, but because I was learning as I went along.
In my tank I have 2 small ocellaris, 1 small blue/green chromis and a small 6-line. I also have the standard CUC and a peppermint and skunk shrimp.
For coral I have a purple gorgonian, a branching hammer with 2 heads, 5 florida rics, some purple mushrooms and a small assortment of zoos (12 total heads).
I have pulsing xenia which grows like a weed and I am now fragging. It is three stalks measuring about 5 inches each.
Against everyone's better judgement, I also have a crocea clam high up on my rock. He has been in for about 6 weeks now and is doing very well. Good color, good extension.
And I rescued a small, bleached bta that is plodding along.
I recently had a run-in with some cyano because i was overfeeding. But, for feeding I: alternate a combination of flake and pellets with mysis shrimp and add some arctipods once a week.
For coral, I feed DT's 3x/week and once a week I add Microvert and chromamax (not on the same day)
My only losses have been some snails due to some nasty hermits. I did have to return a poor impulse buy (spotted mandardin) cause he decimated my pods in a day and I couldn't replenish them fast enough.
Did I help or add more confusion...?
Chamber 1: Did not remove the bottom grate. I removed the stock filter and replaced with ChemiPure and Purigen bags and a small Algone packet. Plus, added my heater.
Chamber 2: I cut (using wire cutters) the top of the wall between Chamber 1 and 2 just a little more to increase water flow to Chamber 2. In Chamber 2 I have about 3lbs of LR rubble and chaeto. I scraped the black paint off the outside back and have a flourescent under counter light taped to the back to light the chaeto. I bought standard pillow stuffing from Walmart and use a handful of that on the top tray.
Chamber 3: I removed the sponge and replaced it with a small piece of LR rubble. I changed out the pump to a variable flow Eheim.
In the tank, I installed a HydorFlo.
I did all of this *AFTER* the tank was live and cycled. Not by choice, but because I was learning as I went along.
In my tank I have 2 small ocellaris, 1 small blue/green chromis and a small 6-line. I also have the standard CUC and a peppermint and skunk shrimp.
For coral I have a purple gorgonian, a branching hammer with 2 heads, 5 florida rics, some purple mushrooms and a small assortment of zoos (12 total heads).
I have pulsing xenia which grows like a weed and I am now fragging. It is three stalks measuring about 5 inches each.
Against everyone's better judgement, I also have a crocea clam high up on my rock. He has been in for about 6 weeks now and is doing very well. Good color, good extension.
And I rescued a small, bleached bta that is plodding along.
I recently had a run-in with some cyano because i was overfeeding. But, for feeding I: alternate a combination of flake and pellets with mysis shrimp and add some arctipods once a week.
For coral, I feed DT's 3x/week and once a week I add Microvert and chromamax (not on the same day)
My only losses have been some snails due to some nasty hermits. I did have to return a poor impulse buy (spotted mandardin) cause he decimated my pods in a day and I couldn't replenish them fast enough.
Did I help or add more confusion...?
kingfisher62
New member
Smartang, I don't know what heater you have but mine is 6 to 7 inches and if i tried to put it in the chamber with the power head it would only be half submerged. It seems that the powerhead pumps out water so fast that the chamber is always at the half way mark or less, especially after some evaporation
Isnt yours like that?
Isnt yours like that?
kingfisher62
New member
rodstar, If you are going to have hermits make sure you have a bunch of empty snail shells of assorted sizes in the tank . If they need a new shell and they have to kill a snail to do it they will!
I have had my 3 electric blue hermits in the tank with 4 snails for two months now with no casualties. Knock on wood!
How is that purple gagonian doing? I was going to buy one the other day at my LFS but I needed to do some research on them.
I have had my 3 electric blue hermits in the tank with 4 snails for two months now with no casualties. Knock on wood!
How is that purple gagonian doing? I was going to buy one the other day at my LFS but I needed to do some research on them.
kingfisher62
New member
hey guys, love to see some pics of your tanks!
smartang22
New member
Rodstar: No confusion. Just great ideas! I think I only have about one pound of live rock rubble in the second chamber. Maybe I need some more. Also, did you keep the stock lights? If so, do you plan on changing them?
Kingfisher: I would love to post a picture, I just did a little rearranging and added another 3 lb. piece of live rock too. I am getting over a cyano outbreak so my tank is still cloudy and somewhat yellow from the Maracy I treated it with. I don't have anything but shrimp, crabs, and snails in it! I have a clown ready to get out of QT which will happen tomorrow.
Also, I might try the heater in the first chamber. Would there be a problem if the heater touches the purigen bag? I don't want to cause a problem.
One other thing, the filter floss is the best thing ever!!! It catches all of the junk that the stock filter would catch, but it is able to be thrown away every couple days and ends up being cheaper!!
I am so excited about all the new things I am learning and working with. Thanks so much for the help!!
Kingfisher: I would love to post a picture, I just did a little rearranging and added another 3 lb. piece of live rock too. I am getting over a cyano outbreak so my tank is still cloudy and somewhat yellow from the Maracy I treated it with. I don't have anything but shrimp, crabs, and snails in it! I have a clown ready to get out of QT which will happen tomorrow.
Also, I might try the heater in the first chamber. Would there be a problem if the heater touches the purigen bag? I don't want to cause a problem.
One other thing, the filter floss is the best thing ever!!! It catches all of the junk that the stock filter would catch, but it is able to be thrown away every couple days and ends up being cheaper!!
I am so excited about all the new things I am learning and working with. Thanks so much for the help!!
kingfisher62
New member
Yeah ,that filter floss trick is a good one!
I don't know about the purigen bag touching the heater , maybe someone else can chime in about that.
BTW what is maracy?
I don't know about the purigen bag touching the heater , maybe someone else can chime in about that.
BTW what is maracy?
smartang22
New member
Maracyn...sorry. That is the antibiotic that killed the cyano. I know that is a debated way of clearning it up, but it is gone and I have taken steps to prevent it from coming back (better flow, purigen, phosphate removal).
kingfisher62
New member
Is that maracyn ok for liverock?
