Drilling biocube

[GaryLCrouch]

On have this on the cstars section but wanted ore opions to see what to do.

Ok so I will be drilling soon. Any one have ideas how to drill as in where to drill chamber 1,2,3 and which chambers for return and so fourth. This is what i am thinking. Pulling from chamber 1 down to the sump and goes through all those channells then coming back into chamber 3 where i can use the stock return line lock or going into the middle of chamber 2 and sending one return back through the stock lockline and drilling a new hole on the other side for a second return.

My question is how do you make the tank flow correctly as in taking as much water as it is sending back to keep everything flowing correctly. This will be my first drilled tank and first sump ever so i am new to all of this.

 

[GaryLCrouch]

I am going to be using 1inch bulkheads i know for sure. I am going to use a RS75 for a sump. I am not sure what size pump i would need for the return and also how to plum it all. Any info would really help

 

[HV1990]

I thought they were all tempered glass all the around?

 

[GaryLCrouch]

No only the bottom is tempered glass.

 

[Kawi9_cf]

Have you considered removing the false wall and making a better overflow box? You could end up with alot more room inside the tank.

 

[ChrisOaty]

I drilled my 14g biocube when I had it up and running. I took out the black plastic divider because the stock silicone job failed and seam to the 3rd chamber was leaking in display water. I drilled the back for a herbie overflow and put a 5gallon bucket in the cabinet with an algae scrubber and lamp. I returned it with an old pump that pushed about 500gph up the back and through a notch I cut in the back of the stock lid. All of my plumbing was 3/4" thin-walled pvc. The tank was a champ. Threw a diy LED array in the hood to increase par and reduce heat and I was able to keep SPS and a RBTA.

 

[rlpardue]

I drilled my 29g Biocube so I could add a sump for my seahorse system. I put the (single) bulkhead in compartment #3. I think I should obviously have had a second one in there, but I think compartment #3 is the natural place for them. If you use like two 3/4" (or 1" if there's room) bulkheads and use a "Herbie" system, you should be great.

Put the two bulkheads in compartment number 3, add immediate elbows and a standpipe for each, and adjust the standpipes and post-bulkhead plumbing to function as a Herbie setup.

The reason I like compartment #3 is that the BioCube's rear compartments are already set up to run from right to left. I left the stock return pump in and used it for something like a "closed loop" boost to the circulation. This was important for me in a seahorse system where I didn't want tails going into powerheads. I ran the return from the sump over the right-rear side and put it just in front of the stock overflow and pointing towards the bottom-front-left corner of the tank.

I was running a Bubble Magus skimmer in the middle compartment. The skimmer body was inside the compartment, which pretty much eliminated the possibility of it overflowing onto the carpet.

So, the water went into the first compartment (empty), flowed into the second compartment (skimmer), then finally flowed into the third compartment where it exited:
1-through the stock return pump back into the display
2-through the bulkhead and down into the sump.

If you add the second bulkhead and do a Herbie then you'll have three exits. It sounds cramped but there's room. PM me if you want any more details.

 

[GaryLCrouch]

Have you considered removing the false wall and making a better overflow box? You could end up with alot more room inside the tank.

I have thought about it but not sure what i want to do yet. I kinda wanted to stay away from a overflow box. I like the clean look of a drilled tank and of course not having to worrie about when i loss power. It more for a peice of mind thing.

 

[GaryLCrouch]

I drilled my 29g Biocube so I could add a sump for my seahorse system. I put the (single) bulkhead in compartment #3. I think I should obviously have had a second one in there, but I think compartment #3 is the natural place for them. If you use like two 3/4" (or 1" if there's room) bulkheads and use a "Herbie" system, you should be great.

Put the two bulkheads in compartment number 3, add immediate elbows and a standpipe for each, and adjust the standpipes and post-bulkhead plumbing to function as a Herbie setup.

The reason I like compartment #3 is that the BioCube's rear compartments are already set up to run from right to left. I left the stock return pump in and used it for something like a "closed loop" boost to the circulation. This was important for me in a seahorse system where I didn't want tails going into powerheads. I ran the return from the sump over the right-rear side and put it just in front of the stock overflow and pointing towards the bottom-front-left corner of the tank.

I was running a Bubble Magus skimmer in the middle compartment. The skimmer body was inside the compartment, which pretty much eliminated the possibility of it overflowing onto the carpet.

So, the water went into the first compartment (empty), flowed into the second compartment (skimmer), then finally flowed into the third compartment where it exited:
1-through the stock return pump back into the display
2-through the bulkhead and down into the sump.

If you add the second bulkhead and do a Herbie then you'll have three exits. It sounds cramped but there's room. PM me if you want any more details.

Hmmm sounds interesting. you have any pics of your setup? This is my first time around drilling a tank and doing a sump so seeing pics helps alot ( need to see kinda Guy ).

 

[rlpardue]

Pics

Pics

It's awfully embarrassing to upload such ugly pictures of a decomissioned Biocube on my back patio but here they are lol. Remember, if you are looking at the Biocube straight-on, this is the back left corner. The actual hole for mine is in the back panel of glass. I would recommend drilling one there and one on the side (unless anyone sees a problem there). There may be an issue with drilling close to a corner edge. Anyone care to chime in on that subject?

 

[GaryLCrouch]

I plan on using chamber 2 for the drain so i can still have the water flow through my medi basket and then drain and returning it through the same return section.