Have a 29gal cube running for a few years - wanna make some changes

[homebrewdude]

29gal cube.
Live Rock
2X small clowns
1x Shrimp
various hermits

LPS has not grown, some have died or shrunk
SPS, one quarter size frag is probably 6" now - tons of growth.

I have been doing monthly 5gal water changes

I want to add a sump, skimmer and something to deal with the evaporation.

Any suggestions on an overflow that works well?
I made my own stand, so I think I can fit a decent size DIY sump under it.

I have a cheap LED light that came from Ebay - I guess 5+years old.
Do these wear out? or go out? Any reason to change it?

 

[rockhead51]

For your ATO, I'd check out the AutoAqua Smart ATO.
No clue in why LPS is dying and SPS doing well. Sounds bass-ackwards to me. What are your parameters?

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[homebrewdude]

I thought maybe it was the lighting.
The SPS is close to the top of the tank.

I had LPS up mid tank and thought it was too much light.
Now they are closer to the bottom.

I also have aiptasia I need to deal with. Could they be stinging the LPS?

 

[murphreef]

You ever think of just starting off with a new tank? It might be better experience for you if you invest in a tank made with an overflow like an Innovative Marine set up or something else.....

Biocube IMO just looks so awkward an unpleasant when trying to mod it to be something it isn't.

Get a nice small tank with a proper built in over flow. Get a small or make a small sump, get a skimmer and a smart ATO and then a proper light. Sounds like an investment but in the end for the little extra $ you will have a tank that looks visually appealing and corals that will thank you.

 

[rockhead51]

Murphreef, did he say Biocube?

Dude, is that what you have? If so, I would take advantage of it's AIO features or get something that will work with what you want to do.
I run a BC32 LED, and have added a good deal of mods, but it's all stuff designed to work with the BC....
My tank is 2 years old, and I have LPS and softies growing like crazy, although I have had some softies slowly melt away...

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[murphreef]

^ Ohh shoot not sure I think I just assumed.....

OP what kind of tank do you have? Can you share a picture?

 

[homebrewdude]

It is a bio cube that was stripped out.
I have $100 invested + my custom stand.

I am planning in a 150gal tank, but my kid loves this 29gal in his room.

I am ok building a custom sump for the tank, and really dont think it will look bad.


Let me take some photos.

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[homebrewdude]

This is the link to the thread on building the tank.

Since the last photo till today.
SPS grew and LPS shrunk died.


https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...share_tid=2536705&share_fid=1489&share_type=t



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[homebrewdude]

Photos today

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[rockhead51]

I guess my question is where are you draining from and returning to? Are you using the back chambers as a sort of pre-sump?

I suppose you could pump water out of chamber three and then return it straight to the display. Maybe use chamber 2 as a fuge with chaeto?

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[homebrewdude]

Not exactly sure, I guess I have options.

Chamber 1 and tank level are the same.
Nano size overflow from chamber 1
Return to chamber 2
Keep my chamber to tank pump in 3

Cut the chambers so they are all the same as tank. Overflow from large back chamber.
Return direct to the tank.

Other ideas?
I like option one cause I can force more tank water to circulate and have lower flow through the sump.

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[rockhead51]

Tank and chamber 1 level is dictated by the height of the divider between chambers one and two. So if you are going to do an overflow in chamber one, it is going to have to bring down those levels, or you'll have to build up that divider.
The problem you will have is synchronizing the flow through two pumps.
The current "overflow" is that divider. If your pump runs higher flow, more water goes over the top, and if it runs lower flow, less water does.

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[homebrewdude]

ok, I get that.

So I make rear chambers all overflow.
And the return back to the main tank?

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[rockhead51]

Yeah. So I would pull out of chamber 3, and then return straight to tank. And if you can get suction going in 3, I think you could do it all on a return pump.

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[homebrewdude]

Look what this person did.

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/268025-adding-a-hob-overflow-and-sump-to-a-bc29/


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[rockhead51]

I guess my feeling is that I have an AIO so that my tank will be...well...all in one. The DIY geek in me loves the engineering, but if I want a plumbed tank with sump and more water volume, I would go that route.
I get it if you are money or space constrained (or just need to tinker).
My concern for your situation is that you seem to be seeking a solution for the problems that you've had and may not have fully diagnosed. I'm not averse to "giving something new a shot" but these seems like an awful lot of time, treasure and talent expended with potentially the same issues on the backside.

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[homebrewdude]

Well my main thing I want to add is a skimmer. And I have not seen any decent skimmers to fit the back chamber.

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[rockhead51]

I'm running the much hated Oceanic Biocube skimmer. Does OK for me, but I've done some mods.

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[murphreef]

Well my main thing I want to add is a skimmer. And I have not seen any decent skimmers to fit the back chamber.

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I agree with rockhead 100% and that was what i was trying to say..... I dont think a skimmer is really your issue and even if it was like he said you can go with one meant for your tank and save the hassle of trying to make this tank into something it isnt....

to be honest you are better off starting over this tank due to the level of aptasia's in your tank or at least get some peppermint shrimps and get them under control before even worrying about a skimmer.

you have such a small bio load a skimmer will skim yes but also just doing weekly water changes should keep everything ok. Feed your clowns 1/2 a cube every day and get your alk in check as well.

I say keep it an AIO or invest in a tank meant to have an overflow..... no need to reinvent the wheel

 

[cjps67]

There is a guy on YouTube that did a mod to a bio cube 16 where he added a nano overflow to sump and his tank was really kick *** and really clean install for what he had to work with.