Heavily Modified Biocube Build

Nice looking tank. I also have a Bio Cube 29 and have to say it sort of takes care of the itch while higher priorities take more of the hobby budget dollars :) I have 3 in college so this does it for me now although it is a good seeder for when I can go larger.

My son's cube (also 29 Oceanic) uses Rapid's kit. It is a solid piece but seems to run a wee bit hotter than mine which uses Steve's. However, I like Rapid's mix / ratio better than Steve's which is a lot more blue / Actinic. But that is why I use a controller and PWM to dim them. I use the Reefangle though (Former Neptune owner until my GSD thought it was a chew toy).

I am actually considering drilling mine now and adding a sump. The only reason why I haven't is because it is already up and running. I could drain it enough to allow it but it would create a higher risk when drilling because I won't have the steady water provided by the clay ring. So instead I have made a sketch of the hood and trying to see which is the best way to add my older "Sea Swirl" to it and then upgrade the return pump instead.

One of the biggest issues I see with the cubes is water movement and pump placement. It takes a lot of effort (I think anyway) to get good circulation yet still maintain a tank without all the powerhead eyesore :( Especially in my son's tank who has a bubble tip that is splitting faster than his other corals are growing :(
 
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Here's a pic of the new clowns. I've added a ton of coral but am waiting until post cycle algae does down to show that.
 
The post cycle algae is dying off. I still have a fair amount but it is about 30% of what it was at its peak and the hair algae is coming off with a light toothbrush rub. I added a Midas blenny that is more blue/purple than gold. I have read a few posts of people saying they bought it solid purple like I did and it turned gold over the next few months.

Since this is a build thread I decided I should show the good and the bad so here is my tank about 10 days ago just after I added coral and with the algae. I need a better camera.

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Here's the Midas Blenny poking his head out. Of course he lives in the worst algae rock in the tank lol.

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Still fighting hair algae that came during the cycle. It is very frustrating as the main reason I used dry rock was to avoid inherited problems like algae. Anyway, I picked up an RBTA yesterday. It wondered around all day and night and seems to have stopped here. I snapped 2 quick pics with the iPhone.

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Looks like about the same exact position of my son's RBTA. His split. First one is massive - about 12" across fully expanded. The second one is getting there at about 8". When they are letting him know it is feeding time and expand they are about taking up his whole time.

I know they got huge but this is a bit much. He is already planning a upgrade. Go figure. Side note, wish I drilled my cube :(
 
any updates to this???? pics????

I'm getting a new camera to get some better pics. It's a lot harder to get the color with led than it was with T5.

All hair algae is gone after I put a sea hare in for 4 days and no signs of it coming back. Starting to get major growth of the sps and zoas. One of the clowns is sharing the rbta with the porcelain crab the other is still a little cautious.
 
I wanted to snap something for an update. I'm struggling to figure out how to get a clean looking balanced shot with led lights. I'll be picking up a new camera soon but until then here's an HDR pic from my iPhone. More to come...

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I got the rapidled kit too and they are awesome! Tank looks great if I may make a suggestion if your rock isn't too close to the back wall or you don't mind the so called "weed corals" like green star polyps or Xenia and have it grow on the back wall I would go with the green star cuz they are more colorful then the Xeina
 
I got the rapidled kit too and they are awesome! Tank looks great if I may make a suggestion if your rock isn't too close to the back wall or you don't mind the so called "weed corals" like green star polyps or Xenia and have it grow on the back wall I would go with the green star cuz they are more colorful then the Xeina

I never mind a suggestion. I don't want things like Xenia or GSP in my tank because it takes over so easily. I have such limited space I have to be very picky about what goes in there. I had Xenia in one of my first tanks and it took months to get it out.
 
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