LED Biocube 32 - Newbie Build w/ All Costs, Upgrades & Progress Updates

[JoshInSF]

Hi All,

Recently I saw an amazing mature large reef tank at my son's pediatrician's office. Both my kid and I were amazed! In the Doc's private office he had 2 Biocube 14s that were also interesting. Shortly after leaving the office, I decided that I wanted to build my own tank. For my starter tank I wanted something in my office. I figure there will be a lot of trial and error and I want to figure this out before attempting a home tank.

I went to a great local shop looking for a Biocube 14 and they had just got in a shipment of LED Biocube 32's. I decided to jump into the hobby & purchased the Biocube & the other stuff I need to cycle the tank.

The new LED tank only comes with a thin carbon filter. They seem to have ditched the Bio Balls since I guess people didn't always like them. I found a video with a Biocube Filter upgrade made by Aquarium Outfitters so I decided to try it. I'll do a more detailed post when I install it. Parts and costs are listed below & here's a link to the video I'm following in case you're interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaeFgar2b6E

A little about me: I tend to get very interested in things and enjoy doing loads of research to understand and enjoy my new hobbies. I also have a tendency to maybe get a little obsessive. This seems like a great hobby for my personality & I am already looking into a larger tank now that I realize I'll be limited with what I can do in the 32 gallon Biocube.

Here is a total cost accounting on the LED Biocube 32, accessories & upgrades (Not including tax). Since I am just getting started there are a lot of things I won't need to buy for tanks 2, 3, 4... I will update it and photos as I go!


LED Biocube 32 - $399
33 Lbs Real Reef Live Rock - $259.68
Nature's Ocean Live Sand 20 Lbs - $29.99
EHEIM Jager 100W Heater - $41.99
25 Gallons Real Filtered Ocean Water - $54.95
5 Gallon Containers X 2 - $20
Coralife Biocube Protein Skimmer - $31.99
Coralife Biocube UV Sterilizer - $55.07
Coralife Biocube Circulation Pump - $21.04
Biocube Algea Cleaning Magnet - $9.26
Eshopps Square Foam Aquarium Filters Large X2 - $15.96
Seachem Matrix Carbon 100ml - $8.20
Seachem Matrix Bio Media 1 Liter $14.99
Coralife Aqua Tongs, 28-Inch $19.61
Milwaukee Instruments MA887-BOX Digital Refractometer - $111.25 Yes, I "Needed" this...
Felt Filter Media Bag 6 X 12" - $10.11
Lifeguard Aquatics Little Time or Temp - $19.45
Doradon FA18X Aquarium Acclimation System - $22.99
Poly Filter Pad 4 X 8" - $9.15
Red Sea Reef Mature Pro Kit - $23.10
Red Sea Marine Care Test Kit - $39.11
Plastic Transfer Pipettes - I am back in Chemistry class! - $2.62
Red Sea Reef Foundation Test Kit - $39.99
Red Sea Reef Foundation Liquid Starter Kit - $19.61
Red Sea N0304-X Bio Nitrate and Phosphate Reducer - $15.27
Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System - $39.99
Pen-Plax Infra-Reds Quick Nets 6" X 2 - $12.38
Coralife Energy Savers 28" Aqua Gloves so the Clownfish doesn't bite off my finger - $18.65

Total Initial Cost - No Fish / Corals: $1,365.40

And here are the pics so far!

The Box

Bringing sand to the beach

Ready to pour!

Water water!

Front view filled with LEDs on

Side view

LEDs off

Coralife Biocube Skimmer

Coralife Biocube UV Sterilizer

The Goods

There you go!

 

[JoelW]

What are your coral/fish stocking plans?

 

[JoshInSF]

And I got this "Stuff" too...

 

[JoshInSF]

What are your coral/fish stocking plans?

That's what I'm figuring out now. I want to plan it. For those more experienced than me, do I need more height w/ the live rock?

So far I'm looking at the following fish, but need to narrow my selection and I may find something else I like:

• Pair of clownfish. Maybe Black & White Ocellaris or Perculas.
• Brazillian Flameback Angel - don't know if this tank is large enough...
• Helfrichi Firefish Goby
• Arabian Pseudochromis

Corals that have interested me (I have no idea yet what's a good or bad ides so I need to research and welcome any opinions!) Need to narrow down here as well..

• Fox Coral
• Armor of God Zoanthids
• Hawaiian Tropic Zoanthids
• Hawaiian Tropic Zoanthids
• Green Long Tentale Plate Coral
• Florida Ricordea Mushrooms
• Jack-O-Lantern Leptoseris Coral

 

[homer1475]

You would be better off posting this in the nano section. Plenty of biocube build threads there with what does, and what doesn't work.

Looking good so far, but the only issue I see, that coralife skimmer(if it's the one that uses a limewood airstone) is absolute garbage. The go to skimmer for a nano is the Aquaticlife 115. It fits perfectly in the first chamber, and is a beast of a skimmer for a nano.

 

[JoshInSF]

You would be better off posting this in the nano section. Plenty of biocube build threads there with what does, and what doesn't work.

Looking good so far, but the only issue I see, that coralife skimmer(if it's the one that uses a limewood airstone) is absolute garbage. The go to skimmer for a nano is the Aquaticlife 115. It fits perfectly in the first chamber, and is a beast of a skimmer for a nano.

Thanks for the tips. I'll post this in the Nano section.


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[tklb]

The BioCube LED looks really cool. Like the build so far.

 

[MartyG]

Just purchased my Biocube 32 LED last night, I hope to get it set up this weekend and have all my corals and fish by Monday (just kidding)...

Nice cost analysis. I was planning on about $1000 to get it ready for fish, I'm not sure I'll end up with everything you bought but I do know that next spring I'll be getting a chiller since I don't have a/c in my place.

Looking good so far!

 

[homer1475]

Coming from someone who followed the original ReefThuz videos(same simple filter mod), For the love of the hobby and your inhabitants, just throw away that large filter pad. It will become a nitrate factory.

Buy an InTank media basket and throw some pillow stuffing in it at the top(the other 2 chambers can be used for chemical filtration(carbon, chemipure, etc, etc). The cheapo poly filter from the craft store is all you need(its like 5$ for a big bag of it)). Change it out every couple days and you'll avoid the eventual high nitrates those sponges will produce.

When I started out there were plenty of biocube builds in the nano section that also followed those videos, and we all had very high nitrates. Dumped those sponges and nitrates fell like a skydiver.

FWIW, that matrix media, is basically porous rock. If you have enough live rock in your display, that stuff is basically pointless. I ended up just leaving it in my media rack in a media bag, and using it to seed my QT when needed.

 

[homer1475]

Also go have a read through the nano section on tips and tricks for the biocube. Specifically Reefwreak, soulpatch, \clownfish/, or my own build threads. You might have to dig deep to find soulatch's and mine as we have moved on to bigger tanks, but they are still there.

 

[ReefLover1230]

Reminds me of when you said you get really into your interests and a bit obsessive! I like the aqua scape also might want to add a little more so you can build higher though. More room to mount corals!

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[sixpackgarage]

I'm afraid to think how much I've invested in my tank [emoji16]
Better not to think about it and just enjoy[emoji106][emoji482]


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[juanm2592]

Nice, look into the intank media basket there great for the biocubes.