Newbie Build- 29g biocube

T

tabasco122

New member
Well I saw a bunch of others making newbie build threads so I figured I would also.

Got a cracked 29g Biocube from a friend for $100 with stand and InTank Media basket. Took it home and got it cleaned up real well. Put a bead of silicone on both sides of the crack, then put a large piece of 1/4 inch thick plexi on the backside, siliconed it real well and along the whole outer edge, then did the same with smaller pieces on the inside. Should hold up pretty well as the crack is in a U shape and the only chamber that is under any real water pressure is the first chamber, since its separated with the plastic piece.

Once that cured, I got some dry rock and dry oolite argonite sand from BRS and PetSmart respectively. For water i used RO from wal-mart (drinking water, green tops) mixed with instant ocean. For cycling I used a bottle of Dr Tims One and Only and pure ammonia (no suds). That was a week ago today and the ammonia levels are finally starting to go down to something that is within the scale of my tests. Nitrites and Nitrates have also been rising so they should be going down in a few days also. The plan is to get a couple of clowns once everything drops off and then once I can afford my lighting i can get some fun stuff. Right now im just running floss in the media basket, but i plan on doing floss/chemipure/purigen elite once the cycle is done.

Currently
29G Biocube HQI (just the tank)
InTank Media Basket
MJ 1200 main pump
MJ 400 powerhead
Aquaeon 150w heater
Digital thermo mounted to the side of the tank

Next steps
Ecotech Radion G2 XR30w
Ecotech MP10wES

Now on to the pics!

Crack on the back
photo_1397763607609_zpsb4de5cd4.jpg


Fixing the crack. After this i put a thick bead around the entire piece of plexi.
IMG_20140419_191418_zpsnhjel2n9.jpg


Cleaned up, with some Coralife T5 lights that i returned because i didnt like the way they sat on the tank. Before my friend offered to sell me his radion.
IMG_20140418_194905_zpsvkhqmxvq.jpg


People probably saw this then immediately went home and checked the weather...
IMG_20140420_165820_zpskjke4sdk.jpg


After sand and rock, halfway filled.
IMG_20140420_191418_zpsncwifbfw.jpg



Here is how it sits now. Took shots from the side so you can kinda see the aquascaping.
IMG_20140422_210700_zps4kx8u1zm.jpg

output_zpsvkyw8g0a.jpg

output_zpscwy5fo5q.jpg


I work from home 90% of the time, so it makes a good addition to my office/living room
IMG_20140426_001405_zpsmgbm4alc.jpg

IMG_20140426_001350_zps9rxx35os.jpg
 
TigeBell said:
Nicely done and complements your office. Hope that you watch out for that crack and it starting to leak again.
Click to expand...

Thanks, and absolutely. The way it is i can peek at the rear and see the crack through the plexi, so i will be able to see if its leaking through the glass before it even gets a chance to leak through the plexi. it has multiple layers of silicone to get through before it can become a puddle on the floor.

The plan is to eventually get a 90-120g tank, but this will do to get me up and running so im less impatient to do the big build.
 
Well ammonia is 0, nitrites are going down, so another day or two and i should be able to pick up a fish or two. thinking of going with a pair of clowns, need to do more research to see how that would affect future choices, and how many fish i can even have in the 29g.
 
sunnysjourney said:
Geek squad, BMW motorsport and a reef / fish hobbyist! Bro you're my buddy already haha :)! Btw you fixed the patch pretty well!
Click to expand...

Hah, well im a double agent, work from home 3-5 days out of the week and work in peoples homes 0-2 days a week depending on business, so i figure the reef would be good for me to stare at while people drive me crazy. The BMW flag is something my friend got me when i was looking for an e46 M3, but i ended up trading my mr2 for a WRX so the m3 was put on hold for a bit.




Ammonia has been at 0 for a few days, nitrites are still a bit high, but hopefully monday i can add a couple clowns like ive been planning. Set up the skimmer today, aquaticlife 115 i got from my friend for free. Cleaned it up, did the air intake mod with parts left over from my MJ1200. Also cleaned up my wiring and ordered one of those inline GFCI extension cords. Im a bit worried about my heater being in chamber 2, so ill have to keep an eye on water levels until i can get an ATO. The actual heating element is well under water though, it only takes up the bottom half of the tube, so hopefully it will be ok.


1907644_10152279415807284_481338803842242834_n.jpg


10300042_10152279415757284_431819224374612426_n.jpg


1484310_10152279415837284_4589346566015964226_n.jpg
 
Awesome man...so if the overflow starts to leak again could you build a sump and bypass it? Not exactly sure how the bio cubes work but I wouldn't think it would be a total loss if it did leak again.

I like the scape and the deep sand, looks really good.
 
Looks good but you really have to watch that plexi... Silicone really does not adhere well to acrylic sheets.
 
I would just watch it but is should hold.

Looks good. But I would add an ATO and that thing should run with ease.
 
ATO is planned, along with a gen 2 radion, vortech mp10wes, and eventually an apex system. Goal is to get a bunch of stuff that can be carried over to a larger tank later.
 
Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's an accident waiting to happen...Not a question of if, but when...Hopefully you have a quarantine tank & an emergency exit strategy for when it leaks again...btw, some of my folks live in Houma, cher...
 
Last edited:
SwampyBill said:
That band aid might be good on a 10gal tank, but not for any volume of water much larger.
Click to expand...

The way the biocube is designed the only chamber in the back that is under pressure is the first one really, the other two are completely separated from the display part. Also there was a bead of silicone on both sides of the crack, the large piece of 1/4 inch plexi on the back, and three smaller pieces of 1/4 inch plexi on top of the crack (with multiple layers of silicone on each one, including along the outer edge) in each chamber. All the silicone was applied within a few minutes of eachother before it could cure because i read that silicone wont adhere to itself.
 
acabgd said:
Silicone does not adhere really well to acrylic. Sooner or later the whole thing might burst. I wouldn't sleep well with that crack in my living room (pun intended).
Click to expand...

^^^ + 1,000 ^^^....Do you have a QT or emergency exit strategy? I'd also just drop a raw shrimp in the tank & let it cycle naturally for at least another month. Never been a believer in using additives & products to 'shorten cycle'...You'll hear it time & again--nothing good happens fast in saltwater, except water changes...Patience, grasshopper...Good luck!
 
I used pure ammonia and Dr Tims for the cycling, my friend has used it a few times before and never had issues.

As far as the tank goes, I did plan on getting a 10/5g setup for a mantis shrimp on my desk, so if anything happens ill have a backup soon enough. The repair is pretty solid though, and as i said most of the back wall isnt even under much pressure. I'll take my chances with it. If anything happens ill be sure to post in here so you guys can say "I told you so"
 
I doubt anyone here wants to say I told you so. Just looking out for possible tank breakage & loss of aquarium life. A few yrs ago I had a 35gal start to leak & the stress of quickly getting bins for livestock & coral, extra filters, etc. was not fun...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Aquascape question?
2 3 4
Replies
72
Views
938
Elmareefer
E
T
Alternative Lighting for Biocube 29
Replies
0
Views
108
thommyboy12183
T
T
Gph for 32 biocube
Replies
1
Views
328
griss
griss
S
Newbie!
Replies
2
Views
115
Uncle99
Uncle99
A
Choosing a Canister Filter for 55-gal Saltwater — OASE Biomaster Thermo 600 vs EHEIM Classic
Replies
4
Views
1K
vlangel
vlangel
Back
Top