Questions for Owners of a 14 Gallon Biocube

[Trip 22]

What modifications have you done with yours? Has anyone added a protein skimmer? What do you have in your three chambers?

 

[BridgetP]

lets see here.
I just set mine up 2-3 weeks ago. I have chemipure in chamber1 live rock in chamber2 and maxijet 900 in chamber 3 with hydor for output. I do not really see a need for a skimmer in such a small tank, and what such a small skimmer is really taking out. just keep proper maintance with water changes.
-hth

 

[Trip 22]

I have a heater and filter in one chamber....live rock in the next (I removed the bioballs) and nothing in the other. Can you give me any more info on your maxijet....hard to set up etc...benefits?
Thanks,
Marci

 

[Trip 22]

Also...I have High nitrates ( I have had it running for 2 months) can you give me more info about the chemipure and the benefits?

 

[BridgetP]

I have always ran chemipure on my tanks and it comes in a filter bag and is way lower in ash than black diamond carbon. It also seems to last much longer and always promotes crystal clear blue water. Maxijet was simple. just dropped right in. i have way more flow and turnover rate in the tank with maxijet

 

[roader247]

Hi all I'm starting to modify mine I'm going to make chamber 2 a refuge I will try and get some pic's of the progress.

 

[Trip 22]

Sounds great.....can't wait to see them!

 

[Trip 22]

Hey Bridget.....did you remove the filter cartridge before adding Chemipure or is this in addition to the filter cartridge....thanks Marci

 

[BridgetP]

I just dropped it in. the ziptie should be out of the water for easy rinsing. it will sit on the little shelf in chamber 1. did you get a full unit or a half a unit? Oh yea take out the filter cartridge. Just from now on clean the spondge in chamber 3 (if you didnt remove it) during all water changes to make sure nothing is sitting in there.

 

[Trip 22]

The chemipure is 10 oz. As far as the sponge in chamber 3?...are you talking about the blue sponge? It is glued down. Maybe that is the source of my nitrates.

 

[Trip 22]

Also...do you use a Hydor Flo with your maxijet?

 

[sinful]

currently I have pretty good param's and I haven't done much with my 14 biocube. I removed the bioballs and blue sponge so far. I added liverock rubble in chamber 2( I want to make it into a fuge with some chaeto, but can't find a submersible light). In chamber 1 I left the filter in for the past couple weeks to add in cycling and removing crap that came off the rocks, there was a ton of it btw. I will remove the filter cartridge as soon as I start adding fish, but till then I've been rinsing it out weekly. My tank has fully cycled and it took a little over a week.

I seriously considered going with the nc12 skimmer but decided against it. I think a fuge in the 2nd with chaeto would do a much better job, considering you kept up on your water changes.

 

[Trip 22]

Is the blue sponge in chamber 3...on a little shelf...its like 2 x 2 or 3 x 3? If so how did you removed it.

 

[gmy]

Trip 22......actually the sponge isn't glued down and can be removed through either the 2nd or third chamber. More than likely when you do remove it you will find it clogged and your source of ongoing nitrate problems.

 

[Trip 22]

Thank you so much! I have tried EVERYTHING.....so hopefully this will help me out. I will let you know
Marci

 

[Trip 22]

Wow you were right. I just wiggled it between the 2 chambers and out it came. It was filled with junk. No one could figure out the source of my nitrate problem....not even the LFS that sold the fully stocked cube to me. I am going to do another nitrate test in a few days. HOPEFULLY (crossing fingers) this solves it !!!
If it does....I owe you one! Will keep you posted.
Marci

 

[sinful]

make sure you siphon all the crap thats on the bottom of the chamber from the sponge aswell.

 

[Tripspike]

Spongebob...Spongebob...Spongebob square pants....

 

[Trip 22]

Ha Ha Ha Michael

 

[BridgetP]

I have just been cleaning the sponge weekly with water changes. I have noticed if I do remove it I get a million bubbles.
Yes trip I am using the hydor with the maxijet, one of the hydor fittings slip right in the end of the locline just take off the little ramp piece.