14G BioCube

[kwolf]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this and need some help. I've just setup
my 14G bio-cube with live sand and a 2 lb. live rock to seed. I've just
bought a heater and now I'm starting to cycle, but I need to setup the
filtration. My question is basically what kind of filtration system
would be recommend for at least the next couple of months while the
tank cycles? I've heard that the bio-cube uses a "wet-dry" system which
uses bio-balls. I've also heard of other modifications you can do to the bio-cube regarding filter systems, but as of now I would really like to keep things simple. My college budget really limits my options. Oh and I'm new to all of this, any other tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[kelleyga36]

I have a 14 gallon oceanic biocube for my youngest son. We have 20lbs live sand 25 maybe 30 lbs liverock in the tank.In the first filter chamber i have a oceanic skimmer.Then in the second chamber I have seachem De-Nitrate for biological filtering.And I also have phosguard and carbon in a bag in that chamber.And some filter floss to catch the chunky stuff.Third just the return pump.

 

[dakota9]

This is my 14g BioCube


Use search terms 14 gal BioCube, you'll have a plethera of info....

 

[soarin']

First off, I would get rid of the bio-balls; everyone says that they are just nitrate factories (the whole wet/dry system is better for fresh water, or so I have heard) -- I would replace them with live rock rubble. The live rock will help clean the water and provide a home for tiny crustaceans called copepods, amphipods, and isopods that will help feed your tank.

In reef tanks, the water cleaning is done in 5 main ways --

1) Bacteria in live rock and sand consume waste and detoxifies it.

2) A skimmer removes the waste. There are some small ones that you can fit into a 14g biocube IIRC.

3) Macroalgae absorbs waste and uses it as fertilizer -- often there is a separate chamber set up for this purpose.

4) Water changes

5) some kind of filter is run such as a filter sock, or an aquaclear filter.

So the mods I would do to it would be to make sure that I can get some version of those systems going as space allows. When you are cycling the tank, what you are doing is allowing the bacteria time to grow and get in balance with each other. You will continue to have "cycles" (blooms of various kinds of life such as diatoms, algae, etc) as your tank ages but they will become smaller.

I don't know much about biocubes but that's the basics of reef tanks in general.

Welcome to the club! You can also come to our meetings to learn new things -- we often have expert speakers come that are very informative, and it's an excellent way to get started with a few frags of cheap and easy corals and macroalgae such as chaeotmorpha -- some people are even nice enough to give them away for free.

 

[dakota9]

Oh, and if you dont have the skimmer for your 14g BC, I'll be selling one soon.

 

[gtfreak]

Dont use bio-balls i had some in my sump took them out and replaced it with live rock and everthing was better

 

[kwolf]

Thanks for the information everyone! I have filled the second chamber about half-way with LR rubble, and I have a standard bio-cube carbon filter in the first chamber along with my heater. I was wondering if I should fill the rest of the second chamber with LR to the top or leave room for maybe an additional filter/strainer?

 

[stepheng]

KWolf,

I'm as new at this as anyone, but here is how mine is setup:

Chamber 1: 50W Heater, Bag of Carbon, Ripped apart OEM filter and chambers filled with Petsmart filter media

Chamber 2: All bioballs thrown out. Filled 3/4 with LR Rubble and topped with bag of Seachem Matrix. Drip tray has a layer of filter floss on it to catch more trash.

Chamber 3: OEM setup with pump & sponge.

 

[schwimmair]

Hi, my Aquapod 12 and have 4 chambers. In my first chamber which is the overflow chamber, I have a mechanical filter pad and a surface skim mod. In the second chamber I have the heater. The third chamber I have a bag of Purigen (highly recommend) and a bag of Phosguard. My 4th chamber I have a Maxi-Jet 900. I am not sure what the output is on the stock BioCube pomp but you might want to look at upgrading.

Adam

 

[alpharetta]

WOW the colors in this tank are amazing!