Alex's 29g HQI Biocube Build.

[peaches7412]

I was going to make a 120g tank, but after much consideration and thinking, I've decided to go with this Biocube. Just bought it today, and will have pics of it later.

 

[peaches7412]

lol, do you have a metal halide on yours, did you have any heat issues?

 

[redstang]

peaches7412;669910 wrote: I was going to make a 120g tank, but after much consideration and thinking, I've decided to go with this Biocube. Just bought it today, and will have pics of it later.

Congrats. I was planning for a 120 as well but decided on the BC29 first to get my feet wet. I have the stock BC. They seem to be good tanks from what I've read once a few minor mods are made.

 

[peaches7412]

Got the water and sand in the tank now, just need to make a aquascape that looks good to me. Need to get pics up, probably once the rocks are in the tank.

 

[redstang]

Make sure you get the rock to the bottom of the tank if you're considering sand dwellers as I've read they can engineer rock falls .

 

[peaches7412]

Ok finally just got my rock scape up, and took a picture of it, but now how do you put that picture up?

Edit:

 

[hammcd]

if you have any questions about mods, etc let me know..theres a few things you should do to make flow faster, etc...i have a biocube 14 and 29 HQI

 

[peaches7412]

just tell me anything that might improve its function. I also want to know how to keep the biocube skimmer down, because i only have it on the clip hanging onto the side, and it wobbles some.

 

[nanoreefer]

What mods have you done so far?

 

[peaches7412]

None what so ever lol! Just have the biocube skimmer, and will be getting some cheato in the fuge with a JBJ refuge light. I want to get the biocube uv light, just to run if I ever encounter a green hair algae problem or ich problem. Was thinking about modding a fan under the cover for the 3rd chamber for cooling because of the 150 watt MH light. Also in the process of getting a ATO, probably JBJ, for fresh water/ kalk mix.

 

[hammcd]

id ditch the biocube skimmer unless u want to replace the air stone every 3 weeks..id get an aquaticlife 115 if you have the clipon HQI that comes with the biocube HQI version or tunze 9002 if you have the normal biocube 29...id also get the intank media basket from http://www.mediabaskets.com">www.mediabaskets.com</a> ...thats the best thing ive done so far...also dont expect the UV to kill ich...its not powerful enough and they dont make pumps slow enough for it to do that..algae yes.....also dont forget to cut the tab that seperates chamber 1 and 2 to increase flow..lots more mods if interested...depends on if u have the HQI or normal version of the biocube though

Edit: also the biocube skimer comes with suction cups typically to prevent wobbling

 

[peaches7412]

I have a HQI, says it in the title, but will there be enough room for cheato if the media basket is there, because I want to have a good amount of pods for the future when I get a red dragonet hopefully.

 

[hammcd]

id also skip the cheatoh and just use the media baskets with filter floss, purigen and chemipure elite

Edit: you can also get a fuge to fit back there too but a uv wouldnt fit then...you def need some type of media though...what r u running now?..the stock biocube filter?

Edit: the HQI version has the clipon 150w metal halide light that hangs over the top..the regular biocube has the PC lights inside a hood that covers the entire tank

Edit: http://www.mediabaskets.com/flash/BC_Flash_1.swf">http://www.mediabaskets.com/flash/BC_Flash_1.swf</a>

this is how i have mine set up except i have an aquaticlife 115 protein skimmer in chamber 1 and instead of the fuge basket next to the media basket in chamber 2 i have a jbj nano-zap UV...i had cheatoh in my biocube 14 chamber 2 and itd constantly break off and clog up my return pump...id get a hang-on fuge if you wanted cheatoh...just my opinion though

Edit: oh and i have my heater in chamber 3 with the return pump..sorry for all the edits lol

 

[peaches7412]

Also why do I have to replace the airstone every 3 weeks? Not saying your wrong ( you definitly have more experience in this field) but shouldn't run just fine for right now

 

[hammcd]

i ran a biocube skimmer for about 6 months..i thought the same thing at first but as your bioload increases that thing gets caked...and i mean CAKED with gook...after about 3 weeks you can barely recognize it as a stone..it looks more like slimer from ghostbusters...even if it doesnt get that bad all the pores inside it get filled start to build up nitrates..not to mention you wont get as quality skimmate in the cup...i had switched to Lee's airstones but still replaced them every 3 weeks...i bought an aquaticlife 115 skimmer though and its been great...just clean it every month or 2...plus it sucks out alot more of the badness

Edit: also if you buy an ora dragonet they eat frozen food and pellets

Edit: the aquaticlife skimmers are only like $49 too

Edit: plus no more airstones so u save money

 

[peaches7412]

Well now I want one. But other than that, How much space does the media basket take in the second chamber, because I still want to have cheato in there.

 

[hammcd]

the media basket takes up half the second chamber...the same guy also makes a fuge basket that fits next to the mediabasket like in that video i linked...u can out cheatoh in that...i wouldnt just put it freefloating though because u will have issues with it clogging the return
here is the link the the biocube baskets
http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Biocube-29-Media-Basket-BC29MR.htm">http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Biocube-29-Media-Basket-BC29MR.htm</a>
[IMG]http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Biocube-29-Fuge-Basket-BC29FG.htm">http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Biocube-29-Fuge-Basket-BC29FG.htm</a>

also take a look here...lots of good info...make sure you read only about whatever type you have..the HQI or non HQI...did u buy it new?

[IMG]http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showforum=35">http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showforum=35</a>

 

[peaches7412]

Thanks Hammcd for all the information, and hopefully my budget will allow me to get those things:yay:. As of now, the tank has been running for 2 weeks now with some live rock and some dry rock (30/70 ratio respectively), so now I decided to put my clarkii pair I had in a holding tank into the tank. They look like they like it a lot. Probably will add other fish in a week or so, making sure that the cycle is completely done.

 

[hammcd]

cant wait to see pics

 

[crew]

Hamm, can you run the aquaticlife 115 with the stock biocube hood?