First Upgrade for a BC14

[slickwill613]

So I was thinking of an getting either a small powerhead or replacing the stock pump. Just want to do one at a time. Any suggestions on what would be more beneficial if my goal is to have some softies and a fish? The cube is stock except I scrapped the bioballs and put a bunch of small LR pieces in the second chamber.

 

[sprinklerman500]

I would think a power head would give you more flow.

 

[KrisDeitz]

Skimmer!

 

[liverock27]

Go with a small power head first for in the tank then make your next upgrade a Maxijet 900 to replace the stock pump.

Not sure about the rock rubble in the 2nd chamber. Seems like it could become a nitrate factory by collecting deterius and uneaten food. Checkout InTank's media basket. They make one for the 14g BC that fits in the 2nd chamber and has three shelves to run different types of media.

Edit:

PFCDeitz;756132 wrote: Skimmer!

I tried the BC Skimmer and thought it was a waste of money.

 

[slickwill613]

I had planned to run without a skimmer, hoping the biofiltration plus waterchanges will be enough.

 

[KrisDeitz]

tunze 9002!!!

 

[liverock27]

PFCDeitz;756137 wrote: tunze 9002!!!

I was told that it would not fit in the back chambers of the 14g BC

 

[KrisDeitz]

Im not sure. It fit my 29 fine but thats DBL the size

 

[slickwill613]

So I'm looking at the Koralia Nano 240, should I go bigger or will this workout?

 

[liverock27]

If you are just doing softies that will work great.

 

[jimknutson]

I ran a 425 in my 14 and it was perfect.

 

[mustangcaleb]

i ran my bc14 for yrs without an additional powerhead. im with pfc, get a tunze 9002 or some better lights

 

[liverock27]

MustangCaleb;756248 wrote: i ran my bc14 for yrs without an additional powerhead. im with pfc, get a tunze 9002 or some better lights

Lights would be a nice upgrade as well. I did three different light setups with my 14g BC over many years.

The first time when I just wanted zoas and other softies I retro fit a 3rd PC bulb in the hood. I picked up the kit from Nanotuners.com and it was very easy to install.

The second time I gutted the PC bulbs and installed two Ecoxotic Panarama LED strips. I was able to keep all different types of corals including SPS in this tank and it cost about me about $200.

The third time I upgraded to Cree Leds, but to be honest it was not worth the money over the Ecoxotics.

 

[slickwill613]

LiveRock27;756250 wrote: Lights would be a nice upgrade as well. I did three different light setups with my 14g BC over many years.

The first time when I just wanted zoas and other softies I retro fit a 3rd PC bulb in the hood. I picked up the kit from Nanotuners.com and it was very easy to install.

The second time I gutted the PC bulbs and installed two Ecoxotic Panarama LED strips. I was able to keep all different types of corals including SPS in this tank and it cost about me about $200.

The third time I upgraded to Cree Leds, but to be honest it was not worth the money over the Ecoxotics.

Yeah, lights are on the wish list for now. I know sooner or later I'll want more watts/gal but the money isn't likely to come sooner so lighting will have to wait.

 

[liverock27]

SlickWill613;756262 wrote: Yeah, lights are on the wish list for now. I know sooner or later I'll want more watts/gal but the money isn't likely to come sooner so lighting will have to wait.

If you are just going to keep softies I would defintiley wait on the lights and do the upgrades to the main pump, added powerhead, and even look at a media rack for the 2nd chamber instead of the rock rubble.

I have no knowledge with the tunze protein skimmer listed above other than I was told it would not fit and I ran my tank for years succesfully without a skimmer. Just means you really need to stay on top of water changes.

 

[mustangcaleb]

im actually needing to get rid of my 14bc. if anyone wants one, ill include the 70w sunpod halide and black sand.

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[slickwill613]

LiveRock27;756263 wrote: If you are just going to keep softies I would defintiley wait on the lights and do the upgrades to the main pump, added powerhead, and even look at a media rack for the 2nd chamber instead of the rock rubble.

I have no knowledge with the tunze protein skimmer listed above other than I was told it would not fit and I ran my tank for years succesfully without a skimmer. Just means you really need to stay on top of water changes.

No worries about water changes, with %10 being less than one gallon (after sand and rock i couldn't even fit 2 5 gallon buckets in it) water changes will be a breeze. I looked at the media racks but nearly 50 bucks plus all the stuff that goes inside it at 7 a pop, and they have to be periodically replaced, just seemed a little steep at the moment. I've been doing some reading on "beginner" corals and it seems like they can be fairly hardy. Would it even be possible to keep them (some shrooms and maybe some kind of leather to start) without the media rack? Also I did place an order on Amazon for the Koralia nano 240, looking forward to it's arrival. Also found a deal on a Hydor pico evolution that puts out 300gph, so more than double the flow of the stocker, but of all the pumps I've seen recommended no one has ever mentioned this one. Anyone know anything about it? Thanks for all the great advice.