29 biocube?

rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
I am looking into getting one of these.
Want to put a black clown, firefish and something else in. Would this be okay with the filter and stuff included with the biocube?
I have never had a biocube before but I know a lot of people here have them. Do you guys like them? Do you have an complaints about them?? I think they look nice, and seem easy to set up. Is this true? Also, IS IT QUIET??
I want it to be a mini reef-
Is everyone using the stock light in there? Is that light going to be okay to keep things like hammer coral, zoanthids, frogspawn, leathers, mushrooms and ricordias?
Thanks.
Any advice, or experience appreciated!!!
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
I have one but have done a lot of changing. If you want to run stock they are a good option for what you have listed for inhabitants. They are relativly quiet although the have fans in the hood that you can hear whenever the power compact lights are on, but not when the moon lights are on. You will want to do a couple of modifications to save some money on upkeep costs though. The stock filter pad can be gutted and just a frame remains. then you can fill this frame with inexpensive polyester fiber fill from the craft or fabric stores. You have the option of running the included bio media (balls) that come with the system or leaving them out if you don't want to maintain them. Then the chamber they are in can be used for other things, chemical filtration bags etc. Or you can even build a small fuge there.
What else could I answer for you?
Oh yeah "boo" , hee hee!
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Love the BioCube. I have barely modified mine. Just pulled out all the bioballs and replaced that area with some carbon media and filter floss. The skimmer made for them is OKAY. Just stay on top of cleaning it and replacing the air stone every month and you'll be fine. IMO, they're a great system and very, very user friendly. The only issue is the lighting, don't try SPS, but everything else is fair game.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Here is a picture of mine back in March of 07, running with everything stock. Torch coral, Green star polyps, mushrooms, Zoas, Palythoas, and a pc. of branching Porites at the top that I tried before I knew SPS couldn't live under the stock lighting. Also a gorgonian before I knew I couldn't keep it alive. Xenia, a beautiful Fox coral that I had to get rid of because it grew so large. Some rics and a leather coral. All did well, except the gorg an porites.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Thanks guys.
Stupid question... I know what SPS stands for... but what is an example of an sps coral?
also, with the black clown and the firefish, I was thinking of a goby/pistol shrimp pair. Would this work and be okay or not really? Also, can pistol shrimp be kept with other shrimp, like cleaner shrimp?
What other kinds of mods have you done to your henry?? Did you mod out the light??
Also, I am not fond of skimmers, so I probably won't run one.
! more- is the stock flow enough for you guys or are you running a Knano or a K1 also?
Thanks again!
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Thank you for the picture! very lovely... I hope to cram my biocube FULL of corals... I love the way that look when they're all filled out.
Do you have an FTS of your henry? I think I have seen it before on your thread but now I can't find the thread. Thank you!
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
A lot of changes to the tank equipment wise from stock here though.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/332430/spankos-bio-cube-what-in-posidens-name-is-he-up-to-now/80
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
answer in red in your quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3169842
Thanks guys.
Stupid question... I know what SPS stands for... but what is an example of an sps coral? Acropora, Birdsnest, Digitata, Staghorn, etc. If you look through the Aquacultured Corals on this site MOST (many ORA) of them are SPS.
also, with the black clown and the firefish, I was thinking of a goby/pistol shrimp pair. Would this work and be okay or not really? Possibly. Also, can pistol shrimp be kept with other shrimp, like cleaner shrimp? Always a risk. Some people get luck while other do not. The Randalli (aka Red Banded) and Tiger Pistol Shrimps is the least aggressive. The Bullseye will not normally accept a goby in their burrow.
Also, I am not fond of skimmers, so I probably won't run one. Hope you keep up on water changes and have a good CUC. The BioCube skimmer doesn't pull out too much if that's what you're concerned about. IMO, it's better than nothing.
! more- is the stock flow enough for you guys or are you running a Knano or a K1 also? It depends. But since you seem to want lots of rock work and coral, I'd suggest a Koralia nano
Thanks again!
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
I still have the Rio 6hf as the replacement for the stock pump.
Stock pump 243 gph.
Rio 6hf 350 gph.
Plus the Rio uses less watts so there is a reduction in heat in the water.
A Korallia nano or even a Korallia 1 would be a good addition in tank.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Yeah, that is what I was thinking. Don't you run an mp10 on yours now?? And you said you liked it right?? Do you have a pick of what that looks like on such a small tank?
Also... what is the deal with your hood?? Is it just completely gone and you have a sun pod on top with the mess net lid? I am a little confussed... At first I thought you moded the hood to fit a bigger bulb? Do you have a shot of what your whole setup looks like henry with the mesh top and the light fixture and how it's over the tank?? That would be really really really helpful!!!

This brings me to my next point... moding the light to something like this... Is this going to make my water insanely hot? Or because it's PC, would this be okay?
It's a 4x 36 watt mod that makes the lighting into 144watts. Would this allow my to keep more corals, and maybe a clam? Or no?
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Yes I have a MP10 as the only pump inside the display area of the tank. Of course the actual pump is outside so no added heat. I love it.
You can see it here on the right wall towards the top.

And here;

Hood is completely gone. Have a pond net top built to cover the display area. the back compartments are open. The Sunpod sits on the top edges with the supplied legs.
I think this is the only shot that I have that shows it.

I had the nanotuners 4 x 36 upgrade for a while. I liked it but you probably would be lucky if you could keep a clam with it. I kind of doubt it. Maybe a T.derasa as it is one of the lower light species however it would be a crap shoot plus they get really big really fast in the right conditions. For SPS some of the less light demanding like Montipora capricornis or Montipora digitata if they were put higher up in the tank. I did keep a monti cap that grew and kept its orange color under the 144 watt upgrade.
I eventually wanted to do more with the tank and went for the 150 watt HQI Sunpod.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Thank you very much henry.
1st off... fantastic avatar. I love it. Makes a great point that I think has been on the mind of a lot of people lately. :)
the pictures and the explantation really helped. I get it now. I am just stuck on whether to get a biocube and put like 3 fish in, and get rid of my orby, or to set up a little 40 or 50 gal with a fluval canister and get the HQI sunpod right off the the bat. I think in the long run, it'll be the same money, and if I do the 40gal, I can keep my orby. (he's my burrfish and I am desperately attached to him).
Any thoughts? I am really really on the fence about this...
Thanks again! Really helpful!
Rae
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
According to what I read about the Cyclichthys orbicularis it can get upwards of 12 inches. Doesn't seem that any of the choices you list will be a suitable home for this fish for the long run.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Yeah... He is very small now though.... So I was hoping I would get to keep him... but I guess not... Well.... I guess maybe I shouldn't factor him in.
But fine.... fish aside... If I get the Biocube and I have to get a power head, it's either a koralia or the Mp 10 (I think I will go with that because it's small)
And then a light upgrade, either the hood mod, or a whole new fixture...
It's kinda like... What is the point of having a biocube if I am gonna take it apart? and I might as well just get a litte bigger tank, and a better light from the start?? Does that make sense? I suppose I just don't see the point to a biocube... since I am not space limited.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3170308
..........It's kinda like... What is the point of having a biocube if I am gonna take it apart? and I might as well just get a little bigger tank, and a better light from the start?? Does that make sense? I suppose I just don't see the point to a biocube... since I am not space limited.
This ^^^
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
40G breeder is one of the best nanos for reef tanks, IMO. I have pics of mine if you'd like to see. It's my favorite tank
 
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