BioCube questions?

[suv]

How often do you folks clean your bio-balls and change the filter pads? What about the biocube skimmer it worth it, are the any modifications necessary to the filter chambers to make it fit?
Thanks
SUV

 

[reef4girl]

I do it once week at water change.be gentle and do not rinse out all of the bioballs at once. Some people choose to remove bioballs because over time the nitrifying bacteria become so good at their job that they quickly raise the nitrate levels too high. Bioballs also trap detritus if not properly cleaned. be gentle and do not rinse out all of the bioballs at once.
Once a week for your filter but alot of people don't use the filter cartridge they use filter floss its alot cheaper.Use a turkey baster and blast both the rocks and the rear chambers of your biocube daily. This will cause the detritus to become suspend in the water column and then your filter floss will collect it. Replace filter floss every 2-3 days.If your using the sponge in the 3rd chamber don't forget to clean it.

 

[au mister]

If I had to do it over again I would have taken out my bioballs and put live rock in the back of my cube. IMO bioballs can easily give you nitrate issues. I would put live rock in the back and fill it up so it will not trickle but just be extra rock. Get a protein skimmer and lots of rock and you should be golden. Don't know if you know but it is called the Berlin method.

 

[fishstick4sale]

i do mine once a month, and my filter 1nce a week i hit it with a pressure wash an blows everything off