Installing a Biocube Protein Skimmer??

tirtza

tirtza

Member
Hello! I'm trying to install a BioCube Protein Skimmer for a 29 gallon tank. The instructions said to remove the filter cartridge. If I do that, won't it adversely affect my natural bio filtration? If I leave it in there, how can I make it fit with the protein skimmer and heater all in the same first chamber?
I pushed the filter cartridge up against the overflow wall between chambers 1 and 2 and then hung the protein skimmer on it. I'm just not sure if the protein skimmer is submersed in the water enough because even though I have the air valve open all of the way there doesn't seem to be enough foam/bubbles coming up to the top of the reaction chamber. The water level in the aquarium is already above the maximum level.
What should I do in this situation?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!! :)
 
mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
So are you installing the biocube brand protein skimmer or some other brand? Just trying to visualize what you are working with. I put my heater in the thrid chamber.
 
C

cuccaro

Guest
I have bio balls and sponge in first chamber skimmer in second and heater in third chamber. Some times u just gotta let skimmer break in give it a week or so then if not working try to fix
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
It's a Biocube Protien Skimmer, I finally was able to get more bubbles/foam going, but I'm not sure if its enough. Should I turn the air valve higher? I've included some pictures below...


 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Nope it looks good right now. It will take a week or so to break in, a film will develop on the plastic that helps with the skimming. You will probably have to adjust the air flow during the break in period. You want the bubbles to be just at the top of the bottom housing, just touching the top.
It is time to ditch the stock fliter IMO.
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
arrrrrrgh!! The skimmer still doesn't seem to be working! It's been in there for about a week now. The foam doesn't come anywhere near the top of the little plastic cup. I opened the valve all the way and that didn't help. I took the skimmer out and checked that every tube was snugly in place and still it doesn't produce that much foam. Is that because the aquarium is only 2.5 months old and I have a low bio-load, or perhaps because the skimmer has only been in there a week? I have gotten a little water collect in the collection cup...but not much. How should the water that collects in there look?
 
csangler

csangler

New Member
how's it going? did you ditch your filter element? I am also perplexed at how to get everything fitting in there at the proper heights. Did you keep the heater in with the skimmer? not sure mine will fit. BTW thx for the thread, I have the same questions.
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
hello!
Everything is going well so far, Spanko is a genius when it comes to aquariums! I'm still a rookie when it comes to SW and my tank is new (about 6 months). I haven't seemed to have a lot of the common water quality problems. I can only attribute that to the wonderful advice that people on this sight have given me. As far as how I ended up adjusting the filtration in the back here's what I've done:
In the far right chamber I have the heater, and BioCube Protein Skimmer hanging on the little plastic wall (the same place where the instructions had suggested I place it). I'm not really sure how well the skimmer is working, because honestly I have such a low bioload right now that I might not actually need it. I do get some yellow-ish water in the plastic container every once in a while. I change the wooden air stone of the skimmer once a month. I realized that I can purchase two wooden air stones (made by Red Sea I think?) for less than the price of 1 BioCube wooden air stone. When I take out the old air stone it's completely black and is covered in slimy stuff. *I took out the stock carbon filter that came with the BioCube, it really wasn't necessary. Taking out the stock carbon filter really helped everything else fit well in that chamber.
In the middle chamber I have the bioballs that came with the cube (I did take out a few handfuls of the balls and throw them away to make room for other types of filtration). On top of the bioballs I have one bag of Chemi-Pure Elite and one bag of Purigen. I honestly don't know what either one does, however Spanko suggested that I put them in there and so far my water quality is great! On top of the Chemi-Pure and Purigen I have the plastic 'overflow tray' and laying on top of the overflow tray I have a piece of carbon filter pad (the type that you can cut in order to get the size you want). I also have some filter floss (about the size of a pickle) sitting wedged up against the right side of the middle chamber (where the water flows from the right chamber to the middle chamber). I change the filter floss every other day or sometimes every 3 days (basically when it's starting to look kind of brownish and dirty).
In the left chamber I only have the blue sponge at the bottom (the one that came with the Biocube).
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
 
gojosie1

gojosie1

Member
can you post a picture i just got a nanocube that i havent set up and i was wondering how i was going to set up the chambers
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Did you notice an increase in flow when you removed the stock filter? Is the Chemipure and the Purigen submersed in the water of sitting int he open air on top of the bioballs? It is good you are changing the filter floss when it gets a tanbrown color IMO. Are you using polyester fiber fill for the floss, much less expensive than buying the floss at the fish store. Like this, available at your local fabric store. Just make sure there are no additives in it. 1 lb. bag about $3.00

You may have to use the suction cups instead of the hanger on the skimmer and stick it against the back or sidewall in the first chamber to adjust the height of the skimmer itself. Adjustment is not only by the air control valve but also by the height of the skimmer body in the water. If you are getting a light tea colored skimmate with the bubbles overflowing into the cup then breaking down into the light colored skimmate the skimmer is doing its job.
Chemipure helps to filter out particulates, nitrate, phosphate and silicates. The carbon component removes organic and inorganic chemical compounds.
Purigen removes nitrogenous organic waste materials helping to control ammonia, nitrite and nitrate buildup and to clarify water.
Both are considered a part of your "chemical" filtration.
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
I definitely noticed an increase in water flow when I removed the stock filter. The Chemi-Pure and Purigen are both completely submersed in the water (it doesn't look like it in the pictures below, but that was before I took out some of the bio-balls). After I took out some of the balls, everything except for the sponge part of a filter sponge (in case I need to set up a QT or hospital tank) is totally submersed.
Here are some pictures of how I set up the filtration step by step...(it's been working so far, hopefully it will continue to do so after I add a little coral and another fish or two in the following months) If you have any ideas on how I can improve it please let me know. I really appreciate advice and feedback!
This is the middle chamber and left side chamber. 1st, (in the middle chamber) I have some bio-balls and on top of the bio-balls I have 1 Unit (bag) of Chemi-Pure Elite.

2nd,I I placed a bag of Purigen on top of the bag of Chemi-Pure. I also keep the sponge part of a simple sponge filter in the middle chamber (to grow good nitrifying bacteria), so that it can be used in a QT or hospital tank if needed.

3rd, I place the plastic over-flow tray on the top, and then a piece of carbon filter pad on top of the over-flow tray. Lastly, I wedge some filter floss against the side where the water flows from the first chamber to the middle chamber. The filter floss fits on top of the carbon filter pad and under the Protein Skimmer.

In the first chamber I have a heater and the protein skimmer.
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
Yep! gojosie1 is is correct. It's the white mesh bag that the Chemi-Pure comes in. The photograph definitely makes it look like a plastic bag though :)
 
gojosie1

gojosie1

Member
i think its great. in fact im going to set up my nano the same way but im not putting bio balls in there. i heard bio balls weren't good to have because of nitrates
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
That sounds like a great idea! Do you think the protein skimmer will still fit hanging on a lower wall? What would you suggest that I use to cut the plastic?
 
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