Powerhead Size

agent-x

Member
What size do you guys/girls use for your cube? I have a 29g BC and was wondering what to upgrade the pump to. I was thinking of using the MaxiJet 1200?
 

jacksonpt

Active Member
You'll want a powerhead that gives a flow rate of 15-20 times the volume of your tank. So if you have a 29g tank, look for a pump that gives somethign in the range of 400-600gph.
 

azreefgirl

Member
When calculating anything for the size 29 Biocube, just keep in mind that it does NOT hold 29 gallons. It only holds about 23 gallons of water, and that's without LR or sand.
I just use the stock pump. I recently added a small Rio 50 specifically for keeping water flow behind that LR that is up against the back of my tank. Everything seems to be ok so far. I may upgrade after I add more critters to the tank, if needed.
 

jacksonpt

Active Member
Originally Posted by AZReefGirl
When calculating anything for the size 29 Biocube, just keep in mind that it does NOT hold 29 gallons. It only holds about 23 gallons of water, and that's without LR or sand.
I'm not familiar with the biocubes... does it really only hold ~23gallons, or is the "display" area only 23g?
 

azreefgirl

Member
Originally Posted by jacksonpt
I'm not familiar with the biocubes... does it really only hold ~23gallons, or is the "display" area only 23g?
Nope, the whole thing only holds 23 gallons. I brought home 30 gallons of water and had 7 gallons left over after filling everything. Notice that the Biocubes are marked as "Size 29", "Size 14", and "Size 8". There is no mention on the box nor in the owner's manual of what it's capacity is in gallons.
I have no clue of why they call it a Size 29...
 

catawaba

Active Member
I'd use 2 MJ powerheads....one for the return (1200), and another hidden behind/within your rockwork (900)
 

agent-x

Member
I wouldn't think that any of the cubes hold what they state they do. Once you add substrate and LR you have displaced an amount of water. Not that it's going displace 6 gallons, but that could acount for some variance.
 

agent-x

Member
Originally Posted by jacksonpt
You'll want a powerhead that gives a flow rate of 15-20 times the volume of your tank. So if you have a 29g tank, look for a pump that gives somethign in the range of 400-600gph.
Thanks for the advice.
 

jacksonpt

Active Member
Originally Posted by AGENT-X
I wouldn't think that any of the cubes hold what they state they do. Once you add substrate and LR you have displaced an amount of water. Not that it's going displace 6 gallons, but that could acount for some variance.
yea, that's basically teh case with any tank. Rated volume for a tank is strictly water volume. Anytime you add anything to a tank it displaces water and as such, the water volume is reduced.
But you're right... in a "29g" tank, sand and LR shouldn't displace 7g of water... or so I wouldn't think.
 

azreefgirl

Member
Originally Posted by jacksonpt
yea, that's basically teh case with any tank. Rated volume for a tank is strictly water volume. Anytime you add anything to a tank it displaces water and as such, the water volume is reduced.
But you're right... in a "29g" tank, sand and LR shouldn't displace 7g of water... or so I wouldn't think.
No, it held 23 gallons with NOTHING else in it! I added water to a completely empty tank, when it reached the fill line, I had 7 gallons of water left over from my original 30 gallons! I am aware of the concept of displacement, and do understand that the tank will hold even less water once sand and LR is in it. But this was 23 gallons of water, period.
 

agent-x

Member
Originally Posted by AZReefGirl
No, it held 23 gallons with NOTHING else in it! I added water to a completely empty tank, when it reached the fill line, I had 7 gallons of water left over from my original 30 gallons! I am aware of the concept of displacement, and do understand that the tank will hold even less water once sand and LR is in it. But this was 23 gallons of water, period.
wow, that's crazy, but like you side it says it's model 29. so maybe it's really not a 29. Has anyone filled a JBJ, Aquapod to see what it holds in comparisson to what it says?
 

jacksonpt

Active Member
Originally Posted by AGENT-X
wow, that's crazy, but like you side it says it's model 29. so maybe it's really not a 29. Has anyone filled a JBJ, Aquapod to see what it holds in comparisson to what it says?
I do a 5g water change in my AP12 and I end up replacing pretty darn close to half the water in my tank. So when you figure I've got 20lbs of LS and ~16lbs of LR, I figure it's pretty close to 12g total volume.
 
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