Too much flow for an 8 gallon biocube?

brent23

brent23

Member
Hey guys, I just recently purchased an 8 gallon biocube to start a nano reef. I currently have a 36 gallon FOWLR and i've been wanting to start a reef tank. Well I purchased a Koralia Nano 425 because that was the smallest pump they had at my LFS, but now i'm worried it may be way too much flow for my tank once you factor in the filter also. I'm getting over 500 gph. Is that overkill? I"m thinking it might be. Right now i only have 8 lbs of live rock and 10 lbs of live sand because i am cycling it. If it is overkill i'll have to put that one in my 36 and order the koralia nano 225. Thanks for the help guys.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Honestly, that might be a little much in an 8G. I have the 240GPH model in my 14G and that seems to be just about right, maybe a little low.
 
nissan577

nissan577

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by brent23 http:///forum/thread/383515/too-much-flow-for-an-8-gallon-biocube#post_3354864
Hey guys, I just recently purchased an 8 gallon biocube to start a nano reef. I currently have a 36 gallon FOWLR and i've been wanting to start a reef tank. Well I purchased a Koralia Nano 425 because that was the smallest pump they had at my LFS, but now i'm worried it may be way too much flow for my tank once you factor in the filter also. I'm getting over 500 gph. Is that overkill? I"m thinking it might be. Right now i only have 8 lbs of live rock and 10 lbs of live sand because i am cycling it. If it is overkill i'll have to put that one in my 36 and order the koralia nano 225. Thanks for the help guys.
is your sand being moved around? if not then the flow is fine and you can play with the corals and place them in the right spot.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
If you feel its too much, I think there is a "designed for" PH that is small for these little tanks. I am curious as to where you got the 8 gal biocube and can you post a pic with something to reference for size? I am thinking about making the fluval chi into a mini reef with nothing but zoas as the corals.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/383515/too-much-flow-for-an-8-gallon-biocube#post_3354883
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383515/too-much-flow-for-an-8-gallon-biocube#post_3354882
8G BioCubes are easy to find, none by you?
nope, not even the 14 or 16 sizes. All the 24 or 29 sizes. I was wondering if the 8 gal can be retrofitted to hold the MH lights from the 29 HQI setup.
That's so weird. BioCubes are all over down here. I have a halide clipped over my 14G, it was very easy.
 
brent23

brent23

Member
Thanks for the replies guys, I will try to post pics as soon as i can find the USB cord for my digital camera lol. The 8 gallon version of the biocube is a little bit more difficult to find than the 14 and 29, but the one i purchased was a display tank at my LFS for a few months and he offered it to me for 60 bucks...couldn't pass it up plus he put in brand new lights for me and it runs great with no problems. The sand doesn't blow around like crazy but u can see a few pieces of sand blow around occasionally....I'm thinking about pointing the koralia nano toward the surface to create waves on the surface plus it may help to lower the flow rate a little bit? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks again.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
more surface agitation means you will have better co2 to o2 conversion. If the sand isnt making a sand storm, your probably ok.
And yea, for $60, I would have picked it up too.
 
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