Do any of your media racks involve removing the walls that seperate chambers? I'm interested in one for the biocube 14.

The vertical walls? No. I do know some cut the area that spills over into chamber two in the 14 and 8 for more flow. I may have to design something around that.


But for these to work in the Biocube tanks, all you need to do is remove the false floor in chamber two. Then it will just pop right in.

OK.. great. I've read where some do as you are saying... cut away some of the vertical wall to create more flow. Is that done with an exacto knife? How much to cut away? Can you direct me to that thread? Thank you for all you are doing!

If and when you have the Fuge rack for the Biocube 14 let me know I want one just let me know the price for it

I've cut the top of the wall between the first and second chambers in my BC8... I just used a razor blade and went slow and just made it level across, like this:


____________________________
---------------------- | FRONT <---
---------------------- |
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _|________________________________ BACK --->

Just cut across the dotted lines, all the way to the front, and then cut down at the front...

jaz3three, I'm also interested in doing something that might remove the wall between the second and third chamber... on the BC 8, the third chamber space is wasted, and I think you could do a lot more with the space if you just removed that wall... not sure if you would need to brace it or not though, and I haven't heard of anyone else doing this, but it would make for a decent sized 'fuge at least...

I don't actually have one set up. I have all BC tanks in my shop to design media racks, and I don't have a thread for you. This is all info I have gathered from talking to other members and from watching flow in the tanks that I have set up.


from what I have seen it looks like this:

So the cut will even out the lip where the water overflows. I get it. Honestly I'm surprised that it would alter the flow significantly, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

As far as the walls betweens chambers goes... I'm afraid if I change the walls than the water level in the 1st (intake) chamber will drop too low for my heater. What do you think? I have 3 chambers in the 14 and the 29 has 4, right? Does the 8 have 3 as well?

We're hijacking Steve's thread though.. we should take this to the All In One Forum?

As far as I know, they all have 3 chambers... and the cut only allows you to put more flow through. If you keep the stock pump, the flow will remain the same. The reason you make the cut is to allow for more flow if you upgrade the pump...

/End Hijack

That totally makes sense.. (the upgraded pump vs. stock pump). I'm actually planning on buying an MJ900.

now end hijack?

Steve--thank you for taking the time to post that pic!!

no prob on the questions. I have all three tanks here and they are all designed the same way with only size being the difference. The 29 has 3 chambers, same as the 14 and 8, they all look the same. The only difference is that the flow is reduced in the 14 and 8. The flow in the 29 is much higher and you do not need to do any cutting.

I need to think up a way to design the rack around the possiblility that owerns may cut the 14 and 8 as in that picture. That may be that I require that "mod" to be done. Or provide optional pieces to overcome the fact that people may not do that cutting.

Thinking on that one....

I do not recommend removing any walls for the simple fact that you will be changing the water level in chamber one, the best chamber for a heater. You will also be removing structural support for your false wall. A media rack will improve filtration greatly, the pump will pull water through the rack.

I am actually impressed they would design the tank with such low flow in the 14 and 8. Removing just the small area for spill over greatly increases flow.

Ok, so now I know the BioCube inside and out, crazy

I am very interested in one of your media racks for my BC29. I will follow this thread for more information!

Can you explain a little bit more about how you will be integrating a fuge into the media rack for Chamber 2?

Thanks so much!

Great, I should have the racks ready in a few days for those that don't want to wait for a final release date.

Right now, the rack will be one piece and the fuge will be another in the BC29. Since there is a lot of room, I can go with two racks so that you can manage one or the other. The fuge will more or less just provide an area to rest chaeto on, like a basket with flow. It will keep it off the bottom and protected from getting caught up in the flow of the pump.

It will also be much less in cost than the rack since it is much easier to build.... still working on prototypes for that, haven't build one yet.

Who has more tanks?

Helluva R&D Dept. right there bro!!!

Wow those look great. Keep up the good work.

[quote name='StevieT' date='Oct 22 2008, 02:22 PM' post='1868311']
Who has more tanks?

LOL!

let me guess...

Aquapod 24, Biocube 29, BC14, and BC8? You gonna set all those up or sell them once you're done?

correct. No, I will sell them, I have no need for all of those tanks, one is enough for me!

Hey Stevie, just tagging here to see what develops. You never know with these things and I am always looking for the "better" mousetrap.......

Hey stevie, i have one more question...

Will the flow to the third chamber increase,decrease or stay the same with the rack? Im asking if the level of the water should stay the same before and after the rack.

Thanks

I will be testing this again tonight once I put water back into the tank.

From my earlier tests, it was nothing too noticeable if you add water into the second chamber to bring the water level up.

Where does your water line sit currently in chamber 3? The water level with my rack in chamber two was about 3" bellow the top, enough to keep the second shelve in the rack submerged.

My chamber 3 water level is right were the flexible tubing meets the l-shape piece. Like that it stays really high and i can tell how much to top off every day.

From my first tests it was around that area as well.

I am going to be testing with a full bag of chemi pure tonight to see if that changes anything.

I run a full bag of chemi pure so this test will help me determine how high the water should when I buy your media rack.

I would think regardless of what you put in the media rack, the levels in both 2 and 3 should stay the same as they are connected at the bottom. Water always seeks it's own level.

The only think I can think of that would change that is if whatever media you put in the rack became clogged and wouldn't allow water to pass.

The water going from the display into chamber 1 and the flowing over the lip to chamber 2 will be determined by the GPH of your pump. The higher the flow rate, the more water will be pumped into chamber 1 flow into chamber 2 and then into the return chamber number 3. At this point it's just a basic cycle. Water in, water out.

correct.


Ok tank filled and media in. After you add water back to the second chamber, there is no difference in level. And as stated above the level of CH 2 and CH 3 are the same, right at the bend in that plastic piece that holds the hose. You can take some out or add some in if you want, pretty much user preferance.

Now my floss is brand new so some decrease may happen when that cloggs up, but I assume it will be only a slight decrease.

I will post some pictures soon.

And stevie.. you have no idea how tempted I am to buy one of those tanks from you. . . My wife would kill me, but.....

take your pick

and if you call in the next 10 minutes, every tank will include the wonderful and amazing inTank by StevieT media rack! Featured in popular science this rack does it all, scrubs, cleans, filters, lets you run a tank with a tang, a shark or even an octopus. Award winning, highly regarded and yet mysterious.

Call now our operators are standing by.

hmmm.... maybe this thread should be in the classifieds

Update on the flow levels in the BC29 with the rack







Floss, purigen, chemi pure









Cutting the lip out of the BC8 to provide more flow: hazmat



10 seconds later, cut down, then bend and break for the horzontal cut.

I must be a total weakling...oh no, I know....dull blade! Thats what it was. That and my girlie hands!

Real men use


How close are you to getting those media racks out I would be interested in one for the BC29.

I have BC29 racks made up. No official release yet but if you are interested, shoot me a PM. I am waiting to release them in full when I have a stocking level and have the Fuge rack done as well.

One thing I learned from the RSM racks is working from behind week after week is no fun. Easier to have things in stock so I can ship out in a day instead of a week.

Just an update for everyone.

The BC29 Media racks are being produced and stocked up, right now I have 8 ready to go
I want to stock up on more before doing an official release, but if you would like one sooner, contact me.

The BC29 Fuge is on the drawing table and should be finished and sent to production this week

The BC14 Rack/Fuge has not started as of yet but will be started this week/end

The BC8 Media rack/Fuge is being mass produced but needs to be tested in tank before sale

The Aquapod 24 Media rack is a concept in my head. I would say by the end of November begining of December something will be available.

Red Sea Max Racks/Cups are still selling like crazy

Ok, Fuge rack done, to be tested for function


BC29 Fuge Rack:






As it sits viewing from the rear of the tank, along side the media rack:

Well....It looks like I will be the first to test out the fuge/media rack!

I will post an update once I get it in my tank. I am getting the media/fuge rack for the BC29. I will hook up the 5.1 Leds from nanotuner for lights. It may be overkill, but what the heck! One thing that is going to be a real pain is getting the black plastic off on the back of the tank. My tank is set up about 3-4" off the wall so it should be fun scraping that off. I may post some pics if I have time. I am extremly busy with work and don't have the greatest digital camera.


Pete

Let us all know what you think Pete! Have you thought about a submersible light so no scraping is needed?

Hmmm...I have thought about it. I was a little worried about heat transfer and light out put. Do you think a submersible would work well? I have seen the submersible lights that other people have used online. What do you think?? I'm about to place my order for the leds from nanotuners, though they are kind of pricey $90!!

Thanks,

Pete

I don't know much about brand choice but LEDs shouldn't produce much if any heat underwater

I just ordered the 5 led fuge light from nano tuners. It was expensive and probably over kill but it should work great.

wow, $90 for Leds, seems expensive for just some light, but nothing around here is cheap I guess.

LoL...I'm feeling a bit of buyers remorse. For the money I just spent on the fuge I could of got a real nice skimmer. I hope my tank benefits from this! I'm sure all will work out.

Aw man......

Ahhh no big deal....I have a custom StevieT fuge rack coming!!! One thing is for sure...my biocube fuge will be growing a lot of chaeto with all of that light.

super chaeto, trim daily

So how's the BC14 fuge rack comin?

I will start a prototype this weekend, possibly earlier, I wish I had more time to work on these things, I only get 3-4 hours at night and the weekends.

Each order comes with an RO unit right?

haha, yeah, for an extra charge