To all BioCube owners, mainly on the 29 gallon model.

Are you against seeing filtration media through the intake grates? I am making a media basket for the tank, but I can imagine that seeing filter floss, chemi pure etc sort of ugly if you view it from the front of the tank through the grates.

I dont own one but my brother has a very nice one, i would think it would be downright ugly to see filter media

I think so as well, I can easily design the shelving of the rack to avoid seeing media, but then you do loose space to put that media.

Also, filter floss usually goes on top, but doing so in this tank puts that floss in view of the top intake area.

i hate it on my 14.looks like crap

haha, I figured! Looks like the design is to hide it.

BC 14 media rack next on the list

i always used the 2nd chamber on my bc8 for my media and refugium. i used the first chamber for my heater.

I thought of that as well, there is a lot of room in that second chamber. Most said that a rack would be better in the first chamber. I suppose I could design one for both areas, the second chamber could have a rack with a fuge area included, leaving the first chamber for the heater.

Are you going to make one for the 8 gallon? cause I need one of course!

The problem with the 8 gallon is water is sucked up through both top and bottom grates (I think???) then flows over the top to chamber 2. So if you put a media basket in there how would your water get thru the media? It's like it goes from front to back instead of top to bottom. In the RS it obviously gets pulled from the top down but does the BC do that?? I would love for you to design something cause everyone takes out the bio balls from chamber 2. And everyone has a different setup.

Oh yes, Biocube 14 then down to the 8 as well, nano cube etc over time

Right, the water moves differently, but it should still pull up through the media. I talked to people about baskets and they have home made models. They seem to work, apparently...

I have designed one today, and since the water moves up, I have to do everything opposite and keep the egg crates from floating up.

We will see how it works when I fill it up with water and test out media in the rack. If it is a huge fail, then I will make one for the second chamber so water comes in from the top, then down through the media like the RSM.... you could also do a fuge then and onto the pump chamber.

I hope it works, but I am glad I purchased the tank since this would be a mess just doing measurments online.


damn packers....

Hey StevieT, how much are your media baskets?

I would order one if it fit the second chamber. I always use Chamber 1 of the BioCube for my heater, since the water level in chamber one is always consistent. If I used Chamber 2 or 3, I risk the heater being out of water if I forget to top the tank off for a few days or something.

For that reason, I stuff media in chamber 2. Same with my BioCube 8 at work.

PM me, let me know the prices. Lets see some pics!

Jason



That idea would be PERFECT. My 'fuge is below my Filter Floss in chamber 2.

thanks for the advice. So maybe chamber one isn't the best for a rack then. I am not against having two models though, I guess I should just design one for both chambers while the tank is still dry.

PMing on my pricing which always include shipping.

Alright, so chamber one is looking more and more like a no.

I don't like the rack there, I don't like tring to hide media, and it is labor intensive to do that, which increases costs.

Chamber two is great, huge awesome, but water levels are a concern. Filling the tank now to figure things out. I am guessing people remove plastic from chamber 1 to increase flow into the 2nd chamber?

Ya... make the media crate for chamber 2. It will be easier and the water only enters the top so that you can have the first section for floss and the rest can be other media. And i also like the heater in chamber 1 cuz of constant water.

cool, that is what everyone is saying now. I guess my first topic was full of people that thought chamber 1 was the better option, dummies

Is this a normal water level for chamber 2? Some are saying lower BC models like the BC8 only fill 1/3 of the way with water.

I don't know about a 'normal' water level, but here is how I keep my water level ... I've heard of a few others doing this as well.

Chambers 2 & 3 should always have the same water level. I fill the water up so that in Chamber THREE, the water line sits right where the stock (green) tube coming out of the pump meets the elbow "L" bracket that feeds the water into the tank.

Jason

That is where mine was resting as well, and yes 2 and 3 have to have the same level since they are tied together.

Kind of a waste of a sunday since I messed around with chamber 1 for so long. Design is on the paper and prototype should be made up tomorrow night! Rack and fuge put toghether, should be sweet looking.

How do you keep your water at this level? I have an 8 gallon BC. Chamber 2 and 3 are lower than 1.

Not sure about the 14 and 8 but for the 29 you just keep adding water. I keep my 29 just as the pics show. Looking forward to the design.

I dont use any filter media in chamber 1. Everything is in chamber 2.

Hey StevieT, another thing to consider ....

Do you have the BC29 hood? I don't have my BC29 in front of me right now, but I do know that the hood isn't hinged -- but there is an access door on the back for the 3 chambers. I would make sure that the Media Tray for the second chamber fits out that access door ... otherwise we'd have to remove the entire hood in order to remove the media tray.

Jason

Jason-

Good point, yes I have the entire tank, bought it new. But I did not install the hood as of yet, I will do that and make sure it will be easy to drop in.

BC14
I keep my water exactly the same. I have a JBJ ATO and i set the sensor on the second peg. Keeps the water level even with the elbow in both chambers.

I tried to make a basket to hold my filter media over soon to be fuge in chamber 2. Chamber 1 holds my chiller pump, and heater. Chamber 2 hold all of the media and the soon to be fuge. Chamber 3 holds the return pump, sensor for ATO, and return from chiller.

I think a media tray for the second tray would be an excellent idea. Post pics whenever you get the chance so I can see what its gonna turn out to be.

Thanks!

My plan for the BC29 is for two racks. One for media, one for a fuge. Prototype is testing right now, I had to think outside the box or the RSM Becuase of the shelving that is buit in for bio balls, it doesn't let the rack sit tight in there causing water to leak out of the sides. Problem solved, water is now forced all the way through the media like it should be improving filtration.

I don't have the BC14 as of yet but it sounds like a dual rack for media and fuge would work best becuase the filtration chamber is a bit smaller. I probably will pick that tank up soon to design a rack. It is much easier than taking dimentions over emails, plus I can test it in house to make sure eveything is perfect.


Edit: purchased the BC14 and the BC8 today from the good doctors

Sounds good do you have any pics of it?

I just installed my fuge light today so am excited to get a media rack in.

no pics yet, those are still classified

But I did solve the problem with there being a lip on this tank, thus when the rack drops in, it isn't water tight. Media rack will force the water through the filtration elements, just like with the RSM rack, this gives you an estimated 487% better filtration rate


what kind of light? I am interested in seeing if more use a Submersible light or you put it on the lid.

I used a velcroed light to the back of the glass.

Link to my thread:

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...t&p=1851074

Just keep adding water next time you do a water change. I haven't figured out why they had a min/max level on this thing. I've got an 8 gal bio that I've finally got brave enough to use the second chamber for media. Altho I still use the OEM filter in chamber 1 too. I don't really need a heater as I live in the desert and I spend most of my time trying to keep the water COOL not heat it up.

I'm interested in a rack for the second chamber for the 8 gal. Something that can hold a bag of Chemi-pure, purigen and filter floss perhaps? Don't really see a need for a fuge.. . ..

I agree, the water min max line seems to be a total waste!

The rack for the BC8 will give you a choice of what you want to run. Floss, or chateo or both on top, then other media bellow.

The BC14 and 8 will be in my shop Monday/Tuesday, I will probably have a chance to look at prototype racks this coming weekend.

Sounds good. I want one when you finish it up haha. Thanks

OK, want to make sure I understand...because I just did a water change and I put water into chamber 3 which then sent it out into the display tank. if I add water to chamber 2 then it will stay at that level? Did you make any mods to chamber 1? I still keep the stock filter cartridge in there too. So you are saying instead of minding the "max" level add more water until chamber 2 and 3 are full. and it wont overflow the back wall.
Thanks for the help! OK, Stevie...now it's your turn!

If the water levels act anything like the BC29, then adding water to the second chamber helps a lot. If you just add it to the tank or chamber three, it doesn't up the level since the pump expells faster than can be replenished.

Try adding it to chamber 2, it should hold at a higher level.

Sneak peak!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so impressed with this one.

This is a 4 sided rack. Since it doesnt sit flush in the chambers becuase of the plastic groves that extend out of the top and middle area of the chamber. So in order to force water through the rack like with my others, it needs to be boxed in.

This holds the issue that how do you change media if it is boxed in?! Stevie's got you!
Once side is removable, it slides down on a track. This rack also likes to sway to the right in the tank because of the flow pattern. So I have come up with a piece that holds it in place, and is removable for chaging media and also for shipping concerns since it stick out.

TO change media, just slide up the one side to access the middle and bottom shelve. Since floss is changed all the time, the top is accessible at all times without removing the media rack.

this is a prototype so craftmanship is a bit sloppy, production models will look much nicer.







Here you can see the bottom of the removable side, and the grove in which it slides in.







Stay hold piece, the groove is to slide into the plastic divider between chamber 1 and 2. It also directs the water into the middle of the rack.







All pieces to this media rack





Fuge rack for this tank to come next.....

looks nice, now you need to make me one for the aquapod 24.

Looks good. Just like the RSM rack with a few extra "special" pieces! Good job. Now get going on the 8 gallon fuge/media!!

J/K. I know there are more 29 and 14s out there. I'll just have to wait my turn....

after the BioCubes, Aquapods and nanocubes will be next! It takes about 2 weeks of design before anything is ready for production, so hopefully in a few months!

Looks really nice Stevie. Hopefully the BC14 isn't too far away from being designed.

Please put me down for a BC29 version!

you got it!

SWEET!

How much do you plan to sell these for?

I am not sure yet as I figure in material costs and labor time. On a production scale I will see how fast I can make them. As a guess, around $50 shipped for the rack

Sounds good, put me down for a BC14 one. Looking forward to this StevieT. Thanks for your contributions to the reef community.

I'm in for a biocube 8 model....

Looks great SteveT. I have a Remora skimmer and need to know how much of chamber two is used and if any of the rack sticks above the water line. I have my false floor removed but others may not. They may like a shorter rack. Then the water would flow straight through the bottom.

The rack right now is about 4 inches wide. You need to remove the false wall for any of this to work. Water levels differ in tanks but if you have a remora, I believe the water will sit OK for the water line. The top of the rack is mostly out of water, the water enters the floss which will be wet from that. the lower two shelves are under the water.

If I remember correctly, the Remora is about 4.7" wide, my rack is just under 4 and the second chamber is 9 total. So, they both can fit. If there is an issue, I can do custom orders and make a skinnier rack to accommodate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aquapod 24 purchased tonight

Can you make one fit in the second chamber of the biocube 14?

you know it!

All media racks will go in the second chamber of the BioCube tanks. I have all three tanks in my shop at this time and have prototypes for all tanks. After testing phase, mass production and up for sale.

Remember, right now I do EVERYTHING on my own and also have a "real" job.

All biocube racks will have an option for a fuge. The 14 and 8 models will be one rack per tank. The 29 will have two racks if wanted, one fuge and one media. The smaller tanks will have a fuge/media rack. If you don't want a fuge, you can run media only.

You take Paypal?

I sure do!

Would the estimated cost of $50 be any less for the BC8 model? Very good idea here... but I might make it myself, unless of course the cost makes sense

Yes, The BC8 and maybe even the 14 will be less in cost. I calculate eveything to include shipping. So on the BC29 rack, it is actually around $38 plus shipping.

The cost of materials if you were only going to make one rack would most likely be higher. You have to buy full sheets of acrylic, a full sheet of egg crate, so you will have some waste. Not to mention that for it to force water through the rack takes inclosing it in.

Well Just let me know when you've got an 8 gal version ready and how much. I'll paypal it to ya right away.