I have some n00b questions regarding bc 29

[Brownbearhair]

So again I am super New to the reefing world and salt water in general. I have a bc 29 that has been set up for a few months now and I'm just not really happy with all the stock parts.

So I guess my questions can be all lumped into a few.

What are the necessary upgrades for a bio cube and what is a waste of time and money?

What is the best way to upgrade the lighting without removing the lid?( may remove it at a later time)

Best upgrade for return pump?

And lastly do protein skimmers really do anything in a tank this small? (I do 5gal water changes once a week)

Sorry if I'm badgering you guys with stupid questions I just want my tiny reef to be amazing, and not waste mass amounts of cash.

Thank you in advance for any and all help

[joines77]

Intank media baskets

Filter floss

Chemipure blue

Regular water changes with ro/did water and a good power head for water movement would be a great start.

[Brownbearhair]

Intank media baskets

Filter floss

Chemipure blue

Regular water changes with ro/did water and a good power head for water movement would be a great start.

Definitely working on the intank I'm just a bit low on funds at the moment.

I use an ro buddie for my w/c and do them once a week.

And have 2 circulation pumps running ( don't remember the ghp for the life of me right now though)

So I feel like I might be doing okay, just gotta work on that filtration I suppose.

Do you know of and good return pumps to replace the stock with? I would like to get a higher turn over rate and it would help add more flow as well

[Tamberav]

nano-box for best light, can keep the hood and do a retro.

[Brownbearhair]

nano-box for best light, can keep the hood and do a retro.

Holy hell those are some pricey lights.

Which one out of them would be best for the 29bc and are they the only good light replacements that will allow me to keep the hood on?

[Tamberav]

Holy hell those are some pricey lights.

Which one out of them would be best for the 29bc and are they the only good light replacements that will allow me to keep the hood on?

 

Rapid LED and Steves LED's I think are still around for retrofit kits.

 

Lots of cheaper lights if you remove the hood. If you can save up and get the light you really want, that saves $ in the long run.

[vegasgundog]

I did Steve's leds, loved them. Did inTank media with diy fuge light, auto top off and cobalt mj 1200 return pumps upgrade. Took off fronthe and back lids, set a computer fan over back for temp control and made and egg crate grill for the front hatch.

[Reef Hollister]

Upgrade the pump

InTank media basket

Retrofit light kit (Rapid LED or Steve's LEDs)

 

Like everyone else said.

[ReefWeeds]

Welcome to NR! And honestly, don't worry about badgering with questions. We like to help

 

Here's what I did with my BC 29, what I felt was worth it and what I think can be skipped:

 

1. upgraded pump to Cobalt Aquatics MJ1200 (this one: http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Cobalt-Aquatics-MJ1200-Powerhead-Pump-MJ1200.htm )

2. Added InTank media and fuge baskets with a fuge light - I removed the fuge basket after a couple months as I didn't feel the space in rear chambers is big enough to really have a fuge help. IMO, the media basket is a must. I ran floss in the first shelf and purigen in the second.

3. Upgraded the lights to the Nanobox retro fit kit (large). It was easy to install and cut down on the heat in the tank significantly. Since I have curious cats, I needed to keep the hood. Plus, I felt the BC looked weird without the hood since it has the big rim.

4. Added a tunze 9001 skimmer - I don't feel this is a necessary upgrade. I didn't feel it really did anything.

5. Added an IM desktop reactor mini and ran carbon in it - this I felt was key to keeping leather toxins out of my water since I had quite a few softies and leathers mixed in with SPS and LPS.

6. Added two koralia powerheads to the display

7. Added an ATO - a must IMO

8. Got an RODI system

 

 

So the only upgrades I did that I didn't feel were worth it was the skimmer and the fuge basket.

[Brownbearhair]

Awesome thank you guys so much, I'm off to do more research on products and see just about how much everything is. Again thank you all for your help and recommendations I really appreciate it

[Brownbearhair]

Welcome to NR! And honestly, don't worry about badgering with questions. We like to help

 

Here's what I did with my BC 29, what I felt was worth it and what I think can be skipped:

 

1. upgraded pump to Cobalt Aquatics MJ1200 (this one: http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Cobalt-Aquatics-MJ1200-Powerhead-Pump-MJ1200.htm )

2. Added InTank media and fuge baskets with a fuge light - I removed the fuge basket after a couple months as I didn't feel the space in rear chambers is big enough to really have a fuge help. IMO, the media basket is a must. I ran floss in the first shelf and purigen in the second.

3. Upgraded the lights to the Nanobox retro fit kit (large). It was easy to install and cut down on the heat in the tank significantly. Since I have curious cats, I needed to keep the hood. Plus, I felt the BC looked weird without the hood since it has the big rim.

4. Added a tunze 9001 skimmer - I don't feel this is a necessary upgrade. I didn't feel it really did anything.

5. Added an IM desktop reactor mini and ran carbon in it - this I felt was key to keeping leather toxins out of my water since I had quite a few softies and leathers mixed in with SPS and LPS.

6. Added two koralia powerheads to the display

7. Added an ATO - a must IMO

8. Got an RODI system

 

 

So the only upgrades I did that I didn't feel were worth it was the skimmer and the fuge basket.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I've only been on here a few days and have found so much useful info and lost of friendly readers.

All of your upgrades sound legit as can be

I also feel the same way about a topless biocube it just looks odd. Though I have seen some people cut the off rim and it looks really clean I just feel feel like it would be a waste.

I think I will hold off and save up for a nano box because it would probably be better in the long run.

And I have noticed the intank is a must so that's definitely happening.

I was also thinking of the tunze 9001 but just wasn't sure how my If it would actually do.much in such a small tank with weekly 5 gal w/c.

Ato is a must I'm tired of topping off every day hahah.

As for the media reactor I'm still not 100% on what exactly they do. And is you get it to fit in your chambers or is it outside of the tank?

[ReefWeeds]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I've only been on here a few days and have found so much useful info and lost of friendly readers.

All of your upgrades sound legit as can be

I also feel the same way about a topless biocube it just looks odd. Though I have seen some people cut the off rim and it looks really clean I just feel feel like it would be a waste.

I think I will hold off and save up for a nano box because it would probably be better in the long run.

And I have noticed the intank is a must so that's definitely happening.

I was also thinking of the tunze 9001 but just wasn't sure how my If it would actually do.much in such a small tank with weekly 5 gal w/c.

Ato is a must I'm tired of topping off every day hahah.

As for the media reactor I'm still not 100% on what exactly they do. And is you get it to fit in your chambers or is it outside of the tank?

 

I was in the same boat as you! Wasn't sure what they did/how they worked. The IM Desktop Mini fits in the chambers easily. It's very small. You can run things like bioplastics, GFO, carbon, anything that needs a fluidized reactor to run. Not necessary, but passive carbon wasn't working as well for me with all the softie toxins in my tank. So rather than running purigen and carbon in the media basket, I just added the purigen and ran the carbon in the reactor. Not necessary, but it worked for me.