Biocube vs. Standard Tank

[Sweetpickles7]

Well after a year out of the game, the hobby has drawn me back. I decided it was a good idea to take down all my tanks upon entering college, but i feel like it was a mistake now. Id like to know what you all think about your biocubes. ive done alot of research lately on them and i believe they are the most cost efficient thing for me at the moment. The largest tank size im supposed to have is 5gal in my dorm but i think i can get away with the 8gal. My concern is that in all of my research it seems to me that everyone makes modifications to there biocubes. Id like to not have to make to many modifications to mine if possible, just dont want the headache. I understand the switch to filter floss, plus its an easy fix. So for people who have had them, better to get the biocube or buy everything individually and put it together? Also remember i am in college and play baseball so the less headaches i have trying to fix the tank the better. Thank you.

[paneubert]

Where do you go to college? I can tell you from experience (I was an RA, then an Assistant Hall Director, then a Residence Director) that the Residence Hall Staff will have no idea what size your tank is. So that should not be an issue. Also, most will say the limit is 10G since that is a standard tank that most "non fish" people would assume is as small as they come.

[Dolphins18]

if you get a biocibe first thing you need to do is get rid of the bioballs..then get a media basket, like 50 dollars from intank..you can get by with just that for mods, although a fuge, upgraded light, can be helpful

[aquariumdude]

I think first you need to ask yourself what do you want to keep. Then go from there.

 

Just my .02 cents.

[Sweetpickles7]

I dont want to have to mess with a fuge quite at the moment. That might be something i change when i come home in the summer. Light will be fine because i enjoy the lower light corals anyways, like zoas and mushrooms. Its when i look at other peoples threads and they have taken everything out of the back and replaced them with cheato live rock egg crates and multiple other things that i get confused. Im not quite sure what u mean when u say media basket. To me media means filter so filter basket? Cost wise though this is my most efficient route correct? plus i just prefer the sleek look of a biocube compared to an ordinary tank.

Aquariumdude: I plan on stocking with low light corals such as zoa's and mushrooms maybe a few others.

As for stock i was thinking of a very efficent clean up crew, cleaner shrimp, and i have yet to decide on the fish. Im not sure if i want a clown fish or a small wrasse. still up in the air.

[Dolphins18]

I dont want to have to mess with a fuge quite at the moment. That might be something i change when i come home in the summer. Light will be fine because i enjoy the lower light corals anyways, like zoas and mushrooms. Its when i look at other peoples threads and they have taken everything out of the back and replaced them with cheato live rock egg crates and multiple other things that i get confused. Im not quite sure what u mean when u say media basket. To me media means filter so filter basket? Cost wise though this is my most efficient route correct? plus i just prefer the sleek look of a biocube compared to an ordinary tank.

Aquariumdude: I plan on stocking with low light corals such as zoa's and mushrooms maybe a few others.

As for stock i was thinking of a very efficent clean up crew, cleaner shrimp, and i have yet to decide on the fish. Im not sure if i want a clown fish or a small wrasse. still up in the air.

 

 

ill show you a link to the media basket, what you do is gut the bioballs, and put the media basket there..i use filter floss on the top level, purigen in the middle, and chemi pure on the bottom.

its very simple, trust me i was confused at first to but watch the video at the bottom of the page it will help you out.

 

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube-8-Med...asket-BC8MR.htm

[aquariumdude]

I dont want to have to mess with a fuge quite at the moment. That might be something i change when i come home in the summer. Light will be fine because i enjoy the lower light corals anyways, like zoas and mushrooms. Its when i look at other peoples threads and they have taken everything out of the back and replaced them with cheato live rock egg crates and multiple other things that i get confused. Im not quite sure what u mean when u say media basket. To me media means filter so filter basket? Cost wise though this is my most efficient route correct? plus i just prefer the sleek look of a biocube compared to an ordinary tank.

Aquariumdude: I plan on stocking with low light corals such as zoa's and mushrooms maybe a few others.

As for stock i was thinking of a very efficent clean up crew, cleaner shrimp, and i have yet to decide on the fish. Im not sure if i want a clown fish or a small wrasse. still up in the air.

 

If you want to just keep the lower light colors, I would just get a biocube or any other all in one tank and leave it alone until you feel it's fit or time to change things. I would whoever remove the bioballs at the vary least because you will have liverock anyways in the tank and that will handle your bioload. I've heard and seen numerous times where bioballs cause problems in the long road.

[Dolphins18]

If you want to just keep the lower light colors, I would just get a biocube or any other all in one tank and leave it alone until you feel it's fit or time to change things. I would whoever remove the bioballs at the vary least because you will have liverock anyways in the tank and that will handle your bioload. I've heard and seen numerous times where bioballs cause problems in the long road.

 

 

bioballs will make nitrates go uppp in the long if you keep them.

[DPRoberts]

I dont want to have to mess with a fuge quite at the moment. That might be something i change when i come home in the summer. Light will be fine because i enjoy the lower light corals anyways, like zoas and mushrooms. Its when i look at other peoples threads and they have taken everything out of the back and replaced them with cheato live rock egg crates and multiple other things that i get confused. Im not quite sure what u mean when u say media basket. To me media means filter so filter basket? Cost wise though this is my most efficient route correct? plus i just prefer the sleek look of a biocube compared to an ordinary tank.

 

I agree with you on the appearance issue & ease of maintenance. I had a Biocube 8 for a year or so, & recently moved up to a 12g AIO. I must say that the 12g is, so far, more stable and easier to take care of. OTOH, it's well over your regulated limit, and & would be harder to fit into an already crowded dorm room.

 

As for the refugium - those back chambers are already there, you don't really have to "do" anything with them. Most people (myself included) just choose not to put the bioballs & such that come with the tank in there. You're probably better off just leaving the bioballs, sponges, ceramic rings, or whatever out, & letting those chambers run empty, rather than using the "system" that came with it.

 

 

IF you eventually decide you want to do something with those back chambers, buy a small bunch of chaeto from an LFS (or find a fellow reefer who has some, & will undoubtedly give it to you), and throw it in there. Just by doing that you're 90% of the way to what most people have in a refugium. It may not grow particularly well without a light, but that's easy to add later. Or, buy a small jar of Chemi-Pure (it comes sealed in a small bag), and just drop it in there - you don't really NEED a media basket or any of that stuff (sorry, SteveT). The media basket just makes things easier to organize & makes any media you decide to use more efficient. InTank does make one for a Biocube 8, which you can see here (see, I gave you guys a plug - feel better?). There's a video on that site that shows how it all works.

 

Personally, I haven't bothered with organizing all that stuff, mostly because no one makes media baskets for either of my tanks. I probably would buy a rack for both of them, if they existed. I may get around to buying some eggcrate and organizing my tanks myself, eventually.

[Sweetpickles7]

Thanks, i already planned on scrapping the bioballs. If everyone makes this mod, then why doesnt the company just start installing these media baskets into the system? lol. However i feel like i can already make my own mod to the system. I prefer not to use chemical filtration in SW tanks, just told not to use them when i first started and i still follow to this day. Would it all work the same if i placed an eggrate like tray at the top of the second chamber like it shows, and just put filter floss in it? id just be taking out the bottom two trays essentially that the media basket has. Although i could give cheato a try too.

[Dolphins18]

Thanks, i already planned on scrapping the bioballs. If everyone makes this mod, then why doesnt the company just start installing these media baskets into the system? lol. However i feel like i can already make my own mod to the system. I prefer not to use chemical filtration in SW tanks, just told not to use them when i first started and i still follow to this day. Would it all work the same if i placed an eggrate like tray at the top of the second chamber like it shows, and just put filter floss in it? id just be taking out the bottom two trays essentially that the media basket has. Although i could give cheato a try too.

 

im sure that would probly work. idk though i have the 29.

[Pickle010]

I hear you about not liking chemical filtration but some carbon is good to have on hand even if you don't run it all the time. Not just for aesthetics as it will polish the water or remove any yellow tint but also remove other toxins from the water.

 

Nine out of ten times when someone is having an issue in the tank most will recommend water changes and carbon. Something like chemipure is basically carbon and phosphate remover (chemipure elite). Depending on your water source both can be beneficial.

 

I don't use chemipure - I don't have a phosphate issue either, but I always have carbon on hand even if I don't run it constantly... When I do add it to a tank - the difference is night and day as to the water clarity.

 

Water changes will fix most issues but running carbon certainly never hurt.

[clownfish14]

if you want a slick looking tank with the all in one feature check out picoaquariums.com they have some sick looking tanks

[Reef Diver]

+1 for a dorm tank. I have an 8g biocube for college right now. Back in high school I had a standard 10g tank. The AIO biocube has a much cleaner look. Although I bet nobody will respect the corals they definitely would love it if you stocked a 'nemo'. Even the maintenance guys like my 'nemo.'

 

I got the InTank basket to hold some media and the filter floss (still working on the same cheapo bag.) I also picked up a light for chaeto but haven't had the nitrates to use it yet. Lighter stocking = less work. Chemical media will make your water shine. Not necessary though.

 

As far as mandatory mods beyond gutting the back I'd 1) Replace the stock pump and cut the tab between chamber 1 and 2. I was using the stock pump only to do water changes and it already died. 2) Cut the vents in the hood. 3) Rig something for the filter floss or use a media basket.

 

They are a pain to move every holiday break, however. I'm still working on bettering my system.

[Sweetpickles7]

Thanks! all this info is so help full. Reef Diver: luckily i only live an hour and a half away from home, and by the time id have to bring it home at the end of the year it will be warm here in illinois. Pickle: i will certainly keep carbon on hand now. Thank you. I assume cutting the tab between the chambers increases flow? Also ill have to do some research on where the pump is, is it easy to reach and replace? i was thinking of adding a karolia nano pump. but ive heard even that can be to much flow.

[Dolphins18]

Thanks! all this info is so help full. Reef Diver: luckily i only live an hour and a half away from home, and by the time id have to bring it home at the end of the year it will be warm here in illinois. Pickle: i will certainly keep carbon on hand now. Thank you. I assume cutting the tab between the chambers increases flow? Also ill have to do some research on where the pump is, is it easy to reach and replace? i was thinking of adding a karolia nano pump. but ive heard even that can be to much flow.

 

i just kept the stock pump and added a couple powerheads.

[jeff@zina.com]

My suggestion is an 8 gallon NanoCube/Biocube. Remove all the stock filter media. Chamber 1 (where the water flows in) put a bag of Chemi-Pure Elite in it, topped by a wad of filter floss. Chamber 2, put your heater. Chamber 3 is the return pump. At water changes, toss the filter floss and replace with new, the Chemi-Pure will last six months.

 

Add 8-12 pounds of live rock, preferably porous stuff and not the crappy base rock sold everywhere. You could do this with 10 pounds of Reef Saver rock from Bulk Reef Supply and a decent rock from your LFS or even PetCo with coraline on it. Add a ten pound bag of live sand (yeah, it's not live probably, but it's decent sand).

 

Once your tank cycles, 4 weeks or so, add your cleanup crew -- some Nassarius snails, a few ceriths and a couple blue leg hermits. Add your clown fish, or maybe a goby and a shrimp. Add some zoas, a GSP and maybe some hairy mushrooms (your clown may host in these). Enjoy the tank, show off to your friends and make the girls swoon with your setup. Believe me, chicks dig Nemo. Well, at least four-year-old chicks.

 

No mods needed.

 

Jeff

[GROSSR]

If you keep just Saltwater fish and no live rock you can use the Bioballs. Even though we see the words Reef in their advertising, I think most people get lured by Nemo and go to Petco and want a saltwater fishtank. All of my friends are so afraid of Saltwater it is amazing. So they pack them in there and advertise a complete system. Now more experienced or different minded folks get live rock, which I think is more aesthetic as well as other merits and ditch the bioballs.