The 29 gallon BioCube Build

[YLChik]

hope all is well with you and yours, we have had several directional changes over the years and they can be exciting, stressful and time consumming all at the same time - just remember to post thoes pics once a month to stay in the game

[drdude05]

Everything is going ok Amy, and I'll try to get some updated pics posted. Just going through some of those life changes that seem to happen every once and a while.

[drdude05]

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but I have been having temp issues to the point that it has postponed adding horses to the tank. After much thought, I am going to redesign my nano. I am thinking of drilling the 20 and building a durso overflow, building my own sump and skimmer for this tank, and possibly drilling a return. This or I may keep the HOB skimmer only build a better one than the CPR I have now and drill the tank for a closed loop and use a LG 2MDQX-SC that I have lying around to power the CL. Details and pics to come.

[YLChik]

i too am having temp issues.... grrr silly temp!
good luck with the new plan!

[drdude05]

Well, the plan has revised again. I picked up an Oceanic 29 gallon Biocube over the weekend and I am thinking of trying the horse tank again. Either that or possibly a softy reef. Anyway, I have several mods planned for the tank.

1. Remove all the bioballs from the second filtration chamber and mod it to fit a Tunze 9002 DOC skimmer.

2. Upgrade the 243 gph stock pump to a 350 gph Rio 6HF and lose the 90 degree fitting on the return. Will plumb with flex tubing directly from the pump to the return fitting. I'm hoping I won't lose much flow with eliminating the 90 degree elbow.

3. I'm thinking of adding loc line 1/2" to the return and split it with a Y fitting. One arm will have the 1 1/4" flare nozzle pointed at the surface for aggitiation, the second arm will be fitted with a Hydor Flo to create random water current.

4. Will take out the false floor in chamber 1 to make it bigger, and use it to house my 100W stealth heater.

I'm planning on having a shallow sand bed and using either Fiji or tonga rock for the display. Haven't worked out the stocking list yet.

[fish.freak]

dont get the Hf there even worsen then the regular, get the rio 1000, if you want rio. I have the 4hf and the impeller locked up and doesnt work, the same thing happened to one at work.

decided to go with tunes doc, huh? how much will you have to mod the lid?

[drdude05]

It looks like I'll need to cut or dremel the inside lip on the top back trim and a lip in the back of the hood so there is relief of the skimmer cup, otherwise I think it will fit.

Will the Rio 1000 fit in the 3rd chamber?

[fish.freak]

not sure if it will fit

[drdude05]

Ok, after some investigation, here is the current parts list for the BioCube.

Tunze 9002 DOC skimmer
Rio 6HF pump
Hydor Flo
Stealth 100W heater
1/2" Loc Line Y fitting
1/2" Loc Line
1/2" Loc Line 1 1/4" flare nozzle

It looks like the grated bottom of chamber one is indeed removable. Thus, I'll be removing it to make room for the Stealth heater. I have also found a 9W UV sterlizer that will fit into this chamber along with the heater. Any suggestions as to weather or not it would be benifical to add a UV sterlizer to the system?

I plan to remove all the bioballs from chamber two and mod the chamber to fit the Tunze 9002 DOC. After reading about this particular skimmer, I have found that it seems to be sensitive to the water level as far as tuning it for optimal skimming. I plan to add an ATO system to maintain proper water levels for optimal skimming. I'm still trying to decide weather to use a five gallon bucket, or an AGA 5 1/2 gallon tank as the reservoir. Both will fit, its a matter of deciding where I want the shelf that comes with the stand to fit. I will need to mod a relief in the back of the shelf to allow for the ATO lines to pass.

The third chamber will house the Rio 6HF pump as the new main return pump. It pumps 350 gph where the stock pump is rated at 243 gph. I plan to use the 1/2 loc line to split the return into a side that terminates in the 1 1/4" flare nozzle pointed at the surface for surface aggitaiton. The other side will terminate in the hydor flo for a rotating variable current.

More to come, with pictures.

[drdude05]

The equipment has been ordered. I also decided to pickup a lighting upgrade for the biocube. I found a site that offers a retrofit PC system that adds an additional 2 PC's to the stock PC's for a total of 144W of PC light. It also includes an upgrade to 5 LED moonlights that are independentally controlable. Pics are coming.

[Wiskey]

Sounds like a great system! I'll be interested to see how all this comes together. Make sure you take plenty of pics of the upgrades.

Did you decide if you are going to go softie reef or horses yet?

Whiskey

[drdude05]

I think I'm going to do a softie reef and scrap the horse idea. Mostly due tot he fact that I'm having issues keeping the tank cool enough. I can hit temps of 77-79 degrees which is great for a reef but a little too high for horses. I thought about a chiller, but decided I didn't want to buy one.

[zero186]

hmm any pics i think its been over a month

[drdude05]

Looks like everything should show up today except the skimmer and the Rio 6HF. I'm hoping the skimmer gets delivered tomorrow. Pics are coming I promise.

[drdude05]

Ok, as promised ... here are the long awaited pictures of my new Oceanic Biocube 29 project.

First are some shots of the unmodded stock setup including the tank, unmodded back filter chambers, and the stand.






Back filter chamber



Here's a pic of the stock lighting. Two 36W coralife PC's one 10K and one actinic.