biocube 14 setup and cycling

[pepper815]

Ive got a bio cube 14 with 14 pounds of cured live rock, live sand, ocean water. Ive just added a heater inside the 1st chamber and removed the false floor. Half of the bio balls r out and have been replaced with Fluval Biomax. i also have the bio cube protein skimmer up and running in chamber 1 with the heater. Now how long should it take 2 cycle considering all the sand, rock, water is live? Is there a better form of filtration for chamber 2? I also plane 2 upgrade the return pump and add a hydro FLO, a Koralia magnum nano pump for inside tank flow. Please give me impute.

[Loverotties]

Take out bio balls and Bio max and your rock is your filter ,with all that other stuff will just raise your Nitrates,which you don't want.

[pepper815]

what about the cycling? and what should i put in there instead?

[reginanmc]

You'll need to test your water to see when it's cycled, should take a 2-3 weeks.

As for the center chamber, I run mine as a refugium, with Cheato and a few pieces of rubble rock with a pond light running opposite my overhead light. if you fill it with too much rubble or run the bio balls you run the risk of major nitrate problems in a few months.

got any pics?

[pepper815]

i should have some pics soon........ is there any way u could show me a pic of ur 2nd chamber? and also wont live rock promote the same problem as bio balls and or biomax?

[reginanmc]

my build tread is in my signature.

i modeled my chambers after this (i found it on another forum), i don't have any rubble in the first chamber. this was designed for a BC8, but i've it used in a BC14 as well.

[pepper815]

the is a perfect little pic!

[pepper815]

my tank has been running for a week now and i have some crabs a snails....will this sudden change of filtration kill then a start a new cycle in the tank?

[steveoutlaw]

They should be just fine.

[domingo420]

what if mines been up and running for like 3 months and the bio balls are in there still..would it matter if i just took out the bio balls or should i not since i didnt take it out on the first place...

any advice is appreciated.

[reginanmc]

Originally Posted by domingo420

what if mines been up and running for like 3 months and the bio balls are in there still..would it matter if i just took out the bio balls or should i not since i didnt take it out on the first place...

any advice is appreciated.

you should be able to take them out without problems. Reality is, they pose more of a threat being in then they do you taking them out.

[domingo420]

Originally Posted by reginanmc

you should be able to take them out without problems. Reality is, they pose more of a threat being in then they do you taking them out.

i appreciate the quick response..i should post some pics..thanks for taking time out.

[Franco B]

Originally Posted by reginanmc

my build tread is in my signature.

i modeled my chambers after this (i found it on another forum), i don't have any rubble in the first chamber. this was designed for a BC8, but i've it used in a BC14 as well.

thats really cool! so u just put in a light in there for the chaeto? do you have a pic of it? i just put salt and sand in my bc14 today and thinking of putting some live rock tomorrow. thanks

[J-LUIS]

Ya that's one thing I like to know how do you get the light to the chaeto when you have filter floss on top of it?