BioCube 32 — HELP

[baba.aqua]

Hello Everyone!

I just bought a used BioCube 32

It came with the live rock and water.

Lighting system, one lights missing but came with a light strip add on that suctions on.

In regards to the back chamber, 2nd chamber has only bio balls, that goes through a sponge into the pump in the third chamber.

- how often do i have to clean them/replace them?

- I’m looking for a good heater and i believe it should go into the third chamber with the pump. - any recommendations

- I’m going to upgrade the pump to a sicce 1.5 or 2

- should i add anything else for filtration ?

- I’m stuck on wave makers and how many i may need… (i want to build a community tank and some corals)

 

[TX_REEF]

congrats on the new tank! my comments:

• bio-balls shouldn't be cleaned, they are for biologicial filtration. They are also not really necessary if you have live rock, so you can remove them if you want.
• sponge filter should be cleaned regularly since it will restrict water flow as it get clogged. You can clean it weekly, or buy something like this and use scissors to cut it to the right size, and just replace it and throw the dirty stuff away and don't have to bother with cleaning filter media: https://amzn.to/4mCkmwK
• For heaters, I am a big fan of finnex titanium. Affordable, durable and reliable with an easy to use digital controller. I'd put the temperature probe into the first filter chamber, and the heater in the second chamber. If you put it in the third chamber, there is a risk of the chamber running dry which is very bad for the heater and can damage your tank: https://amzn.to/4pYsTgr
• Regarding your return pump, also check out hygger. They are reliable and affordable: https://amzn.to/3KFawwt
• For wave makers, I also recommend hygger, specifically the gyre pumps. They create widespread, gentle, chaotic flow that corals love. The controller is easy to use, and the unit is durable and easy to disassemble and maintain: https://amzn.to/4mw24gn
• bonus tip - the lights you have are good, but outdated. You might consider upgrading to a newer LED fixture. There are a lot of options these days, such as:
  • Noopscyhe l7 mini: https://noopsychereeflight.com/prod...WKgjnXWwvakpkr1w0SjIiFw1gQxLVfg4H_JLb_wuJaPte
  • kessil a160: https://amzn.to/4mAoTzB

 

[kevgib67]

I would place the heater in chamber one. Clean the sponge every other water change if doing them weekly. There is also a small sponge in the bottom of chamber three where the water flows from chamber two to chamber three. Rinse that as well. I just shake my ceramic media in the water I’m going to discard to dislodge any detritus built up clogging the pores. That is an older led light. I would get a new hood with the new leds or if you are planning on an SPS tank look up Steve’s leds, they come in the same hood. I’ll post a good video on filtration.

 

[kevgib67]

 

[baba.aqua]

I ran out and bought everything there today except for the :

Boyd Chemi Pure Elite full unit​

Debating if i should go that route or just sea ax carbon and SeaChem Matrix Purigen

 

[baba.aqua]

I would place the heater in chamber one. Clean the sponge every other water change if doing them weekly. There is also a small sponge in the bottom of chamber three where the water flows from chamber two to chamber three. Rinse that as well. I just shake my ceramic media in the water I’m going to discard to dislodge any detritus built up clogging the pores. That is an older led light. I would get a new hood with the new leds or if you are planning on an SPS tank look up Steve’s leds, they come in the same hood. I’ll post a good video on filtration.

Where could i find a new lid and which led would you recommend?

Wave maker and heater recommendation ?

 

[Sickness69]

Axis return pump is a good one that fits.

Wifi and programmable.

 

[Fish Fan]

I ran out and bought everything there today except for the :

Boyd Chemi Pure Elite full unit​

Debating if i should go that route or just sea ax carbon and SeaChem Matrix Purigen

I don't mean to speak for @kevgib67, who's a well respected member here at R2R, but the carbons from Dick Boyd's Chemi-Pure series are quite popular. The Chemi-Pure Elite specifically includes both carbon and Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO), which also reduces phosphates.

Another popular option for carbon is the Bulk Reef Supply Rox carbon.

Where could i find a new lid and which led would you recommend?

This thread came up just recently, maybe it will help!

Who is making aquarium lids these days? Who do you recommend?

It’s lid-shopping time. I’ve got a couple of tanks that need covers before my fish make any surprise flights across the room. So who’s making solid lids these days—mesh, acrylic, custom-cut wizardry? I’d love to hear your recommendations and see what’s working for your tanks. Bonus points for...

www.reef2reef.com

Wave maker and heater recommendation ?

I really like titanium heaters that are both durable and double as an electrical grounding probe, which is a human safety concern. I like the titanium heating elements from Bulk Reef Supply, and I hear good things about the Finnex Titanium heaters.

Please do yourself a favor and back up any heater yo chose with a heater controller that can protect against a catastrophic heater failure. Lots of time a heater will *break* in the *on* position, and can literally cook a tank. A simple heater controller can mitigate this, and the popular InkBird brand controllers start at all of about $40; money well spent - trust me.

For circulation pumps (wavemakers) take a look at the EcoTech Vortech pumps, which reduce cables in the tank, and look great, though they are not cheap. Jebao makes a lower cost knock off that's supposed to work well. You can also use very inexpensive powerhead on a timer, which is fine for may corrals.

I hope that helps!

 

[kevgib67]

I ran out and bought everything there today except for the :

Boyd Chemi Pure Elite full unit​

Debating if i should go that route or just sea ax carbon and SeaChem Matrix Purigen

I just use the sponge, activated carbon and a handful of rock rubble if that helps.

 

[kevgib67]

Where could i find a new lid and which led would you recommend?

Wave maker and heater recommendation ?

You have received good advice on a heater. This is the wave maker I use and it is perfect for the size of the tank.here are two choices of replacement hoods, new stock hood that will grow softies, lps and easy sps. The other is significantly more expensive but will easily handle a sps dominant tank.

 

[baba.aqua]

I just use the sponge, activated carbon and a handful of rock rubble if that helps.

What kind of wave maker and light do you use?

 

[kevgib67]

What kind of wave maker and light do you use?

The wave maker is the Hygger I posted above. Lights are stock BioCube leds.

 

[baba.aqua]

I don't mean to speak for @kevgib67, who's a well respected member here at R2R, but the carbons from Dick Boyd's Chemi-Pure series are quite popular. The Chemi-Pure Elite specifically includes both carbon and Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO), which also reduces phosphates.

Another popular option for carbon is the Bulk Reef Supply Rox carbon.


This thread came up just recently, maybe it will help!

Who is making aquarium lids these days? Who do you recommend?

It’s lid-shopping time. I’ve got a couple of tanks that need covers before my fish make any surprise flights across the room. So who’s making solid lids these days—mesh, acrylic, custom-cut wizardry? I’d love to hear your recommendations and see what’s working for your tanks. Bonus points for...

www.reef2reef.com

I really like titanium heaters that are both durable and double as an electrical grounding probe, which is a human safety concern. I like the titanium heating elements from Bulk Reef Supply, and I hear good things about the Finnex Titanium heaters.

Please do yourself a favor and back up any heater yo chose with a heater controller that can protect against a catastrophic heater failure. Lots of time a heater will *break* in the *on* position, and can literally cook a tank. A simple heater controller can mitigate this, and the popular InkBird brand controllers start at all of about $40; money well spent - trust me.

For circulation pumps (wavemakers) take a look at the EcoTech Vortech pumps, which reduce cables in the tank, and look great, though they are not cheap. Jebao makes a lower cost knock off that's supposed to work well. You can also use very inexpensive powerhead on a timer, which is fine for may corrals.

I hope that helps!

How many WATTS do you recommend ??

 

[baba.aqua]

What kind of wave maker and light do you use?

How many watts for heater do you recommend ?

 

[kevgib67]

How many watts for heater do you recommend ?

I use a 150w.

 

[baba.aqua]

The wave maker is the Hygger I posted above. Lights are stock BioCube leds.

What light settings would you recommend for a coralless tank?

 

[kevgib67]

What light settings would you recommend for a coralless tank?

If you don’t have any light dependent inhabitants you could just pick what is most pleasing to you. Some like more blues and some like more natural whites. I started with the preprogrammed light schedule and then adjusted to my preference.

 

[baba.aqua]

I’ve gotten the biocube stock LED

 

[rjb301]

I ran the stock hood and lights for a little while but recently removed and opened a can of worms. Had to get a new light, screen, a different skimmer, and auto top off. If you were closer Id send the hood to ya. The steve's LED sound good but price is up there with buying a separate light and you don't have to get into the light fixture.