Biocube 32
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purpfish
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Biocube owner here, I love the tank but I think I would have rather gone with innovative marine or something else, but it is a great starter tank,
The stock media basket is garbage and the curved edges are a pain to clean, but otherwise it’s a nice tank.
The stock media basket is garbage and the curved edges are a pain to clean, but otherwise it’s a nice tank.
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Ordie23
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Biocube owner here, I love the tank but I think I would have rather gone with innovative marine or something else, but it is a great starter tank,
The stock media basket is garbage and the curved edges are a pain to clean, but otherwise it’s a nice tank.
Thank you for the insight. Do you have any suggestions to make it better if i did get it over something else?
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I've never owned a Biocube, but I've had several of the Innovative Marine All-In-One tanks, and they are great beginner tanks. I personally think you'd be better off to get something like the IM tank, and then you can add whatever lighting or other gear that you want.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Ordie23
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purpfish
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Kreative reefer or intank make a good media basket, and I upgraded my return pump to a IM 538 gph mighty jet pump that I run on minimum, it’s dead silent. I use an eheim heater with an inkbird controller and an aquael backup. I also have an mp10 wave maker but that’s only cause I got it used.
prokhk
Community Member
I'll second purpfish, it is a decent starter tank, but if I had to start over I may have gone a different direction. The in-tank media basket is a nice upgrade over the stock one, and steve's LEDs are also a decent way to get more light. The corners are a PITA to clean, as well as the front bowed glass (you need to scrape sideways). Personally, I also don't love the look of the hood, but I think the rim looks odd without the hood on as well. I've had mine running for 3.5 years and besides those esthetic issues, I am very happy with it.
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XtraKargo
Active Member
Love mine for the simplicity. If it is your first tank you will enjoy it. I run mine pretty stock.
I put on an Axis 40 and run two heaters through an inkbird. One as a failover. Then I have two Jebao jets on a switching controller and a variable flow nozzle on the return. I run the stock filtration.
I put on an Axis 40 and run two heaters through an inkbird. One as a failover. Then I have two Jebao jets on a switching controller and a variable flow nozzle on the return. I run the stock filtration.
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I have a BioCube 16 gallon, BioCube 32 gallon, and IM 20 gallon. The 16 is really a bit too small, unless you just need something along a 'bookshelf' type tank. (Even on the stock stand you have to kind of bend down to really get a good look inside.) The 32 gallon is a more useful size (IMO); also it practically runs itself if you don't overfeed or use an outrageously long photo period for lighting. There are rounded magnetic tank cleaners that will fit the rounded corners; just keep up with it, so the algae doesn't have a chance to harden in the corners. The IM tank (all-in-one) is a different animal-- it may feel more like a 'big boy' tank for people who like to tinker. Also those who might want a choice of lighting equipment. I hope this helps.
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I’ve had my Biocube 32g running 3 1/2 years near the end of this month. Easy setup and hassle free maintenance. I recommend them.
Üter
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I had mine for 2 years. Took it down because I have a much larger tank and sold it. I never tried the UV for it and I couldn't get the skimmer to work well so I took it off after a few days. It is a great tank. I bought the fish guard from InTank along with the fuge basket and filter basket. it's much better than the stock. After 18 months or so the pump died (I never cleaned it) but the new pump I used a Sicce 1.0 was way quieter. I had 6 fish in it. small but all worked. with the lid closed it retains some heat in the summer but also keeps the evaporation low. If you want just a few small fish it's great but shop for the fish you want to keep or eventually keep otherwise you'll be shopping for a bigger tank in a few years.
CrewePD210
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Mine is so far so good. Been up for about 2 months, and is working pretty well it seems.
ExpensiveSushi
Community Member
Mine was my COVID/WFH project. Rekindled my hobby from high school and college. Picked the BioCube because of the AIO aspect (bought a startup package and literally could plug & play). It is a nice setup for what it is - a simple way to get into what can be a very complex hobby. Nothing in the kit is a premier component, but it isn't priced that way. The stock lights can keep and grow most hardy coral, and while it's not going to look like a tank-of-the-month, its not bad.
Depending on where reefkeeping takes you, the tank will allow for some modification that will let you do some upgrading. For instance, you'll see lots of pictures where folks have removed the hood and upgraded the light (and kept tank temps under control). Eventually you'll hit an upgrade wall, as I suspect you'd do with most AIO setups.
To make it a minimum-lovable-starter-reef-setup, it really just needs a heater, a mini-wavemaker, and a DIY fan if you are in a warm climate (you can see my hack in my post history), and maybe a pump upgrade.
Purchased new the BioCube starter kit would be less than half the $ of the IM Fusion Pro 2 40gal.
Good luck!
E/S
Depending on where reefkeeping takes you, the tank will allow for some modification that will let you do some upgrading. For instance, you'll see lots of pictures where folks have removed the hood and upgraded the light (and kept tank temps under control). Eventually you'll hit an upgrade wall, as I suspect you'd do with most AIO setups.
To make it a minimum-lovable-starter-reef-setup, it really just needs a heater, a mini-wavemaker, and a DIY fan if you are in a warm climate (you can see my hack in my post history), and maybe a pump upgrade.
Purchased new the BioCube starter kit would be less than half the $ of the IM Fusion Pro 2 40gal.
Good luck!
E/S
Shanel
Well-Known Member
Personally I like the biocube 32. The only downfall is the lid. I upgraded my lighting and the plastic cover on it melted where the led's were. Right now it's down for the count until i get a new solution for lighting. I'm about to rebuild it into a tank to house a pair of clown fish and anemone. If your not into modifications it's probably not the best choice. Out of the box I don't feel it checks all the boxes. I built this a few years back for my daughter and grandson.
www.reef2reef.com
AIO Build - Hannah & Georgie's Biocube 32
I'm building this Biocube 32 for my daughter and Grandson. This will be the first saltwater tank for them. I tried to make it as low maintenance as possible. Looking for feedback & ideas to improve the build. Right now we are just in the setup and testing stages. so here it goes. Updates to follow.
www.reef2reef.com
XtraKargo
Active Member
I just added a Reef Brite strip to the lid of mine. Not quite ideal, but it seems to add a fun bit of pop for not a lot of effort. I designed the standoffs and 3D printed them. Using some 3M VHB tape to hold it on along with the existing screws. Just another idea, since I really did not want to change the lid at all.
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XtraKargo
Active Member
This is like a master class! Truly amazing and unique build.Personally I like the biocube 32. The only downfall is the lid. I upgraded my lighting and the plastic cover on it melted where the led's were. Right now it's down for the count until i get a new solution for lighting. I'm about to rebuild it into a tank to house a pair of clown fish and anemone. If your not into modifications it's probably not the best choice. Out of the box I don't feel it checks all the boxes. I built this a few years back for my daughter and grandson.
AIO Build - Hannah & Georgie's Biocube 32
I'm building this Biocube 32 for my daughter and Grandson. This will be the first saltwater tank for them. I tried to make it as low maintenance as possible. Looking for feedback & ideas to improve the build. Right now we are just in the setup and testing stages. so here it goes. Updates to follow.
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