Biocube vs Reefcasa Laguna

[jaymer]

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to decide between the Reef Casa Laguna 24 and the BioCube 32g, and I’d love some input from people who’ve run either (or both).

I’m planning a mixed reef with:

• Anemone (for clowns)
• Torch coral
• Leather coral
• Zoa

Stocking would be:

• 2 clownfish
• 1 six line wrasse
• 1 gobi

My main concerns are

• Lighting capability (especially for torch + anemone long term)
• Stability between the two systems
• Ease of maintenance / long-term success

I do like the simplicity of the BioCube, but I’m a bit concerned the stock lighting won’t perform well long term for torch/anemone.

On the flip side, I really like the lagoon style of the Laguna, but I’m worried it’ll be more complicated overall, and without a lid I’m a bit nervous about evaporation and constantly topping off with an ATO.
Also, once the tank is established, I’m ideally hoping maintenance would be around 20 minutes every couple of weeks—not sure if that’s realistic for either of these setups.

For those with experience, which would you go with for this type of setup—and would you upgrade lighting on either?


Appreciate any advice

 

[Gumbies R Us]

There are a lot of members on here who have biocubes and love them. I do agree you will more than likely have to upgrade the light to something stronger. However, it is worth it in the long run to have a good light. That is one of the most important purchases you can make for your tank.

If you want to do minimal maintenance on your tank like you want, you are going to have to have your tank hooked up with an ATO and automation. Your tank would not be sustainable at all without automation, no matter which of the two you end up choosing. Personally, 20 min every couple of weeks isn't too realistic either. You will have to clean your tank, make water, test, feed, make sure everything is running right, etc. Most of this is going to take you longer than 20 minutes.

 

[Tahoe61]

Personally I like the foot print and look of the ReefCasa. The back compartments of the ReefCasa are more user friendly. The equipment varieties tend to fit the ReefCasa, items such as skimmers or rollers.
I am not a huge fan of enclosed systems, systems with built on lids. Heat can become an issue, and gas exchange as it relates pH.
With either tank you should definitely have some type of ATO device even if it's gravity fed.
If you get the ReefCasa with the led that comes with the kit you can decide on lighting later.

 

[jaymer]

There are a lot of members on here who have biocubes and love them. I do agree you will more than likely have to upgrade the light to something stronger. However, it is worth it in the long run to have a good light. That is one of the most important purchases you can make for your tank.

If you want to do minimal maintenance on your tank like you want, you are going to have to have your tank hooked up with an ATO and automation. Your tank would not be sustainable at all without automation, no matter which of the two you end up choosing. Personally, 20 min every couple of weeks isn't too realistic either. You will have to clean your tank, make water, test, feed, make sure everything is running right, etc. Most of this is going to take you longer than 20 minutes.

Thanks, ya I meant to include I would be hooking up and ATO and tending to the corals and fish. I just was planning on 20 minutes every 2 weeks for water changes or testing. Would I need a skimmer with the fish and corals I want to add?

 

[jaymer]

Update:

I will be proceeding with the Biocube 32g. If anyone has any mod recommendations please do share.

 

[jabberwock]

I had a 32 gallon biocube. I hated the curved glass "corners". It constantly overheated due to the full closed top. I did not like the depth of the tank for maintenance. Lot's of gallons, but I feel that the very vertical orientation stacks the fish on top of each other and facilitates territorialism and aggression.

I now have an IM 25 lagoon, and I love the lagoon format. Nice and shallow for maintenance.

 

[jabberwock]

Oh, and I would ditch the clowns. They are evil. Plenty of other less violent and interesting fish.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I have a 16 gallon and a 32 gallon BioCube that I keep cycled for quarantine and other 'as needed' purposes... I can hardly believe the amount of salt creep here, there, and everywhere. Ridiculous, really. Likely using an air stone is part of the cause, but still.

 

[kevgib67]

Just an idea of what you can do with a Biocube 32g . I’m not trying to sway you either way just wanted to point out you are underestimating what it’s capable of growing. It’s over 4 years old and you can’t tell from this picture but I have six fish in it ( recently upgraded this year).

 

[jaymer]

Just an idea of what you can do with a Biocube 32g . I’m not trying to sway you either way just wanted to point out you are underestimating what it’s capable of growing. It’s over 4 years old and you can’t tell from this picture but I have six fish in it ( recently upgraded this year).

Nice! What mods do you have?

 

[kevgib67]

Nice! What mods do you have?

I added two 21 LED USA actinic blue strips to the hood not for more par, everything was growing great but for more blue lights for increased coral color. Protein skimmer and uv. I loosely based back filter on the video I will post. Happy Easter!

 

[kevgib67]

 

[kevgib67]

It think my initial statement might have been misunderstood. My Biocube was up for over 4 years and is no longer running, I upgraded to a larger tank in January.

 

[jaymer]

Nice! What mods do you have?

I added two 21 LED USA actinic blue strips to the hood not for more par, everything was growing great but for more blue lights for increased coral color. Protein skimmer and uv. I loosely based back filter on the video I will post. Happy Easter!

I found intank fuge and media rack for the Biocube 32. What would you suggest I put in the fuge and rack?
I was hoping to operate without a skimmer. What’s a UV?

 

[jaymer]

It think my initial statement might have been misunderstood. My Biocube was up for over 4 years and is no longer running, I upgraded to a larger tank in January.

Is there a thread of your old tank? Congrats on the upgrade!

 

[kevgib67]

I found intank fuge and media rack for the Biocube 32. What would you suggest I put in the fuge and rack?
I was hoping to operate without a skimmer. What’s a UV?

Up to you, I didn’t do a refugium but it’s a great idea, I have one now. I put the vertical sponges in. Activated carbon and rock rubble. UV is ultra violet light which kills pathogens and free flowing algae.

 

[kevgib67]

Thread 'Biocube 32g build'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/biocube-32g-build.906813/

 

[gkprevite]

Bio cubes are pretty sweet in my experience. The light had me surprised. I was definitely able to grow some easy sps towards the upper 1/3 of the tank. They actually require very little automation if you’re using the stock lid. I was topping off the evaporation like once a week with a cup of RO. The reef casa will definitely require more to run but honestly looks a bit more modern

 

[Kooma]

I am a big biocube fan. I’ve ran one in some form or another for over 14 years.

I currently have a 32 gallon rimless biocube with a ecotech XR15 overhead. I grow sps, LPs and softies very well, and it would be thick with life if I didn’t have the crash while I was sick.

The limiting issue is the number of fish you can house. My problem became low nutrients from so much coral, and not enough fish waste.

The chambers are decent for equipment, I have two heaters in #1, and empty #2 and the return pump in #3. Along with my ATO sensor.

My only complaint with the tank is the curved front which distorts the visuals and the curved corners. Cleaning them gets OLD fast.

To do it again I’d look for a AIO with similar size to the biocube but flat glass. I’d also go minimum 40 gallon to start, even the 32 biocube feels small quickly and is really only good for a pair of clowns and a goby or chromis.

 

[PacoPetty]

My tank is 8 years old and I upgraded my lights to Steve’s LEDs about a year into the tank. I have two In Tank media towers in the back chamber with filter floss, Chemi Pure Elite, and Seachem Matrix. I upgraded the return pump to a Mighty Jet 565 gph pump and added dual random flow generators to the loc-line. I use a nano wavemaker in the right rear corner opposite the random flow generators. I currently have 2 clownfish, a pink and blue dot watchman goby, a Orchid dottyback, a fire shrimp, a cleaner shrimp, and 2 turbo snails.