New 32 gal biocube build in Scottsdale - will be looking for some local frags soon!!!

subzero · Feb 13, 2021

Hey all - so I was into reeding back in the days before a single zoa head cost $200... I’m talking the days that I tried to sell a mother colony of armor of god zoas (100 heads easy) for $150 and I let it go for $120.

How times have changed.

Anyhow im building a small tank mostly so my kiddo has a tank. Plan to fill with a couple clowns, some gobies, fire fish, etc.

Because i need to make it 2 year old proof, for my own peace of mind, I needed to ensure the stand wouldn’t give under the weight of the kiddo ran into it or bumped into it. Also, I’m anchoring it to the wall studs.
I took (4) 2x4’s to reinforce the weight, and I’ll be attaching another 2x4 between the tank and dry wall, and screwing 2 thick 6” screws into the studs behind. This way it’s as solid as possible.
The 2x4’s were cut to the height of the stand, attached with brackets. These will hold up the weight. I didn’t trust the cheapo biocube stand (if I was single maybe - but with a kiddo no way). The stand before, and after the 2x4s is a smidge off level front to back (needing about 1/8” shims added to the front, however I’m going against this as the stand will then concentrate the weight on those small shims - I’d rather the weight be distributed evenly on the bottom panel - also why I got rid of the cheapo plastic feet that came with it

Tank: coralife biocube 32, stock return
Skimmer: coralife nano skimmer
Power head: koralia 425
Heater: eheim jager 100w
Sand: 40lbs Carib sea Fiji pink live (plan to thoroughly rinse tomorrow before adding to tank
Fuge light: ACKE LED 12w grow light from Amazon

plans:
1st compartment: heater + skimmer
2nd: keep stock plastic media basket and put cheato middle. I don’t know what else to put?
3rd: stock return

the tank is undergoing a 24hr leak test now in the shower lol

Any advice? I’m planning to put 2 brackets on the stand top, so the tank doesn’t slide in case bumped into

KenO · Feb 14, 2021

Good luck with the build.

Is there a way to keep the hood locked down?

Where in Scottsdale are you? I'm up off of Pima and Westland.

tcamos · Feb 14, 2021

That's pretty much what I do to all my stands. I line the bottom so they can hold a sump and support the corners. Works great. I still love BioCubes.

subzero · Feb 14, 2021

KenO said:
Good luck with the build.

Is there a way to keep the hood locked down?

Where in Scottsdale are you? I'm up off of Pima and Westland.

Kierland... how big is your tank?

KenO · Feb 14, 2021

subzero said:
Kierland... how big is your tank?

Not too far from me.
3 tanks. 250 gallon, 130 gallon and a 60 cube.

subzero · Feb 14, 2021

KenO said:
Not too far from me.
3 tanks. 250 gallon, 130 gallon and a 60 cube.

Nice man! Once we move out of the apt, I’m going to build a massive tank - but until then, stuck with the 32 lol. Would you happen to have a handful of established sand and small rock I can have to help with cycle? I’m planning on filling tank today. Chaeto would be a bonus lol

KenO · Feb 14, 2021

Sand yes. The rock maybe. I have some GHA on it. So that would be up to you.

Cigarman · Feb 14, 2021

subzero said:
Hey all - so I was into reeding back in the days before a single zoa head cost $200... I’m talking the days that I tried to sell a mother colony of armor of god zoas (100 heads easy) for $150 and I let it go for $120.

How times have changed.

Anyhow im building a small tank mostly so my kiddo has a tank. Plan to fill with a couple clowns, some gobies, fire fish, etc.

Because i need to make it 2 year old proof, for my own peace of mind, I needed to ensure the stand wouldn’t give under the weight of the kiddo ran into it or bumped into it. Also, I’m anchoring it to the wall studs.
I took (4) 2x4’s to reinforce the weight, and I’ll be attaching another 2x4 between the tank and dry wall, and screwing 2 thick 6” screws into the studs behind. This way it’s as solid as possible.
The 2x4’s were cut to the height of the stand, attached with brackets. These will hold up the weight. I didn’t trust the cheapo biocube stand (if I was single maybe - but with a kiddo no way). The stand before, and after the 2x4s is a smidge off level front to back (needing about 1/8” shims added to the front, however I’m going against this as the stand will then concentrate the weight on those small shims - I’d rather the weight be distributed evenly on the bottom panel - also why I got rid of the cheapo plastic feet that came with it

Tank: coralife biocube 32, stock return
Skimmer: coralife nano skimmer
Power head: koralia 425
Heater: eheim jager 100w
Sand: 40lbs Carib sea Fiji pink live (plan to thoroughly rinse tomorrow before adding to tank
Fuge light: ACKE LED 12w grow light from Amazon

plans:
1st compartment: heater + skimmer
2nd: keep stock plastic media basket and put cheato middle. I don’t know what else to put?
3rd: stock return

the tank is undergoing a 24hr leak test now in the shower lol

Any advice? I’m planning to put 2 brackets on the stand top, so the tank doesn’t slide in case bumped into

Cigarman · Feb 14, 2021

I put up a biocube 32 a little over 2 weeks ago. Used dry Marco rock and Carib sea live Fiji sand. Also added a bottle of dr. Tims one and only and 2 clowns. I did not rinse sand per LFS since it contains bacteria. Everything has been fine ever since. Got a small bloom of diatoms after 1 week. Never saw a big ammonia spike. Did see nitrites and nitrate rise. Have been testing just about everyday. Finally yesterday i think tank is cycled. Ammonia=0 nitrites=0 nitrates=2 fish have seemed happy throughout and have been eating TDO Chrome pellets like pigs everyday.

subzero · Feb 14, 2021

Cigarman said:
I put up a biocube 32 a little over 2 weeks ago. Used dry Marco rock and Carib sea live Fiji sand. Also added a bottle of dr. Tims one and only and 2 clowns. I did not rinse sand per LFS since it contains bacteria. Everything has been fine ever since. Got a small bloom of diatoms after 1 week. Never saw a big ammonia spike. Did see nitrites and nitrate rise. Have been testing just about everyday. Finally yesterday i think tank is cycled. Ammonia=0 nitrites=0 nitrates=2 fish have seemed happy throughout and have been eating TDO Chrome pellets like pigs everyday.

Didn’t rinse the sand? How long did it take before the cloud after pouring in water cleared?

subzero · Feb 15, 2021

so I had to “bump proof” the stand, so I put 4 6” bolts into the stud. There is a 3 inch gap between the tank and stand, so I put a 2x4 and the screws went through that about 1” into the stud I hope. I noticed though, that it would sway side to side (since only 1 stud was bolted to, due to my cheap apartment complex - no standard studs 16” apart). So then I put same 4 bolts across, into the floor board. Not a stud but better than nothing. Anyhow it’s doing the trick

I also washed/rinsed the Caribbean Sea Fiji pink life sand. It was like milk but I got it to 90% clear.

tcamos · Feb 15, 2021

Looking good.

Fourth Horseman · Feb 17, 2021

subzero said:
so I had to “bump proof” the stand, so I put 4 6” bolts into the stud. There is a 3 inch gap between the tank and stand, so I put a 2x4 and the screws went through that about 1” into the stud I hope. I noticed though, that it would sway side to side (since only 1 stud was bolted to, due to my cheap apartment complex - no standard studs 16” apart). So then I put same 4 bolts across, into the floor board. Not a stud but better than nothing. Anyhow it’s doing the trick

I also washed/rinsed the Caribbean Sea Fiji pink life sand. It was like milk but I got it to 90% clear.

Tank looks great!
On the studs generally exterior walls are 16" on center and interior are 24". It looks like you are on an exterior wall so it is surprising that they would be 24" oc. Anyway I just want to warn you that the baseboards are ony held on by trim nails and caulking. Probably more than enough strength to hold the tank side to side but pulling it straight away from the wall it will just peal away. Sounds like you have a screw up higher into a stud which would help that from happening.

subzero · Feb 17, 2021

Fourth Horseman said:
Tank looks great!
On the studs generally exterior walls are 16" on center and interior are 24". It looks like you are on an exterior wall so it is surprising that they would be 24" oc. Anyway I just want to warn you that the baseboards are ony held on by trim nails and caulking. Probably more than enough strength to hold the tank side to side but pulling it straight away from the wall it will just peal away. Sounds like you have a screw up higher into a stud which would help that from happening.

Thanks for that . I know nothing about this kinda stuff just what I’ve heard over the years. I’m sure with the weight from tank it’s going to be solid I just needed something for peace of mind.

any ideas how to secure the biocube to the stand so it won’t slide/ tip over? I was thinking bracketing the stand to create a lip to catch the biocube

Fourth Horseman · Feb 17, 2021

subzero said:
Thanks for that . I know nothing about this kinda stuff just what I’ve heard over the years. I’m sure with the weight from tank it’s going to be solid I just needed something for peace of mind.

any ideas how to secure the biocube to the stand so it won’t slide/ tip over? I was thinking bracketing the stand to create a lip to catch the biocube

I have no experience with the biocube but would you be able to run a bead of clear silicone around the bottom of the tank and the stand? Then if you ever needed to remove the tank you could run a razor blade through the silicone and it should come off. Other than being a little shiny once dried it would almost be invisible.

subzero · Feb 17, 2021

Fourth Horseman said:
I have no experience with the biocube but would you be able to run a bead of clear silicone around the bottom of the tank and the stand? Then if you ever needed to remove the tank you could run a razor blade through the silicone and it should come off. Other than being a little shiny once dried it would almost be invisible.

silicone isn’t strong enough isn’t it? It’ll rip right off...

Fourth Horseman · Feb 18, 2021

subzero said:
silicone isn’t strong enough isn’t it? It’ll rip right off...

If you use silicone and not caulking you would be surprised how strong it is. Think about how much pressure is on the glass of a rimless tank and it is only held together with silicone. If you install it correctly it will secure the tank to the stand. If you are able a few small spots under the tank before you fill it will keep it securely to the stand.