New biocube 32 build

subzero · Feb 14, 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

ScottR · Feb 14, 2021

Looks nice so far. I recommend not keeping toys near the tank haha. When my little one was 2, every toy was a hammer and I caught him hitting the glass a few times. I told him there is a shark hiding in there and to not upset it and that was the end of hammering.

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.

subzero · Apr 7, 2021

Updates: added snowflake eel

Brady4000 · Apr 8, 2021

Lol from your February 15th post to now, I think you added a little more than a snowflake eel ROFL.

looks good!

subzero · Apr 9, 2021

Hah thanks

Neros503 · Apr 9, 2021

Nice tank! how's the skimmer working for you? I'm thinking about getting one for my biocube 29.

subzero · Apr 10, 2021

Works fine... took 2 weeks to break in. I have it wide open. I’ve put a rubber band around the collection club because the bubbles would push it off. The rubber band is doing the trick.

Brady4000 · Apr 10, 2021

subzero said:
Works fine... took 2 weeks to break in. I have it wide open. I’ve put a rubber band around the collection club because the bubbles would push it off. The rubber band is doing the trick.

FYI, the skimmer doesn’t work with the InTank set up, if it’s the corallife one. It pushes a ton of micro bubbles into the display.

Contacted the company, and this is a known issue, but they didn’t make it for the InTank upgrade.

Just FYI if you end up going this route.

mistergray · Apr 10, 2021

subzero said:
Works fine... took 2 weeks to break in. I have it wide open. I’ve put a rubber band around the collection club because the bubbles would push it off. The rubber band is doing the trick.

I was going to ask about the skimmer as well. I hear so many negative things about it. It’s been running for 2 weeks with no issues?