Hi everyone, soon I will be purchasing a biocube 32, but after doing some research I have seen many reviews that say the standard lighting filtration and powerheads are sub par and should be upgraded, I'm just wondering what you all would suggest for me in upgrading the tank. Thanks in advance!
moseley75
Active Member
I have a 16 BioCube and it is good for the LPS and softies. I have in it. I added the coralife skimmer made for it and my parameters are stable now. The collection cup is small so I have to clean it every other day or so. The overflow compartment on the 32 is much larger so you have more options for skimmers. The center compartment has a clear glass back and is good for a refugium. You will need a light and a timer. There are also filter racks you can put in this compartment to add carbon and GFO in a bag.
I finally settled on 1.25 lbs per gallon of live rock and a 1.5" deep sand bed for bio filter. Prob should have a deeper sand bed.
The LED lighting is woefully inadequate for SPS coral. If you want to have a FOWLR or LPS dominat mixed reef they may be ok. Many people have removed the hood and run theirs as a rimless with something like a Kessel or AI Prime HD. Others have purchased strips of LED's and mounted them in the hood. I have thought about mounting an AI prime in my hood in place of the stock LED's. It would prob fit in the 32 better.
I currently use the stock return pump, it moves 190 gph, and have two circulating pumps controlled by a Hydor wave maker for circulation. I want to get a Sicce quiet drive 1.0 or 1.5 and put a tee in the return line so I can mount and operate a media reactor on the outside of the stand somewhere. There are places to run tubing out the back of the hood.
Just my $.02 worth.
I post a pic of the 16 but it is in disarray b/c I had to catch the fish and move them to qt to treat for ich and the tank must stay fallow for 78 days.
Fair Sky's and following seas!
I finally settled on 1.25 lbs per gallon of live rock and a 1.5" deep sand bed for bio filter. Prob should have a deeper sand bed.
The LED lighting is woefully inadequate for SPS coral. If you want to have a FOWLR or LPS dominat mixed reef they may be ok. Many people have removed the hood and run theirs as a rimless with something like a Kessel or AI Prime HD. Others have purchased strips of LED's and mounted them in the hood. I have thought about mounting an AI prime in my hood in place of the stock LED's. It would prob fit in the 32 better.
I currently use the stock return pump, it moves 190 gph, and have two circulating pumps controlled by a Hydor wave maker for circulation. I want to get a Sicce quiet drive 1.0 or 1.5 and put a tee in the return line so I can mount and operate a media reactor on the outside of the stand somewhere. There are places to run tubing out the back of the hood.
Just my $.02 worth.
I post a pic of the 16 but it is in disarray b/c I had to catch the fish and move them to qt to treat for ich and the tank must stay fallow for 78 days.
Fair Sky's and following seas!
Scurvy
Pirate Reefer
You're correct in lighting being totally inadequate in the BC32. Coralife's own specs say peak Par of about 80 I think it was with average Par around 60.
I added a Steve's LED fixture to the stock hood which will grow anything and everything. There are also a coupe of other options out there if you want to keep the hood on. If the hood isn't important then you can always pull it and run any light you choose.
Outside of lighting I have an Icecap K2-50 skimmer in chamber 2 with the InTank media rack. Chamber 3 has a Sicce 1.5 return pump with dosing tubes and probe holder.
I added a Steve's LED fixture to the stock hood which will grow anything and everything. There are also a coupe of other options out there if you want to keep the hood on. If the hood isn't important then you can always pull it and run any light you choose.
Outside of lighting I have an Icecap K2-50 skimmer in chamber 2 with the InTank media rack. Chamber 3 has a Sicce 1.5 return pump with dosing tubes and probe holder.
Holy_makerel
Well-Known Member
Biocube 32
Removed hood and replaced with cut pieces of glass. I leave the back open.
SB reeflights 16" wifi for lights
Aquamaxx HOB1 protien skimmer
I use the middle compartment as a rufugium with cheato. I use a magnetic fuge light.
Still use the stock pump but i have 2 mp10s that i run at about 30% on long pulse mode in the tank.
Use a jaebo 4 head doser to dose kalkwasser and 2 part.
With this setup i can grow anything in the tank.
Good luck! Fun little tanks
Removed hood and replaced with cut pieces of glass. I leave the back open.
SB reeflights 16" wifi for lights
Aquamaxx HOB1 protien skimmer
I use the middle compartment as a rufugium with cheato. I use a magnetic fuge light.
Still use the stock pump but i have 2 mp10s that i run at about 30% on long pulse mode in the tank.
Use a jaebo 4 head doser to dose kalkwasser and 2 part.
With this setup i can grow anything in the tank.
Good luck! Fun little tanks
Scurvy
Pirate Reefer
Biocube 32
Removed hood and replaced with cut pieces of glass. I leave the back open.
SB reeflights 16" wifi for lights
Aquamaxx HOB1 protien skimmer
I use the middle compartment as a rufugium with cheato. I use a magnetic fuge light.
Still use the stock pump but i have 2 mp10s that i run at about 30% on long pulse mode in the tank.
Use a jaebo 4 head doser to dose kalkwasser and 2 part.
With this setup i can grow anything in the tank.
Good luck! Fun little tanks
Great setup!
Hows the DP4 handle the Kalk? Ive been debating using mine for this as well.
Mikedawg
2500 Club Member
I also upgraded to a Sicce 1.5 and use a Korallia 425 powerhead placed about 4" under the outlet in such a way as to push water toward the filter intakes. Marine Pure balls and Purfiltrum topped by filter floss. Surprising to me, the cheap Coralife protein skimmer does a pretty good job and fits along with an Eheim heater in chamber 1.
Holy_makerel
Well-Known Member
About 6 months of use with it and no problems yet. Runs like a champ
Hello Scurvy,
Your post are extremely helpful/informative! Is the Sicce 1.5 a requirement based on your set-up? I just purchased the BioCube32 and got the Icecap K2-50 skimmer, Innovative Marine 939009 Auqa Gadget Minimax Desktop Media Reactor and a Sicce 1.0. Is this pump strong enough? My stuff hasn't even shipped yet. Also do you have a pic of your set-up? I will be getting the LED up-grades and IM Gadget Magnafuge also. All of this stuff I got based on recommendations here.
Scurvy
Pirate Reefer
@pmichel77
Sounds like you're well on your way to nice setup! Great choice on the skimmer, Im very happy I chose to ditch the Tunze. You will need to modify Chamber 2 a bit to make it fit. See this video here for a guide in case you havent seen it. Different skimmer but same process. I actually cut out a little more than they did.
The 1.5 ceratinly isnt a requirement but I wanted to make sure I had a lot of flow through my filter chambers and a little extra pep coming out of the return for surface aggitation. Once you have rock in the tank your total water volume will most likely be somewhere around 25 gallons so the Sicce 1.0 will give you about 10x turnover. I would say though that if you're looking at that size pump then going with the Cobalt MJ1200 might be a better choice for you. It's cheaper and will give you a modest bump in flow from the Sicce at 295gph. I had been using one myself for the first few months I had my BC running but wanted to use it on a reactor in my other display so I upgraded.
https://www.amazon.com/Cobalt-Aquatics-MJ1200-powerhead-pump/dp/B005QRHEJW
I'll snap some more recent pics when I get home later.
Sounds like you're well on your way to nice setup! Great choice on the skimmer, Im very happy I chose to ditch the Tunze. You will need to modify Chamber 2 a bit to make it fit. See this video here for a guide in case you havent seen it. Different skimmer but same process. I actually cut out a little more than they did.
The 1.5 ceratinly isnt a requirement but I wanted to make sure I had a lot of flow through my filter chambers and a little extra pep coming out of the return for surface aggitation. Once you have rock in the tank your total water volume will most likely be somewhere around 25 gallons so the Sicce 1.0 will give you about 10x turnover. I would say though that if you're looking at that size pump then going with the Cobalt MJ1200 might be a better choice for you. It's cheaper and will give you a modest bump in flow from the Sicce at 295gph. I had been using one myself for the first few months I had my BC running but wanted to use it on a reactor in my other display so I upgraded.
https://www.amazon.com/Cobalt-Aquatics-MJ1200-powerhead-pump/dp/B005QRHEJW
I'll snap some more recent pics when I get home later.
Scurvy
Pirate Reefer
Cool thanks, so maybe I'll send the reactor back and just keep the skimmer - unless the reactor and heater can fit in the 1st chamber. Thanks for the info!! My stuff looks like it will arriving tomorrow. I think will send the Sicce 1.0 back and go with the 1.5
Scurvy
Pirate Reefer
Im not familiar with that reactor but theres space next to the skimmer in chamber 2. I use an "In Tank" media tower but if you choose to go the reactor route it may fit.
Scurvy
Pirate Reefer
Yes it does. I prop it open in summer to release heat and run the fan.
Hey Scurvy, any good info on how to get the IceCap skimmer dialed-in? I just modified chamber 2 (took off the lip between chamber 1 & 2 and also the little lip between 2 & 3 with some of the side lip - can't reach my arms down to the bottom lip so hope what i did was enough). Mine will arrive Monday.
Also, what do you run in your media basket?
Thanks!
PM
Also, what do you run in your media basket?
Thanks!
PM
EriksOasis
Well-Known Member
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If your funds allow it I would recommend the jbj all in one aquarium a lot nicer rimless look with adequate filtration to start and later upgrade more room for extras such as skimmers and better return pump also reactors. Just my thought.
Reef of Fillory
Valuable Member
All you have to do is pull the pins out from the hinges on the back and it will pop right off
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