What about YOUR 14g BioCube Mods?

[BearLee]

Hello Fellow Reefers!
We have a 14g Coralife BioCube that we have moded out it several ways. What follows is the pictorial story of our journey so far in this mixed reef tank.

First off, we removed the stock bio balls and replaced them with BioHome Ultra Marine in the second chamber in the back. In the first, we have the BioCube skimmer by Coralife. I also built a DIY bio filter box to go in the in-flow section of our DIY custom built sump/refugium. (below)

We have mounted the AI Prime lighting unit to the top of our cube and removed the stock lighting package from inside the clear casing in the BioCube lid.

I used wax paper inside the clear cover to defuse the light and cut down on the disco effect from the light being so close to the water. It works great. I've experimented with the lighting schedule and found one that is really working well for us.

We decided to experiment and built our own 5 gallon sump/refugium with counter timed lighting for macro algae and as a safe harbor for copapods.

Overkill perhaps, but improved water capacity is nice, and our Twin Spot Goby is enjoying a steady supply of pods.

I use RedSea Reef Pro as my salt mix, and prefer all the RedSea Pro test kits to all the others I've tried.
We have had great success, some hair pulling frustration, and a whole lot of fun making the best home we can for our reef inhabitants.

(^Before Corals or Fish^)

(^6 Months In^)
What follows is a selection of photos and clips I've made of BearReef1. (What we call our system.)

I hope you enjoyed checking out our tank. Updates will be forthcoming as things progress.

 

[DLJTWO]

The Biocube14 thread to rule them all! This is am amazing setup BearLee, I really love your rock work and attention to detail on this. I've been looking for something like this to mimic on my Biocube. I want to start off with adding a Prime HD but I was afraid of having some dark areas that don't get lit because the light is so close to the water. Have you attempted to keep any SPS's under this lighting? That's what I'm really looking forward to keeping myself.

Looking forward to more updates on this!

 

[Sandroni]

Hi I have a biocube 14 myself and I was wondering where you have your heater setup?

 

[DLJTWO]

I keep min in the 3rd chamber where the return pump is because I plan to add a skimmer in the first chamber.

 

[BearLee]

Hi I have a biocube 14 myself and I was wondering where you have your heater setup?

With this set up we have two heaters. One is in the third chamber of the cube, and the other is in the main(2nd) chamber of the sump/refugium below.

Right now I have them both set on 76, and the tank get up to 78.5F/79F at the peak each day.

 

[BearLee]

The Biocube14 thread to rule them all! This is am amazing setup BearLee, I really love your rock work and attention to detail on this. I've been looking for something like this to mimic on my Biocube. I want to start off with adding a Prime HD but I was afraid of having some dark areas that don't get lit because the light is so close to the water. Have you attempted to keep any SPS's under this lighting? That's what I'm really looking forward to keeping myself.

Looking forward to more updates on this!

TheSoloist, I have a reply in the works. I'll post it later tonight. Thanks for your comment and question.

 

[DLJTWO]

TheSoloist, I have a reply in the works. I'll post it later tonight. Thanks for your comment and question.

NP at all, I'll be patiently waiting. BTW, didn't mean to hijack your thread when I answered Angiedal712's question.

 

[gilltyreefer]

Great setup!

Curious -- I'm looking to add an AI Prime HD tomorrow and I want to keep the hood. I've been researching ways to do this. Do you have instructions or pics of your AI mod? Is hear still an issue with the new light? Thanks!