Started my Biocube 14gl mods

[flricordia]

Not pretty but functional.

Here I removed the filter box and cut out section 1 and 2 to make larger fuge.


LR rubble will go into the bottom 4" or so and chaeto into the remainder upper part. I closed the bottom inflow up so the water would only surface skim into the filter box. Added a piece of black plastic to the box to keep light spill over from fuge lighht more contained. The 3 holes were already there and serve no purpose. Also closed up some of the overflow so more of the top surface would skim.


After reinstalling the filter box I scraped away the back glass paint so I could silicone a small reflector with a 6500k screw-in 10wt fluorescent. This way I can run it 24/7 without light spill-over into the tank.


Added an old Odyssea 24wt PC light. The ballast is actually a long tube, I guess an electronic ballast without the box, that fit perfectly under the existing Biocube's reflector. I cut the fan slots off of the back reflector to get more air flow.


I am going to use a Maijet 1200 for return. Gave it a leak test and ran it a bit and works great. Might have to add stronger fans or one in the back somewhere if it runs too hot. I want the 1200 for stronger flow though 900 would be cooler running.
Will be my zoo only tank.
Will post more as I fill, add sand and rock. Thanks for looking.

[mps9506]

Looks good. Keep us updated. I'm thinking of getting a biocube or aquapod to play with until I get moved into a house. Would love to see how the mods work for ya.

[flricordia]

Decided to go with the Maxijet 900 afterall because the 1200 made too much viration noise in the small compartment. I have it all going with chaeto in the back and moved most of my zoos over from the ricordia tank. i still have to move some LR and with the water from the other tank I think I should be OK with breakin. So far the zoos are loving it. I probably won't add any critters like fish or inverts so as not to up the bio-load.
I wouldn't mind a snail or something, but I don't want the zoo frags getting knocked over.
In the back of my mind though, because my rics are getting up there in numbers and I want to start fragging I might sell off the zoos and move my yumas in here and keep my FL rics in the 20gl.
Anyway, temp seems to be OK as long as I leave the top small access lid open and running the 3 24wts the temp is holding at 80, which is where I have the heater set. This is where I usually run a reef so there isn't too much change during hot weather spells.
The fuge light I am only going to run at night when the main lights are off as the spill over from them is plenty for the chaeto.

[sasquatch]

That is very cool! Wonder why biocube hasnt figured out so much mod work is required, fantastic work, Karma for you. Steve

[flricordia]

Here it is with the chaeto in the back. Working great so far.

[mps9506]

Do you think you will get much detritus build up in the back chamber with the live rock rubble? If so how easy will it be to clean out?

[flricordia]

Originally Posted by mps9506

Do you think you will get much detritus build up in the back chamber with the live rock rubble? If so how easy will it be to clean out?

besides the zoos there won't be anything to make any detritus. I wasn't going to add any snails or fish or ather inverts. I did however take the blue sponge that goes in chamber 3 before the powerhead and put it just under the overflow in chamber 1 to help keep anything out. Fit perfect.

[BigAl07]

When you added that "Odyssea 24wt PC light" did you notice any additional heat? Or did you add the lights AND modify the cooling system all at the same time? I just flipped the lid up and I don't think there is enough room under my stock hood for another set of lights. If so, I would have to modify or remove part of the reflector because it's made to where it takes up the rest of the space after the two sets of bulbs already in this hood. Maybe I am just over looking it. I'll look more into it and see what I can come up with. Your CUBE looks amazing!!

Allen

[flricordia]

Originally Posted by BigAl07

When you added that "Odyssea 24wt PC light" did you notice any additional heat? Or did you add the lights AND modify the cooling system all at the same time? I just flipped the lid up and I don't think there is enough room under my stock hood for another set of lights. If so, I would have to modify or remove part of the reflector because it's made to where it takes up the rest of the space after the two sets of bulbs already in this hood. Maybe I am just over looking it. I'll look more into it and see what I can come up with. Your CUBE looks amazing!!

Allen

There was more heat and I did remove it. Even without it there is a heat issue. Cutting the reflector open and exposing the fans helped keep the heat in check. I decided aginst the extra bulb since I am only keeping zoos in there for now and they don't really need it.
I guess I really prefer MH and am thinking seriously of doing the DIY 70wt with the Regent halogen housing and removing the hood. I will keep it on hand, but once you have used MH 14k it is hard to use anything else.
But yea, after an all day burn time with the 3rd bulb the tank was getting near 83F. I removed the access lid in the hood, this also helped the heat issue.
It was a BD present, but I think I would have rather gone with a different system if I had my pick. Typical American gift reciever! One of the fans started making a racket and the connector for the moonlights seems to have a short so I had to call Oceanic today and they are sending a new fan, but to get the moonlights fixed they said I had to send the entire system back. The guy at customer service was kind of a s**t head. Talked to me like I was an idiot and didn't know what I was doing. Don't think I will mess with Oceanic equipment anymore. Typical American gift reciever!

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by flricordia

......The guy at customer service was kind of a s**t head. Talked to me like I was an idiot and didn't know what I was doing. Don't think I will mess with Oceanic equipment anymore....

Thanks for the info! I was helping a friend get some stuff together to start his tank in his office and LFS was highly suggesting the BioCube. After this post and several others similar he changed his mind and ordered the Nano-24g instead.

Again thanks for your input!!

Allen

[djbacon]

Quick question you probably know the answer to. I just started a 14g bio cube. Took out the bioballs last night as this is going to be a soft coral tank primarily. Problem now is that the water levels between chambers one and two are abot 6 inches off and it is REALLY LOUD.

I already have 12 pounds of live rock in there for biological filtration so I feel like more rubble in the back is overkill. (let me know iff I am wrong) I also have a skimmer coming in a week or so so I do not want to remove plastic walls where the skimmer may need to attach. Can you suggest a beneficial material I can put back there to reduce noise and stabilize chemisrty? Filter floss? Chaeto?

Cheers!

[BigAl07]

Cheato ONLY if you have a Fuge light back there (another mod). Some people do use Filter Floss and other "Media" similar but you just have to remember to keep it clean and replaced. If you let it get nasty it simply replaces your Bio-Balls and becomes a Nitrate factory. In my NanoCube 12DX I have a sponge in the primary chamber (which is changed on Mon-Wed-Friday) empty middle and 3rd only houses the pump & heater. I keep them all full to max but honestly I think the design is different than your tank. I'm sure someone who has experience with a Bio-Cube can offer better advice.

Good job on getting RID of the Bio-Balls though!!