Building Freshwater BioCube 16 Gallon - Help me

[newfishhobbiest]

Hello,

I have a Biocube 16 gallon tank, I want to make it into fresh water tank because as a first timer I feel like it will be easier vs going salt water route.
I got the tank used and cleaned it with Vinegar and Water inside and let it dry for 48 hours. Now the tank is like brand new.

I have a water pump, heat pump, media tray, filter cartridge and bio balls.

What do I put inside the Media Tray? - Sponge on top tray, BIO BALLS on bottom? Do I need to add anything?

I am thinking of putting the heat pump behind the filter cartridge, would that be okay?

Sorry for all the questions if they have already been answered in the forum. First - timer here

 

[newfishhobbiest]

anyone help me?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Welcome to the forum!
All of the media works in both fw and sw - most of it is there to provide a surface for beneficial bacteria to live on. There shouldn’t be any problems using it in freshwater.
As for the tank itself, the two issues you may have are the pump and lighting. The lights are just designed with coral in mind, so it’s going to be very blue and strong. Not a huge deal and something that can be adjusted, but worth mentioning. The pump is meant for saltwater, where currents are much stronger. I’d either replace it with a weaker pump or get fish that will do better with high flow (of the common fw fish, I’d pass on gouramis or bettas).

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Welcome to the forum!
All of the media works in both fw and sw - most of it is there to provide a surface for beneficial bacteria to live on. There shouldn’t be any problems using it in freshwater.
As for the tank itself, the two issues you may have are the pump and lighting. The lights are just designed with coral in mind, so it’s going to be very blue and strong. Not a huge deal and something that can be adjusted, but worth mentioning. The pump is meant for saltwater, where currents are much stronger. I’d either replace it with a weaker pump or get fish that will do better with high flow (of the common fw fish, I’d pass on gouramis or bettas).

I have decided to make it in SW, I have some dry rocks need to see how to cure them

 

[MDAquatics]

Good luck with the salt!

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Good luck with the salt!

Thank you @MDAquatics and @Sharkbait19

Here are the rocks, what would you recommend I do in terms of curing? Bleach & Water?

Can I use Tap Water (10 gallon) and Bleach (1 gallon) mixture for curing?
Do I put pump and heat sink inside the storage bin for curing?

Or do I need RO water ?

Also, can someone moderator or admin change title of this thread to "Salt Water BioCube 16 Setup - Start to Finish"

 

[Sharkbait19]

Soaking it in freshwater will do the trick imo - very little in saltwater will survive that.
You would want to use ro/di, as reef rocks have a tendency to absorb a lot of chemicals and leech them out later.

 

[MDAquatics]

I second soaking in RODI. Personally I have put them in before with a very weak pump, but I don't think you have to.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

I got RODI water and just soaking the rocks in it for now, how many days do you reckon I leave it in?

Should I put a pump and heater? @MDAquatics @Sharkbait19

 

[newfishhobbiest]

the reef store also recommended for small rocks I can put them in boiling water

 

[steveschuerger]

I converted my Biocube 16 into fresh. Went full on mod convert. Took hood off, got Kraken lid, Hygger light and removed the back media/fuge area. Using a Fluval hob filter .

 

[Bitis Botanical]

I set up a Biocube 32 as a freshwater tank. I put a chunk of Poret foam in the middle chamber but bioballs are fine too. I am using the stock light and pump without any problems.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I got RODI water and just soaking the rocks in it for now, how many days do you reckon I leave it in?

Should I put a pump and heater? @MDAquatics @Sharkbait19

A few days should be good. A pump wouldn’t be a bad thing but not necessary.
I’d be wary of boiling. It certainly works, but I’d be afraid of aerosolizing any toxins (like from dried up palys) in the process. Freshwater will kill anything on there.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

A few days should be good. A pump wouldn’t be a bad thing but not necessary.
I’d be wary of boiling. It certainly works, but I’d be afraid of aerosolizing any toxins (like from dried up palys) in the process. Freshwater will kill anything on there.

Awesome thank you so much for your help. Really blessed to have you guys in the forum

I am putting in the media tray

(In the removable drip tray)
Top shelf: Chemi-pure (mesh bag)
Middle shelf: Biopellets (mesh bag) or Bio Balls - (not sure)
Bottom shelf: Matrix (mesh bag)

Heater behind the Filter Cartridge
Biocube 16 gallon - Right side - Filter Catridge

Sponge before the Tank

And initially adding "Activate" from Aqualife when starting the tank in 2 weeks or so.

Saltwater (bought from store)

CaribSea Arag-Alive 20 lb Fiji Pink Sand + Rocks above will be the setting initially and then run the cycle for 10 days - then bring in fishes (Clownfish or Damselfish)​

 

[Sharkbait19]

Sounds good - just don’t rush the cycling. I’d wait on any fish until water routinely comes back with 0 ammonia and you start getting positive nitrate readings.

Be careful with clowns (or damsels) - they can be very aggressive, especially in small tanks and will limit what can go in there.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Started the cycle, here are the test results so far @Sharkbait19

 

[newfishhobbiest]

 

[newfishhobbiest]

 

[newfishhobbiest]

@Sharkbait19 what are your thoughts on the results? Day 8 - Biocube 16 gallon salt water test results. I am trying to follow this chart but Nitrate seems high already and ammonia and nitrite is not 0 ppm

 

[Sharkbait19]

I always take api results with a grain of salt, but either way it seems to be progressing normally.
I’d continue to ride it out. It wouldn’t hurt to do a small water change to pull some nitrate out and keep the reaction favoring its formation (I’m not sure if that’s standard protocol, but it’s what I would do).