Jmcdaniels 14g BioCube Build

[Jmcdaniel0]

Hey All,

This is my first ever Nano! I am super excited to start this process. I have put together the stand and I hope to get started on modding the tank a bit. Pics Coming soon!

I am going to change a few things around for sure.

Upgrades:
InTank media Basket replacing the bioballs
Neotherm Heater
Coralife Biocube Skimmer
Trulemen LED Strip upgrades: 1-12 inch strip- Actinic Pacific Blue. 1- 12 inch Combo 12k cool white and actinic blue combo
replacing stock pump with MJ900


What do you all think? Critiques wanted and welcome!

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

Here's the unboxed biocube and finished stand

 

[Reefrookie220]

I love these cubes, I've modded one with all the in tank products and currently run a 29 oceanic biocube with the bioballs and really like them. That being said,they always leave you wanting just a little more lol.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

It going to be fun! However the build is on hold because my 8 yr old has gave me the gift of Strep....... Gotta love kids! On a side note I did a really long interview with Sustainable Aquatics for a very interesting position. If i get it I may wait to set up the Cube until I get settled into my office. The inTank products have stellar reviews, and seem to be well made. I have the flow director kit and media basket for my 14g. Do you recommend any additional ones?

 

[Reefrookie220]

Depends on your bioload, the tunez skimmer or the fuge basket are both great. Grats on the interview hope all goes well. They also make a light for the fuge area and it grows cheato nicely.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

I have the bio cube skimmer. What is this fuse basket and light? Will it fit in the back with my current intake media basket?

 

[Reefrookie220]

They go side by side flow director- media basket-fuge basket. The light Velcro to the back over the fuge basket, lil dab of sand a small rock and a ball of cheato in the fuge, filter floss, chemi pure, carbon in the stages of your media basket. Makes for decent pod production which means less feeding ergo cleaner tank.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

Hmm can you link those? I'm having a hard time finding it.

 

[Reefrookie220]

Hmm can you link those? I'm having a hard time finding it.

Turns out the fuge basket is for the 29 only,you could make one but it'd be awfully packed back there. You could always toss some cheato in your top chamber of media basket and run purigen and chemipure elite. Just check mediabaskets.com under the biocube29 sections. Both the light and baskets are listed there. The corallife skimmer left me wanting more so I used the tunez, then I scrapped the skimmer completely and a good clean up crew became my best friend. Plus in this small of an environment the shrimp and crabs have less hiding space and them plus fish and coral makes for a ton of movement.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

ok sounds good. I am going to have a packed back chamber already... I gotta make room for my osmolator nano too

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

ok so I am redoing my lighting for the tank. Instead of supplementing the current lighting I am going to get a rapid Led kit for it. Also,
i piocke up the biocube uv sterilizer for a steal today so thats going in the tank as well

 

[Reefrookie220]

I used the current USA orbit marine led mounted in the hood, keeps acros happy and has a remote and controller and cool weather effects.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

Which one? Care to link

 

[Reefrookie220]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GF...+led+18-24&dpPl=1&dpID=418hTJlAfbL&ref=plSrch

It's 100 bucks and I've been SUPER impressed with growth and polyp extension in all of my corals. Idk if the 14g is 18in wide though.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

Nah, it is 15 3/8 wide by my tape measure.

I am going to go with this I think.

http://www.rapidled.com/solderless-coralife-biocube-14-retrofit-kit-with-two-dimmable-drivers/

 

[Reefrookie220]

I've heard nothing bad about them. They get good reviews just got no experience Personally. Got any stocking ideas?

If you want something to make your tank stick out that's super easy and simple check out Aussie gold live sand. I use it and have never seen it in a tank out side my own, natures ocean makes it. Looks great with the black back of the biocube

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

Send me a pic of the sand? I'm wanting to really load with LPS softies and a blue maxima. Fish: neon dotty back, blue velvet damsel. Some shrimp and a pom pom crab.

All of the live stock is up in the air atill.

 

[Nnavarro1982]

This is our 14 biocube my husband is currently building the stand but he built a hood and we put Chinese led lighting on it. Got rid of the bio ball and have the stock pump which will be upgraded soon, Along with a uv sterilizer added to chamber 3, chamber 2 has ceramic noodles, purigen, and phosgaurd. No need for a media basket just stack it and make a small lid for the top with holes works great. Chamber 1 holds chemi pure blue and filter floss. Then I run 2 hydor 425 with a hydor controller. No skimmer needed the tank is 2 small and I do a 10% water change once a week.

 

[Reefrookie220]

Need some dry pukani rock? I've got a lot left over. Nice big pieces.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

Ive got about 200lbs of of dry rock. Right now I need sand.