BIOCUBE 32 SUMPS

MEhart · Jul 6, 2018

I would love to add a refugium/sump to my biocube 32 LED with the fewest possible cuts/modifications to the lid. I would like to keep running my eshopps nano skimmer in some way...

Any suggestions?

Happy reefing friends!

ReefReady9 · Jul 6, 2018

You could take the lid off completely

MEhart · Jul 6, 2018

Yes, I understand I could take the lid off. This is why I specifically wrote in the post that I was trying to keep the lid on so that there would not be any confusion as to my intent...

reeftigergal · Jul 6, 2018

Ok, I made a custom acrylic lid, that was also a custom holder for a current orbit extra light housing, and face plate that the cube lid comes down onto and still looks closed at an angle to the back where I added at one time a fuge to the bottom of my custom acrylic media basket, and my hydor skimmer still fit in the middle compartment with it all.
Then I changed it all to to a DIY turf Scrubber between the overflow from media basket and the skimmer with a chatomax light on the back. Works great. No alga, and no fuge needed.
I have a few pics if your interested. I have since sold the system sd I had to cut down on some of my 8 reef tanks.

Garrett Keller · Jul 30, 2018

Check out my setup on youtube. I am going to do a plumbing video soon to explain how I kept the hood. My you tube channel is under my name Garrett Keller.

Reef of Fillory · Jul 30, 2018

You could drill the back [chambers 2 and 3] and pipe a return up either through additional holes [and out to the main tank] or up and over the back through a hole in the lid.

I drilled my Biocube with two 3/4" bulkheads for drains, and ran the return back over the top using some Krylon Fusion painted PVC [I also took the hood off, but I didn't need to to drill the back - I prefer the hoodless look]

eb_reef · Jul 30, 2018

Reef of Fillory said:
You could drill the back [chambers 2 and 3] and pipe a return up either through additional holes [and out to the main tank] or up and over the back through a hole in the lid.

I drilled my Biocube with two 3/4" bulkheads for drains, and ran the return back over the top using some Krylon Fusion painted PVC [I also took the hood off, but I didn't need to to drill the back - I prefer the hoodless look]

Do you have pics or a thread about drilling your biocube? I wish I did this before setting mine up.

Reef of Fillory · Jul 31, 2018

eb_reef said:
Do you have pics or a thread about drilling your biocube? I wish I did this before setting mine up.

I did mine with it set up, I just drained about 1/2 of the water. I must mention that this is a big risk, but I didn't experience any issues doing so. I put wet paper towels on the inside of my diamond hole saw and took it slow. I also staggered the holes so that they were not on the "same plain"

Edit: Here's a thread I started which shows where I drilled it, but I didn't document "how"
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/plumbing-and-return-pump-help.330294/

Essentially I just did it "normally" but with the panel vertical. Be very careful while doing it, I have also read somewhere that some of the biocubes might be tempered glass on the back panel, so that is another risk.

izzy1942 · Sep 4, 2023

MEhart said:
I would love to add a refugium/sump to my biocube 32 LED with the fewest possible cuts/modifications to the lid. I would like to keep running my eshopps nano skimmer in some way...

Any suggestions?

Happy reefing friends!