BioCube 32 Water Level

[Aaron Shapiro]

Hey all,

First post here... Just set up my first saltwater tank after taking a long, long break from the hobby.

I picked up the BioCube 32 LED kit from my LFS and just filled her up. The thing I can't seem to figure out is how do I determine if my water level is good, or too high... I've be able to get about 27.5 gallons in it so far and it looks like this:

I don't see a "max fill" line anywhere... I've got a chunk of live rock and a bag of live sand in there but would that be enough to displace 4.5 gallons from the 32-gallon capacity??

I just REALLY don't want to overfill this thing.

Thanks in advance.

-a

 

[lapin]

Fill it to where you feel comfortable. As long as the overflow/return pump is working and water is not splashing out on the flooor, you are good.

 

[Aaron Shapiro]

Fill it to where you feel comfortable. As long as the overflow/return pump is working and water is not splashing out on the flooor, you are good.

good to know, thanks.
I have the heater in the same chamber as the pump, should it be on the opposite chamber where the water flows in??

 

[Phil D.]

The heater is fine where it's at. What you should do is turn on the return pump and adjust the water level by adding or subtracting water. The water level in your tank is going to stay at the same level, the water level in the sump area will change with evaporation.

 

[NPD_289]

When I had a biocube, I put the heater in the first chamber. As far as water level, there should be a small water level window on the side next to the pump chamber. You can make a mark anywhere next to that window to keep track of the water level in the pump chamber. My sweet spot was one inch below that window.

 

[NPD_289]

I meant one inch below the top of the window

 

[Aaron Shapiro]

When I had a biocube, I put the heater in the first chamber. As far as water level, there should be a small water level window on the side next to the pump chamber. You can make a mark anywhere next to that window to keep track of the water level in the pump chamber. My sweet spot was one inch below that window.

This is what I was curious about... I'm currently WAY above that window maybe 6-8"... I assume that's too much?

This may illustrate:

 

[NPD_289]

This is what I was curious about... I'm currently WAY above that window maybe 6-8"... I assume that's too much?

This may illustrate:

Yep...too much. First chamber will keep a constant water level which is more suitable for a heater. Your pump chamber will be the one to slowly go down due to evaporation. Keep your water level in that chamber down so you can see it in that observation window and keep the level consistent with freshwater top offs

 

[Aaron Shapiro]

Yep...too much. First chamber will keep a constant water level which is more suitable for a heater. Your pump chamber will be the one to slowly go down due to evaporation. Keep your water level in that chamber down so you can see it in that observation window and keep the level consistent with freshwater top offs

Gotcha, I think I was fixated on getting the, "most water possible" into the tank. I had that 32-gallon # in my head but forgot that everything I put in there will displace water. Planning on adding at least another 15 lbs on Wednesday from my LFS.

 

[Aaron Shapiro]

Update: Pulled a few gallons out to get the level of water into the window on the side... at which point I had a babbling brook. The middle chamber didn't fill up with water. Adding water just raised the far left chamber. Wound up just adding enough to keep it quiet, then unplugged the pump to make sure it wouldn't overflow — all was well. I'll have to figure out how to mark on it somewhere the level.

Let me know if I could try anything else. I'm surprised at how steep of a learning curve this tank has...

 

[zwschutz]

I keep my water line where the pass through notch is between the 2nd and 3rd chamber. Found this to be the best spot to keep the noise level down.

 

[Aaron Shapiro]

I keep my water line where the pass through notch is between the 2nd and 3rd chamber. Found this to be the best spot to keep the noise level down.

Yep that's about where I'm at now. Thanks!

 

[hllb]

Same tank I have. The water level should be just below the first level of the media rack in chamber 2. Get the display side to the level you'd like (mine is up to the rim) and then add or remove water from chambers 2 and 3 until you get it right below that first shelf of chamber 2. I'll see if I have a picture.

 

[Aaron Shapiro]

Same tank I have. The water level should be just below the first level of the media rack in chamber 2. Get the display side to the level you'd like (mine is up to the rim) and then add or remove water from chambers 2 and 3 until you get it right below that first shelf of chamber 2. I'll see if I have a picture.

cool thank you!

 

[hllb]

The horizontal arrow is showing the overflow notch between chambers 2 and 3. The vertical one is showing my waterline at the first shelf in the stock media basket. I have my heater in chamber 1 because it’s at a constant water level but chamber 3 can work if you have the heater low enough. I’ve since swapped out to use the InTank media basket with so-so results.

 

[hllb]

You can raise it a bit higher if the waterfall noise bothers you but I could barely notice it. My tank has been up for a month now and I really like it but wish it were bigger lol.

 

[Mikedawg]

Hey all,

First post here... Just set up my first saltwater tank after taking a long, long break from the hobby.

I picked up the BioCube 32 LED kit from my LFS and just filled her up. The thing I can't seem to figure out is how do I determine if my water level is good, or too high... I've be able to get about 27.5 gallons in it so far and it looks like this:

I don't see a "max fill" line anywhere... I've got a chunk of live rock and a bag of live sand in there but would that be enough to displace 4.5 gallons from the 32-gallon capacity??

I just REALLY don't want to overfill this thing.

Thanks in advance.

-a

I may be wrong, but just because it is named the Biocube 32 doesn't necessarily mean that it's usable capacity is 32 gallons. Seem to remember reading about some tests where it's capacity was a few gallons less.

 

[hllb]

I may be wrong, but just because it is named the Biocube 32 doesn't necessarily mean that it's usable capacity is 32 gallons. Seem to remember reading about some tests where it's capacity was a few gallons less.

With substrate and 30 lbs of live rock, I have 25 to 26 gallons in mine.

 

[Aaron Shapiro]

Gotcha. All of this is helpful. I think I’ve got it squared away. Little iffy on how I should have the middle compartment setup. But I guess I’ll figure it out.

 

[JakeSpeed]

Arron, welcome to reefing, I started out a little over 5 years ago with a BioCube29 and have since moved up to a 90 Gallon Reef. This YouTube link will help you out, this guy ReefThuZ did how to start a BioCube and taught me a ton when I first started. https://www.youtube.com/user/ReefThuZ