BIOCUBE 32

Veelo__ · Nov 26, 2020

I’m looking into setting up a bio cube 32, what’s the best ATO I could order for it and heater, and what all would I need to know for lighting schedules like I’m jus getting into reefing what would be recommended

Reef. · Nov 26, 2020

What’s the emergency?

Fink · Nov 26, 2020

This is definitely not an emergency... but I have a biocube 32 and they are super simple. You don't really need an ATO unless you are removing the top, they lose very little water to evaporation. As far as heaters, a decent quality 150w water heater should work fine.

The lighting schedule on these things is tricky (i replaced mine with the steve's LEDs so memory may not be perfect) but basically you want to set the blue channel to be on the longest (i think i did about 12 hours for my blue channel), your sparkle whites for about 10, and your bright whites for about 8. So like 10am-10pm the blues are on, 11am-9pm for the sparkles and like noon to 8pm for your pure (bright) whites. I can't remember which channel is which because it's been a while since I used the stock lighting.

Bepis · Nov 26, 2020

Go for either the XP Dueto or the Tunze Nano. Personally I am setting up a 29g and am going with the tunze for the fact it uses a float switch other then a electrical and mechanical is more reliable, dependable, and proven Than the XP, considering that the XP is quite new and the tunzes have been around forever

Bepis · Nov 26, 2020

Also please never use the tag emergency if it’s not one. You might tick off the whole community

Big_Mclargehuge · Nov 27, 2020

I'm guessing the emergency tag was an accident. I have a biocube 32. As far as lighting I only use my LC2 and LC3 lights. The blue and "beauty" lights. You're going to want to upgrade lights trust me. I just got a decent heater from my LFS nothing crazy. I wish i could remember what heater it is. I just use filter floss as far as filtration goes. Once I take the hood off and get a new light I will probably get the reef breeder ATO that came out not too long ago. It's like 80 bucks. You definitely don't need an ATO unless you take the hood off. I barely have any evaporation. I wouldn't listen to me as far as lighting schedules go. I'm still fairly new and figuring this out. Like i said the white lights I don't use. My corals seem happier without them for now and the white lights really promote algae growth. I have my LC3 (blue lights) from 8 am to 12 am. LC2 from 10 am to 8 pm. Any other questions just ask. This forum is amazing and super friendly. Just don't use the emergency tag if not need lol. Good luck!

Zoa_Fanatic · Dec 23, 2020

Veelo__ said:
I’m looking into setting up a bio cube 32, what’s the best ATO I could order for it and heater, and what all would I need to know for lighting schedules like I’m jus getting into reefing what would be recommended

I don’t know what these dudes are talking about with the lights. If you have one of the new LED biocubes you won’t need a light upgrade IMO. Mine uses stock lights and everything I have is exploding it’s growing so fast.

I use an Eihem-jager aquarium heater. I’ve used about three other brands and every single one has jacked up and tried to fry my fish. I’ll never use another brand again.

For my light schedule I leave the whites on from 7am-6:30pm, the color enchanting LEDs for the same time, and the blues from 6:00pm-11:00pm. My tank does great with this schedule.

Cell · Dec 23, 2020

Tunze 3155 ATO

Eheim Jager heater

BAMatter · Dec 25, 2020

Tunze Osmolator set to nano has worked awesome for me... i did find the stock lighting to be meh. Too white in order to get the corals the light they need. When the blues and beauties are on, the color was amazing, but I believe PAR was low. My corals started really looking terrible running no whites. I upgraded to Steve’s LED’s. Also Jager TruTemp 150watt with an InkBird controller.

Big_Mclargehuge · Dec 25, 2020

BAMatter said:
Tunze Osmolator set to nano has worked awesome for me... i did find the stock lighting to be meh. Too white in order to get the corals the light they need. When the blues and beauties are on, the color was amazing, but I believe PAR was low. My corals started really looking terrible running no whites. I upgraded to Steve’s LED’s. Also Jager TruTemp 150watt with an InkBird controller.

Exact problem i'm having i think. They look great under the blues and beauties but the white is just too white.

Big_Mclargehuge · Dec 25, 2020

Big_Mclargehuge said:
Exact problem i'm having i think. They look great under the blues and beauties but the white is just too white.

BAMatter · Dec 25, 2020

This is with Steve’s LED... This is blues at around 30% and whites around 18%...

I did do the hyper violet upgrade. This light can get way brighter.

Big_Mclargehuge · Dec 25, 2020

BAMatter said:
This is with Steve’s LED... This is blues at around 30% and whites around 18%...

I did do the hyper violet upgrade. This light can get way brighter.

How much does that run? Price wise. I'm thinking about either ai prime or the maxspect jump led

Big_Mclargehuge · Dec 25, 2020

BAMatter said:
This is with Steve’s LED... This is blues at around 30% and whites around 18%...

I did do the hyper violet upgrade. This light can get way brighter.

Also that looks so good.

BAMatter · Dec 25, 2020

Big_Mclargehuge said:
Also that looks so good.

Was around $400, that included a temp probe, hyper violet upgrade, and HurricaneX controller (which is awesome).

Not the cheapest solution but I wanted the stock hood on, and install was easy.

Big_Mclargehuge · Dec 25, 2020

BAMatter said:
Was around $400, that included a temp probe, hyper violet upgrade, and HurricaneX controller (which is awesome).

Not the cheapest solution but I wanted the stock hood on, and install was easy.

That's not too bad to be able to keep the stock hood. I like the top off rimless look but not sure if I like hood off with rim still attached. Taking the rim off seems like a chore for sure.

Baboo11 · Jan 3, 2021

Fink said:
This is definitely not an emergency... but I have a biocube 32 and they are super simple. You don't really need an ATO unless you are removing the top, they lose very little water to evaporation. As far as heaters, a decent quality 150w water heater should work fine.

The lighting schedule on these things is tricky (i replaced mine with the steve's LEDs so memory may not be perfect) but basically you want to set the blue channel to be on the longest (i think i did about 12 hours for my blue channel), your sparkle whites for about 10, and your bright whites for about 8. So like 10am-10pm the blues are on, 11am-9pm for the sparkles and like noon to 8pm for your pure (bright) whites. I can't remember which channel is which because it's been a while since I used the stock lighting.

Fink - I have a related question for you - I bought some used Steve's LEDs to replace the stock ones on the BC32 I am just setting up - any advice for programming with these? Thanks!

BAMatter · Jan 3, 2021

Baboo11 said:
Fink - I have a related question for you - I bought some used Steve's LEDs to replace the stock ones on the BC32 I am just setting up - any advice for programming with these? Thanks!

Here’s how I do mine- CH1 blues set to 1330 on at 10:00am with 120 minute ramp up, CH2 whites set to 945 on a 60 min delay. Ramp down starts at 9:00pm, moonlights (well CH1) are set to level 3. I’m currently bringing the intensity up, these lights are strong and corals react if it’s too much at a time.