Biocube refugium mods

[rja]

Hey DIY reefing community,
I am running a biocube 29, near the end of cycle.

Thus far I have made it rimless, DIY mesh lid, kessil a160 over top, mj-1200 return pump upgrade, intank media basket, and now I am looking to put a fuge in the middle chamber.

I have a JBJ magnetic fuge light hooked up on a timer that will run opposite to my kessil schedule. I plan on just tossing some chaeto back there.

I truly believe in the balancing properties of aquatic flora because of my extensive planted tank background. However is this mod truly worthless? I see mixed “reviews” of it. I understand people regularly overstock biocubes too which I don’t plan to do. So I think the chaeto will be more effective in my case. There are also other options. I could glue a light to a media reactor and put the pump in chamber 1 under my heater, then put algae in it. However, I would be afraid of the heat causing the reactor to crack and draining the whole tank onto my floor. There is a macro algae reactor with a built in light made by Posideon Reef Systems but it’s basically $100 for a 1 gallon pickle jar with an amazon led strip…

Thoughts? I don’t think it would hurt? I say better use of chamber 2 than a finicky nano skimmer.

 

[blaxsun]

I think how effective it is will depend on your stocking level. You may want to finish your cycle, get some livestock and CUC into the tank and monitor your nitrates and phosphates to see how you're doing before setting any kind of refugium. You may not even need it.

 

[rja]

I think how effective it is will depend on your stocking level. You may want to finish your cycle, get some livestock and CUC into the tank and monitor your nitrates and phosphates to see how you're doing before setting any kind of refugium. You may not even need it.

Well now that I have it all set up I might as well lol! I also wanna do some dragons breath in the tank if members of the CUC wont eat it lol

 

[blaxsun]

Well now that I have it all set up I might as well lol! I also wanna do some dragons breath in the tank if members of the CUC wont eat it lol

Nothing ventured - nothing gained!

 

[MaxTremors]

I’m not a fan of trying to grow macro algae in the back chambers of AiOs. It’s just a hassle to deal with and can become detritus trap. You’d be far better off getting a HOB refugium, the light you have would still work. It’s just so much easier to manage.

 

[rja]

Nothing ventured - nothing gained!

Yeah.. there was a lot of tinkering during the cycle out of absolute pure boredom. Solving issues that dont exist yet lol. Who knows

 

[moorjames]

I grow chaeto in the 2nd chamber in mine- and mine just hangs out next to the intank media basket. I bought the intank fuge basket- but it doesn't fit because of the way my light mount is attached- so it just floats with no issues. I'll harvest every other week or so- basically when I can see it start to hit the top of the water- and it grows like crazy

 

[rja]

I grow chaeto in the 2nd chamber in mine- and mine just hangs out next to the intank media basket. I bought the intank fuge basket- but it doesn't fit because of the way my light mount is attached- so it just floats with no issues. I'll harvest every other week or so- basically when I can see it start to hit the top of the water- and it grows like crazy

Yeah i think I’m gonna opt out of the fuge basket and just put some egg crate material in the bottom to keep it suspended a few inches up. I know that it probably wont have much of an effect up front but my LFS gives it away so whats the harm lol