Biocube setup

[AC1211]

What accessories do I need on a 32 gallon biocube and can someone give me the rundown on the setup process?

 

[James M]

Are you buying one new or used ?
It comes with a return pump and lighting.
Everybody has different bio cubes set ups

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

it’s really plug n play if all original accessories are included, except for the heater. maybe a power head if you really want one.

 

[AC1211]

Are you buying one new or used ?
It comes with a return pump and lighting.
Everybody has different bio cubes set ups

New.

 

[AC1211]

it’s really plug n play if all original accessories are included, except for the heater. maybe a power head if you really want one.

So with simple fish and soft corals will I need more flow? Could I get any heater like a smaller eheim?

 

[James M]

I don’t know the gph on the stock pump but if it’s not enough I suggest you do get a power head. The stock lights will do good with soft coral .

 

[AC1211]

I don’t know the gph on the stock pump but if it’s not enough I suggest you do get a power head. The stock lights will do good with soft coral .

What is the lifespan of those lights?

 

[VB313]

Everyone’s different biocube set ups you kinda just have to find what works for you the stock lights will last you a long time but depending on your coral you may need a upgrade I’m going with Steve’s leds soon
I swapped out the stock pump with a innovative marine mighty jet ups the flow from 265 -326GPH can’t honestly say i noticed the difference but it has a nice controller with a feed mode that shuts it down for 10mins helps keeps food out the filtration
https://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Marine-MightyJet-Return-Pump/dp/B07B5L2BPX

I still run a power head I got a jebao pp4
https://www.amazon.com/d/Aquarium-Water-Pumps/Jebao-PP-4-530-1000-Wavemaker-Controller/B0192HNEEA
I run it on the 3-5th speed it has different wave patterns and also has 10min feed mode but your options on powerheads are endless

Replaced the filtration with intank aquatics media rack and fuge rack it definitely makes things easier maintenance wise but not really needed https://intankaquatics.com/shop-by-tank/biocube/

And my heater is a jbj true temp I got for the large temp Digital display on the controller but again heating options are endless and personal preference https://www.amazon.com/JBJ-Lighting-JB1235-Digital-Controller/dp/B004K80UTY

 

[User1]

Similar to what @VB313 said above. I had two 29 gallon cubes and the base package is good to start with. Later you will find a lot of hacks that people employ to make them better. I upgraded lights to LED using a retro from Steve's LEDs on one and Rapid LED custom on another. Removed false bottoms in both. Evened out chamber one wall so it was smooth by trimming it. Added media basket in 2nd chamber. Upgraded return pump to maxjet. Added RW4 in both. One I added a skimmer the other was skimmer less. I had to mod the hood since it was a CPR Bak Pak. Another one I added a light to the back and had a refugium going.

Lots you can do but the base is fine to get started. Then it just depends on what you are planning on keeping, etc.

 

[AC1211]

Similar to what @VB313 said above. I had two 29 gallon cubes and the base package is good to start with. Later you will find a lot of hacks that people employ to make them better. I upgraded lights to LED using a retro from Steve's LEDs on one and Rapid LED custom on another. Removed false bottoms in both. Evened out chamber one wall so it was smooth by trimming it. Added media basket in 2nd chamber. Upgraded return pump to maxjet. Added RW4 in both. One I added a skimmer the other was skimmer less. I had to mod the hood since it was a CPR Bak Pak. Another one I added a light to the back and had a refugium going.

Lots you can do but the base is fine to get started. Then it just depends on what you are planning on keeping, etc.

Does it come with starter filter media eventually I will add to it but does it come with something?

 

[VB313]

I don’t believe it does

 

[VB313]

I was curious and checked around online there’s actually some pretty awesome deals on biocubes with all the accessories out there

 

[User1]

Does it come with starter filter media eventually I will add to it but does it come with something?

The bio-cube does come with a filter pad and charcoal. I didn't use it. If you are talking about the in-tank media rack, no. It is just the rack. You can also google bio cube hacks, DIY media rack, etc and plenty of examples out there. In the one cube we had that used a media rack we had chemi-clean or whatever that is called, and then a bag of purgen. Purgen when needed but the chemi bag was always in there. You could also use carbon or whatever. It is a great product the rack or if you can do your own.

But the biocube did come with a filter floss thing with charcoal. Ours are the Oceanic 29 gallon if that matters. 2009 - 10 year model.

 

[Barry_Cuda]

I upgraded lights to LED using a retro from Steve's LEDs on one and Rapid LED custom on another..

How happy are you with the Steve's LEDs upgrade? My cube with the stock lighting is still cycling, but I'm eyeing this as a possible upgrade for a few months down the road.

 

[Barry_Cuda]

Things I've added to my Biocube 32:

• Hydor 240 powerhead
  
• Tunze 3152 ATO
  
• InTank media basket
• Coralife Biocube stand (came with the tank. Many people here have reported that this stand seems flimsy, but the stand Coralife is shipping now is "new & improved" with a wooden back instead of the old cardboard one, and I see no reason to suspect this stand won't hold up just fine)

Things I'm still looking to add:

• 1 more powerhead (possibly)
  
• InTank fuge basket
• JBJ fuge light
• Temperature controller

The tank is still cycling, so I don't have any direct feedback on how well any of these things have affected tank or livestock health. I can say that I'm happy with the media basket, and I get some peace of mind knowing that the ATO will help keep my salinity stable. The tank package I ordered also came with the Coralife skimmer, but I decided not to use it after reading people's feedback about that skimmer here and elsewhere. If you'd like it, I'd be happy to ship it to you for the cost of shipping.

 

[User1]

How happy are you with the Steve's LEDs upgrade? My cube with the stock lighting is still cycling, but I'm eyeing this as a possible upgrade for a few months down the road.

Both are fine, and good. My Steve's kit is older like I said so not sure how to compare it to what he has today. Comparing it between what I built for Rapid Steve's was a lot more blue / actinic if that makes sense. At the time I purchased he was using a lot of blue, royal blues and it was noticeable. That particular cube was running the Reef Angel controller so had the dimming option which allowed me to tune it more to my taste. It was a solid kit and grew pretty much anything. Birds nest, anemones, LPS (hammer corals), zoa's, Kenya tree, etc. I liked it.

Rapids kit I think I mixed evenly white, warm white, blue, royal blue and used potentiometers to control/adjust.

 

[CNDReef]

My 29 is running a maxijet 1200 , a sw2 and a tunze 6055 for water movement. I use the Brs dual reactor and a cheato reactor. Running a ati 6x24 that’s getting swapped for a 250w mh on Black Friday