Biocube sump design (max chaeto dimensions)

MIchael10101 · Jan 22, 2018

Howdy everyone,

I'm trying to design a sump for my biocube which will fit into the cabinet. Max dimensions are 16" x 15" x 18" (H x W x L). I'm building it with the intention of maximizing the available area for chaeto growth. At this time I have no intentions of using any reactors. I have had massive success controlling nutrients in my 75g tank using only chaeto and a protein skimmer. I plan on doing the same thing here. My baffles are set at 10" which should give the total water volume of about 11.5 gallons. Does anyone see anything drastically wrong with my set up? The tank is being made from 1/4" acrylic.

I plan on running a Syncra 357 gph pump, and an Aquamaxx WS1 skimmer. Will be growing w/ a spare kessil h80.

Ranjib · Jan 22, 2018

you'll be drilling your biocube for overflow as well?
cool project, tagging along

MIchael10101 · Jan 22, 2018

Ranjib said:
you'll be drilling your biocube for overflow as well?
cool project, tagging along

Yes, I plan on drilling the back. I'm debating as to whether or not I'm going to completely removed the back wall. This would give me an extra 3-4 inches of space which would be nice. The only problem is the tank is in use right now. Not that it's to big a deal to drain down to a work-able level.

MIchael10101 · Jan 23, 2018

Final dimensions and cut list.

Heavysledz · Jan 31, 2018

subscribed

George Villasenor · Jan 31, 2018

Looking forward to this developing

Script_Kitty · Feb 3, 2018

I recently converted my biocube 32.

I ended up going with a micro overflow box that i trimmed down and got fitting into the first back section of the biocube (looks werid cause i also converted it to have an emergency overflow so i could do herby on it.

In the cabnet i put an icecap sump. I wanted a big return pump area so i could put an apex cor15 in there. And i wanted to run an overside skimmer.

The return pump feeds back to the second compartment in the back of the biocube that i have put chetos on ( it rolls pretty nice, and i light it from the back during the off cycle.

My plan is to go triton on it (all set bu. Just waiting for the cor 7).

My design goal was to modify the biocube as little as possible. (Mostly cause i am stuborn)

One thing i would sugest is if you have the standard biocube cabnet. Put a peice of plywood across the back.

With the center shelf out, it started to get a little wobbly. And thats a lot of. Weight up top.

Overall i really like the options the Sump is giving but it seems like between the apex and the sump, i am aways tweeking something.

That might or might not be a good thing depending on how much you like tweeking.

Script_Kitty · Feb 3, 2018

One other peice of advice.

Dont put your power bars in the cabnet.

I had mine there when i didnt have a sump. And though (well the water wont get this high).

You will be amased how many stupid things you can do that spray water. And the cabnet just isnt very big.

I ended moving a lot of stuff to the outside of the cabnet, and i am going to build some kind of cover. Shelft to protect from any spill over.

Heavysledz · Feb 4, 2018

wow that is a LOT going on for a 32 Biocube!

Script_Kitty · Feb 5, 2018

On d you get rid of the fish and coral, there is a lot more room for automation :

I like michael10101 sump design better then the one i am running with the ice-cab has a space for a ata revisor. But its too small to be of much use.
The problem with the biocube stand is you just dont have much space to play with.

My main goal was to get the biocube to learn on. And then get something big with the idea of moving over the controlers. So far the plan is “working”, but i would love just a couple of more inches.

michael10101, what do you plan to do with the compartments in the back of the tank?

And how did the drilling go? I wanted to drill, but the tank was already in use when i went sump.

Do you plan to drill out the back? Or through the bottom?

MIchael10101 · Feb 5, 2018

Well, the sump is built, but I made an error in my measuring. I'm going to have to trim down the middle bubble trap to lower the water line. I'll post pictures once I get a little more work done on it. I'm hoping to have it up and functioning this week.

I've decided that I'm not going to drill the back. The cube is already up and running at work. I've bought a CPR CS50. I know it's not ideal, but I felt that breaking it down to drill would be to difficult... I may be wrong.

As far as the back compartment, I'm not sure right now.

MIchael10101 · Feb 28, 2018

Dump is done. Not my best work, but it isn't for show. Ended up using a HOB overflow just simply bc it was easier. This tank will be upgraded to a larger one in a year and then be converted to a dedicated quarantine tank. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask

Script_Kitty · Feb 28, 2018

Nice. Now i have sump envy

Do you have any pics of your overflow box?

I am starting to run into trouble of the pipe between the tank and the overflow box not being big enough and looking for options.

MIchael10101 · Mar 2, 2018

Script_Kitty said:
Nice. Now i have sump envy

Do you have any pics of your overflow box?

I am starting to run into trouble of the pipe between the tank and the overflow box not being big enough and looking for options.

I'm just running a CS50 w/ the aqualifter. My drain is 3/4" and the return is 1/2." I'm very happy with it. It' relatively quit compared to the noise that was being made w/ the pump I had in the back of the biocube. I'm not sure how I feel about what the water is doing in the 3rd chamber of the biocube. I suppose via diffusion it's not doing much.

I am exceptionally happy with the outcome. I ordered a sheet of acrylic and had the company cut it for me. I'm lazy.... but, I made a few errors in my math (like I always do), and if I had to do it over again, I would change a few things. I glued it myself which is not a big deal at all. Took about two hours over two days. Then 24 hours of holding water to check for leaks. I did have two, but they were easily patched. Overall, the tank looks SO MUCH CLEANER!!! The chaeto is growing like mad.

I don't use a sock, I didn't change them frequently enough and they were a pain to clean... again, I'm lazy. I removed them from my main tank and have been so happy with the results that I never even planned them into this build.

Script_Kitty · Mar 2, 2018

I ended up putting live rock rubble in the third comparment. I use the first for the OFB and the second for a refium (put a light on the back of the cube and the return brings the water in at a angle, so the cheito rolls around pretty nice. Its becoming a nice big disk).

I didn’t want to put anything in the bottom of chanber 2 as it might catch the cheitos. So i just started adding live rock rubble to chanber 3 to give little critters a place to live.

I put a small peice of plastic between chambers one and two to raise the water level in chanber 2 and 3. Some of the water flows out through the chamber 3 hole, and the rest flows out throught the grilling in chamber 2.

The only problem i am having is my new core pump keeps running the return pump section to low, and gets close to overflowing the back of the tank.

I have herbied the overflow box, but only have one pipe from chamber on to the OFB.

My plan is to make a pvc emergency overflow and put it into chamber 3. Hoping to never need it. But you know how things go.