Lowering Tank Volume Biocube 32

[ReeferMitch92]

Please help! About 2 months ago I setup a 32 gallon Biocube, which has been doing pretty well (with the exception of some Cyanobacteria and gorilla crabs that came in on live rock), but my landlord is not happy and is stressing that no tanks containing more than 15 gallons of water can be kept in my apartment :[ that being said, does anyone have any recommendations as to how I can run the Biocube 32 with only 15 gallons in it? Right now I am running the stock pump in chamber 3, refugium+chaeto and InTank media basket with chemipure/biogen in chamber 2, heater in chamber 1.
Options I am considering include 1) setting up some sort of external pump to bypass the need to use the in tank filtration system, which I don’t think will work with only 50% of water 2) altering the three chamber system by (somehow) drilling holes in the dividers between each chamber so that it can run with a lower water level.

Any thoughts/ideas/recommendations are GREATLY appreciated! I’ve attached a pic of my current setup (note the live rocks do not extend above 50% height of the tank).

 

[Dragon52]

It might upset the Manager but if you could find out who owns the complex you could talk to them about the situation. I don't think I would want to try * run a tank at half it's capacity.

 

[Kzang]

Please help! About 2 months ago I setup a 32 gallon Biocube, which has been doing pretty well (with the exception of some Cyanobacteria and gorilla crabs that came in on live rock), but my landlord is not happy and is stressing that no tanks containing more than 15 gallons of water can be kept in my apartment :[ that being said, does anyone have any recommendations as to how I can run the Biocube 32 with only 15 gallons in it? Right now I am running the stock pump in chamber 3, refugium+chaeto and InTank media basket with chemipure/biogen in chamber 2, heater in chamber 1.
Options I am considering include 1) setting up some sort of external pump to bypass the need to use the in tank filtration system, which I don’t think will work with only 50% of water 2) altering the three chamber system by (somehow) drilling holes in the dividers between each chamber so that it can run with a lower water level.

Any thoughts/ideas/recommendations are GREATLY appreciated! I’ve attached a pic of my current setup (note the live rocks do not extend above 50% height of the tank).

State that with the rock, sand, and coral, it displaces about 15 gallons of water. I doubt he will drain it to measure it's volume. I had an apartment before my house and they only let 20g, and they didn't say anything about my bio 32. If they did, I would of tried the same thing.

Edit: also you don't need the return pump. Just run powerheads to make up the flow if you have too. Such a small water volume you don't need media. Water changes is all you need.

I ran a rimless deep blue 57g for almost 4 months without a sump with just powerheads and heater inside

 

[JumboShrimp]

I say to buy yourself a nice 16 gallon biocube (less than 15 gallons of water) and store your 32 for another apartment/another time in your life. Best wishes!

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

How much rock do you have? No way there’s actually 32 gallons of water in there.

 

[Retro Reefer]

As suggested I would get the smaller Biocube and move everything thing over, no way to effectively run that tank half full.

 

[MikeIkerson]

I’ve measured the actual gallons in my 32 gallon biocube and it holds 26 gallons of water after rock displacement. Chambers 2 and 3 are 3/4 way full.

 

[CindyKz]

I would try the "rocks and sand displace most of the water" argument first.

 

[ReeferMitch92]

It might upset the Manager but if you could find out who owns the complex you could talk to them about the situation. I don't think I would want to try * run a tank at half it's capacity.

Unfortunately both the complex owner and landlord are working to enforce the 15 gallon maximum. There was some miscommunication when I first moved in regarding tank size, but this is what it has come to so any ideas are appreciated.

 

[anon9896]

Add enough rocks there is only 15 gallons of water left in the tank

 

[ReeferMitch92]

So I have about 20 pounds of sand with about 20 pounds of live rock. It very much so looks like less than 50% of the volume - I would be shocked if the “displacement” argument were to work..... for those proponents of the “buy a smaller tank” plan, don't you think that would result in my tank potentially re-cycling and stress to my fish and corals? It would be the best outcome if I didn’t have to cause unnecessary stress to the setup, but I do think getting a smaller Biocube isn’t a terrible idea (and more reason to get a third fish tank lol).

 

[ReeferMitch92]

Does anyone have a good formula/method for calculating water displacement of sand and live rock? I’ve looked at other threads about it exhaustingly and can’t seem to find a good answer

 

[ReeferMitch92]

I’ve measured the actual gallons in my 32 gallon biocube and it holds 26 gallons of water after rock displacement. Chambers 2 and 3 are 3/4 way full.

How much sand and rock do you have?

 

[CindyKz]

So I have about 20 pounds of sand with about 20 pounds of live rock. It very much so looks like less than 50% of the volume - I would be shocked if the “displacement” argument were to work..... for those proponents of the “buy a smaller tank” plan, don't you think that would result in my tank potentially re-cycling and stress to my fish and corals? It would be the best outcome if I didn’t have to cause unnecessary stress to the setup, but I do think getting a smaller Biocube isn’t a terrible idea (and more reason to get a third fish tank lol).

If your tank is well established simply moving the rocks and livestock from one to the other won't be as bad as you think. Much less stressful than moving a tank across town or from room to room and people do that all the time. I would take the opportunity to replace the sand with fresh, that will alleviate any problems from stirring up nasty stuff.

 

[CindyKz]

BTW, I love your pink streaked wrasse. I have one in my Biocube also, he's one of my favorites.

 

[Jon Fishman]

+1 for getting a nice rimless 15g and moving everything over

 

[MikeIkerson]

How much sand and rock do you have?

I have 40lbs rock and 15 lbs sand

 

[Jon Fishman]

I don’t think arguing semantics with volume vs displacement is going to get him anywhere.....

Lower volume of water in tank (I don’t recommend). or replace tank with a smaller, probably affordable tank (winner winner) are his two realistic options

 

[CindyKz]

BTW, I love your pink streaked wrasse. I have one in my Biocube also, he's one of my favorites.

That's what I get for not looking closely LOL