My Office 29 Gallon Oceanic Biocube

[BigJimmysReef]

Just got a new office space and will be setting up one of the first saltwater tanks I ever owned as my new office tank. It is super old and in poor condition and will need alot of work but I think it will be worth it in the end. I will get some photos to add once I get going.

 

[MantisShrimpMan]

I currently have a 20 gallon JBJ Cubey AIO- so a fairly similar system- and I plan on spending the next few weeks finalizing logistics of upgrading to a 30G. Might not be that big a size increase, but the key differences for me all revolve around going from hood to rimless. Here are the challenges I’ve found with a hooded tank, and how a rimless tank improves over them:

1. Can get a separate mainstream light that will produce SPS level par

2. Don’t have that ridiculously thick rim to support the hood, which prevents me from using most HOB gear.

3. Tying into the same thing as the thickness of the rim, having the hood on prevents gear like reactors and skimmers from sticking out of the water.

4. With the hood on, my ATO trips about once every 7 to 8 days. Without the hood on, my ATO activates about twice a day. Having enough evaporation to give volume for dosing is HUGE.

5. With the hood on, especially in conjunction with a nano skimmer (To clarify- I cut a hole in my hood just to fit the bubble magus mini Q but would like to fit other protruding gear as well and can’t) CO2 has a harder time escaping so your pH stays lower and hence keeps alkalinity tough to stabilize as well

Once I get this project going I’ll start a proper build thread. In the meantime, my advice would be to consider plumbing the tank to a separate sump And/or removing the hood and rim if thats safe. After getting into the hobby via this forum, my personal experience is that older, hooded AIO’s have a good chance of driving actually passionate reefers nuts.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[BigJimmysReef]

I currently have a 20 gallon JBJ Cubey AIO- so a fairly similar system- and I plan on spending the next few weeks finalizing logistics of upgrading to a 30G. Might not be that big a size increase, but the key differences for me all revolve around going from hood to rimless. Here are the challenges I’ve found with a hooded tank, and how a rimless tank improves over them:

1. Can get a separate mainstream light that will produce SPS level par

2. Don’t have that ridiculously thick rim to support the hood, which prevents me from using most HOB gear.

3. Tying into the same thing as the thickness of the rim, having the hood on prevents gear like reactors and skimmers from sticking out of the water.

4. With the hood on, my ATO trips about once every 7 to 8 days. Without the hood on, my ATO activates about twice a day. Having enough evaporation to give volume for dosing is HUGE.

5. With the hood on, especially in conjunction with a nano skimmer (To clarify- I cut a hole in my hood just to fit the bubble magus mini Q but would like to fit other protruding gear as well and can’t) CO2 has a harder time escaping so your pH stays lower and hence keeps alkalinity tough to stabilize as well

Once I get this project going I’ll start a proper build thread. In the meantime, my advice would be to consider plumbing the tank to a separate sump And/or removing the hood and rim if thats safe. After getting into the hobby via this forum, my personal experience is that older, hooded AIO’s have a good chance of driving actually passionate reefers nuts.

I appreciate the input its probably been since 2007 since I had my Bio-cube setup technology has really changed since then and nano tanks are alot more popular.

 

[BigJimmysReef]

Following along!

Thanks appreciate the interest.

 

[BigJimmysReef]

I work in construction and I had a 30" W x 24" D x 35" T cabinet left over from a project that I think I am going to use as a stand. It has a drawer that I can use for misc. tools, testing kit, food and such. It also has space below I can store larger equipment like ATO reservoir, water changing, and maintenance equipment. I am planning on adding some supports to the top of the cabinet just to help with rigidity. For the top I have a sub-contractor that has some scrap quartz material he will use to make a counter top for me.

 

[Idech]

It makes a really nice stand ! Are you going to waterproof it inside ?

 

[dank.reefer]

Hope this one works out better than Oreo's house

 

[MantisShrimpMan]

I appreciate the input its probably been since 2007 since I had my Bio-cube setup technology has really changed since then and nano tanks are alot more popular.

Yeah I keep one now! Hence my passion for the topic lol

 

[BigJimmysReef]

It makes a really nice stand ! Are you going to waterproof it inside ?

I thought about it previously but I dont think I am at least for now if I end up spilling alot i might.

 

[BigJimmysReef]

Hope this one works out better than Oreo's house

Yeah, Oreo had a rough life for a bit but I had cleaned up his tank a bit before rehoming him in a new 29 gallon tank. Wont ever make the mistake of not Quarantining new fish again.

 

[BigJimmysReef]

Yeah I keep one now! Hence my passion for the topic lol

I really like the tank until, I made the mistake of getting fish that were to big for it and decided to upgrade. I think I would have been better off with the smaller tanks.

 

[BigJimmysReef]

Update! was finally able to get the cabinet top on, got bracing in before install. Cleaned up the old 29 gallon and am trying to figure out what I want to do with the old lid. I am debating on modifying it, at this point buying the bulbs would be a quarter of the price to upgrade it. Still need to water test it for leaks and start aquascape.

 

[BigJimmysReef]

Update,

Apparently I am super inconsistent but, made some modifications to the tank. I took out the screen between the bottom over flow and the top over flow. Cut off the tab between chamber one and two to increase flow. I also drilled the return nozzle out and put a 1/2" bulkhead for ease of connections and to increase flow. I will be getting a split loc line to come from the bulkhead into the tank. I also water tested the tank and for a 15 year old tank it still held water. Next I will be working on the aquascape and gathering equipment. I plan on trying to use the stock lid and florescent bulbs for now if I can find the 10k and the actinic. I will modify the lid later and upgrade to LEDs.

 

[BigJimmysReef]

Update,

I have a been working on aquascaping, I used super glue to glue the pieces together and then used aquarium safe mortar and aquarium sand to bond them together. I will get some finished product photos later this week.

 

[BigJimmysReef]

Update:

Tank up, Rock in, water in, some sand in, and I need to get 10 lbs more. started cycle. Still need to modify the lid, I have the old compact fluorescents and cant seem to find any bulbs for it except the Actinic bulbs.