00nothing
12/29/2007, 02:16 PM
this post is copied from nano-reef it was a couple of days of posting thoguht i would share it over here
Got a late xmas present today and am going to keep a complete pictorial of everything along the way I have been out of the hobby for a while but see this as a great way to get back into it
First off the tank
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0080.jpg
I had my heart set on getting the 14g but due to other hobbies i was fairly content to get an 8 gallon and then to see it went to 99.99 for boxing day it was a no brainer for me
Pros
Very clean Looking
Individual light controls
Built in filtration
Cons
Stock built in filtration leaves little to be desired for saltwater use
The filtration compartments are way to small i have had to get my 6 yr old daughter to do any reaching into the compartments for me I have big hands but come on these things were built for elves to reach into
The stock pump and return come on is that a joke I have a tabletop fountain with a larger pump
Starting the mods right away figure get everything out of the way before tank sees drop one of water, things i threw out right away, bioballs stock filter media hung onto the second chamber overflow tray but hoping not to use it as I dont want anything restricting flow
Overflow between 1st and second chamber obviously restrictive and as per other threads like this one I did away with most of the material blocking flow this chamber will house LR rubble and stealth heater
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0082.jpg
Removed paint from most of the 2nd chamber and as mentioned removed the overflow tray this will be housing a small amount of rubble as well as some cheato will add light in the next few days
outside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0081.jpg
from the inside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0085.jpg
3rd chamber will house a mj900 possibly a 1200 if the filtration intakes can handle the flow the will be a hydor flow on the tanks return outlet so this should greatly slow the pump down
Next step I will be adding sand and going to try just buying the premix water from big als this time around always hated mixing water
stay tuned for further updates
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well Step 2 is under way Unfortunately I am at work so I wont be able to post pics until later tonight but my wife is at home as I type getting everything setup (she is a much better aquascaper than I am)
Now I know thye say you should never do this but I am going to keep a running tab on this tank perhaps it will give newcomers an idea of what this hobby really cost (all prices are big als boxing day sale prices)
99.99 8 gallon oceanic biocube (124.99 before mail in rebate)
56.89 11.4 lbs of fiji LR really nice branchy and pourous stuff 4.99 per lb
24.99 Hydor korallia nano
15.98 2 5 gallon jugs of R/O water from BA expenisive yes but I dont trust my local grocery stores R/O
19.99 Arag Alive reef sand 20 lb bag
18.99 IO reef crystal salt mix (decided against the premix water as i would hae had to wait another week)
------
236.83 Running Total so far
Things that have changed since my original plan
Not going with a maxijet and hydor flo combo to do this would have been twice the price of getting the korallia i can live with a pump in tank seeing as how the hydor flo is so ugly anyways and also using big als premix water at least till i run out oof this bag of IO mix
Pics will be posted tonight of how the setup went
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without Further delay the pics
Top Down
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0086.jpg
Front of tank
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0080-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0084.jpg
Will get more shots and some angles but the cam I am using right now is a cheap *** P&S
Got a late xmas present today and am going to keep a complete pictorial of everything along the way I have been out of the hobby for a while but see this as a great way to get back into it
First off the tank
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0080.jpg
I had my heart set on getting the 14g but due to other hobbies i was fairly content to get an 8 gallon and then to see it went to 99.99 for boxing day it was a no brainer for me
Pros
Very clean Looking
Individual light controls
Built in filtration
Cons
Stock built in filtration leaves little to be desired for saltwater use
The filtration compartments are way to small i have had to get my 6 yr old daughter to do any reaching into the compartments for me I have big hands but come on these things were built for elves to reach into
The stock pump and return come on is that a joke I have a tabletop fountain with a larger pump
Starting the mods right away figure get everything out of the way before tank sees drop one of water, things i threw out right away, bioballs stock filter media hung onto the second chamber overflow tray but hoping not to use it as I dont want anything restricting flow
Overflow between 1st and second chamber obviously restrictive and as per other threads like this one I did away with most of the material blocking flow this chamber will house LR rubble and stealth heater
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0082.jpg
Removed paint from most of the 2nd chamber and as mentioned removed the overflow tray this will be housing a small amount of rubble as well as some cheato will add light in the next few days
outside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0081.jpg
from the inside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0085.jpg
3rd chamber will house a mj900 possibly a 1200 if the filtration intakes can handle the flow the will be a hydor flow on the tanks return outlet so this should greatly slow the pump down
Next step I will be adding sand and going to try just buying the premix water from big als this time around always hated mixing water
stay tuned for further updates
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well Step 2 is under way Unfortunately I am at work so I wont be able to post pics until later tonight but my wife is at home as I type getting everything setup (she is a much better aquascaper than I am)
Now I know thye say you should never do this but I am going to keep a running tab on this tank perhaps it will give newcomers an idea of what this hobby really cost (all prices are big als boxing day sale prices)
99.99 8 gallon oceanic biocube (124.99 before mail in rebate)
56.89 11.4 lbs of fiji LR really nice branchy and pourous stuff 4.99 per lb
24.99 Hydor korallia nano
15.98 2 5 gallon jugs of R/O water from BA expenisive yes but I dont trust my local grocery stores R/O
19.99 Arag Alive reef sand 20 lb bag
18.99 IO reef crystal salt mix (decided against the premix water as i would hae had to wait another week)
------
236.83 Running Total so far
Things that have changed since my original plan
Not going with a maxijet and hydor flo combo to do this would have been twice the price of getting the korallia i can live with a pump in tank seeing as how the hydor flo is so ugly anyways and also using big als premix water at least till i run out oof this bag of IO mix
Pics will be posted tonight of how the setup went
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without Further delay the pics
Top Down
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0086.jpg
Front of tank
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0080-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/00nothing/biocube/IMG_0084.jpg
Will get more shots and some angles but the cam I am using right now is a cheap *** P&S