Biocube's Build Thread, Tank teardown 1/6/14

Here is a complete thread of my entire BioCube build, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

• Start Date: (2/3/11)

• Parts List (Updated 12/19/12):

Table of Contents:

1. Parts List
2. Water Testing Equipment
3. Associated Articles
4. RapidLED Install
5. Herbie Overflow
6. DIY Refugium
7. Neptune Systems Apex Controller
8. Pictures

1. Parts List (From hood down):

• RapidLED 26LED Dimmable Retrofit Kit
• RapidLED 3 Violet & 3 Cyan LEDs
• RapidLED 2 Moonlight Kit
• Exotic Magenta/Royal Blue Stunner Strip
• 40mm x 2 Heat sink cooing fans
• 40mm x 2 Cooling fans (Hood cooling)
• Fluval E Series Heaters (50 Watt & 100 Watt)
• Tunze 9002 Skimmer with inTank upgraded skimmer cup
• 1 Inch Herbie Overflow (Painted black)
• VorTech MP10 w/ Wireless x2
• Neptune Systems Breakout Box w/4 Float Switches, Master Kill Switch & Water Floor Sensor
• Neptune Systems Apex Controller with extra Energy Bar 8 (16 Outlets Total)
• Tripp Lite 10 Outlet 3345 Joule Surge Protector
• 5.5 Gallon tank turned in to fuge (.5 inch between baffles)
• PinPoint PH Probe
• Sicce Syncra 2.0 Return Pump
• BRS Dosing Pumps 1.1mlpm
• 3/4 Inch swing check valve
• Cooler Guys Dual 80mm USB Cooling Fans (Humidity and Temperature Control)

2. Water Testing Equipment:

• Hanna Instruments - ULR Phosphorous (Phosphate)
• Hanna Instruments - Alkalinity
• Red Sea - Calcium
• Red Sea - Magnesium
• Marine Depot - Refractometer
• Neptune Systems Apex Controller - Ph/Temp
• Salifert - Silicate
• Salifert - Iodide

3. Associated Articles

• The Cadillac of Cubes - Marine Engineers
• http://www.3reef.com/forums/refugium/5-5-gallon-refugium-plans-128984.html
• http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/diy-low-profile-cost-effective-refugium-light-w-pic-131301.html
• http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/my-biocube-29-1-year-making-w-pics-126822.html
• http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/my-tanks-1-year-birthday-129546.html
• http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-tank-brands-kits/biocube-mods-complete-now-what-104883.html
• http://www.3reef.com/forums/salt/switching-salts-how-138056.html
• http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/shipping-coral-cheap-138408.html
• http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/biocube-stand-got-wet-transfer-complete-137074.html

4. RapidLED Install
On January, 5th 2012 I installed my RapidLED Kit into my stock BC Hood. It only took a few hours of fiddling with cutters and my handy soldering iron, but the results were completely worth it. Below are a few pics of my install, if you want to see more please see my thread located HERE.

Before:

After:


5. Herbie Overflow
On January 23rd 2011 when I made my plans for my refuge I needed to find an overflow for my BC. After reading a thread on here from "Mobalized" I decided to create my own. After many different prototypes I decided to make a 1" PVC Herbie style overflow. I attempted to make a 3/4" overflow but found out it could not support 500 GPH. After my overflow was complete I painted it black using Krylon Fusion.
Testing:

Final Overflow:




6. DIY Refugium
On January 23rd 2012 I decided to draw plans for my refugium, the goal was to keep the stock BC stand. Needless to say it was a small challenge to find two tanks to fit below together inside the bottom shelf of the BC stand. I found that a combination of 2.5 gallon (ATO) and 5.5 gallon (refugium) would perfectly fit inside the stand without any special modifications.
Drawing

Refugium



7. Neptune Systems Apex Controller
On March 25th 2012 I made the plunge and purchased a full Apex Controller. I made this purchase because I wanted the ability to control my tank from my iPhone and make my tank automated. I really do enjoy this upgrade, I think every reefer should have one of these. There is a link at the very top of this thread to my ReefTronics Apex site. From here you can see the current status of my cube.
Pictures


8. Pictures



I hope you all enjoyed my tank thread, sorry if it was overloaded with pictures.

Thanks,
Chris

 

nice post, you get points for organization lol! I love all the gadgets. You got some power under the hood of that biocube! 8)

 

That tank is so beast!! Wow i want one. Whats the live stock?

 

Thanks!

Currently it's not a whole lot.

2 Clowns
1 Six Line Wrasse
2 Cleaner Shrimp
2 Turbo Snails
10-12 Blue/Red leg hermits
1 SPS Birds Nest
1 Hammer Coral
1 Forg Spawn
1 GBTA
And other LPS & Softies.

I am going to visit Norg this afternoon and finally get a bunch of SPS. I honestly cant wait and at the same time I'm really nervous.

 

No flame angel? great tank man, love the coral.

 

Thanks!
I needed to ditch the flame because of it nipping everything. I'll update the main pic when I add my SPS.

 

** SPS Added**

Hey everyone so I finally decided to buy some SPS and utilize my hardware. So I drove up into Wisconsin and visited Norg. So far everything is looking great, I can't wait to see what these become under LEDs. Also I got the new Thrive D Frag stand, it looks great and fits in my BC perfectly.


Here are some pics..

 

Im looking forward to seeing how that green acro in the last picture looks under your LEDs. When I had it under my LED fixture it turned from brown to bright green. It hasnt been the same since but Im thinking your lighting will bring it back.

 

Thanks, me too! Everything but one is opened up. I'll keep you posted, I'm sure it will be ready to open in the morning.

 

Heat update:
I have fans installed on my fuge and inside my BC. My apartment is 77.8 and my tank water is 78.1!

Not to bad really, especially for a cube.