Nano cube or bio cube???

[theyoungaquariest]

Im new to aquarium advcie so here it goes- Im in the process of deciding whether to buy a twelve gallon nano ccube or an eight (maybe 14) gallon bio cube. I had a thirty gallon tank that unfortunately cracked during a move. Im ready to start a nano reef but im still on sure on what to get. What are your thoughts?....Experiences? Good....bad?

[sogreene]

I have the 14 biocube...the only drawback so far is that I couldn't find a retrofit lid for it with metal halide or T5 lighting...the nanocube has an alternative lid w/metal halide available for about $300.
I love the fact that is all inclusive, and I have actually started some of the modifications that other members are doing (live rock rubble instead of the bioballs, and I used a fluval filter sponge instead of the carbon floss, I also placed an additional sponge behind the bottom intake grate (had to break a grate in the first chamber above it to reach it) in order to keep inverts from getting sucked in)
I put my heater in the first intake chamber, and a koralia power head on the intake grate side so that my ph flow can conflict the output flow near the surface for more oxygen exchange, and a great combo of current.

Good luck!

[theyoungaquariest]

Thanks sogreene! Do you have a picture maybe? I just wanted to see how the sponge and the intake grate work. Thanks!!! If not its ok. Thank you!

[theyoungaquariest]

I am still not sure about which might be better, I have gone onto various forums and I still get a 50/50 response anyone else wanna put in their two cents???

[sogreene]

I don't, actually. I wouldn't even know how to get a shot that deep---there is NO light there. Basically, the lower intake grate is a "box". Imagine a box with the front, and top being a grate. I had to break the top grate off, as it was sealed on with silicone, in order to free a sucked in anemone that had no business being in my tank to start with (much too new of a tank, and I hadn't blocked the intakes where it could be sucked in, and hence, was). I stuck a powerhead sponge in the "box", and placed the broken grate back on top of it. The biocube has a carbon-floss filter cartridge that slides down behind the intake grates; I just took it out and put a 'fluval in-tank canister' sponge in place of it (it is bunched up at the bottom, b/c I didn't trim it first), and the heater sits in that chamber behind the sponge. The second chamber holds the bioballs, and I have replaced half of them so far with live rock rubble. I plan to fill the second chamber entirely with lr rubble, but am replacing it slowly to not lose so much beneficial bacteria at once. There are a few pics of my biocube on my public profile, but bear in mind that it is still a newish tank, and fairly plain ; )
~Sarah

[Steppa]

What's the advantage of replacing the bioballs with live rubble?

I'm looking into getting a RSM system and I'm trying to plan a head for everything I need.

Thanks!

[theyoungaquariest]

I mean biocube or nanocube...?