BioCube Filter Pads

I have been putting "cut your own Filter pad" in the top of chamber 2 above the bioballs. does any one do this too. I dont think this is suggested by Oceanic. does the pad inhibit the biobslls to work like they should?

 

to answer your question, no as long as the water level is where it should be, then the wet/dry portion of the bioball section will still work as it was intended.

personally what's suggested by oceanic is not suggested by me or many other reefers.

I own a 29g biocube and I've replaced all the bioballs with a hydror slim skim and a 2lb piece of live rock (no rubble or sand either) I get much better filtration with my liverock(also have a few critters living in the rock) and bioballs are an overall mess for tanks especially with coral.

As far as the filter pads, they are expensive and do not contain much carbon. I usually place mine in chamber one - but - have been looking at methods to remove the filter pads and replace them with filter bags of carbon. I can get some filter socks at home depot for around $3 for a 3 pack. Double line them, fill with about 2 cups of carbon, tie a string around the top and let the bag float around in chamber 1 where I get the most flow. I haven't done this yet but I am really considering doing this. I will have more carbon in the tank, more flow through it, it will be easily replacable and the bags washable. Active Carbon is wayyy cheaper than buying the Biocube filter packs and you get soooo much more carbon. Also I feel like it would collect less detritus

Sorry to go on and on about this, I just have had to modify my biocube about 20x to get the flow, the lighting, the filtration, everything the way it should be without setting myself up for future problems down the road. They are great tanks but much needs to be done IME to get them NOT to collect fish poop in all the little corners in the back

 

You could get the biocube media basket and refugium for much better filtration AND a place to put filter floss.

 

I wish I put in a media basket when I first got my tank. It has been running for about a year now and have been using Filter pad on top of chamber 2 for just as long. I am afraid that if i change anything in may crash my system. I do plan on getting a 29g biocube in the next year so I think I am going to do put a media basket in when I set up the tank.

 

you can achieve the same thing DYI versus paying all that money for the media basket. just my 2 cents

 

True I will keep that in mind when i get my new tank

 

I agree. But make sure the sides of the basket are solid, if not the water will just fall through. Here one that I made that will need solid sides. All you need is egg crate and zip ties.

 

Where are you keeping your Slim Skim if you have that in there for active carbon?