Just picked up BioCube AIO, Opinions on inTank? or Sump?

I just picked up a Coralife 29g Biocube, short of hassling with trying to fit a sump under a overly undersized stand, I'm contemplating on just sticking with the all in one feature, I can't get a suitable sump setup that has everything I want to try and squeeze under a 17"x18" area underneath.

What kind of habitat, and durable habitat can I expect to run with the inTank filtration basket, as well as the Tunz. skimmer. I was curious if the fuge basket they make as well is interchangeable or recommended with a skimmer setup. I know there's a great deal of benefit running a refugium/sump setup, however all i've seen with these AIO filtration system is just running the cheato inside the fuge basket.

Is it possible to swap the filter/fuge basket while running the Tunze skimmer next to it?

thanks

 

you need to check out biocube's thread. it is awesome

 

I just came from reefcentral, I'll check it out, I've looked at most of the "biocube owners threads" short of reading 900 posts I didn't see anything too useful, nor by Google searching.

I guess I should lay out my overral goals, I'm planning on moving within the next 3-6 months so realistically I'm just planning on getting a little tank stocked up, perhaps cultivated/growing corals, establishing a system to possibly were I can breed some clowns in the mean time. I didnt want to do a big project, however I picked up a reef octopus skimmer and I was planning on using it but I may just save it.

 

it just had a update on the first page now. probably one of the best biocubes ive seen

 

I skimmed over the thread, looked like just a mini refugium at the bottom. I was pretty hell bent on going with a underneath sump, but after trying to fit a whole system like what I want to do, it just wont work, so I'm kind of leaning towards a mini skimmer/filter basket setup for now. I'm just more worried about the sustainability that a "inTank" setup would benefit a reef setup.

 

Run it as an AIO for now until you get settled again.

Having a sump would be a benefit but it will not make or break a reef tank if you do not over stock.

I do not know which compartment the skimmer goes into on a bio cube. You can run Chemipure/Purigen/Chaeto in anywhere in the back compartments. InTank is great but if you have to choose between the two, again neither will make or break the systems.

Enough quality rock, good flow and lighting, keep chemistry in line and the tank will take off, with out all the bells and whistles for now.

 

And Overstocking a 29, IMHO, is like more than 3 fish! ;-)

 

Hey, welcome to the BioCube club!

When I first got my tank I kept it AIO for about a year and loved it. Check out MediaBaskets from InTank, you can use them with Tunze 9002 skimmer w/upgraded skimm cup. They also sell everything else you could imagine to "pimp" out your AIO system.

One thing I have learned over the 19 months is to go slow, I have made some pretty drastic changes to my tank quite quickly.


Current stocking:
3 - Fish
2 - Shrimp
20 - 60 Snails
10+ - Corals

 

Thanks LineTrash

 

It appears to me that one can remove the basket while the skimmer stays put. Both are in the center section and they are aside each other.

Center compartment.

I also have a Coralife Biocube 29 and was struggling with the same dilemma as the original poster. Nobody, save LifeReef, make a suitable sump to fit the Coralife stand. The LifeReef is costlier than my entire Biocube setup.

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OP, to answer your question about the refugium and media basket in one system, go to InTank and see the page for the media basket. It appears to me that they intend the media basket to work with either the Tunze or the refugium but not for both.

Based on Biocube's thread, and others doing similar setups with the intent to retain the AIO simplicity, I ordered:

• InTank media basket (floss + Chemipure + Purigen)
• Tunze 9002
• InTank 9002 rectangle cup
• Maxijet 1200 (though I am not certain how "required" this is)

I am cycling now with bioballs and intend to swap out the balls with the InTank/Tunze pieces soon.

If I ever do a sump in mine, I will probably modify my stand to fit the Eshopps RS75. Cut a hole in the side of the stand so that the sump can fit in, and make an external panel to cover the hole.

Or build a new stand.