[Lazy Iguana]

I am thinking about getting a cube for the office. I had an Eclipse System 6 that was set up with freshwater and that thing worked so well that I am considering an upgrade.

I am looking at the Nano Cube 6, the Bio Cube 8, and the Nano Wave 9. The tank has to be small because my office is small and in theory I am supposed to be "working". There has to be room for the desk planning calendar, the computer, the printer, paperwork, and all that other garbage.

I am drawn to the cubes because they seem to be mostly complete, and my office is a cube. So the theme is there.

What are the common mods for the Bio Cube 8? I like that over the 6 because of the slightly larger capacity. I do not think it will be too heavy for my steel frame desk. Here is what I am thinking so far:

1. Upgrade the return pump for more flow
2. Add a skimmer that fits in the built in sump.
3. Block the lower intake so that the surface skimmer is doing all the work. I think a circulating powerhead in the tank directed to move water behind the LR will be better? Any comments on this theory? I could use the stock pump for this.
4. figure out a way to use chamber 2 as a fuge. I am thinking I can jury rig LEDs in the hood (providing light from above) and scrape off some of the paint and add more LEDs (light from behind). This will provide a whole lot of light while adding no additional heat (or very little heat).
5. Rotating return water head? I do not know if I will do this or not. I just do not want any dead spots.
6. Just for coolness factor, and to cover any vacation periods, an auto top off system.

Would it be worth it to go with a Nano Customs hood with the extra PC light? I do not plan to keep corals or anything crazy - just fish and live rock. And shrimp. I like shrimp. They are cool. Nano Tuners only offers the MH light upgrade, and I do not need that. I may not even need the extra PC light. But I do want the improved airflow. The office gets cold, but I can always add a heater for that. Cooling would be the problem. The Eclipse never had a problem with maintaining a constant temp with a 50 watt heater, but it had only one little wimpy 8 watt light.

So, what else is there? I know a lot of people here probably have a cube of some kind. So what mods did you do? What mods do you wish you had done before you set the thing up? Remember - all I am planning on is LR and fish. I can only devote one desk drawer to aquarium stuff.

And has anyone used the Nano Wave 9 gallon setup? I can not seem to find a lot of information about those.

[glampka]

You might also want to check out Cadlights. They have a 9 gallon. Their systems come with T-5 lighting. CADLIGHTS
Since you only want to keep fish & LR you'll be fine with the standard lighting packages that come with the cubes. Personally I like the Aquapods. I've heard people having trouble water levels in the Bio-Cube compartments.
Typical mods are swapping out the return pump for larger one. With the smaller cubes you don't always need to add extra circulation.
You could add the skimmer but really not needed since most cube owners maintain water quality through water changes.
Don't think you really need the fuge if you're planning on just keeping fish in it.

[Lazy Iguana]

I like tinkering with things. I figure why not void the warranty? What can possibly go wrong with (insert item here)? As long as the aquarium does not crack or leak or whatever - who needs a warranty on them anyway?

I was thinking about the 54 watt Bio Cube mod for a few reasons. One if I decide I want to keep some of the easier corals like a green star polyp or something I will have the extra light. Or if I decide that the aquarium "needs" the extra light because I like it then I have it. I could also mod it to control the third light to turn on and off independently to simulate different times of the day.

The skimmer will keep more than enough oxygen dissolved in the water. No question about that. The fuge will pretty much be there just because I can do it. The nitrate reduction properties of it will be nice. And this is going to be at a workplace, so I want it to be as "self sustaining" as possible. Of course I will have to do water changes, I understand this. I would add that they look cool, but the one I would get would hide in the built in sump thing so nobody will ever see it. Maybe I will rig an external skimmer in so I can watch it do what it does. Or not.

The Aquapods are cool, but I do want to keep the project under 10 gallons. When I do water changes I do not want to have to lug in more than a gallon of salt water. I plan to just buy the water from the fish store, as opposed to mixing my own at work. It will be easier. The open top acrylic 9 gallon tank may be an option. I just wish I could see one before I buy it. I like to see stuff before I buy it so I know exactly what I am getting.

Anyway, all this is still very early in the planning stage. I had a saltwater aquarium before, but my work situation was less than stable and I had to give it up. I am aware of what I am looking at this time around. So at least I have that going for me. I will not buy anything for at least another two or three months.

[ruknd]

my biocube 8 is on its second month runnign in my office and here is my biggest problem...temperature fluctiations with the climate system in my office. I do love it though.

[Lazy Iguana]

Temp swings? Too high, too low, or both?

I can use a heater if the temps drop too low - no problem there. I am more concerned about the possibility of too much heat. This is why I am thinking about improving on the stock fans. The enclosed canopy has a lot of light under it for its size.

[ruknd]

Originally Posted by Lazy Iguana

Temp swings? Too high, too low, or both?

I can use a heater if the temps drop too low - no problem there. I am more concerned about the possibility of too much heat. This is why I am thinking about improving on the stock fans. The enclosed canopy has a lot of light under it for its size.

Mine gets too hot at times. I jsut add a bag with some ice in it to cool it down from time to time in the morning.

[Lazy Iguana]

I am going to do an empty tank test at the house for a few days, and another empty tank test at the office for a few days. This will be done before a drop of salt water goes in. I will run all the equipment that I plan to use with the salt setup. The lights will be on, the pumps will all be on, and so forth.

If there is going to be any temp issues, I will know before anything alive goes in.

I am almost positive I will need a heater. The office gets very cold at night and on the weekends. The building is never empty, there is a skeleton crew for the odd hours - and therefore the AC is on all the time.

The problem will be if the temps get too high, or if the AC goes in the fritz. Then I may need a desk fan to increase air circulation and/or one of those nano chiller thermoelectric things.

Luckily, I already have a nice 12v regulated power supply there. 25 amps. Plenty of power for all sorts of goodies designed to run directly on 12 volts DC. It powers my small thermoelectric fridge just large enough to hold 6 cans of soda.

I could almost live in my little work cube. Almost. All it needs is running water.

[thelastmucci]

Originally Posted by Lazy Iguana

I could almost live in my little work cube. Almost. All it needs is running water.

yes but why would you live at work Ack

[Lazy Iguana]

When you like your job, it is not so bad. And as far as jobs go, I will be getting a good one. I am just waiting for the process to finish. I have done this job in the past so I know what I am getting into.

[thelastmucci]

well its good to have a job you enjoy.

[Lazy Iguana]

Well not right now, but soon. Hopefully.

I really have to get back "in" before I do anything. I will then have t assess the situation and decide what I want. I will end up with more responsibilities and may even end up with a main office (little cube) and a remote office in the same building. The remote office is larger, but it not really an "office" per say. It will just be a place I would have to take care of. I may not even be in there daily. I may only be in there for a few minutes at a time. I just do not know.

But right now I am thinking about a 12 or 14 gallon - if there is enough room on the desk. I may experiment with a plenum. I had almost forgot about those things. The 8 gallon is really too small for a plenum. By the time it was put in, with the required deep sand bed, and the live rock - the 8 gallons would be more like 4. That is cutting things pretty slim. Hardly any room for water.