Questions regarding BioCube 29g

[hockey nut]

Is something blocking the water from going into that compartment?

[justinl]

well first, yes check that everything is placed as it should and that nothing is blocking flow in any way. Don't expect perfection though since the biocube is inherently flawed right out of the factory. check out this thread and its links.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...owtopic=180788

The things I did on my 8g BC are as follows:
chamber 1: throw out the stock filter pad, put in a heater and bag of carbon (or any media you want). WIDENED the overflow between chambers 1 and 2 (do NOT make it deeper, just wider).
chamber 2: threw out the bioballs, removed the false bottom grate (use a coat hanger or something), replace top grate with a piece of eggcrate. Put in LR rubble and a piece of filter floss over the top grate.
chamber 3: threw out the sponge before the pump intake. Replace pump with a maxi-jet (i think yours fits an MJ1200... see the thread above)
intank: made a Y-shaped loc-line outlet (keeping the stock piece).

these small inexpensive mods all apply to the larger BC models as well. widening the overflow and getting rid of the stock filter cartridge will not only likely solve your current problem, but also allow you to replace the stock pump with the more powerful Maxi-jet. It really makes a difference.

[Newtoreef]

Originally Posted by justinl

well first, yes check that everything is placed as it should and that nothing is blocking flow in any way. Don't expect perfection though since the biocube is inherently flawed right out of the factory. check out this thread and its links.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...owtopic=180788

The things I did on my 8g BC are as follows:
chamber 1: throw out the stock filter pad, put in a heater and bag of carbon (or any media you want). WIDENED the overflow between chambers 1 and 2 (do NOT make it deeper, just wider).
chamber 2: threw out the bioballs, removed the false bottom grate (use a coat hanger or something), replace top grate with a piece of eggcrate. Put in LR rubble and a piece of filter floss over the top grate.
chamber 3: threw out the sponge before the pump intake. Replace pump with a maxi-jet (i think yours fits an MJ1200... see the thread above)
intank: made a Y-shaped loc-line outlet (keeping the stock piece).

these small inexpensive mods all apply to the larger BC models as well. widening the overflow and getting rid of the stock filter cartridge will not only likely solve your current problem, but also allow you to replace the stock pump with the more powerful Maxi-jet. It really makes a difference.

I done the same on my 29, except I retained the lower false bottom in chamber 2, put in cheato and tang heaven with a couple low profile halogen lights from home depot. I have it running on opposite light cycle. I also cut a piece of black plastic to block the light leakage into the front, held in by industrial strength velcro strips. Also put in a couple small computer fans in the back to help with cooling in summer. I had turf algae prob come in with the 30 lbs free rock that I got from a friend. Took forever to get rid of it, I hung a phos ban reactor off the back as well. No more turf algae, plus I can feed my fish a little more heavy now. Also added a koralia nano powerhead to create more flow running on a timer with the lights, goes off at night. It took me about a year to get this running properly. I wish somebody had told me the mods to do before I set it up would have saved alot of headaches. But it was my first tank and it been a learning experience.
On your flow issue sounds like the piece of foam is clogged between chamber 2 and 3. I would just pull that nitrate factory out of there and toss it. Doing that and getting rid of bio balls are the best things you can do even if you just toss LR rubble in the back with out lights. It will collect detritus back there so vacuum out with water changes every once in awhile.
I wouldn't suggest putting any of those fish in a 29