Bio Cube Owner's Thread

[jpfishfan09]

LED's still have a ways to go

 

[Hextall]

LED's still have a ways to go

What do you mean by this? cost, or light provided?

Seems like there's a lot of people with LEDs that have experienced some great coral growth.

 

[RedStangGA]

LED's still have a ways to go

Yes, please expand on your point of view. LED's may not be perfect but especially for DIY's they're a bargain. Reduced heat, long life(many people have had LED's running for a couple years now), reduced energy usage, and sized correctly excellent PAR numbers. This is not to say that they are perfect for every application but for nano's especially they make a ton of sense and for BC's with hoods they're kind of a no brainer.

I absolutely could be missing something though so please explain why you feel that way. We may learn something.

 

[Redsox Nation]

Yes, please expand on your point of view. LED's may not be perfect but especially for DIY's they're a bargain. Reduced heat, long life(many people have had LED's running for a couple years now), reduced energy usage, and sized correctly excellent PAR numbers. This is not to say that they are perfect for every application but for nano's especially they make a ton of sense and for BC's with hoods they're kind of a no brainer.

I absolutely could be missing something though so please explain why you feel that way. We may learn something.

+1

I love my LED's!

 

[fender4string]

So I'm wanting a biocube 29 as a means to cure my coral itch (I've currently got an 85 FOWLR that has a little puffer and a flame angel who probably wouldn't be kind to corals) and had been looking into getting the HQI model until I started poking around a few threads and noticed standard cubes outfitted with LED's.

So between the 2 (the HQI and an LED modification) which would you choose? I've heard LED's replicate that famous halide shimmer and are also incredibly inexpensive to run. The energy savings really appeals to me.

If it were to go the LED route, what would be a good fixture for me to buy? I'm completely ignorant of all things lighting (no coral experience to speak of) and wouldn't even know what to look at as far as picking an LED system.

 

[LeslieRN]

Here is my BC29. No real upgrades to speak of yet. Still, it has come a long way since I brought it home 2 months ago.

Let me know what ya think. Always open to suggestions.

 

[RedStangGA]

So I'm wanting a biocube 29 as a means to cure my coral itch (I've currently got an 85 FOWLR that has a little puffer and a flame angel who probably wouldn't be kind to corals) and had been looking into getting the HQI model until I started poking around a few threads and noticed standard cubes outfitted with LED's.

So between the 2 (the HQI and an LED modification) which would you choose? I've heard LED's replicate that famous halide shimmer and are also incredibly inexpensive to run. The energy savings really appeals to me.

If it were to go the LED route, what would be a good fixture for me to buy? I'm completely ignorant of all things lighting (no coral experience to speak of) and wouldn't even know what to look at as far as picking an LED system.

Look at rapidled.com's retro kit for the biocube 29. There's a couple people who have them already and are happy with them. I'm hoping to get mine soon.

 

[fender4string]

Look at rapidled.com's retro kit for the biocube 29. There's a couple people who have them already and are happy with them. I'm hoping to get mine soon.

I checked those out and was also recommended Ecoxotic's Panorama Modules. Both are similarly priced but the Ecoxotics obviously don't require any set-up, other than installation.

Have a lot of you nano guys used the Panorama strips? If so which strips and how many do you run?

I've been recommended a 2:1 ratio of blue to white (the neutrals if I were to go the DIY route) so I was thinking maybe a 12K white/455nm blue combo strip and a strip of the 455nm blue/magenta combo strip of Panoramas. Would this be too blue? I really don't like that overly blue, deep water look.

Or possibly an 8k white strip, 12kwhite/455nm blue, and a strip of 455nm/magenta stunners?

Would either of these combos support SPS and a clam?

 

[RedStangGA]

I checked those out and was also recommended Ecoxotic's Panorama Modules. Both are similarly priced but the Ecoxotics obviously don't require any set-up, other than installation.

Have a lot of you nano guys used the Panorama strips? If so which strips and how many do you run?

I've been recommended a 2:1 ratio of blue to white (the neutrals if I were to go the DIY route) so I was thinking maybe a 12K white/455nm blue combo strip and a strip of the 455nm blue/magenta combo strip of Panoramas. Would this be too blue? I really don't like that overly blue, deep water look.

Or possibly an 8k white strip, 12kwhite/455nm blue, and a strip of 455nm/magenta stunners?

Would either of these combos support SPS and a clam?

Full disclosure: I don't have experience with either product.

However, while the Panorama strips will probably work they look to be only 1W chips as opposed to the 3W chips that rapidled uses in their kit. I'm not positive but I don't think that the Panorama's are dimmable either.

Another thing. If you are unsure of your color preference with the rapidled kit you can always switch some out down the road not to mention since they're dimmable you can adjust the color according to your preference. The rapidled kit also includes better fans to help keep things cool.

 

[Redsox Nation]

Full disclosure: I don't have experience with either product.

However, while the Panorama strips will probably work they look to be only 1W chips as opposed to the 3W chips that rapidled uses in their kit. I'm not positive but I don't think that the Panorama's are dimmable either.

Another thing. If you are unsure of your color preference with the rapidled kit you can always switch some out down the road not to mention since they're dimmable you can adjust the color according to your preference. The rapidled kit also includes better fans to help keep things cool.

This is not completely true, the Panorama PROS have 3w led's and I have 3 strips over my 29g bc and absolutely love them! These strips are not dimmable. I went with 1 12k, 1 blue actinic , and 1 50/50 of blue/magenta and love the color spectrum!

Fender this does not create a too blue affect as I run my 12k withthe 50/50 and then my actinic's by themseleves

 

[RedStangGA]

This is not completely true, the Panorama PROS have 3w led's and I have 3 strips over my 29g bc and absolutely love them! These strips are not dimmable. I went with 1 12k, 1 blue actinic , and 1 50/50 of blue/magenta and love the color spectrum!

Fender this does not create a too blue affect as I run my 12k withthe 50/50 and then my actinic's by themseleves

Thanks for the clarification! When I looked I only found the 1w models which are probably used mainly to add color I guess.

 

[Hextall]

Redstang,

Seems like you've done a bit of research on the RapidLED kits... do you happen to know if both the whites and blues are dimmable independently? And I assume you that this kit would work with the apex and the vdm modules we'd need... right?

 

[RedStangGA]

Redstang,

Seems like you've done a bit of research on the RapidLED kits... do you happen to know if both the whites and blues are dimmable independently? And I assume you that this kit would work with the apex and the vdm modules we'd need... right?

Yes and yes. If I sell some wheels today I'm ordering today . Just make sure you get the correct drivers. I believe the ELN-60-48D is the correct model. Also, I'll probably go with 12RB and 8CW.

 

[Hextall]

Why are you mixing it up versus just using what they provide?

 

[RedStangGA]

Why are you mixing it up versus just using what they provide?

Just personal preference. I prefer the more actinic look and it seems most people who get a 50/50 mix end up turning their whites way down. Many go with a 2-1 ratio but I think I'll be happy with a 3-2.

 

[r_jay]

I just ordered mine today! woo woo, finally bit the bullet. I got the 10rb and 10cw but then am adding the 4 moonlight kit, it's gonna de sweet, lol. 04 moonlights and it will be bright (I was told I should use only 2, but...)
I just hope that a) I am ready to do some careful soldering or b) hope I can find someone to help me, lol.

To fund this I ended up selling off most of my livestock out of my 65g. It was that or drop another 140 to replace the t5's on it. plus I'm moving next year. the Biocube is much more portable.

 

[RedStangGA]

I just ordered mine today! woo woo, finally bit the bullet. I got the 10rb and 10cw but then am adding the 4 moonlight kit, it's gonna de sweet, lol. 04 moonlights and it will be bright (I was told I should use only 2, but...)
I just hope that a) I am ready to do some careful soldering or b) hope I can find someone to help me, lol.

To fund this I ended up selling off most of my livestock out of my 65g. It was that or drop another 140 to replace the t5's on it. plus I'm moving next year. the Biocube is much more portable.

Congrats! I'm hoping to re-use the existing moonlights. Soldering isn't that difficult. Pre-tin the wires though if they aren't already!

 

[r_jay]

They at least have pretty well detailed instructions on how to install everything (they say to tin the wires)

I only have 2 functioning stock moonlights and they are barely glowing so it's time for them to go. With four I can even space them out over the HS and get good even coverage (in theory).

 

[fender4string]

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it.

 

[RedStangGA]

They at least have pretty well detailed instructions on how to install everything (they say to tin the wires)

I only have 2 functioning stock moonlights and they are barely glowing so it's time for them to go. With four I can even space them out over the HS and get good even coverage (in theory).

Well, just ordered mine along with some apex goodies. Can't wait to get it all set up and configured.