Innovative Marine vs Cadlights

[SwampCanary]

I'm contemplating a new desktop pico for my office and am considering Innovative Marine's 4g, or Cadlights 4g. They appear so similar, I'm wondering if anybody has experience or a recommendation. Whichever one I use, I'll be subbing a PAR 30 led in a swing arm desk lamp for the lighting, not using the included lamp.

Thoughts?

 

[Postyoa28]

I have a 10 gal. set up in my workplace lit by a RAPID LED Par38. The light is great, but it doesn't cover the entire tank. I keep my SPS directly under the light, while the zoas, palys, gsp, and toadstool leather are in the shaded areas. With the smaller size of the tank's you're looking at I don't see this as being a problem for you. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with either of the tanks you're looking at.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I just setup my innovative marine 4 I was also thinking of a par 30 bulb because I'm not sold that the stock light us enough.

View attachment 206749

The filter is basicly the same as a biocube just backwards. It comes with a curiously small media basket but all in all I like it.

I have no experiance with the cad lights product

 

[TundraGuy]

If your just wanting to test the waters with this idea why not try out the aqueon evolve 4 ($70 ish). I got the 2 in my office just cus you can get them so cheap. I love IM tanks but I think $100 for a 4 gallon cube is too much. For that you can get Evolve 8.

 

[Gwall30]

I have the 18G Mini and it looks amazing. The Starfire glass is what really sold me when I was comparing the innovative marine and cadlights. The LEDs are growing really well for me.

 

[426Hemi]

I cannot speak on the 4, but I have the IM Mini 38 and I do not have any gripes yet. I have had it up and running for 2 weeks now, no problems thus far. The build quality is very good, and I have yet to find any inherent flaws.