JBJ 28 Gallon Nano Owners Club
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Goldndoodle
New member
Saw that after I posted about wanting to replace my JBJ LED hood ...
Did you install your Steve's lights yourself? Or did you do the 99% option? How difficult to install?
Are the 8 LEDs they supply really sufficient for lighting? Did you chose the 8 LED or 28 LED option?
Did you get the light controller? Does it allow for the Royal Blues to be on at night as moonlights?
I'm really interested in this, it might be the solution I was looking for. Though now I can't believe I'm already considering putting another $350 into this tank for better lighting! It's starting to look like I should have just gone with a bigger tank and customized setup.
Goldndoodle
New member
I got the INTERMEDIATE LED hood. I'm not liking the lighting to be honest - I've tried adding Stunners to the hood, but they don't fit inside, and they don't like being between the splash guard and the water (several Stunner LEDs are already completely out, or seriously diminished).
All in all, the JBJ Intermediate LEDs leave a lot to be desired ... not enough blue, and really not enough white for this size tank IMO.
LedZep fan2
Member
Glad to hear everything went well with the DI resin!
I got the 99% completed kit because I did not want to screw something up from improper handling of the LEDs to soldering. I believe I got 14 LEDs (I was looking to get more royal blues in my spectrum) with the typhon controller. I have it so the whites are on one channel whereas the blues are on another. The moonlights kick on whenever the lights dim down all the way.
It is a huge investment, but I plan to keep my system for as long as possible. Granted, I could have gone with a bigger setup I love the simplicity of the AIO tanks. Also, the fact that weekly water changes can keep up with everything and I don't have to run a skimmer. It all comes down to what you'd like. Personally, that fact that these systems are easy to maintain and easy to move around I wouldn't change a thing. It is going with me wherever I go :rollface:
LedZep fan2
Member
Forgot to answer another one of your questions..
The LEDs do in fact cover the entire tank. Going from PC's I couldn't believe how bright the tank got (literally can light up the entire room with the hood down!).
Once your corals adjust to the lights and you find the sweet spot, corals grow like weeds. With my sps I can see tremendous growth within a week
The LEDs do in fact cover the entire tank. Going from PC's I couldn't believe how bright the tank got (literally can light up the entire room with the hood down!).
Once your corals adjust to the lights and you find the sweet spot, corals grow like weeds. With my sps I can see tremendous growth within a week
What percent are you running your whites and blues on? I am still trying to find the best fit for mine.
LedZep fan2
Member
I peaked right around 50-52%. I used my red plasma acropora as a reference -since at higher lighting it gets a bright red and at lower lighting gets an emerald green color. After increasing to about 56% I found that my red plasma acro got super red and other SPS were a little ticked.. Brought it down and now the red plasma is a mix of green and red and all other corals are happy.
The main goal should be to start slow and at a lower intensity. I feel that a lot of people have a bad experience with LEDs just because they underestimate their power and end up frying their corals. Then they blame the lights as being inadequate.
To end my rant, my advice would be to start at a lower intensity then work your way up
Hope this helps:beer:
The main goal should be to start slow and at a lower intensity. I feel that a lot of people have a bad experience with LEDs just because they underestimate their power and end up frying their corals. Then they blame the lights as being inadequate.
To end my rant, my advice would be to start at a lower intensity then work your way up
Hope this helps:beer:
LedZep fan2
Member
How are your water parameters? Phosphate levels? pH? All these things come to play with SPS, not just lighting. How often are you doing water changes?
Would have to know a little bit more about your system before just looking at the lighting. How long have you had the lights?
Goldndoodle
New member
Do you have separate moonlights? Or are you using the Royal Blues at a lower level via the controller?
LedZep fan2
Member
There are two separate moonlights attached to the heatsink. They aren't very bright, but enough for my taste. With the controller it would be really easy to use the royal blues as moonlights too
Goldndoodle
New member
I'm really close to pulling the trigger on their standard (96W) 99% complete kit, with the Typhoon controller (and enclosure). That's about what I paid for the Nano Cube to begin with, just for new lighting ... but like you, I am planning to keep this tank and setup for as long as possible, and the current lighting just isn't cutting it for me at this point. I don't have any plans to do SPS corals, but it looks like that would still be an option with their standard (96W) setup. For me, I'm not seeing a compelling reason to go for the SPS Extreme setup though.
I sent Steve's an email this morning with some questions - one of them being about the moonlights. I might hold off on ordering their moonlights until I get the kit and get it installed. If there's enough room in there to put my Ecoxotic Stunner Royal Blue strips, I'll put them in there and use them for moonlights.
I also saw Pro LED Supply's install instructions. They keep the JBJ moonlight with their upgrade. I'm fine with those moonlights. I'm wondering if there might be some way to salvage the JBJ already installed moonlights to use them with Steve's kit. It looks like at least one of those LEDs would need to be relocated with the Steve's kit - since it looks like their fan needs to go in the lower right corner of the hood, where that moonlight is.
LedZep fan2
Member
I'd say you're fine with the regular setup. I didn't go for the extreme sps and my sps are still doing good.
In all honesty, I'd say hold off on the moonlights and see what you can do with the ecoxotic strips. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to keep the moonlights that came with the tank. The wiring seemed a little off as well as spacing.
P.S I said the same thing about sps until I got a few frags.. Once you get the itch, there's no going back!
In all honesty, I'd say hold off on the moonlights and see what you can do with the ecoxotic strips. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to keep the moonlights that came with the tank. The wiring seemed a little off as well as spacing.
P.S I said the same thing about sps until I got a few frags.. Once you get the itch, there's no going back!
Goldndoodle
New member
Never say NEVER, right?
Goldndoodle
New member
Just ordered Steve's LED retrofit kit. Went with the 99% complete, standard setup, with the Typhon controller, 6' leads, and enclosure. Did not order moonlight kit - the more I read the more I'm thinking I can salvage the stock moonlights that are already in the hood, and if I can't, I'm hopeful I'll be able to put a Stunner or 2 in there for use as moonlights.
Also ordered a new splash guard from Marine & Reef - I'm fearing the adhesive from the Stunners isn't going to come off the current guard cleanly.
Also ordered a new splash guard from Marine & Reef - I'm fearing the adhesive from the Stunners isn't going to come off the current guard cleanly.
Hi all,,
I have a nice skimmer for my 28 Nanocube and would like to fit it in the sump area.
It is 3 1/8" square and the section just to the left of the basket is just at or a little under 3"so I would have to remove the partition between the far left section (were the pump is) and the next compartment to the right before the basket section.
Has anybody removed one of the walls? If so how hard is it and will it have any effect on operation?
Thanks
Ed
I have a nice skimmer for my 28 Nanocube and would like to fit it in the sump area.
It is 3 1/8" square and the section just to the left of the basket is just at or a little under 3"so I would have to remove the partition between the far left section (were the pump is) and the next compartment to the right before the basket section.
Has anybody removed one of the walls? If so how hard is it and will it have any effect on operation?
Thanks
Ed
