Biocube and Steve’s LEDs

mas52192 · Aug 15, 2019

I have a 32 biocube and just upgraded to Steve’s leds with the bluefish controller. I currently am doing the recommended acclimation period. I am wondering if anyone has expieriece with the Biocube/StevesLEDs combo or something similar and what schedule/intensities have worked for them. Thanks in advance!

Turnage · Aug 15, 2019

I have the biocube 32 with the nanobox LED/bluefish setup. My schedule is on at 11am and off at 8pm. The intensity will depend on what's in the tank and at what depth. I try to keep my reds under 30% at all times (except for ramp up and ramp down periods where they are at 0%). I have sps's in the tank with a clam and zoa's so I keep my royal blues, uv and Cyan at 100% and moonlite around 80%. Best thing to do is rent a PAR meter from BRS and map out your aquascape so you can provide the correct light for your corals.

RebeccaB9 · Sep 23, 2019

I have the BioCube 32 also and it’s been running since Nov. 2018. We upgraded to Steve’s leds in February and the growth has been amazing. I still look for posts from others about Steve’s because I also feel the whites are very strong, and I haven’t been above 34% whites and about 43% blues (which other than the added purple are the actual only 2 channels there are for the upgrade although you notice 6 on the BlueFish mini controller.) I’m going to rent a par meter to actually see where I am as opposed to this guess work that I’m now doing because I think my fish/inverts look for shade sometimes. I run a 12hr day with 90 minute ramps.

mas52192 · Sep 23, 2019

RebeccaB9 said:
I have the BioCube 32 also and it’s been running since Nov. 2018. We upgraded to Steve’s leds in February and the growth has been amazing. I still look for posts from others about Steve’s because I also feel the whites are very strong, and I haven’t been above 34% whites and about 43% blues (which other than the added purple are the actual only 2 channels there are for the upgrade although you notice 6 on the BlueFish mini controller.) I’m going to rent a par meter to actually see where I am as opposed to this guess work that I’m now doing because I think my fish/inverts look for shade sometimes. I run a 12hr day with 90 minute ramps.

You're growth looks great! Do you mind posting your exact lighting schedule?

Scurvy · Sep 23, 2019

Edit: Images didn’t attach in the order I intended but the 1st Bluefish screen shot goes with the 2nd FTS.

Here’s where I currently run my Steve’s.

These next shots are from back when I had a bunch more SPS in the tank pre heater fail.

mas52192 · Sep 23, 2019

Scurvy said:
Edit: Images didn’t attach in the order I intended but the 1st Bluefish screen shot goes with the 2nd FTS.

Here’s where I currently run my Steve’s.

These next shots are from back when I had a bunch more SPS in the tank pre heater fail.

Great looking tank! Ours is fairly similar although my whites are a bit higher during the day. I've had a bit of an algae increase since doing so however so will likely lower those soon. If you get the PAR meter and would like to share your findings that would be awesome!

Scurvy · Sep 24, 2019

mas52192 said:
Great looking tank! Ours is fairly similar although my whites are a bit higher during the day. I've had a bit of an algae increase since doing so however so will likely lower those soon. If you get the PAR meter and would like to share your findings that would be awesome!

Thanks, The Biocube has always been good to me. Ive never bothered with the par meter on it though. My whites peak at 7% these days. Pre-crash with more SPS I think my Blues were up around 90% and whites around 15%

jisc · Sep 25, 2019

Turnage said:
I have the biocube 32 with the nanobox LED/bluefish setup. My schedule is on at 11am and off at 8pm. The intensity will depend on what's in the tank and at what depth. I try to keep my reds under 30% at all times (except for ramp up and ramp down periods where they are at 0%). I have sps's in the tank with a clam and zoa's so I keep my royal blues, uv and Cyan at 100% and moonlite around 80%. Best thing to do is rent a PAR meter from BRS and map out your aquascape so you can provide the correct light for your corals.

jisc · Sep 25, 2019

I run mine Steve’s at 70% blue, 15% white. 11 hours with 120 min ramp up/down

RebeccaB9 · Sep 27, 2019

If you have the Steve’s LEDs for the BioCube, there are only two channels (or the extra purple if you added that) so when you use the BlueFish it may show you have six channels, when in fact you really don’t.
My current settings are low because I just added a few more corals and you have to slowly ramp it up for them.