Coralife BioCube 29 - Lighting makeover

Crna · Jul 7, 2015

Just took the top off of mine and I love it! Previously had three ecoxotic panorama pro's mounted in the hood. Went with a hydra 26, and it is awesome. Great control, full spectrum, and plenty of coverage. Noticed better color immediately, and there was a noticeable increase in SPS growth in a week.

pdiehm · Jul 7, 2015

Looked at the hydra 26 and thought it may be overkill. Furthest I want to venture into corals is medium scope LPS, like torches and frogspawn, maybe a brain.

pdiehm · Jul 10, 2015

Hood removed. Got an AI Prime coming today at some point.

what I have found out is that my temperature with the hood was running 79-81 if it was closed. I would open it in the mornings before I left for work, and would hold at 77 (which I want). Not sure what my wife will think, but she'll like the light

pdiehm · Jul 10, 2015

Tada! Prime installed! 60% white, 100% blues, 60% everything else.

Still looking for a better lighting schedule/intensity. If anyone has one or so, let me know!

pdiehm · Jul 11, 2015

The hood tab in the middle is causing problems. Had to remove my Tunze 9001 skimmer because it was hitting the screw for the bracket. This morning, I examined more, and saw that if I move the light on the other side of the bracket, towards the return section, I may be able to fit the Skimmer back in. Turns out, that was right, and I just angled the light so it's above center.

Really liking the Prime light, now that I've gotten some time in there to play. Not the most user friendly thing, but the Clownfish really seem to like it. Before, with the PC's they were hiding in the back behind the rocks. Since I've put the light up, they are out and about swimming around, exploring the caves I have created and such.

pdiehm · Jul 26, 2015

Finally got the AI Prime going smoothly. I didn't realize the app had to be on "auto" when you exited.

Next phase in the makeover of the biocube is to add a better skimmer than the Tunze 9001. It works fine, and if I was going to keep just a pair of clowns in there, I probably would keep it. I would like to add about 3 more small fish (for 5 total) and about 5-7 more corals. Think a better skimmer will be beneficial to this.

Right now, I've been doing 5 gallon water changes a week, and after talking to Red Sea on friday, it was brought to my attention that you want 2-3ppm nitrates in the system. My nitrates are around the 2 number, and will be dropping the amount of water changed to 2.5 gallons weekly (about 10%).

The skimmers that I'm focusing on are:

Reef Octopus BH1000
Aquamaxx HOB-1
Deepwater HOB

All 3 appear to be dead silent, which is extremely important since the cube is in the family room. Now it's figuring out which one will perform the best, with ease of maintenance.

Waboss · Jul 26, 2015

Well, I've used the deepwater HOB and a friend of mine has the Aquamaxx, so I can say that both are pretty darn awesome and pull a ton of skimmate.

pdiehm · Jul 26, 2015

How much over the biocube do they sit?

Waboss · Jul 26, 2015

Well, the Aquamaxx probably sits a little lower and "tighter" to the hood. The Deepwater stood a little higher due to the way the collection cup is designed. Neither look bad though.

Waboss · Jul 26, 2015

Here's a link to a pic of the Deepwater installed.....doesn't really show the hood/skimmer alignment but it might give you an idea:

PIC

madtownguy · Jul 28, 2015

I have to ask because I don't understand removing the lid. What is the purpose of buying a biocube 29 if you don't like the way it looks? I personally love the way the set up hides everything, no cords no filters or skimmers showing. The only other thing I would consider is a custom tank in the wall or something. I would really like to see if it improves the tank any, the biocubes usually do very well stock in the past for me and others I have seen. I do like the idea of upgrading what I can, but not at the risk of ruining the design.

I also got very lucky as I didn't take measurements before I purchased the 29 and thought about getting a stand but then I decided to put it over a wine chiller which it fit perfect and the top of the chiller should dissipate any heat very well. It looks sharp with the tank lit above the wine lighting, looks like it was made for it. I will get photos up eventually.

pdiehm · Jul 28, 2015

I was having problems with the temps going over 82, and I want to keep some higher end LPS corals and only could do that with removing the hood.

madtownguy · Jul 28, 2015

Ah I get the temp thing, I'm putting a chiller on. I'm hoping it will do the trick as I haven't used one in the past.

Reef-in · Jul 28, 2015

You can't fully see in this picture but, I am running razor LEDs over my bio cube 29 gallon

DMan · Jul 29, 2015

pdiehm said:
Taking the hood off is a definite possibility, though my wife is putting up resistence on that.

If I do remove the hood, I'll be looking at the Aqua Illumination Prime. My concern is, sitting on the sofa, looking over to the tank and being blinded because of the light sitting over the tank.

I have the Red Sea tank that is pretty much the same. I worried about the same thing when I removed y hood and put a Kessil over it.
It looked great. While sitting there is no blinding light. I now have a Radion XR-15 over it and the light is a little more noticeable. The Kessil seems to focus the light very well. But I love the look of the Radion. I'll post a pic later when the lights come on in a few hours.

DMan · Jul 29, 2015

Touring said:
Here's mine.

Ya love the Kessil. To me the Kessil looks more natural, compared to the Radion. But I love the way the Radion brings out the colors of the coral. The Kessil though really reminds me of when I scuba dive.

tureefik87 · Aug 11, 2015

Beautiful cube!

Touring said:
Here's mine.

Touring · Aug 11, 2015

DMan said:
Ya love the Kessil. To me the Kessil looks more natural, compared to the Radion. But I love the way the Radion brings out the colors of the coral. The Kessil though really reminds me of when I scuba dive.

yea the only thing i couldn't keep were clams at the bottom. lights are not strong at all.