CoraLife BioCube 32 Light Upgrade Options

[Dre619]

Does anyone know if a decent upgrade for the AIO BioCube 32. I would like to keep the hood but the current light is not cutting it. Has anyone done this and which light did you use? No budget really but main goal is to keep the hood. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks Guys

 

[rmorris_14]

Does anyone know if a decent upgrade for the AIO BioCube 32. I would like to keep the hood but the current light is not cutting it. Has anyone done this and which light did you use? No budget really but main goal is to keep the hood. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks Guys

Look into Steve’s LED.

Welcome to Steves LEDs LLC

I don’t have personal experience with them but I’ve seen tons of other biocubers recommend them for people that want to keep the hood and then be happy with their performance

 

[Dre619]

Look into Steve’s LED.

Welcome to Steves LEDs LLC

I don’t have personal experience with them but I’ve seen tons of other biocubers recommend them for people that want to keep the hood and then be happy with their performance

Yes Ive seen a couple mixed reviews as with everything you but just wanted to get some other opinions.One guy said it started to smoke, like one of the lights blew out but customer service from Steves just never got back to them

 

[Smashby]

I bought a few submersible leds to help. Nice part is that its helped with the ramp up and down of lights. Added about 30 watts to my biocube 32. Still cycling atm...will see if it helps.

 

[R33FDr3amer]

Yes Ive seen a couple mixed reviews as with everything you but just wanted to get some other opinions.One guy said it started to smoke, like one of the lights blew out but customer service from Steves just never got back to them

I've also read mixed reviews about steves. One is on YouTube, guy had to buy another controller and it took awhile to get to that point as customer svc was terrible. He then had another issue with the lights and still, problems with customer svc. He ended up giving up, selling his 32 biocube and purchased a larger tank. I'll be following this thread as i too will probably be on the lookout for possible light upgrades! Good luck!!

 

[bxclent]

I bought a few submersible leds to help. Nice part is that its helped with the ramp up and down of lights. Added about 30 watts to my biocube 32. Still cycling atm...will see if it helps.

Can you give more info ? What are they and where did you purchase them ? Thanks. !

 

[Tankkeepers]

What exactly is the problem with the stock 32 biocube leds first off and secondly if you want to keep the hood Steve's is about the only one also the submersible ones are light only not going to grow much other then nuisance algie

 

[Tankkeepers]

The stock leds in the 32 biocube will grow anything with proper care check build thread mine is 2 years old with way better then expected results

 

[Tankkeepers]

Half way down all channels on they put out 300 par

 

[R33FDr3amer]

I have done a lot of research on the 32 biocube as i have one, and I've seen mainly positive results for the lights. I have seen some really awesome corals grown with stock lights on youtube. so far i have no plans to upgrade mine. I want to keep the hood as I've read sooooo many times about people losing fish to carpet surfing

fyi i am by no means a pro...still a noobie with a 3wk old tank still fishless, but just passing on the info i have learned through months of researching and watching youtube! Good luck! I really enjoy my biocube even if it does only contain rock saltwater sand and bacteria haha

 

[Tankkeepers]

I went from a 150 main over 300 gallons total system to my 32 biocube and I have alot more time to just enjoy it now

 

[Tankkeepers]

I have done a lot of research on the 32 biocube as i have one, and I've seen mainly positive results for the lights. I have seen some really awesome corals grown with stock lights on youtube. so far i have no plans to upgrade mine. I want to keep the hood as I've read sooooo many times about people losing fish to carpet surfing

fyi i am by no means a pro...still a noobie with a 3wk old tank still fishless, but just passing on the info i have learned through months of researching and watching youtube! Good luck! I really enjoy my biocube even if it does only contain rock saltwater sand and bacteria haha

Your on the right track for sure take it slow and learn then do

My biocube 32 led proff

The digi and se bottom left and right were 3 inches lower last week and grew this much in a year and the cap upper middle was at the bottom lower right and grew from a frag plug to that in a year the Duncan and candy cane are a year and a half old both started as 1 head was 4 inches lower and grew to that

I moved everything up and added the pink yellow cap this week will be adding a candy apple green cap a vivid purple cap and a German blue digi in the next month

Tank is almost 2 years old

 

[Tankkeepers]

Not talking about the soft coral as it'll all be gone soon except the sorrows as the sps is killing it off but the tank was covered in zoas and plays 6 months ago that took a year to get to from 3 to 4 heads each to 1000s

 

[AlexS1979]

I’ve had the biocube 32 for about 2 years and yes the stock lights will grow coral. There’s many “better options out there. I just started a 15g nano and I’m using AI 16HD and let me tell you the AI lights make my coral’s color pop and look 100 times better than the biocube stock lights. I’m about to restart my biocube with out the hood and Ann planning on using AI.

 

[danield3444]

Does anyone know if a decent upgrade for the AIO BioCube 32. I would like to keep the hood but the current light is not cutting it. Has anyone done this and which light did you use? No budget really but main goal is to keep the hood. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks Guys

There are a few options that I was looking at. I was adamant at keeping the hood and the only good option was Stevens leds upgrade. I wasn't too keen on spending that much money and have to do the retrofit myself. I decided to go with the AI blades instead. I disconnected the stock led panel and mounted the blades (1 coral grow and 1 coral glow)under the hood. They fit perfectly even with the stock plastic shield over them. I was careful in disconnecting the stock lighting panel so I could reinstall it if I ever decided to revert back to the original configuration.

 

[BPCGuy]

The AI Blade fits under the hood with the included tank rest mounts. It helps if you remove the entire stock light assembly. I’ve also added an actinic reef bar from 21ledusa to a stock Biocube and the one running AI blade.