Good, and cheap lights for a 29g biocube?

x3m_coral · Oct 14, 2014

polancoeddie said:
I have a stock 29g oceanic biocube looking to upgrade. The blue light went out it. Its not the light bulb. I am a newbie when it come to lighting. I know nothing about it. All I know is that it creates photosynthesis for my corals. I know I am limited on the selection of corals I can get with my stock lighting. What is the difference and the best between the t5, and LED. I am on a budget something around $120.

Either T5 or LED retrofit should fit your budget.
T5 retrofit is the easiest and quickest to do, the only draw back is cost of bulb for replacing it every 8-12 months to maintain correct spectrum for your corals.
Led retrofit can be done solder less, for 29gal tank you do not that many diodes, you need slim heat sink and a fan for thermal control.
A lot of diy threads for your tank that you can search online, lots of video on youtube also.

SloppyJ · Oct 14, 2014

I ran a Current Sunpod 150w metal halide for years over my aquapod with a phoenix 14k bulb. You can find them used in your price range. I would recommend that.

polancoeddie · Oct 14, 2014

Mainereefer I found an evergrow for $80. 120w blue and white dimmable led. but cant find no review. Alot of ppl say t5 ho are alot brighter. Is that true?

polancoeddie · Oct 14, 2014

http://m.ebay.com/itm/121458644759?nav=SEARCH

mainereefer · Oct 14, 2014

personally I would go with full spectrum. it looks allot nicer and the corals love it. the link I posted on the evergrow he runs sales every couple weeks for full spectrum with optics for $88
on a small tank I wouldnt worry to much about optics you wont need them, bt spend the extra on the full spectrum

polancoeddie · Oct 14, 2014

Ooh ok I didnt know there was a difference between them l...

mainereefer · Oct 14, 2014

I was wholesaling evergrow and gbgreensun led but now you can get them cheaper on ebay ... fiy-165w is actually 120w led are overrated 3w led is actually 2.2w thats where some people get confused...

US STOCK FULL SPECTRUM 165W LED AQUARIUM LIGHT DIMMABLE for SPS/LPS CORAL REEF

mainereefer · Oct 14, 2014

this one is made by gbgreensun (basically the same as evergrow) it is a little more but has built in timers and remote
New 120W Dimmable LED Aquarium Coral Reef Light Built in Timer Remote Control | eBay

polancoeddie · Oct 14, 2014

Wow. Im going to get that 165w led full spectrum. Its for 29g biocube and im not planning on getting crazy corals.

mainereefer · Oct 14, 2014

with that light on a bio-cube, I would be suprized if you get either channel over 40% with lps and softies maybe around 50% for sps

you will probably want to remove the optics so you can put the light closer than12" above the tank

italprincess · Oct 14, 2014

How do you install this light in the bio cube? I would love to get LED's for my Bio Cube 29 and these prices don't seem too outrageous, but with the enclosed lid I don't understand how you do this.