Hello! I had a tank in the past but it's been over 10 years. Back then I had a roommate that worked for an aquarium so I had a lot of help. I'm starting anew! I'm excited and I want to get things right so I intend to be very patient. I have a new 29 gal biocube that is cycling with live rock at the moment. It's been going for 2 weeks now and we'll let it go a bit longer. We are planning to have a few small fish and a few corals of the hardiest variety we can find. The tank has 3 different lights and I'm unsure how long each of them should be on in a 24 hour period. There are the blue LEDs, an actinic light (kind of loud because a fan comes on), and the florescent lights. It has space to add additional LEDs. First, how long should each of those lights be on in a day? Second, should I add additional LEDs? Lastly, do LEDs provide the adequate spectrum for corals to thrive? Thanks in advance.
Light Settings for 29 Gal Biocube?
- Thread starter Elliehatch
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Liquidangel22
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I have the same tank, and it really depends on what you're going to have in it as to what needs how much light. Personally I've not had great experience with anything that needs a LOT of intense light. However... my bta, to my surprise, has acclimated incredibly well. I have frogspawn, xenia, Chateo, and star polyps. 2 Clowns and a BTA, as well as a pretty decent size cleaning crew. I don't use the LEDs a lot, simply because I forget.
I had to move my frogspawn from the sand bed to on top of the live rock to get better light, the nem will come out of that hole in the middle and fan up (see 2nd pic) during "daylight" hours, then "sleeps" back in the cave
So my normal schedule is as follows:
6am blue light on
7am main lights on
6pm main lights off
7pm blue light off
When I do remember the LEDs they come on and off with the main lights.
I had to move my frogspawn from the sand bed to on top of the live rock to get better light, the nem will come out of that hole in the middle and fan up (see 2nd pic) during "daylight" hours, then "sleeps" back in the cave
So my normal schedule is as follows:
6am blue light on
7am main lights on
6pm main lights off
7pm blue light off
When I do remember the LEDs they come on and off with the main lights.
Bunnee911
Valuable Member
I have that tank also.
I have the add on LEDs. my zoas won't open under just LEDs.
I have Duncan's, torch, GSP, pipe organ, pavona, leptoseris , acans, favites, and lots of zoas.
I run the actinic from 10:00 to 21:00. I turn the whites on to observe only. I also run a refurium in chamber 2 w a JBJ light opposite of my daytime lights.
I have the add on LEDs. my zoas won't open under just LEDs.
I have Duncan's, torch, GSP, pipe organ, pavona, leptoseris , acans, favites, and lots of zoas.
I run the actinic from 10:00 to 21:00. I turn the whites on to observe only. I also run a refurium in chamber 2 w a JBJ light opposite of my daytime lights.
StoneFlyTyer
Community Member
I have a biocube 14 that I put an 14k led light system in and removed all the stock lights , still got to get some more coarls tho
Are your blue lights SUPER loud? Ours are.I have the same tank, and it really depends on what you're going to have in it as to what needs how much light. Personally I've not had great experience with anything that needs a LOT of intense light. However... my bta, to my surprise, has acclimated incredibly well. I have frogspawn, xenia, Chateo, and star polyps. 2 Clowns and a BTA, as well as a pretty decent size cleaning crew. I don't use the LEDs a lot, simply because I forget.
I had to move my frogspawn from the sand bed to on top of the live rock to get better light, the nem will come out of that hole in the middle and fan up (see 2nd pic) during "daylight" hours, then "sleeps" back in the cave
So my normal schedule is as follows:
6am blue light on
7am main lights on
6pm main lights off
7pm blue light off
When I do remember the LEDs they come on and off with the main lights.
Liquidangel22
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The fans are really loud at first and then get quiet, but that's a pretty standard issue for these apparently. I'm not mechanically inclined enough to start modding my hood with lights and fans etc, but I've seen a few threads where people have because of the noise and it's turned out really well.
Were your actinics SUPER loud? Ours are really loud. I can't see having them on for 10 hours a day.
I see you already answered my question. Thank you! I'm going to try replacing the fans. The manufacturer is sending new ones. They didn't seem surprised by my complaint at all. I think I'm going to try to modify the hood if the new fans do not resolve the problem.
Beautiful corals! Did the modifications to your hood make it quieter?I removed the stock lights added Truelumen Pro 12"
2 - deep blue, 1 fusion, and 1 12k white controlled by ramp timer.
I have the power turned to 90% and can grow pretty much any corals. Acros, monti, zoas.
That looks like what my husband and I are aiming for. The LEDs run cool and are so much more efficient. Your corals seem to be doing wonderfully so I assume they are offering the appropriate spectrum. Was this a relatively easy modification? Costly? Of course, the cost for quiet is almost priceless 
Any further advice you could give me about how to accomplish such a fine modification would be greatly appreciated.
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Any further advice you could give me about how to accomplish such a fine modification would be greatly appreciated. [/QU[/QUOTE]
I removed everything under the hood. Glued in 2 pieces of funny pipe then screwed the lights in.
The price is not too bad. The lights run about $25 each. The ramp pro timer is $75 power supply is $30 and 2 splitter 1 for each channel $13 each.
The price is not too bad. The lights run about $25 each. The ramp pro timer is $75 power supply is $30 and 2 splitter 1 for each channel $13 each.
