Steve LED for Biocube 29 questions.

[legacy2mj]

I plan on upgrading my Biocube lights to Steves LEDs next week... My question is about the controller, is it necessary to get the Typhoon controller + laser enclosure + 6 foot pre-soldered connection for $106?
or do I just just need the typhoon light controller for $46???
Im not very familiar at all with the LED kits and the controllers that run it. I dont wanna spend the extra money for something I dont NEED if I dont have to. If somebody could dumb it down for me so I know what I actually need to get, that would be great.

 

[hart24601]

When I did the Steves kit on my 14g biocube I didn't get the controller at all, just knobs to manually turn up or down the intensity.

 

[glb]

I plan on upgrading my Biocube lights to Steves LEDs next week... My question is about the controller, is it necessary to get the Typhoon controller + laser enclosure + 6 foot pre-soldered connection for $106?
or do I just just need the typhoon light controller for $46???
Im not very familiar at all with the LED kits and the controllers that run it. I dont wanna spend the extra money for something I dont NEED if I dont have to. If somebody could dumb it down for me so I know what I actually need to get, that would be great.

I have the Steve's LEDs for my 12g nano. I got a free Typhon driver with a promotion a while back. I also bought the pre-soldered cables just ordered the waterproof case (laser thing). The dimmers are ok but mine seemed to get a short and now the whites don't dim consistently. I never installed the driver but as soon as I get the case I'm going to. The basic driver I have will program up to four lights I believe and you can do sunrise/sunset and have different times for different colored lights. That's all I really need from a driver. Once I get it installed I'll let you know. The lights are great quality and I've had no problems with them at all. As far as buying the case, I would, as the driver has no cover and a lot of electrical stuff exposed. That's why I never got around to installing it. Unless you're good at soldering and experienced with electrical stuff (I'm handy but not this handy), I'd spring for the cable too. With all of it it's pretty plug and play. Good luck!

 

[legacy2mj]

I have the Steve's LEDs for my 12g nano. I got a free Typhon driver with a promotion a while back. I also bought the pre-soldered cables just ordered the waterproof case (laser thing). The dimmers are ok but mine seemed to get a short and now the whites don't dim consistently. I never installed the driver but as soon as I get the case I'm going to. The basic driver I have will program up to four lights I believe and you can do sunrise/sunset and have different times for different colored lights. That's all I really need from a driver. Once I get it installed I'll let you know. The lights are great quality and I've had no problems with them at all. As far as buying the case, I would, as the driver has no cover and a lot of electrical stuff exposed. That's why I never got around to installing it. Unless you're good at soldering and experienced with electrical stuff (I'm handy but not this handy), I'd spring for the cable too. With all of it it's pretty plug and play. Good luck!

Great information! I will plan on spending the extra money for the cable and case then. I saw the driver without the case on it... I cant believe it comes like that. It looks terrible. It kinda looks like you pulled some RAM out of a laptop and slaped a LCD screen on it. I can see how the case is desirable.
Im going to spend the money for it to come already soldered and put together. I hope the install in to my hood isn't too difficult. As long as it comes with decent directions i shouldn't have a problem.

 

[glb]

If you buy the lights already soldered it's super easy to install. You won't believe it.

 

[legacy2mj]

If you buy the lights already soldered it's super easy to install. You won't believe it.

Great!
what about gutting the original hood?

 

[glb]

Great!
what about gutting the original hood?

That's sort of fun if you like destroying things. It took more time to take out the old lights than it did to put in the new ones. There's a lot of little pieces and screws. But once it's out, installing the new one is a breeze. The directions are on the website for installing the lights and the driver. Make sure you follow the ones for your tank and plug things where they belong. There's also this wire thing on the light circuit panel you have to remove before installing the driver. Look at the pictures until you're sure you know what you're looking at. I'll be installing my driver as soon as the case comes so I'll pass along anything I learn.

 

[glb]

I just realized you have a biocube and I have a nanocube. They have pics for both. Make sure you're looking at the right model/tank size.

 

[legacy2mj]

ok cool. I feel like as long as there is step by step instructions for my tank size and model I wont have any issues. I will prolly struggle more with programing the lights then I will with the install.

 

[glb]

ok cool. I feel like as long as there is step by step instructions for my tank size and model I wont have any issues. I will prolly struggle more with programing the lights then I will with the install.

I'll let you know how that goes. Good luck!