Zoa lighting upgrade in biocube.... HELP!

[bb2jdm]

Hi guys im in need of some advise. I have a 14g biocube and im a huge z and p lover. Im starting to get into keeping the higher end z's and p's but i really want to upgrade my lighting on the biocube. I have higher end zoas right now and are doing great but i knew it could be better. Right now i have the stock power compact light but i would like to know if someone else out there has upgraded theyre lighting on there cube. I would like to stay away from led's if possible and do t5 or mh. Like i said before im just keeping zoas and palys. Thanks in advance for all the help :bigsmile:

 

[glb]

I just bought an led retrofit for my 12g nano and my zoas are doing great after the switch. Is there a reason you don't want to go led? With the little tanks, the other lights might heat it up too much IMHO.

 

[glb]

Steve's LEDs has a retrofit system for your size tank that will fit in the hood.

 

[MacKrell]

I'm was in your same position abt 2 months ago. I went with the maxspect nano razor and love it. I removed the hood on mine. Whatever u do as far as lighting start off slow on the intensity of your new light, those stock lights that come with the biocube are weak compared to whats out there on the market. It all depends on how much u wana spend but your going in the right direction.. Just my .2 cents, good luck and keep is posted!

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

Finding a T5 fixture for that size cube that doesn't absolutely look ridiculous is going to be a challenge. A halide will put some serious heat into that smaller water volume, not saying either one is impossible, just stating some facts. If it was me..... I would go Led retro or what about adding some supplemental LEDs to your PC's?

 

[glb]

Finding a T5 fixture for that size cube that doesn't absolutely look ridiculous is going to be a challenge. A halide will put some serious heat into that smaller water volume, not saying either one is impossible, just stating some facts. If it was me..... I would go Led retro or what about adding some supplemental LEDs to your PC's?

That could definitely work. There's a light called a stunner strip that is a row of LEDs you could add to your cf bulbs. They're super thin and come in blues as white I think.

 

[bb2jdm]

I just bought an led retrofit for my 12g nano and my zoas are doing great after the switch. Is there a reason you don't want to go led? With the little tanks, the other lights might heat it up too much IMHO.

I don't want to do LEDs Bc of what I've read online and Bc my friend had some LEDs and it faded some of his corals. At one point it started to bleach them out. So basically I'm scared that, that will happen to me as well. Now if I do go with the LEDs that you are recommending will it work for my oceanic bio cube? I know the coralife bio cubes you can mod it a lot easier.

 

[bb2jdm]

I'm was in your same position abt 2 months ago. I went with the maxspect nano razor and love it. I removed the hood on mine. Whatever u do as far as lighting start off slow on the intensity of your new light, those stock lights that come with the biocube are weak compared to whats out there on the market. It all depends on how much u wana spend but your going in the right direction.. Just my .2 cents, good luck and keep is posted!

I'll def look into the max spect nano razor but I can't take the hood off of mine Bc my tank is at my girl house and she has two cats so you the rest lol I wish they made a glass top for these things.

 

[bb2jdm]

Finding a T5 fixture for that size cube that doesn't absolutely look ridiculous is going to be a challenge. A halide will put some serious heat into that smaller water volume, not saying either one is impossible, just stating some facts. If it was me..... I would go Led retro or what about adding some supplemental LEDs to your PC's?

Yea I know what u mean aqua fire about the heat and look. I've seen some ppl buy the viper clamp and they say it works very well but heat is something that I really have to look out for. I appreciate ur 2 cents

 

[glb]

I don't want to do LEDs Bc of what I've read online and Bc my friend had some LEDs and it faded some of his corals. At one point it started to bleach them out. So basically I'm scared that, that will happen to me as well. Now if I do go with the LEDs that you are recommending will it work for my oceanic bio cube? I know the coralife bio cubes you can mod it a lot easier.

They have a retrofit kit especially for your tank. The lights come with dimmers so as long as you acclimate the tank slowly, you shouldn't have to worry about bleaching. I've heard the stock LEDs in cube tanks often don't have dimmers, and have heard of bleaching. I've had my LEDs for a week now and I started with them at about 30%. I've turned them up to about 50% gradually and plan on leaving them there because the corals are happy and I don't think they need any more light. I also have a controller which will let me turn them off and on gradually with separate controllers for white and blue LEDs are much more intense but if used carefully I think you'd be fine.

 

[buddythelion]

Not sure why you're afraid of LEDs. A Kessil 150 Ocean Blue would be amazing for your tank. Just keep it about 5-6" away from the water and try to keep your zoas on the lower sandbed area first to get them used to the light.

 

[MacKrell]

I'll def look into the max spect nano razor but I can't take the hood off of mine Bc my tank is at my girl house and she has two cats so you the rest lol I wish they made a glass top for these things.

Ha sorry to hear that abt the cats. What I did was had a peice of glass cut from a local glass company. I took a piece of cardboard and made a template of the lid and had one made.. I'll grab a pic later. But I understand abt the cats we have two lol. And as far as the bleaching from LEDs, when you switch over you have to turn them down and gradually increase the strength of the LEDs. That's what I did and had really no lose of any corals.

 

[boehm742]

Check out my link in my signature of my biocube 14 led build. I love them

 

[bb2jdm]

hey glb can u pm me a link or tell me the website i can find steves retrofit leds. I cant find it. Thanks

 

[glb]

Here's the link to the light for your tank. Good luck!
http://shop.stevesleds.com/BioCube-14-LED-Light-System-Extreme-SPS-BC14.htm

 

[TJ's Reef]

Here you go, link to Steves LED's below. I've purchased from Steves several times.

Biocube 12

Cheers, Todd

 

[bb2jdm]

Thanks guys

 

[dodgerblew]

Not sure why you're afraid of LEDs. A Kessil 150 Ocean Blue would be amazing for your tank. Just keep it about 5-6" away from the water and try to keep your zoas on the lower sandbed area first to get them used to the light.

i was going to post exactly the same thing. Awesome light