Ok so i have a 14 gallon bio cube and i want to upgrade the lighting. i have kinda looked into getting the Aqualight HQI Metal Halide Fixture the one that clamps onto the tank and getting rid of the stock hood or hanging a metal halide above the tank but that will create alot of heat which im trying to avoid as much as possible. or would the LEDs that clamp on to the tank be better if i get rid of the hood? and is there a lighting system that fits in the hood that have sps growing capabilites? because ive talked to some people that have LED upgrades but still cant grow sps corals. what experince do you guys have with your biocube lighting upgrades?
14 gallon bicube light upgrade?
- Thread starter austin.ras
- Start date
Hey Austin, I know alot of folks like the Retrofit kits from rapid Led http://www.rapidled.com/biocube-14/. I dont know how well they do with Sps. Maybe someone can help out.
either way if you go exocotic or rapid led or matel halid your biggiest issue will be heat, even the exocotic put off heat i have a 29 gallon and a plexy glass that rest over the top i have 2 exoc lights that will raise my temp by 1-2 degrees in a few hours just being on. but i also have a chiller so its all good.
Im using an over kill for a chiller, im using a 1/10 chiller. Things rated for a 100 gal.
Now I dont know alot about chillers but there are 2 kinds I believe one thats a fan and heat sink( thermal) and the other works like a fridge. I tried using a thermal one on my 24 and it actually raised my temp by a degree from the pump pumping water to the chiller.
for such a small tank id recomend getting a clip on fan it cools off your tank pretty quickly only downside is you will have to top off alittle more often. but just get a top off its alot cheaper then a chiller. thats just my opinion.
here is a clip on fan http://www.marinedepot.com/UP_Aqua_...ium_Lighting-UP_Aqua-AZ64047-FILTACAF-vi.html
and heres a ATO http://www.marinedepot.com/JBJ_Auto...In_Units-JBJ_Lighting-JB5111-FIDPETPU-vi.html
thats around $150 but thats alot better then paying 300 plus on a chiller. or you can maybe look around or post something on the forum seeing if anyone has one laying around
Now I dont know alot about chillers but there are 2 kinds I believe one thats a fan and heat sink( thermal) and the other works like a fridge. I tried using a thermal one on my 24 and it actually raised my temp by a degree from the pump pumping water to the chiller.
for such a small tank id recomend getting a clip on fan it cools off your tank pretty quickly only downside is you will have to top off alittle more often. but just get a top off its alot cheaper then a chiller. thats just my opinion.
here is a clip on fan http://www.marinedepot.com/UP_Aqua_...ium_Lighting-UP_Aqua-AZ64047-FILTACAF-vi.html
and heres a ATO http://www.marinedepot.com/JBJ_Auto...In_Units-JBJ_Lighting-JB5111-FIDPETPU-vi.html
thats around $150 but thats alot better then paying 300 plus on a chiller. or you can maybe look around or post something on the forum seeing if anyone has one laying around
I think most people have a hard time keeping SPS due to a few factors. water stability being a huge one, not acclimating sps to LED lights properly. I had a bc14 with ecoxotic and it could do lps and clams no prob. SPS was too difficult for me and I know the light was adequate for it. Also ran ATO and a fan to keep temp down and even still always flirted with 80-81 degrees. for your 14 all you would need and can fit is 2 panorama pros after you gut out the PC lights. 1 strip actinic and 1 strip mixed white/actinic is a legit combo
