29 Biocube

[delslo]

Hello everyone, I am going to start a build page for my first saltwater. I purchased the tank used with a HA problem a minor aptasia problem and a red slime algae problem. After adding some snails and a sea hare the problem has subsided. The first picture is directly after setup, and the second picture was taken on day 7, and the final picture was taken today, 11 days or so after the move from the previous owner.

[cdylnicki]

Looks good delslo. 

Just make sure you are not playing with the system too much too soon (too many additions or moving rocks, etc)

Im lucky that I have a clownfish that bites me every single time I put my hand in the tank - he lets me know to leave the system alone!  I would say do not do anything to the system for another few weeks (except testing parameters, small water changes, etc.)

Thanks for sharing the pictures! 

[Malyon18]

Looking good Hugh

[delslo]

Thanks it is coming along. I am trading a purple kenya tree for some green carpet coral this week.

[aranyc]

looks great......

[Hookup]

Great start.   Do you run carbon?

[delslo]

I am at the moment. Should I be?

[Darth]

carbon helps "polish" the water and break down lager particles that can be skimmed out

[delslo]

Well some recent changes. We added a sixline wrasse, the green mushroom I told you all about. I was going to get a fuman chu lionfish, but it wouldn't eat and died a few days later. I am probably going to wait for a larger tank to bring a splinter (TMNT throw back) home. Instead we picked up a sand sifting starfish and a rose bubble tip anenome. The maroon is now happier than ever. We unfortunately had to rearrange the tank and on the third try we got it. I am trying to find someone to trade the 550 koralia for a 425. I want to have 2 425's in the tank. I find the 550 a little big for the 29 bc. Anyways here are the pics.....

[delslo]

I almost forgot we also added an emerald crab a whole bunch of snails and hermits and a banded pistol shrimp as a friend for the yellow watchman goby

[delslo]

I haven't posted for awhile, but there are a few updates. I have switched to RODI and now just added a new light. The Aquaillumination Sol into the bc29 hood

[delslo]

I haven't posted for awhile, but here are the pics of the light in the hood

[NanoSF]

I'm not sure having that AI in the hood is a good idea. The heatsink needs open air to let the heat dissipate when the fan comes on. Also that location has the light too close to the water IMO. In the picture is looks like the spread is too narrow and the light should be a bit farther away. I had an Aquapod with an AI and I had it 16" off the water. I made a canopy for it. It wasn't hard.

[delslo]

I'm not sure having that AI in the hood is a good idea. The heatsink needs open air to let the heat dissipate when the fan comes on. Also that location has the light too close to the water IMO. In the picture is looks like the spread is too narrow and the light should be a bit farther away. I had an Aquapod with an AI and I had it 16" off the water. I made a canopy for it. It wasn't hard.

I wish it was further from the water, but to maintain the look of the biocube I have to leave it. I cut holes into the hood to allow air to be pulled in by the two fans you see, and the lights are set to be on 8 hours a day currently and the heatsinks fan never turns on, so no issues.
As for condensation issues, it is contained within the biocubes clear plastic casing so it will actually suffer fewer issues than hung fixtures.
In terms of the light distribution I actually like the distribution, it allows lower light areas on the outsides and a complete range through the center and forward and back.

[mmaisonneuve]

Hey nice setup, to bad you have not seen my post about the modular led setup.

1) perfect fit in the canopy no extra heat issue and perfect setup.
2) No beam effect since there is no need for the lens (not deep enough)
3) You could have save $$$

Guys If you decide to go LED's please ask don't be afraid. I'll gladly share my knowledge.

[JetJumper]

You could always take the optics off of the AI Fixture.  Its not hard to do.

[delslo]

Hey nice setup, to bad you have not seen my post about the modular led setup.

1) perfect fit in the canopy no extra heat issue and perfect setup.
2) No beam effect since there is no need for the lens (not deep enough)
3) You could have save $$$

Guys If you decide to go LED's please ask don't be afraid. I'll gladly share my knowledge.

I wanted this fixture because of the sunrise sunset simulation, the lightning simulation, plus I plan on increasing the size of the tank whenever we move. 100 year old building and third floor won't support a bigger tank than a 29 in my opinion.

[mmaisonneuve]

Let make this clear for everyone then. I was able to program my Apex Neptune to do Sunset and Sunrise and cloud with the Modular LED kit. I made a custome RJ-45 Cable for it and using it I can do all what they do with the AI exept the Lightning.

[delslo]

Let make this clear for everyone then. I was able to program my Apex Neptune to do Sunset and Sunrise and cloud with the Modular LED kit. I made a custome RJ-45 Cable for it and using it I can do all what they do with the AI exept the Lightning.

Ahwell, I guess you live and you learn. Good job, I'm a bit lazy to tackle that sort of project.

[NanoSF]

I was aware that people were able to create fully controllable lighting cycles using LEDs and system controllers. My problem was that I would have had to buy a new controller since my old Reefkeeper didn't have that capability. Add the cost of the controller and the LED build and I decided to just buy an AI. Bigger systems and people with a capable controller already, this makes a lot of sense.

The other factor that is important to some people is appearance of the lighting unit. If you have a canopy that hides the unit a DIY LED build is great, but kind of ugly if it is exposed. Then there is people like Jetjumper that built a whole nice box for his LED units to solve this problem.

For me, hanging it over my rimless, I wanted a light that was as sleek as possible. Now that there are Radions and AIs are under $500, it is hard to build something if you have any of these factors against you.