Biocube 32 lighting questions

[EricksonHQI]

We have a new Biocube 32 LED and are trying to find a cheap lighting upgrade. Well maybe not upgrade but a good supplemental lighting source...
I have read about people using the True Lumen led strips, the LEDENET strips, and some doing a full retrofit upgrade with those... I’m not ready to plunge into a Steve’s or nano box upgrade, but want some more blues and different range of options for our lights to help our corals “pop”.. and if it adds to our par levels that’s a win win! :)
Any help, ideas, advice would be greatly appreciated.
Also if you’ve used the led strips how did you mount them in the hood? And did you wrap them to keep the water off?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Lose the hood and you can use a simple AI Prime that will grow anything you want. This is what I did and have then upgraded to Radion XR15 gen 4 pro. The stock hood limits the possibilities. Good luck.

 

[EricksonHQI]

Lose the hood and you can use a simple AI Prime that will grow anything you want. This is what I did and have then upgraded to Radion XR15 gen 4 pro. The stock hood limits the possibilities. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice!
We had a Biocube HQI 29 gal tank years ago, and just came back to the hobby.... with two kids and a curious cat I’m not quite ready to ditch the hood yet either. Maybe one day.

Just trying to find a happy middle for now

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

I know reefbrite makes led strips called XHO not sure about lengths though. ReefBreeders does as well.

 

[EricksonHQI]

Thanks! I will look into those.
I’m hoping to find a way to mount the led strips inside the hood, but am worried about any water splashup, or evap water getting on them and ruining them.

 

[Thirdeyesight17]

If you’re mounting lights inside the hood you can just use the splash guard that comes with the tank. I have Steve’s leds and it just uses the same splashguard. Just have to make whatever you decide to use fit inside.

 

[EricksonHQI]

This isn’t my pic but I came across it in a different thread... wondering if the true lumens can handle and splash or evap with it mounted like that.. if you look closely it’s attached outside of the splash cover since there’s zero room to add anything inside it without removing the stock lights.

 

[sick1166]

Just got a bc 32 and looking for light also

 

[ceruleanspiral]

Did you find anything?

 

[ceruleanspiral]

This isn’t my pic but I came across it in a different thread... wondering if the true lumens can handle and splash or evap with it mounted like that.. if you look closely it’s attached outside of the splash cover since there’s zero room to add anything inside it without removing the stock lights.

I bought a 10" Trulumen and it stopped working after 2 months. I have a LEDENET strip now but not sure where/how to add it.