Biocube 8 LED Mod Advice

[z28reefer]

I've had my old oceanic biocube 8 running as a fish only setup for a couple of months now and I think its time to start turning it into a reef. A ballast recently burned out and replacement bulbs are hard to come by so I think its time to move on to leds. I was thinking of gutting the hood and drilling a small hole to mount a kessil a80 with some aluminum brackets. My question is will the a80 be able to support a mixed lps and softie tank or should I go with something else such as an ai prime? Another requirement is that I have to keep the hood at least somewhat intact as I own a curious cat who likes to try and mess with the tank.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Yes the A80 will work for sofies and lps if placed right. Honestly the AI Prime is a much better choice, really the perfect light for your sized tank. You can even move to sps with the Prime. Its pretty much impossible to get replacement parts for the old power compact Biocubes. Best off just removing the hood altogether and getting the goose neck mount.

 

[GatorScott]

You might be better off losing the lid. I’ve read where adding lights such as that really add heat. I added Steve’s leds but his kit comes with major ventalition to pull out the heat.

 

[z28reefer]

Yes the A80 will work for sofies and lps if placed right. Honestly the AI Prime is a much better choice, really the perfect light for your sized tank. You can even move to sps with the Prime. Its pretty much impossible to get replacement parts for the old power compact Biocubes. Best off just removing the hood altogether and getting the goose neck mount.

I'm really looking to keep the hood on if possible in order to keep my other pets out of the tank. Another member on here did this with a prime

I wonder if it would work with the kessil
or if it would reduce the coverage area due to the low mounting height. I'd also love to go with the prime, but at the moment I'm trying to keep this project on as low of a budget as possible since its not my main tank.

 

[z28reefer]

You might be better off losing the lid. I’ve read where adding lights such as that really add heat. I added Steve’s leds but his kit comes with major ventalition to pull out the heat.

If I kept the fans and splash guard in the hood I wonder if that would do anything to reduce the heat. I do know these leds produce alot of it though. The burn mark on my carpet shaped like a ai pime puck can attest to that.

 

[Katrina71]

Steve's LED.

 

[Katrina71]

Steve's LED is the only way I'd go.

 

[Katrina71]

Send them an email. You can still get them for an Oceanic 8.

 

[Katrina71]

Btw, sps do extremely well under Steve's!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Steve’s is real good. I see you have a prime? That should do real well also

 

[z28reefer]

Send them an email. You can still get them for an Oceanic 8.

I was just looking at their website and was wondering about that thanks for the info!

 

[Katrina71]

My 10 year old installed his. I have been told the wifi controller is easier to program.

 

[Katrina71]

Btw...the programming for Steve's is done on 24hr cycle. I think maybe military time if I remember correctly.

 

[z28reefer]

Steve’s is real good. I see you have a primy? That shy do real well also

Its a non hd with a bad wifi board it only runs 100% now with no controllability. Ai said I would have to send it in they won't just ship parts.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its a non hd with a bad wifi board it only runs 100% now with no controllability. Ai said I would have to send it in they won't just ship parts.

No surprise on Ai statement who is now part of Ecotech who is only interested in selling than satisfying the consumer

 

[Katrina71]

Wanna see some sps under Steve's?

 

[Katrina71]

 

[Katrina71]

See below original color of this...brown

 

[Katrina71]

 

[GatorScott]

Katrina what is your intensity at?