I had a JBJ 28g HQI Nano Cube for many years that I never got too into too much as i was always busy with work and kids. I finally decided to start putting in some effort and wanted to switch from the MH lighting to LED. I was looking for sunrise and sunset ramping and a little more color options. The heat was a big factor too, as I didn't have a chiller. One thing I wanted was to keep the top on the tank. I have never been a fan of hanging lights or pendants. After drooling over a friends Ecotech Marine Radion G3 Pros, I did some research and saw a few threads where a Radion was installed into the original JBJ top. This was my new goal and i found a used G2 Radion at a somewhat reasonable price and acquired an old PC JBJ Nanocube hood to gut and convert. This was surprisingly easy to do and I'd say I spent more time cleaning the old parts out, than I did installing the Radion. What I came up with was this...
Transition from 28g Nano to 80g Deep Blue RR Mixed Reef Build
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Well, that only lasted so long, as I had stumbled across the upgrade tank I wanted. A Deep Blue 80g RR shallow tank was for sale in NJ and the owner had a second Radion G2 to go with it. So, on Veterans Day, 2014, my girlfriend and I rented a Enterprise Express Van and made the 2.5hr trek from eastern Long Idsland, to NJ, for a used tank, stand and Custom King Sump, along with a second Radion. I brought them home, cleaned them off and had them set up in the living room, in the only spot in the house that I could fit the setup.
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There wasn't much sleep the next few days as i would get up early and go to sleep around 3am, getting everything up and running, then beginning to transfer everything over from the other tank, along with the new live sand and some more live rock.
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Slowly added more rock, keeping an eye on my levels. Luckily, i didn't really have a major cycle and the most frustrating part was the diatom bloom at the end of it, that lasted almost a week. Eventually it started to look like a real reef tank and it's funny how fast you get used to a larger tank and find yourself thinking about an even bigger tank... my girlfriend certainly keeps those urges in check, though.
I cannot say enough good things about the people at Ecotech Marine. I was able to upgrade the Radion lights to Pro models, mount them on a spankin' new pair of RMS mounts, I hard plumbed in the system and added an Aqua UV 150w Sterilizer. I also added a tiny little RBTA, along with a Yellow Tang and a Two Spot Bristletooth Tang a few weeks apart, once the tank hit the 3 month mark. The only part of the tank that I wasn;'y happy with was the Refugium light. I had a cheap LED SolarFlare clip on, that just wasn't cutting it. even though I wasnt having PO4 or NO3 issues, the chaeto wasn't growing AT ALL. I wanted a Kessil Amazon Sun a160w, but i wasn't to happy about spending $225.
I cannot say enough good things about the people at Ecotech Marine. I was able to upgrade the Radion lights to Pro models, mount them on a spankin' new pair of RMS mounts, I hard plumbed in the system and added an Aqua UV 150w Sterilizer. I also added a tiny little RBTA, along with a Yellow Tang and a Two Spot Bristletooth Tang a few weeks apart, once the tank hit the 3 month mark. The only part of the tank that I wasn;'y happy with was the Refugium light. I had a cheap LED SolarFlare clip on, that just wasn't cutting it. even though I wasnt having PO4 or NO3 issues, the chaeto wasn't growing AT ALL. I wanted a Kessil Amazon Sun a160w, but i wasn't to happy about spending $225.
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I did A LOT of research and finally settled on a Kessil H150, Purple Spectrum. I didnt get a lot of definite support from fellow reefers on how it would perform, since not too many aquarists are using them, but i refused to use a Home Depot clip on CF bulb (I HATE THEM!). From what i read, there was no reason it shouldnt work VERY well as a fuge light, if anything, it should work REALLY well. So i found them readily available, new and used on eBay. I got mine for $68 shipped to my door. 8 days later, the Fuge chamber was almost full of chaeto! I now trim it way back from full to a softball, every 2-3 weeks. I would highly recommed this fixture. Less heat and power consumption is ALWAYS a good thing.
Also, in the meantime, I kept more Live Rock and some more corals coming.
Also, in the meantime, I kept more Live Rock and some more corals coming.
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Since I don't have an Aquarium Controller, I have a Heater Controller as a safety. I also wanted a Dosing Pump, so i could better keep track of my dosing frequency and my levels, especially with the SPS in the tank. Once again, I did a bunch of research on Dosing Pumps and after MUCH consideration, I bought a Jebao DP-4. For $104 shipped, the unit seems like a great buy, with awesome reviews and a lot of units in use in the community. I was really impressed with the Jebao DC6000 as a return pump and i thought there was no reason to not stick with Jebao.
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Blake11rebel
Active Member
Very nice! looking to upgrading soon and this was a nice inspiration.
Akida17th
Well-Known Member
Awesome setup...I have a 93 frameless cube 30x30x24 and I am having the same issues you had with your cheato with a cheap solar flare led. Just ordered a KSH150P (work in hydroponics so we carry them) which I got at cost after reading your post. Really like your setup! Looking to buy a dosing pump and was looking at the Bubble Magus for $300 but it's a bit pricey. How are you liking the Jebao? Any issues with it yet i.e over or under dosing?
Absolutely love the Jebao! I follow my parameters closely with daily testing and since I have gotten it, I have never had any major drops or spikes. it's also nice because it has a memory if the power goes off, it's expandable to eight heads, it's right around the hundred dollars, and you can calibrate it at any time, to make sure you're always getting the right amounts. I can't say enough good things about it and I have never heard of anybody having a problem with one that they could say was for sure the dosers fault. Solid unit all around.
There was no way that anybody thought that I could legitimately get this thing in my one-bedroom apartment. But all I had to do was move the couch up a couple inches in reality. If you really want it to happen, you could find a place to put something like this. It's not THAT big. Money was tight for me also, but all things in due time. This project is six months in now. Not like so these guys drop $5000 in one afternoon. It took time.
dman3572
Community Member
Haha true. I guess I'll have to see what I could move around and stuff to see if I could have enough room. Yeah that's only a little bit of a hole in your wallet. But it's definitely worth it in the long run
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