Equipment - Biocube LED's (non-redneck!!)

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Biocube LED's (non-redneck!!)

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60278
Printed Date: July 19 2026 at 10:21am
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Topic: Biocube LED's (non-redneck!!)

Posted By: tfmreefs
Subject: Biocube LED's (non-redneck!!)
Date Posted: November 17 2012 at 11:47pm

Okay, my old redneck LED's thread has evolved to REAL LED's.But now here is where my question comes in (and i am sure there will be more to come:P hahah) does anyone have or had LED's on a biocube 14? I want to keep my lid hood thingy on my bio cube and I have been searching around and what I am thinking, is to gut out the hood taking every thing out, and trying to keep the fans, and then I can install the leds, than put the clear plastic protector back over them hopefuly.... So would this sound right? or is there an easier way anyone can think of? There arent too many options but this seems the easiest and most organized. Does anyone have a biocube (even if its not 14) that they have to give tips to me about it? Anyhelp from anyone is appreiciated, Thanks!

-Tanner

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"The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese."

Replies:

Posted By: aquablue
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 1:59am

What your thinking with the leds enclosed in the area previously occupied by the stock lighting works just fine, you can find many build threads for BC 14's though all the ones that come to mind that I've seen are on other sites. I have a BC 29 running custom leds and had a NC 12 running custom leds prior to that, though running open top, will go to enclosed next time I change tanks.

The leds emit such little heat and occupy such little space that they work fine enclosed in the hood and covered with the splash guard, some people have modified the cooling a bit though to better work with the led heat sink. If you do go the enclosed way I would recommend (you'll also see this in various BC/NC led build threads) that you don't add any secondary optics to the leds since they're so close to the water, the 110-120 degree default spread works great for the short distance.

I can link a few off-site build threads if thats ok with the forum rules?

If you have any other questions ask away.

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~~29G Rimless BioCube | DIY LED~~
12G Nano Cube | DIY LED

Member of GCFB

Posted By: Melissa
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 8:41am

When the fans died on the BC14 at work, I gutted the hood and put an ecoxotic panorama and stunner strip on. Works great, although I am thinking of adding another stunner strip.

Posted By: tfmreefs
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 9:30am

Thanks guys! Cool, Im excited to get them and start on it! so now my next question -

-Aqauablue: when you said: "If you do go the enclosed way I would recommend that you don't add any secondary optics to the leds since they're so close to the water, the 110-120 degree default spread works great for the short distance." So your saying I shouldnt add anything extra? should I keep the fans or get them out?

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"The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese."

Posted By: 1973Ford
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 9:36am

I would keep the fans I have a diy leds in my 14 gallon biocube with the splash guard on with out the fans my temp was around 81 degrees.

Posted By: Nails12
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 9:52am

Bill is actually in the process of doing this to a 29 as am i.. Its not too bad.

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This is more than a hobby; its a lifestyle.

Posted By: tfmreefs
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 10:00am

now heres another question - I will tell bill the measurements for how it will fit, but when I actually get it, I searched how to take my hood off, and gut it but what about the corals and fish? I dont know how long it will take me to do it but I am thinking its best to do it at night since its all ready dark........... i jst hope it will fit!

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"The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese."

Posted By: Molli
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 10:07am

I've seen a lot of writeups and youtubes about changing out biocube lighting to LED lighting. Take a look and you should be able to find a lot of help. Personally, I think that biocube fans are worthless in that they don't last long. I wouldn't keep the fans. I'd find a writeup about adding more vents to the top of the hood as that will be where the heat is from the LEDs. By the way, I just kept the back of my biocube open and never had a problem with water temperature spikes.

Posted By: tfmreefs
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 10:12am

molli- you had a biocube w/ leds? Anyways yeah, I have realized that the fans ARE not the best... Somedays I will turn them on and one will make a low loud sound then stop, and I hate changing them out....

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"The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese."

Posted By: gregudolph
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 11:36am

Tanner,
My biocube 29 is running RapidLEDs enclosed in the hood. It was the DIY and I soldered it together myself. It works great.

Posted By: tfmreefs
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 11:58am

Oh, yeah, yours is the one I saw! It looks awsome by the way. I checked out Rapid LED's and a couple of other ones, but I thnk (possibly due to laziness...........) that I am just going to hopefuly have bill do mine for me

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"The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese."

Posted By: gregudolph
Date Posted: November 18 2012 at 6:48pm

There are many options for LED. I have noticed that the RapidLEDs run a little hot. I am running fans directly across the heatsink in order to keep it cool. Also, I never run them very hot. Right now the blues are running at 65% and the white is at 40% and I have noticed that it has been hard on some of the coral that is higher in the tank. I was running 45% on the whites but it was too much.