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BioCube 29 lighting upgrade (For SPS)


barderer

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Two options. I can double my 36w pc lighting for 150 bucks for a total of 4x36w. Or I can install a 70w HQI for more than double that price. I am leaning toward the quad pc's because of price and heat. Are the kits really about equal? What is the math on depth of light penetration and wattage. Would the one 70w HQI penetrate deeper that two more 36w? I am also thinking about getting this skimmer. Thoughts?

HQI 29 kit

http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?products_id=363

PC upgrade kit

http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php...products_id=345

The only skimmer I think will work in the cube.

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1436

Thanks

Nick

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I have a clamp on coralife 150 on my standard 20G and I'm loving it, only issue is you'll have to tear the hood off and account for a lot more evaporation in your BC... you'll probably want to implement some kind of autotopoff and extra cooling fans regardless of which upgrade you choose, since both are going to generate a lot of heat, and the necessary fans are going to evaporate your water a lot faster than you think. The stock BC 14 on our front counter starts blowing bubbles 3 times a day, so be extra vigilant of your temperature and evaporation no matter what you do.

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I have a 24 aquapod and i upgraded my light to a sunpod 150W MH (about ~$279 on dr.foster) . It is great i like the 14K bulb. I also bought a sapphire internal skimmer (there is one for your bc29 too). Sapphire skimmer is great very powerful little machine. there is problem with microbubble at the beginning. But after about 1month it will break in and things will be crystal clear.

As captainbob and other members mentioned you will have problem with heat and evaporation. I ran a fan on the tank (temp got as high as 81-82 when fan is on with MH) and have to top off about .5-1 gal a day. I got tired of toping off the tank and checking the salinity everyday so i purchased a nano chiller about a week ago. eveything is happy in there now. goodluck but no matter what light you invest in. you will probably need to spend some cash on a chiller later on. maybe put that on your xmas gift list. Goodluck. if you want to see the sunpod light of , sapphire skimmer or the nano chiller i will be glad to send you pics.

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