[nanoreef11]

My biocube 14 gallon current crashed due to power outages and heater failures the week after. I want to either put a sunpod HQI 150 watt on my tank or go with the nanocustom's mod with 3 compact lights instead of 2. The sunpod is a lot more money and will give me about 13-15 watts per gallon which I know is over kill. The nanocustom's mod will give me 6-8 watts per gallon

What are your opinions on these 2 mods and which do you think will be better.

[nanoreef11]

bump

bump

[spanko]

I have a 150 sunpod on my 29. I think with the 14 gallon you could get away with the 70 watt (150 would not be overkill IMO).

Are you talking about the Nanocustoms PC upgrade of the MH upgrade?

[palmbeach2210]

Make sure you acclimate the tank to the brighter light. You might end up with melted corals and a bad algae bloom.

[nanoreef11]

Im starting my tank over because heater malfunction killed off my tank. I want to get everrything set up before I start the cycle again. Im talking about the PC upgrade.

[spanko]

Watts per gallon aren't going to make a difference when comparing PC lights to T5 or MH. It is the PAR value that makes the difference. You can have T5 or MH lights with less wattage that will give you all around better lighting and coral growth that higher wattage PC bulbs, all because of the PAR (Photo-synthetically Active Radiation)

Photosynthetically active radiation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[nanoreef11]

sunpod - Reef Aquarium Metal Halide Lighting: SunPod HQI Metal Halide Fixtures with Lunar Lights

Nanocustoms -
can't get a pic up atm because their site is down.
Go to google and type in nanocustoms 3.24 and it should come up

Thanks for your votes

[nanoreef11]

Thanks spanko. If sunpod made a 70 watt MH I would get that but they only make a 150 watt. I also don't want to put a 70 watt MH into the hood of the tank because of heat issues and it is really expensive.

[nanoreef11]

CurrentUSA 16.5" SunPod 1 70 watt 14K HQI-MH with 4 Blue and 4 White Lunar Lights

I found this but the picture shows a 20" with 6 led's on each side. Wondering if this will be my best option.

[nanoreef11]

Here is the link for the nanocustoms light mod.

nanotuners

[spanko]

So I did the Nanocustoms upgrade to my stock hood first. Remember I have the 29. It was an upgrade from 2 36 watt pcs to 4 26 watt pcs. It was good for the time I used it. Then I wanted to change my tank to SPS coral. I went with the 150 watt sunpod and took off the stock hood altogether. Here is a link to my tank if you want to rad more.
http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/n...html#post82667

[ianizaguirre]

sun pod would be to much for your size tank

[spanko]

Originally Posted by ianizaguirre

sun pod would be to much for your size tank

You think the 70 watt would be too much? And why?

[ianizaguirre]

no the 150 is to much for such a small tank size i mean since their next option is 70 watts thats the next best thing

[nanoreef11]

So I think I might have to go with the hood mod and keep the hood because My mom says that my sister (almost 3 years old) will get into the tank and I have to keep the lid. What if I did the 70 watt MH upgrade and put pond netting on top of the lid. Any advice is welcomed thank you.

[pyromaniac398]

You could go with the 70w sunpods and put some sort or grate or like you said pond netting over the top. I would have upgraded to a sunpod or a viper HQI, but my cats would have had a field day with an open top tank.. If i ever upgrade my lights ill go for the 3.24 nano tuners one (the one your looking at). For now everything seems to like stock, so no sense changing it.

[nanoreef11]

Yea I'm leaning towards the 70 watt viper or sunpod.
What are yours guy experience with these lights?

[pyromaniac398]

The viper is a good light. A buddy of mine has one and he loves it! The arm is nice because you can adjust the hight of the MH for acclimating your tank/ new corals to the new MH. Can't do that with the Sunpod. On the flip side though the sunpod comes with moon lights which are always cool They are both really good and well made light though so really its up to you

[nanoreef11]

Yea I have the moonlights now and I wouldn't like to lose them. Ill see what people have to say. I am going to get everything planned out before I restart my tank.

[nanoreef11]

hey one question
if I was to get the MH would I need actinics for corals?

[pyromaniac398]

Actinic are more for your viewing pleasure as opposed to the corals. Actinics make your coral's colors pop better and all around give your reef a better look (in my opinion). Your coral will love you more and grow faster under a 10k daylight HQI bulb. You can go with a 14k temp bulb if you want some blue. Some say that a 14k give the same kind of color a 50/50 would give. Not the same type light but the same overall color in the tank. If you feel like you want the additional actinics for display reasons you can always build a hood and get a retro kit. The MH fixtures that fit our cubes unfortunately will not come with actinics.

Wet Web media page on actinics:
Actinics

[nanoreef11]

Very interesting link pyro thank you. It seems like the 10k will give better coral growth and thats what I want. Blue lights don't necessarily do much for me or the corals. It is nice but to get the right size light and build a hood is way overboard just for my benefit. Looks like the 10k or 14k bulb is what I will shoot for.
Thanks

[pyromaniac398]

No problem

[palmbeach2210]

nanotuners

Expert Series DIY KIT

After nearly 2 full years of testing, nanocustoms has developed a foolproof way to mod a 70w into your factory canopy, all while retaining the factory splashguard. While to some this may seem trivial, it means safe temperatures, and enduring operation.

Featuring the highest quality components, methods, and nanocustoms experience, the 1.70 series for the 14BC is the choice for those who want to add HQI light, all while retaining the factory fit, finish, and appearance.

An updated, cooler running, and quieter 70w HQI lighting engine, and other options, this is the system for the person who wants it all.

Please note: Soldering is NECESSARY. Our results and standards of safety are based on soldered/heatshrunk connections.

1 x 70w Aqua Medic 10000K HQI bulb (20000K available)
1 x 70w Sunpark Electronic Ballast (2 year warranty!!!)
1 x Anodized Aluminum Ballast Enclosure
1 x Remote Ballast Cable
1 x 1mm Hammertone Reflector
1 x 6mm Tempered Safety Glass - Heatsink cooled
1 x 140F High Temperature Cutoff (safety feature)

Options
1 x R2 Moonlight
1 x 12in CCFL moonlights
2 x 09w External Fuge Light

**All HQI lighting kits and complete systems are safe for your all-in-one aquarium. Each HQI lighting kit and system comes equipped with a heat-activated thermal cut-off switch and a fan relay switch to prevent any possible damage to your tank.**

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS : http://www.nanocustoms.com/support/pdf/17014BC.pdf

[pyromaniac398]

you could go with the that kit, but you will run into some serious heat problems. I've seen a few threads of people who modded a 70w HQI into their biocube hood. Once melted a hole in the splash guard, and the other had to put a total of 6 ya 6 fans into the hood to keep the temp where it needed to be. If your going MH it would be better to have an open top. It is Insanely easier to keep your heat down in all - in - one tanks like that.