Steve's 250 Litre Cube Upgrade

[steve861uk]

You'd be surprised in our house, just how much costs as little as 50p , or is a real bargain that I just couldn't resist

 

[taxidermyem]

Yep my whole tank was free so far apart from 2 chromis and 2 frags total cost £30 lmao great having friends and local reefers who are closing their tanks down hahaha xx

 

[steve861uk]

The new light is fitted (AI Prime HD) and oh so powerful, but being enjoyed by the corals and nem already.

I have UV and V set at 80%, Blues at 40%, Red and Green at 7% and White at 30% (so it kind of mirrors the AB+ settings recommended for SPS, but at a reduced amount (for now). Compared to my TMC Aquabeams this is the mutts nuts and oh so bright .

The nem used to withdraw when the aquabeams changed from day to night settings, now with the prime it stays out, my zoa at the top are not melting (yet), but instead seem to be enjoying it So all is good thus far .

 

[taxidermyem]

I love my prime - am still on acclimatisation mode though lol Only til 12th March then it will run at its normal capacity xx Have you download th epresets @steve861uk ? xx

 

[steve861uk]

I love my prime - am still on acclimatisation mode though lol Only til 12th March then it will run at its normal capacity xx Have you download th epresets @steve861uk ? xx

No, not downloaded anything. I did a google search and also saw the reference to how to set them (good for SPS corals, etc..) at the back end of a youtube video.

I considered using the acclimatisation mode but thought I'd rather set them manually and make small changes over the coming weeks (which as you will know is so easy to do via phone/computer) .

 

[taxidermyem]

I am loving some of the presets lol The David Saxby one has some amazing reviews but if you join the AI Prime/Hydra group on FB you can go to the files there and members have put their own presets on. Some of them are amazing.

I am going to sit on the laptop today and create my own I think though just to see. i like quite blue of an evening to geet some good colour pop and want to remove the red and green to prevent any algae etc xx

 

[steve861uk]

Time for some pics

First up the new AI Prime HD mounted above the hood:

FTS with prime set at UV & V = 79%, RB & B = 40%, R & G = 7%, W = 30%:

Anemone (Front and Centre):

Trachy :

Zoa and Blasto Rock:

 

[jordlr]

Thought id pop in and check out your tank Steve as you were so kind to check mine out and leave a reply What dimensions is yours?

I love the AI lights, i have 3x hydra 26 above mine and the colours when they go blue is amazing! Loving your dinky yellow tang too, miss mine

 

[steve861uk]

Thought id pop in and check out your tank Steve as you were so kind to check mine out and leave a reply What dimensions is yours?

I love the AI lights, i have 3x hydra 26 above mine and the colours when they go blue is amazing! Loving your dinky yellow tang too, miss mine

It's a 2' x 2' x 2' tank (so is nice and deep, with lots of swimming room for the fishes ). My tang likes to loop in and out of the rocks and swim everywhere, he's now just realised he is the biggest fish in the tank and tries to show the others who is boss now and again.

 

[taxidermyem]

@steve861uk is yours the aquareef 275 or a simiilar size

I might have accidentally upgraded oooops and am wondering what my prime will do over the top of it - looking at your light spread there it looks like I may get away with my single prime? xx

 

[steve861uk]

@steve861uk is yours the aquareef 275 or a simiilar size

I might have accidentally upgraded oooops and am wondering what my prime will do over the top of it - looking at your light spread there it looks like I may get away with my single prime? xx

I do get a good spread from the single prime, but I'm also still using my aquabeam led strips 2x at the front of the hood and 2x at the rear.

My tank is a custom made 2' cube, it was one of a pair that was for sale locally (ish)....wish I'd bought the other one now

 

[taxidermyem]

Have you got any pics of just the prime running on it babe please? Just so I know whether to invest in some more supplemental lighting xx

 

[steve861uk]

Will get some for you 'Tis tank night tonight.....need to repair my sump baffle that has been broken for the past 3 to 4 months (cracked it whilst trying to make a spillway/runoff in my first compartment).

 

[steve861uk]

Have you got any pics of just the prime running on it babe please? Just so I know whether to invest in some more supplemental lighting xx

As requested :

1st with just the Prime HD on Blues, you can see the rays (approx. only 30% and poor quality pic ):

2nd with LED's and Prime HD:

3rd Light Spill (due to my hole being too small , needed to be 1" diameter bigger and would then give more spread of light below):

Another pic of my hole :

 

[steve861uk]

Am considering an upgrade to a slightly bigger tank - a custom build from ND Aquatics 270 Litre Display (90" x 24" x 24") with 78 Litre Sump (30" x 18" x 17"), so a total volume of 348 Litres.

I can then run all my current gear (all rated for a larger tank any who ), then buy a 2nd HD Prime and run 2x Primes (1x Master and 1x Slave ).

Won't be happening until the Summer though as need to save some pennies

 

[taxidermyem]

How bad is the shadowing with just the prime @steve861uk ? Are you noticing much around the bottom and cornes of tank xx

 

[steve861uk]

How bad is the shadowing with just the prime @steve861uk ? Are you noticing much around the bottom and cornes of tank xx

I only have a little shadowing on the right side of the tank, which is down to the layout/positioning of my rock . However, my bulls eye shroom does get some light and he is located bottom right, as does my ricordea (mainly thanks to a natural break in the rock above) .

 

[taxidermyem]

I am thinking of a scape something similar to either of these 2....

Hoping that either will offer the correct amount of space for the light to reach bottom clearly etc xx

 

[steve861uk]

I am thinking of a scape something similar to either of these 2....

Hoping that either will offer the correct amount of space for the light to reach bottom clearly etc xx

Look good They give plenty of room to swim and lots of room for coral placement, but not too many hiding spots for the fish/inverts (so I'd add a few caves around the base).

Key with the lights would be to leave room at the top of the tank to let the light spread all the way down to the base (both those designs look as though the spread of rock at the top would stop just one light from doing that).

Remember the Prime LED's have a light spread of 40 degrees left and right from vertical (i.e. 80 degree coverage)......so if you look at your mounted light and imagine a 40 Degree angle either side of your lens projecting downwards then that will be the spread of light and will give you an idea of how to plan your scape and also just how many lights you will need to achieve what you want (simples)

 

[taxidermyem]

The whole sizing of the tank has thrown me totally because I prepped all the equipment for having a 170l arrive not a 275 lmao xx