Oceanic Bio Cube 14- Temp problems

jdwhit · 08/27/2006, 06:42 PM

I have a Nano (fish, hermits, and shrimp) that I have had for close to a year in an Eclipse 6. You just cannot get enough light in it for any corals. So yesterday I bought a Bio Cube 14 so that I can finally have a nano reef (wanted the 29, but just do not have the room for where I want to put it). I also bought 15 lbs of live rock, a Fission Nano Skimmer and a Mini-Jet 606 (for more flow). The Nano Skimmer is not going to fit in the back so I will either return it or just run the skimmer over night once or twice a week in the front â€œfeedâ€ door. I set-up the cube with the live rock, turned everything on and watched the temperature climb to over 83. Today, I ran the lights but not the Mini-Jet 606 thinking that this might keep the temp down. It was better only 81.6, but I really think that 10X is on the low side of flow. Tonight I decided to do a mod to try to improve the situation. I removed the top the opened up the light unit. I flipped the fan that pushed air into the light kit over so that it would force air out of the top. Then I cut 3-1 inch long square holes with into the front of the clear light splash cover. Air now flows from the front of the tank over the lights and out both fan vents. The temp has dropped 1/2 a degree in 15 minutes. Will update and let you know final results.

GobyJohnKenobi · 08/27/2006, 09:52 PM

Good to know.

So far my BC-8 is holding at 79.5 with the stock pump replaced with a Micro-Jet MC 450. That's about 2 degrees over ambient and after running with everything on for 48 hours.

I wonder how much heat the LEDs put out, and if it's worth putting them on a timer to turn them off while the PC lights are on. Hey! Why don't I just unplug them and find out? BRB...

No change. Darn, so much for the easy work-around. I like what you've done. Keep us posted.

jdwhit · 08/27/2006, 10:20 PM

The lights went off an hour and a half after the mod. During that hour and a half the Mini-Jet 606 and the lights were on and the temp held at 80.3 so it looks like it helped. I will let you know how the temp goes after running all day tomorrow.

mdisalvo55 · 08/27/2006, 10:32 PM

That's strange because I have the BC 14 and my temp stays right around 79-80 pretty much all the time. It got hot one time when the AC was turned off in the house and even then it was around 82 and I just lifted the hood and that dropped it to right around 80. You could always try buying a larger computer fan and installing it in the old ones place to get more air flow.

just dave · 08/28/2006, 09:39 PM

The two I set up for display need heaters to keep the temp up.
Ambient temperature plays a big part as always.

GobyJohnKenobi · 08/28/2006, 11:50 PM

Hey, Dave. Nice looking displays!

The 8 looks great on that 14 stand and likewise for the 14 on the 29 stand.

I just noticed that if I lower the water level in the return section about 2 inches below the display level and use the drip plate that the temp drops a little over half a degree without adding very much noise or microbubbles. Interesting...

rob12 · 08/30/2006, 08:53 AM

Hey JustDave

I just bought the Oceanic 29g. Can you give me some insight on where the stand came from. How much was it, who makes it, is it a god stand, where can I purchase it, etc.

Thanks,
Rob

just dave · 08/30/2006, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rob12
Hey JustDave

I just bought the Oceanic 29g. Can you give me some insight on where the stand came from. How much was it, who makes it, is it a god stand, where can I purchase it, etc.

Thanks,
Rob

Stands are Oceanic so I assume you could get one from the same place you purchased the tank from.

08/27/2006, 06:42 PM	#1
jdwhit Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 7	Oceanic Bio Cube 14- Temp problems I have a Nano (fish, hermits, and shrimp) that I have had for close to a year in an Eclipse 6. You just cannot get enough light in it for any corals. So yesterday I bought a Bio Cube 14 so that I can finally have a nano reef (wanted the 29, but just do not have the room for where I want to put it). I also bought 15 lbs of live rock, a Fission Nano Skimmer and a Mini-Jet 606 (for more flow). The Nano Skimmer is not going to fit in the back so I will either return it or just run the skimmer over night once or twice a week in the front â€œfeedâ€ door. I set-up the cube with the live rock, turned everything on and watched the temperature climb to over 83. Today, I ran the lights but not the Mini-Jet 606 thinking that this might keep the temp down. It was better only 81.6, but I really think that 10X is on the low side of flow. Tonight I decided to do a mod to try to improve the situation. I removed the top the opened up the light unit. I flipped the fan that pushed air into the light kit over so that it would force air out of the top. Then I cut 3-1 inch long square holes with into the front of the clear light splash cover. Air now flows from the front of the tank over the lights and out both fan vents. The temp has dropped 1/2 a degree in 15 minutes. Will update and let you know final results.

08/27/2006, 09:52 PM	#2
GobyJohnKenobi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	Good to know. So far my BC-8 is holding at 79.5 with the stock pump replaced with a Micro-Jet MC 450. That's about 2 degrees over ambient and after running with everything on for 48 hours. I wonder how much heat the LEDs put out, and if it's worth putting them on a timer to turn them off while the PC lights are on. Hey! Why don't I just unplug them and find out? BRB... No change. Darn, so much for the easy work-around. I like what you've done. Keep us posted.

08/27/2006, 10:20 PM	#3
jdwhit Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 7	The lights went off an hour and a half after the mod. During that hour and a half the Mini-Jet 606 and the lights were on and the temp held at 80.3 so it looks like it helped. I will let you know how the temp goes after running all day tomorrow.

08/27/2006, 10:32 PM	#4
mdisalvo55 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 764	That's strange because I have the BC 14 and my temp stays right around 79-80 pretty much all the time. It got hot one time when the AC was turned off in the house and even then it was around 82 and I just lifted the hood and that dropped it to right around 80. You could always try buying a larger computer fan and installing it in the old ones place to get more air flow.

08/28/2006, 09:39 PM	#5
just dave 11th in '11 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 4,394	The two I set up for display need heaters to keep the temp up. Ambient temperature plays a big part as always.

08/28/2006, 11:50 PM	#6
GobyJohnKenobi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	Hey, Dave. Nice looking displays! The 8 looks great on that 14 stand and likewise for the 14 on the 29 stand. I just noticed that if I lower the water level in the return section about 2 inches below the display level and use the drip plate that the temp drops a little over half a degree without adding very much noise or microbubbles. Interesting...

08/30/2006, 08:53 AM	#7
rob12 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9	Hey JustDave I just bought the Oceanic 29g. Can you give me some insight on where the stand came from. How much was it, who makes it, is it a god stand, where can I purchase it, etc. Thanks, Rob