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LED Retro: Steves or NanoBox?


Hig789

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I recently bought a used custom acrylic all in one. The display side is 11.5" x 15" x 16" and the overall dimensions including the filter is 15" x 15" x 16". It didn't come with any lights mounted in the acrylic hood. I am looking to add a LED retrofit to it. The dimensions I have to work with are 10.5" x 15" x 3.5"(this being from the top of the hood to the top of the tank).

 

Mainly going to be keeping softies and LPS, but I would like the option of adding SPS later on. I have been looking at the NanoBox and Steves LEDs retro fit kits and am looking for something I can just mount in the hood, no soldering. Steves does a excellent job of explaining everything as far as the different LEDs and color temp. But there is no info that I can find on NanoBox as to what the color temp on the overall fixture will be.

 

With either one I am going to have to add a splash guard over the fixture, or run the lid on the tank, and cut some exhaust holes for the fans and some ventilation. Also I am going to have to add something for the fixture to screw to because the acrylic is too thin to screw into. I'll probably just get some small acrylic blocks and weld them to the hood where the screw holes are in the fixture unless someone can suggest a better option.

 

From what I have read I like the idea of the Storm controller over the Typhoon. Just seems to have more options.

 

Can I get some opinions on the two? I sent both a email pretty much asking the same questions but I am impatient and would like to have more opinions on them.

 

Here are some picture of what I have to work with and the hood on the tank.

 

E7923A9A-CE2E-43CD-BAA6-C7E4C0B5632C_zps

D8EE1311-62AD-4209-8E7E-8B22FF140127_zps

ED623DBE-A19A-4209-9EA3-994DF892BD64_zps

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Already sent him one. Looking forward to hearing back from him. I'm not positive I will keep any SPS yet or not but if I'm gonna spend the money on a good retro I want to keep my options open. I can always dial them back a bit if it's too much light. I wish they would have had the amount of LED options out when I had my 90g mixed tank. Seems like the only way to go for lighting now. Low energy consumption and heat no where near halides. I still love the looks of halides though.

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If you like to tinker with things Steve's Retro are good for the price,just see if they can cut the price down some,and opt out on their drivers and get ldd's and a coralux board.

 

If you want a pre-made fixture,go with Dave.

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Nanobox by far. Best LED arrays on the market. Legitimately. Jedimasterben will probably chime in, and he knows his LEDs.

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Nanobox; price and quality are superior, and Dave works hard on his retrofits. I have a retrofit done for my RSM250 and I'm much happier than all of the others that have used Steves for the same tank.

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Dave replied to my email this morning. Looks like I'll be going with the small retro from him along with the moon light upgrade and blue fin controller. Been reading that the bluefin is going to be capable of sensor probes in the future so I think it will be worth the upgrade.

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