NC12DX light upgrade kit

[gregzbobo]

Has anyone done one of those light upgrades available on nanocustoms? I'm very seriously thinking of doing the 4/24w upgrade on mine so I can keep a few of the more light-loving corals and maybe clams, is 8w/gal enough on the NC12DX? Any heat issues? Thanks in advance.

 

[ross]

I added an extra 24w on mine, for a total of like 64 watts or whatever, and its not enough. Even zoos and mushrooms hardly spread, much less anything else. My 150w mh will arrive in the mail tomorow, to go along with 48w of pc.

 

[gregzbobo]

is the 150w mh you ordered part of a retrofit kit, or are you gonna fudge it together trial and error?I REALLY want to put a clam and MAYBE some sps in my tank someday, and I want to do the lights right and keep the hood look fairly stock looking.

 

[ross]

I'm building a hood for the tank. You can add a single 70w in the stock hood fairly simply. You just have to get the iceprobe chiller which cost like 80 i think.

 

[gregzbobo]

I looked at the 70w halide upgrade, I can toss in a single 24w pc to get a total of 96 watts. The light from the halide is probably a bit more intense, but is the premium price worth it? The 4 bulb PC kit is only about 135 bucks, the 70W halide setup is quite a bit more.

 

[jacksdad]

Originally Posted by gregzbobo
I looked at the 70w halide upgrade, I can toss in a single 24w pc to get a total of 96 watts. The light from the halide is probably a bit more intense, but is the premium price worth it? The 4 bulb PC kit is only about 135 bucks, the 70W halide setup is quite a bit more.

It all depends on what you want. If you would like to add SPS coral then yes the halide upgrade is worth it. If you are just going to keep softies, then go with the PC upgrade. With both you need to be concerned about heat as Ross said. So far I have not had any issue, but then again it has been in the teen outside here. Once summer gets here I will have to start running my ICA.
Oh by the way, I have 70W MH and 108W PC in my 24NC.
Bob

 

[ross]

Look for a used 70w, you should be able to find one pretty cheap. I just bought a 150w with bulb and everything for less than the pc's would cost.