With some heat issues I've heard about my new Biocube I was thinking of starting by cutting the reflectors open and exposing the fans to help keep the heat in check. My economical first step. What do you think?

I think I would go for an outside fan before I would cut the refelctors. Changing the refelctors could change you lighting. Causing other problelms too. I have a small jbj cube and I just blow a fan across the top it helps cool it. I only use a fan in the warm season.

I agree... the reflectors are just as important as the bulbs and ballast themselves.

Cr@ppy reflector = cr@ppy lighting.

I didn't have any heat issues with my BC14. I would see if you have an issue before you do anything drastic.

I have a BC8 with no heat issues. I did use electrical tape to "duct" the fans more effectively. Just that little work made a huge difference in airflow. So far it's worked, and heat is not an issue.

I have a BC8 with no heat issues. I did use electrical tape to "duct" the fans more effectively. Just that little work made a huge difference in airflow. So far it's worked, and heat is not an issue.

What do you mean by "duct" the fans more effectively? If you have a picture that would be great. Thanks 2Wheels.

Here are some pics I took of my 8 gal when I changed out a noisy fan: pics:http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0817.jpg.
The tape closes the space between the hood/reflector and the fan. This forces the fan to only move air from where it's supposed to.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0820.jpg,PAY ATTENTION!! Keep track of where the fans plug in!!
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0821.jpg,
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0822.jpg,My hood tapers to the side so I made sure the tape does to. Be sure you watch the orientation of the fans. One of mine pulls air into the hood and one pulls air out of the hood.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0823.jpg,I'm pointing to the posts the fans mount to. Make sure that the tape is around the mounts, it will want to get in between the mount an the fan.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0824.jpg,
I hope this helps you. The only other issue I've had is low PH due to poor gas exchange caused by the hood. I have an airstone in the third chamber which draws in air from outside the house. My PH went from 8.0 or so to over 8.25 after this mod.
There are a couple other mods I've done, if you want to try them let me know.

Here are some pics I took of my 8 gal when I changed out a noisy fan: pics:http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0817.jpg.
The tape closes the space between the hood/reflector and the fan. This forces the fan to only move air from where it's supposed to.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0820.jpg,PAY ATTENTION!! Keep track of where the fans plug in!!
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0821.jpg,
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0822.jpg,My hood tapers to the side so I made sure the tape does to. Be sure you watch the orientation of the fans. One of mine pulls air into the hood and one pulls air out of the hood.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0823.jpg,I'm pointing to the posts the fans mount to. Make sure that the tape is around the mounts, it will want to get in between the mount an the fan.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/poppashaw/IMG_0824.jpg,
I hope this helps you. The only other issue I've had is low PH due to poor gas exchange caused by the hood. I have an airstone in the third chamber which draws in air from outside the house. My PH went from 8.0 or so to over 8.25 after this mod.
There are a couple other mods I've done, if you want to try them let me know.

Nice. Sure let me know of any other mods. What kind of bike are you riding? I've got an '88 Kawasaki Concours, still running.

Mods....Ok, I have turned the middle chamber into a fuge, with a light mounted on the rear. The filter pad and mounts are totally gone as is the stock pump. I had to open up the flow from the first to the second chamber because of the new higher flow pump.

I have a piece of filter floss over the diffuser/top of chamber two with a chunk of live rock and a nice ball of cheato in the fuge

The best mod so far is the tube fuge I built here is the thread:http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/podcast-episodes/3413-diy-cryptic-tube-fuge-video-podcast-episode-88-a.html.

I also have a Connie, it's a '93 that I got last year with 26k. That's my other money pit to go with my Reef addiction. I plan on doing the ZZR1200 Shock mod with heated grips, driving lights, louder horn, crash bars, and power outlet this summer. I will probably do other stuff as well, but this is the short list.