Best supplement for 400w radium

Biglurr54 · Jan 16, 2018

I am working on my lighting design for my new build. The tank is 36x36x31 deep. I will be keeping sps. I am a big halide guy because they are set and forget. I don't like apps and spectrum control. That said I want better color from the sps so I am going to supplement the halide.

I am running a 400w Radium in a cozumel sun reflector with a lumatek ballast on 400 super lumens.

For supplements should I run a 24 inch t5 on the four sides oh the reflector. All four running blue plus

12 luxeon rb leds at 1000ma and 3 uv leds at 700ma on the four sides of the reflector. Total of 48 rb and 12 uv leds.

The last and least favorite due to cost and size would be 2 24 inch t5 on the four sides of the reflector. One blue and one purple bulb

The leds will be fit so the ration could be changed and other leds could be added.

What would be the best set up for sps color?

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 16, 2018

Umm. @BoomCorals has a favorite combo I belive.

reefndude · Jan 16, 2018

I am currently running 2 400w rations, with 2 t5 bulbs. One coral and blue plus with rb leds. I think the color looks good.
Had aqua blue special with blue plus for a moment when first setting up the lighting. I actually like the look better with that combo.
Not quite as blue and crisper looking

A. grandis · Jan 17, 2018

You can easily get amazing results with only 2 ATI Blue Plus besides your 400W Radium.
IF you REALLY want 4 T5s, I would go 2 ATI Blue Plus + 2 ATI True Actinic bulbs.
I wouldn't put the T5s all around, but would have a dual fixture on each side of the Cozumel.
Just the way I like!
You're gonna enjoy that tank anyway!!! Halide is halide!
Grandis.

hybridazn · Jan 17, 2018

I run 250w radiums along side 2 blue+ and reefbrite xho blue leds.

Biglurr54 · Jan 17, 2018

Interesting how everyone thinks t5 is the way to go. Will t5 have the power to punch down in a 31 DEEP TANK. I know I can work with optics on leds to get the depth.

Biglurr54 · Jan 17, 2018

Are all t5 ballast the same. I see that hydroponic t5 fixtures are a lot cheaper than aquarium fixtures. They all see to be similarly constructed.

Swayne_07 · Jan 17, 2018

hybridazn said:
I run 250w radiums along side 2 blue+ and reefbrite xho blue leds.

that's what I was gonna suggest

BoomCorals · Jan 17, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
Umm. @BoomCorals has a favorite combo I belive.

Two ATI Blue Plus and two ATI True Actinic.

Dana Riddle · Jan 17, 2018

That's one (1) 400-watt Radium on a 36" long tank? The Radium should produce spectrum for coloration but I'm uncertain of the light distribution pattern by the Cozumel luminaire. Do you have a PAR meter?

BoomCorals · Jan 17, 2018

Dana Riddle said:
That's one (1) 400-watt Radium on a 36" long tank? The Radium should produce spectrum for coloration but I'm uncertain of the light distribution pattern by the Cozumel luminaire. Do you have a PAR meter?

I'd expect about 6" on each end to be quite a bit lower than the center 24".

Abhishek · Jan 17, 2018

Dana Riddle said:
That's one (1) 400-watt Radium on a 36" long tank? The Radium should produce spectrum for coloration but I'm uncertain of the light distribution pattern by the Cozumel luminaire. Do you have a PAR meter?

I use a comuzel reflector in summer with my 250 watt radium on M80 ballast over a 30 in x 30 in tank with only acropora frags but my tank is only 17 inch tall.

Honestly , the light is very very well spread by the reflector but it doesnt have the punch that I used to get with a Lumenmax Elite reflector in the past .

Am worried about the 31in height and feel like even though the light will be well spread, penetration at 31 inch height will not be enough with the comuzel reflector even with a 400 watt radium.

Here's an old study of the reflector :-

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...-sun-lumenbright-large-lumenmax-elite.169518/

Regards,
Abhishek

Biglurr54 · Jan 17, 2018

That article is what pointed me to the cozumel sun. It seems to maintain par in the middle (no hot spot) yet keep an even spread. I'm hoping the 4 t5 or leds will provide more punch to get down. I also don't mind par dropping off on the out side 6 inches. Fish need room to swim.

Would two dual t5 fixtures on either side be better? I worry about front to back lighting that way. The 1 t5 on each side of the reflector would provide more even coverage.

Abhishek · Jan 17, 2018

Biglurr54 said:
That article is what pointed me to the cozumel sun. It seems to maintain par in the middle (no hot spot) yet keep an even spread. I'm hoping the 4 t5 or leds will provide more punch to get down. I also don't mind par dropping off on the out side 6 inches. Fish need room to swim.

Would two dual t5 fixtures on either side be better? I worry about front to back lighting that way. The 1 t5 on each side of the reflector would provide more even coverage.

Honestly if retrofitting T5s for a tall tank of 31 inch , I would use icecap vue660 ballast which is absolutely great for PAR and individual ATI reflectors . Also a 400 watt halide .
People might do radium but if you are not concerned with color , I would try reeflux 10k or xm 10k 400 watt ..

Regards,
Abhishek

Biglurr54 · Jan 17, 2018

I'm currently running a xm 10k 150w on my 60 cube. I have leds supplementing it. It's a great light set up but I seem to loose color over time.

Dana Riddle · Jan 17, 2018

Very nice comparison. The PAR values listed are probably low (by 30%) since Apogee, at that time, did not offer a correction factor for the immersion effect. I realize the point of this thread is to determine the 'best' supplement, but after looking at the PAR numbers, I wonder if it is really necessary. A white sand bottom will help, as would a lighter colored background/sides. Surface agitation would produce nice caustic network (glitter, shimmer, etc.) that *might* aid in photosynthesis. But, since we are discussing options, I would go with the LEDs.

Biglurr54 · Jan 17, 2018

Dana. Why would you go with led over t5. Just curious.

I agree I think the cozumel and a 400w bulb will be enough light. If par is weak with the radium I would switch to a 10k or 14k and need more supplementation.

Dana Riddle · Jan 17, 2018

I prefer LEDs because of their longevity, but with that said, there are some things we don't fully understand about the effects near-monochromatic light such as LEDs. On the other hand, anecdotal reports of increased coloration (such as reds in Seriatopora hystrix) won't go away, leading me to believe that there really is something to it. But I'm just not a big fan of changing lamps every 6 months or so.

Biglurr54 said:
Dana. Why would you go with led over t5. Just curious.

I agree I think the cozumel and a 400w bulb will be enough light. If par is weak with the radium I would switch to a 10k or 14k and need more supplementation.

Skynyrd Fish · Jan 17, 2018

This tank is going to be sweet. I'd do the 4 t5's. 2 Blue plus and 2 Actinic.

jda · Jan 17, 2018

If you are going to use a pair of T5, I would use a pair of 6500 and a pair of true actinic... these will add some spectrum that the 20K is not high on and bring out even more color.