coverage for radian

Reefermike · Feb 22, 2014

i emailed ecotec about coverage for my tank which is 40 x36 x 22 it is really about 20 inchs from the top of the water to the sand bed. The reply i recieved was 1 radian with the wide angle lense would light a 36 x36 and be able to keep any coral. i however tend to be skeptical of this claim . i see so many tanks with 2 3 or 4 or more even 75gal with 2 . however for the fun of it i emailed AI as well and was told a single Hydra 52 would be recommended. Kessil 2 A360W and maybe have to supplement. i need some real world advice here if i can get by with 1 then i am all in

mfinn · Feb 22, 2014

I'm curious, if you don't believe what they say, why did you ask them?

Don't you think they would rather sell you 2 units over just 1?

A 75 gallon tank is usually 48" long. That's why the 2 units are needed.
The new gen 3 and gen 3 pros with the wide angle lens have a wider spread than the earlier versions.

mfinn · Feb 22, 2014

What corals are you planning on keeping?

Reefermike · Feb 22, 2014

i have a 400 watt halide now so i guess you would say sps and clams on the sand. it is the coverage i was asking about . i guess that extra 8 " in widith is worth another 699 i think not . it is a good question and one that deserves to be answered other compete for business question that to say if i can sell you 1 that is really not enough then you would need that second one. You see it is economics. Well you asked and i provide an answer , i really have trust issues i guess

mfinn · Feb 23, 2014

And AI said 1 as well?
Do you believe that ?

IMO, ( having Radions) the light spread over 40" probably won't grow sps on the ends of the tank with just 1 unit of either brand.
But when I got my first gen 1 Radion, they said it was really only good for a 24" x 24" area. I put mine on a 30" long tank and found branching LPS did great on the ends of the tank.
So now EcoTech says 36" x 36" for a Pro.
Not sure how much more the wide angle lens kit would do.