Dumping Radion pro for metal halid.

RFred77 · Jul 30, 2015

I threw a radion pro on my 70 gallon sps dominant tank and I'm not happy with the results. My sps have never looked worse, they usually loose their tips then brown out then die. I tried every schedule with different intensities and different patterns and nothing. I got a custom graph from ecotech and nothing, I even spoke with Mark (Mr.saltwatertank) and his plan diddent work ether. I know metal halid works so I'm going to dump the radion pro and throw a metal halid on my tank. My question to you is, how many halids should I put on my tank? My tank is 32" long, 2 feet wide, and 20" tall. Also what kind of bulb or wattage halid should I get? I want to do all SPS. Thanks yall!

ReefMadScientist · Jul 30, 2015

It sounds like your tank had SPS in it prior to the LED's? SPS are very delicate and even changing lights from T5 to full blown LED's can kill them. When I get a few frags that I know were grown from a T5 or metal halide tank, I make sure to put them a little lower than normal. I will then observe their behavior (polyp extension), and then place them accordingly depending on their reactions.

Mark426 · Jul 30, 2015

One 250W Radium. I know that many will suggest a 400W Radium but that seems overkill on your tank and probably require a short photoperiod as well as some sort of supplemental lighting so you can enjoy your tank for more than 6 hours a day.

OceansTreasure1231 · Aug 3, 2015

What do you guys think of this tank??

OceansTreasure1231 · Aug 3, 2015

OceansTreasure1231 · Aug 3, 2015

What do you guys think about this lighting??

SCMatt · Aug 3, 2015

LED and Radions work too, I think that has been proven so going MH just because it "works" is a bit naive IMO. Sounds like the LEDs were constantly changing if you used every graph under the sun. Corals need the time to adjust, changing and tweaking the LEDs constantly is no good. It's one of the downfalls having so many options at your finger tips. I've had to resist the urge many times with mine, but setting it and leaving it alone has produced growth results. I can't help much as far as MH suggestions, I just don't want lurkers reading the thread to think Radions (or LEDs in general) are garbage and won't work for SPS.

OceansTreasure1231 · Aug 3, 2015

Well said , patience is the main key in this hobby ....

Reefpharmer · Aug 3, 2015

Tbh I have seen sps tanks w just LEDs, just mh, just t5 and combos. Unless you have some very poor early versions of LEDs, most of the time lighting isn't the real issue. It's either not related to lighting or if it is, it has to do w too much is too little available light when you switched. All 3 types of lights have been shown to grow spectacular sps tanks

hybridazn · Aug 3, 2015

How long did you try the radions for? What light in did you switch from? Did you acclimate or did you just mount and turn on a schedule? I used radions for years amd I know for a fact they grow sps. Now I did switch back to halides but not because of the lack of growth but it was because I couldn't keep acans and chalices from morphing.