Ecotech Radion Tank - LPS/SPS Help w/Lighting

Danroth · Feb 28, 2013

Hoping someone here can help me out.

I've got some Radions over my 125 gallon, about 3 months old. I've discovered that my Acanthophylia is bleaching. I've moved him, and hopefully he'll start to regain coloration.

My quandry/question is those of you who are keeping a SPS/LPS tank, what brightness/colors are you using with your Radions? I love LPS (who doesn't) and want to successfully keep it; I'd certainly have an easier time if my tank was deeper.

I've tried to be pretty conscious of how 'powerful' radions are, but I'm afraid if I dial them down too much, I won't be able to keep SPS.

I'm wondering what kind of intensity with blues / royal blues/ cool whites, brightness & length of photoperiod people are using who are successfully keeping these corals?

My acan's, and my aussie gold torch, favite and blasto's are all looking good. I was running a photoperiod from about 10am-12am, following 'Mr. Saltwater's' guide online for radion's; just changed it a bit to start at 12 noon - 11:30pm

mike007 · Feb 28, 2013

I also switched to leds but mine cannot be dimmed. What i did was to start out with the fixtures about 24 inches above water and a 4 hour photoperiod . Each week i increase by 30 minutes. I slowly lower lights about a 1/2 inch a week. So far my corals are acclimating and doing great. I think you have to go slow untill they can acclimate to the new lighting.

tapout · Feb 28, 2013

I have an 18 inch deep tank with a mix of sps and chalices along with some acans and favias. I have the G1 radions (waiting for a pro upgrade) I use the ecosmart live program's color template at 85 % with decent growth and nice color. My tank is 48x24x18 I keep my lps in the center of the tank and the sps right under the radions. I run it 9am-9pm with lunar phase enabled.

Danroth · Feb 28, 2013

mike007 said:
I also switched to leds but mine cannot be dimmed. What i did was to start out with the fixtures about 24 inches above water and a 4 hour photoperiod . Each week i increase by 30 minutes. I slowly lower lights about a 1/2 inch a week. So far my corals are acclimating and doing great. I think you have to go slow untill they can acclimate to the new lighting.

Well, I started out my tank with the Radions. And some of the corals I've been picking are under LEDs already, but yeah, I might shorten my photoperiod even more, for the time being. I'm going to talk to some other people, and see what they think too before I decide anything.

tapout said:
I have an 18 inch deep tank with a mix of sps and chalices along with some acans and favias. I have the G1 radions (waiting for a pro upgrade) I use the ecosmart live program's color template at 85 % with decent growth and nice color. My tank is 48x24x18 I keep my lps in the center of the tank and the sps right under the radions. I run it 9am-9pm with lunar phase enabled.

My tank is 72 x 18 x 21. I've got 3 units, and space most of my LPS either between the lights, or to the front of them, and all but my Acanthophylia seemed to be doing pretty well.

But I'm a little confused by what you refer to as the 'ecosmart live program color template', tapout. Are you referring to the 'Natural' program setting? Or the 'Artificial'? I really want to get/try some chalice, but I'm too afraid to spend the money on them and have them melt/bleach out, which is why I haven't gone there yet. I do have a Jason Fox Jack O Lantern Leptoseris, but it's in 'shade', getting only light reflected off the glass, and it's doing well so far.

mfinn · Feb 28, 2013

I have branching LPS and monti type SPS in my 30" x 20" x20" tank with a gen 1 Radion, no tir lens, mounted 9" above the water..
I started the acclimation program in ESL at 40% and it will go up to 63% at the end of 4 weeks.

KevsReef · Feb 28, 2013

Same thing happens to my tank when I swatch to radion. I have only used 45%, now cutting down to 30%. My lps are bleaching. I am concerned if it has something to do with tir lens.

tapout · Feb 28, 2013

Danroth said:
Well, I started out my tank with the Radions. And some of the corals I've been picking are under LEDs already, but yeah, I might shorten my photoperiod even more, for the time being. I'm going to talk to some other people, and see what they think too before I decide anything.

My tank is 72 x 18 x 21. I've got 3 units, and space most of my LPS either between the lights, or to the front of them, and all but my Acanthophylia seemed to be doing pretty well.

But I'm a little confused by what you refer to as the 'ecosmart live program color template', tapout. Are you referring to the 'Natural' program setting? Or the 'Artificial'? I really want to get/try some chalice, but I'm too afraid to spend the money on them and have them melt/bleach out, which is why I haven't gone there yet. I do have a Jason Fox Jack O Lantern Leptoseris, but it's in 'shade', getting only light reflected off the glass, and it's doing well so far.

Ecotech marine has a new program "Ecosmart Live" that has color templates that are premade that you can select from and also a lunar phase that you can add now as well.

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G1 with TIR 8inches above. As you can see I have lots of chalice frags

Danroth · Mar 1, 2013

Thanks. I've shortened my photoperiod, for now. I will definately be playing with Ecosmart Live tomorrow, I downloaded everything and set up my account, tonight. Appreciate the help.

Danroth · Mar 1, 2013

KevsReef said:
Same thing happens to my tank when I swatch to radion. I have only used 45%, now cutting down to 30%. My lps are bleaching. I am concerned if it has something to do with tir lens.

See it's not ALL my LPS. Most of my LPS is doing great. But my favorite coral right now is the one bleaching. Discussing it on another forum, I'm shortening my photoperiod from 13 hours (which included ramp up/down time) to 9 hours. I also moved the Acanthophylia between the lights instead of in front of it. Hopefully these two changes will help it. In the meantime, I'm going to be investigating options on ES Live. It seems they might have some better light schemes now that are available.

My peak photo time is 100% both blues, 40% cool white, 10% red/green, at 50% brightness. I was running this for 7 hours, changing it down to 5. This, and cutting two hours out of ramp up time I think is going to help me get the color back.