FROM RADION G3-PRO TO AN ATI DIMMABLE WITH REEFBRITES

[sromero287]

Hello R2R a real quick resume from my reef, it's a custom made by SCAquariums in CA Starfire 3/4" 36L x 24D x 20H, Sump-fugium custom made by Critical Tanking in Tampa FL, 36L x 22D X 16H Black and Clear acrylic with the ATO container for 14 gallons in the back wall, Skimmer is a Vertex Omega 130, Ai-Sol super blue for the refugium, MP-10wes at the return chamber to keep it clean from detritus, return pump it's a DC-12000 with three feeders for the GFO reactor, UV light and Auto water changes, at the display the flow it's on my two MP-40's with reef crest random mode from 10:45 am to 11 pm then night mode. Fully Apex controlled and monitor , Bare bottom with travertine tiles instead of sand and mixed reef with a big fascinating SPS Learning curve. So after almost six months using my Radions can't complain in growth but colors ok obviously cause the LED pop but lots of shadows in between corals and in the corners in the back, crazy disco ball effect (fake look IMO), trying to find the best illumination out of them I bought the wide lenses, good and big difference but never enough, started looking in all the chapters from R2R trying to find answers to really migrate to the sps world and finally make my decision and bought an ATI 6 bulbs dimmable fixture and two REEFBRITES, one is xho and the other regular both in blue!!!!!!

My reef parameters are:
S.G. : 1,025
PH: 8.3-8.1
Temp:78-80
Ca :450
Alk:7.5-8
Mag:1380
Phosp: 0.03
Trates: 5-10

Questions for all R2R friends:

1)Suggestions in the lights transition (time, intensity etc.)
2)Any help or suggestions with the ATI timers
3)Bulbs combinations for a blueish look, like 18-20k
4)Do I need a dimmer for the REEFBRITES?
5)Please any suggestions will be highly appreciated, tx.

 

[Pete polyp]

The only one I can answer is #3. 4 blue plus, 1 true actinic and 1 purple plus will be very blue. For a bit whiter look you can swap the purple plus for coral plus.

 

[sromero287]

Today I placed my ATI, like you can see on the picture I still got my Radion on the RMS, still working on the reefbrites, don't want them in the water

 

[steelheader.262]

Looks great

 

[nanoman28g]

Looks great

I concur.

 

[nanoman28g]

It's interesting how some people are going from T5 to LED'S and vice versa. I'm actually waiting for my 4 lamp T5 dimmable ATI.

 

[sromero287]

Thks for the kinds words, right now I'm installing the led's reefbrites. Will post a picture in 45 minutes

 

[pelphrey]

Beautiful tank! Not to get completely off topic but how many gallons is it and what are these tiles that you used? Thanks!

 

[sromero287]

pelphrey thanks, It's custom made all starphire glass 36x24x20 80 gallons, the tiles are travertine from Home Depot and we acid-wash them, awesome and nitrates and detritus under control 100%.

 

[Sabellafella]

Haha +1

 

[sromero287]

Reefbrites on board, now all the corals looks great and lots of places that never saw before in the rear bottom, what a difference

 

[ifarmer]

Excellent. Tank is looking very nice.
Do you like it better with the T5/reef brites or the Radions alone?
Yes lots of sps reefers have gone from led back to T5.

Thanks

 

[JakeK]

Really nice!!!

I have an 8 x 24 ATI non-dimmable sunpower for my 93 gallon. Neither the tank or the lights are set up just yet, but ATI seems to be a solid choice and the Reef Brites will give you some of the shimmer back that you lost moving to the T5s.

 

[ThaBeast]

Are the reef rites giving you shimmer with the t5s on?

 

[sromero287]

Excellent. Tank is looking very nice.
Do you like it better with the T5/reef brites or the Radions alone?
Yes lots of sps reefers have gone from led back to T5.

Thanks

I love the Radions and I think there's no better Led's in the market but when I'm shopping SPS at my friends house and I see the colors out of the SPS under T5's complemented with led's the difference is day and night. I just got my ATI less than a week ago and honestly I already see way more polyps extension, hope the colors come along soon

 

[sromero287]

Really nice!!!

I have an 8 x 24 ATI non-dimmable sunpower for my 93 gallon. Neither the tank or the lights are set up just yet, but ATI seems to be a solid choice and the Reef Brites will give you some of the shimmer back that you lost moving to the T5s.

U are right sir, it's by far the best combination I ever tried before.

 

[sromero287]

Are the reef rites giving you shimmer with the t5s on?

At the schedule I'm currently using after 8pm until 11pm there's only reefbrites and lots of shimmering but with the T5's ON no a lot, well enough. Been 100% honest I prefer the look of my aquarium under Radions only, with the T5's ON its BRIGHT and all the back corners are no longer full of shadows, I gained a Lot of real Estate in my reef, lol.

 

[mangups]

Reefbrites on board, now all the corals looks great and lots of places that never saw before in the rear bottom, what a difference

Sweet!! are you using the 2 ReefBrite TECH LED on each side? I presume you are using these to mount to your T5 fixture.

I have done the opposite - I have a radion now supplemented by T5 - it is almost done see here: http://reef2reef.com/threads/radion-t5-retrofit-build.216065/#post-2477148

 

[sromero287]

Sweet!! are you using the 2 ReefBrite TECH LED on each side? I presume you are using these to mount to your T5 fixture.

I have done the opposite - I have a radion now supplemented by T5 - it is almost done see here: http://reef2reef.com/threads/radion-t5-retrofit-build.216065/#post-2477148

Men i was ready to go with your same route with a 8 bulb sunpower and removing the 4 in the center for the radion but found the ATI dimmable 6 bulb with the reefbrites at a price that was impossible to pass, love Craigslist, lol