Help lighting new tank !

[Recklessryan904]

Hey everybody! my new tank 96x48x24 will be finished this week and I’m all over the place with how I want to light it . The tank will be all sps and I will need a lot of coverage . I really want to go t5s for par/coverage 2 8x54 and 2 6x54 SunPowers but we have cats and a canopy will be necessary. I’m concerned about the heat in the canopy and heating the room up once it’s vented out . The other option is radions, I have 3 radions on my 180g and wasn’t happy with them . I eventually added in t5s to help out with coloration . My next concern is I was told that 6 Radion Pros would give me excellent coverage . If I go radions ,what’s do you guys think about 2 4x54 SunPowers in the middle of the tank along with 2 2x54w retrofit on the outsides ?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I think the radion and T5 scenario you are describing at the end would work well for the tank you are trying to set up, might even be a bit overkill honestly and you would definitely need adequate thermal control in the hood.

 

[Recklessryan904]

I’m trying to avoid heating up the room , I live in Florida and the room has a big window. I really want to go t5s with this tank but with radions their is almost no heat . I’m just worried about shading with the dimensions of the tank ..

 

[Pmj]

Hybrid like the Aquatic life fixtures may cover your bases of less heat while still max coverage, even doing XR15s instead of XR30s to spread it out more. If you like the flat look of T5 then you could do a spread out LED like Orphek. Mitras also have a bigger spread than radions while still keeping a shimmer. Or you could do many Kessils with articulating mounts pointing different directions since you'll have a canopy. Sorry if I just gave you more options then you were already considering! I'd recommend watching the BRS videos if you haven't.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

All of those will work equally well.
I think it’s more about heat mitigation and the cats.
Those leds will grow the coral just fine without the t5.
The t5 just add some coverage and even out the spread.

If you go Hybred , just shorten the time the t5 are on for heat mitigation.
Why not get two years out of a set of them?

Ie, calculate thier use into your overall DLI , and save a buck too.

 

[Recklessryan904]

Right now what I’m leaning towards is 6 Radion PROs with 4x54 SunPowers in the middle with 2 x54w fixtures on the outsides .

 

[reefwiser]

I would stay with T5’s you will get more growth and better bang for the bucks spent. Have gone down this road a few years ago and have watch many go down this road ending back with T5’s

 

[Recklessryan904]

I would stay with T5’s you will get more growth and better bang for the bucks spent. Have gone down this road a few years ago and have watch many go down this road ending back with T5’s

That’s what I keep leaning back to unfortunately with the radions the colors get to blue to get awesome colors for me . I love the crips white with vibrant colors t5s can give ...