Is This Too Much Light?

[ReeferReefer]

Seems to me like 2-4 t5 bulbs would even out the shadows perfectly in combination with your current radions. You could get a retro kit if you are using a canopy or go with a hybrid fixture where you can mount the radions inside.

Best of both worlds.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I bought a used 48", 8 bulb TEK fixture, polished the reflector, replaced the ballasts and bulbs with new ones from ATI, and was able to fully light my 60 x 30" reef for under $400.

I'm running a 36", 6 bulb TEK. Did you do anything special to polish the reflectors? I just wipe them down with a sponge every time I replace the bulbs. Still on the original ballasts after 4 years and I bought mine used too.

 

[nickkohrn]

Everyone has me thinking about picking up the Aquatic Life fixture and running four T5 bulbs with my two Radions. I love the idea of minimizing shadows with the T5s and Radion diffusers. The wider fixture should prevent shadows toward the front and back of the tank since the tank is 24" front-to-back. It seems like centered Radions would cause shadowing, regardless of whether they have diffusers or not. This fixture would effectively double the front-to-back spread versus Radions alone.

 

[Jay Norris]

Since you have the Radion... the 24" or 36" AquaticLife T5 Hybrid unit would seem an appropriate way to go... I'd do the 24"... save a bit, and having the ends a bit 'less bright' is something I happen to like. Keeps light over-spill to a minimum.

That'd give you 4x T5 bulbs PLUS your Radion. All kinds of light... and shadowing would not be a worry.

As for bulb combination, it's personal preference, mostly. I've got a 48" 8 bulb T5 over my 60" x 30" reef. 4x AB Special, 2xBlue+ , 1 Purple, 1 True Actinic.

If he uses 3 Radion x15 pros then he will not have a shadowing problem in that size tank. My personal choice would be the Mitra 7206 lights, but since he already has the Radions stick with them, both are very good light systems, I just like the fact that the Mitra's use parabolic reflectors like MH, then a lens or diffuser system to help spread out the light and control the disco effect found in cheaper LED lights.

 

[Jay Norris]

Everyone has me thinking about picking up the Aquatic Life fixture and running four T5 bulbs with my two Radions. I love the idea of minimizing shadows with the T5s and Radion diffusers. The wider fixture should prevent shadows toward the front and back of the tank since the tank is 24" front-to-back. It seems like centered Radions would cause shadowing, regardless of whether they have diffusers or not. This fixture would effectively double the front-to-back spread versus Radions alone.

If you really want to minimize shadowing , go with the new Orpheks or Mitra LX7206 lights, they are a little expensive, but you will end all the shadowing in your tank, and never have to change bulbs once every 9 months or so, or change bulbs to raise or lower your par or color spectrum.

 

[ReeferReefer]

If you really want to minimize shadowing , go with the new Orpheks or Mitra LX7206 lights, they are a little expensive, but you will end all the shadowing in your tank, and never have to change bulbs once every 9 months or so, or change bulbs to raise or lower your par or color spectrum.

Regardless of how high end the LEDs are, T5s will always have better coverage and less shadows. Seems a bit silly to upgrade from one high end LED option to another without addressing the real issue - point source lighting.

 

[Jay Norris]

Regardless of how high end the LEDs are, T5s will always have better coverage and less shadows. Seems a bit silly to upgrade from one high end LED option to another without addressing the real issue - point source lighting.

Well if I was just worrying about the shadowing, I would go with a MH/LED hybrid. I have used all forms of MH combinations except with LED, and M/H lighting was the best lighting for my systems, even over T5's which I also used. The new Orpheks use a panel light display to eliminate shadowing like the T5's do, and are all LED so you have total control over the lights, and the Mitra's use parabolic reflectors like the M/H reflectors, so there is an even blend of light from the fixtures, no pin point light source and no disco effect. Also the Mitra's are all LED so you get all the benefits of an LED light, but T5's are also good lights, and are excellent for growing all types of corals, it's just the fact I like to be able to change my lights to a color spectrum that suites my corals and eyes, and have more then enough PAR, to grow any coral that I can buy. I also love the dawn/dusk effect that come with LED's, and the shimmer effect like M/H's.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Everyone has me thinking about picking up the Aquatic Life fixture and running four T5 bulbs with my two Radions. I love the idea of minimizing shadows with the T5s and Radion diffusers. The wider fixture should prevent shadows toward the front and back of the tank since the tank is 24" front-to-back. It seems like centered Radions would cause shadowing, regardless of whether they have diffusers or not. This fixture would effectively double the front-to-back spread versus Radions alone.

The reason t5 has fewer shadows is becuse it is a larger source over the tank.
Any large light source over the tank will reduce shadows.
Multiple smaller light sources equal a large light source.

The train folks complain about shadows IMO is becuse they done use enough lights and go with the least amount possible.

For example
How a kessil tank is done the right way.

Those are 160s btw.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I haven't tested Radions, but a local shop uses two of them over a 4 foot tank and they're mounted quite high over the tanks (at least 18", and probably more) I've got some PAR numbers for those tanks... somewhere...

 

[Greybeard]

I'm running a 36", 6 bulb TEK. Did you do anything special to polish the reflectors? I just wipe them down with a sponge every time I replace the bulbs. Still on the original ballasts after 4 years and I bought mine used too.

Polishing compound and a package of cloth diapers... a bit of elbow grease. No big deal. Yeah, I wipe 'em down when I change bulbs too... every 2 years (didja watch that BRS video on T5 bulbs?)

Mine had one ballast that wasn't working when I bought the fixture. I knew about it... just wanted to start fresh, so I replaced both with new ballasts.

 

[Scorpius]

I'm interested in T5 lighting since I have never used it. I will definitely be doing research into them. How long did it take you to settle on a bulb combination?

I'm heavy into Acropora. I run 3 B+ and 3 C+. These two bulbs have all the spectrum you'll ever need.

 

[T-5unsystem]

I'm running a 36", 6 bulb TEK. Did you do anything special to polish the reflectors? I just wipe them down with a sponge every time I replace the bulbs. Still on the original ballasts after 4 years and I bought mine used too.

Polishing compound and a package of cloth diapers... a bit of elbow grease. No big deal. Yeah, I wipe 'em down when I change bulbs too... every 2 years (didja watch that BRS video on T5 bulbs?)

Mine had one ballast that wasn't working when I bought the fixture. I knew about it... just wanted to start fresh, so I replaced both with new ballasts.

The Sunlight Supply Tek fixture used Alanod Miro 7 reflector materials. If you "polish" it you will remove the actual reflective coating as it is very very thin. Polishing it will leave plain ol aluminum which can obviously be polished but you certainly lack all the technology Alanod created. Using a tarnish remover like Tarn-x or similar will remove oxidation while preserving any remaining surface created by Alanod.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a Waterbox 100.3 being delivered, which measures 36" in length. I plan to run an SPS-only, or a heavily-SPS-dominated system. I currently have two EcoTech Radion XR15w G3 Pro fixtures, and I have been thinking about picking up a third fixture. I want to to reduce shadowing as much as possible. I have been thinking that picking up an additional fixture, along with three diffusers, would significantly reduce shadowing.

Are my thoughts ridiculous? I realize that two fixtures will suffice, but I want to improve upon that, if possible.

I'd love your thoughts!

If this helps, I have 3 tanks with the largest being a 360g (For now) - Looking for larger
The 360 has the following and realize they are on various schedules. . . . .
72" Aquatinics 14 bulb T-5
2- Kessil AP 700s
3- SB Reef Ultra
2- Mars aqua royal blues
2- Reebrite Tech 72" strips ( one on front and one on back)
36 bulb moonlite LEDs

This is result:

 

[Tureefik]

I have the same setup waterbox 100.3 With 3 radion xr15 pro4 with diffusers and believe me i love it!
You can always turn them down and definitely no shadowing I have them on the ecotech ceiling fixture I plan on a sps dominant I’m running two gyre 230s and a Nero 5
Tanks only 3weeks old
The diffusers really give it that t5/led look to me
When I’ve only turned on two of the lights the tank seems dim to me
I’ll be doing par measures later still getting my parameters right 3more months hopefully I’ll be ready for some sticks !

 

[ReeferReefer]

The Sunlight Supply Tek fixture used Alanod Miro 7 reflector materials. If you "polish" it you will remove the actual reflective coating as it is very very thin. Polishing it will leave plain ol aluminum which can obviously be polished but you certainly lack all the technology Alanod created. Using a tarnish remover like Tarn-x or similar will remove oxidation while preserving any remaining surface created by Alanod.

Thanks. I'm not sure they really need polishing even. I just clean them with a sponge and they look great. I don't have a par meter though.