Is This Too Much Light?

nickkohrn · Dec 11, 2018

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!

CC13 · Dec 11, 2018

nickkohrn said:
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!

Honestly you need a PAR meter to actually know what the PAR levels are in different areas of your tank. Doing it just by sight alone, or what hardware you have won't give you an accurate idea on what your levels are inside your tank.

See if you can rent one from a LFS or if any reefers in your area have one you can borrow.

nickkohrn · Dec 11, 2018

CC13 said:
Honestly you need a PAR meter to actually know what the PAR levels are in different areas of your tank. Doing it just by sight alone, or what hardware you have won't give you an accurate idea on what your levels are inside your tank.

See if you can rent one from a LFS or if any reefers in your area have one you can borrow.

I do have a Seneye that I will be using to measure PAR levels in my system. However, before or after measuring PAR levels, I want to ensure that the visibility of shadows is reduced as well; I want to focus on light visibility and visual shadows as well as PAR measurements.

Greybeard · Dec 11, 2018

These lights are controllable... It's only too much light if you don't reduce to reasonable PAR levels by testing. Three over a 36" tank is a bunch, but since you can just turn 'em down, I don't see why not.

Oh, other than cost, of course.. but I'm assuming you don't care about cost, or you wouldn't be looking at $1,200 worth of lighting.

A 24" 6 or 8 bulb T5 fixture would give you a light capable of growing anything you might want... and as diffuse a light source as you're ever going to get, and save you more than half the cost. I know... nobody likes T5's anymore. Gotta have that precision color and intensity control (that you should never change) and the ability to do storm effects, ramp up/down, etc. To each their own. I'll stick with my T5's.

Greybeard · Dec 11, 2018

Double post

Scorpius · Dec 11, 2018

T5s grow sps like no other. Metal halide as well. I used to be an led guy but t5s swayed me

hart24601 · Dec 11, 2018

Since you already have two I would run those with the idea of a third down the line if needed, but all with diffusors for sure! If you are just setting it up shading will not be much of an issue if buying frags for a year or so (perhaps longer) with two units for most people unless you buy some large wild colonies.

nickkohrn · Dec 11, 2018

Greybeard said:
These lights are controllable... It's only too much light if you don't reduce to reasonable PAR levels by testing. Three over a 36" tank is a bunch, but since you can just turn 'em down, I don't see why not.

Oh, other than cost, of course.. but I'm assuming you don't care about cost, or you wouldn't be looking at $1,200 worth of lighting.

A 24" 6 or 8 bulb T5 fixture would give you a light capable of growing anything you might want... and as diffuse a light source as you're ever going to get, and save you more than half the cost. I know... nobody likes T5's anymore. Gotta have that precision color and intensity control (that you should never change) and the ability to do storm effects, ramp up/down, etc. To each their own. I'll stick with my T5's.

I wouldn't mind using a T5 system. I was gifted a Radion years back, and that's just what I stuck with because I didn't want to sell or trade it; it has some sentimental value currently.

I can't say that cost isn't an issue for me, but I am taking on many inhabitants under my care. I want to do the best that I can do to provide for them, even if that means spending much more than I would like to spend.

I agree with your statements about the control. I want to find the intensity level that will allow me to properly care for my inhabitants and not mess with it. I do like the ability to ramp the lights because it allows me to see my corals differently in the mornings and evenings, but I absolutely wouldn't discount T5s based on differences in features when compared to LED fixtures.

nickkohrn · Dec 11, 2018

Scorpius said:
T5s grow sps like no other. Metal halide as well. I used to be an led guy but t5s swayed me

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?

nickkohrn · Dec 11, 2018

hart24601 said:
Since you already have two I would run those with the idea of a third down the line if needed, but all with diffusors for sure! If you are just setting it up shading will not be much of an issue if buying frags for a year or so (perhaps longer) with two units for most people unless you buy some large wild colonies.

I would, ideally, like to purchase larger colonies rather than small frags. For example, I don't want to spend an excessive amount of money on small, named, popular frags when I could spend that money on larger, just-as-beautiful, colonies that aren't as popular. I will likely stick with your recommendation for now and run two units until I see shadowing. I will absolutely be purchasing diffusers.

hart24601 · Dec 11, 2018

I have been very pleased with orphek v4 personally. Never really loved t5 myself but that is just my eyes, no knock on them of course.

nickkohrn · Dec 11, 2018

One thing that I love about my Radion LED fixtures, that I presume differs from T5 fixtures, is that I am able to control the PAR levels with better control. With T5 fixtures, you have to place your corals based on the PAR levels, whereas you can adjust your LED intensities to match the PAR levels that you need, where you need to. Please correct me if that is inaccurate as I have never used T5 fixtures.

Greybeard · Dec 11, 2018

nickkohrn said:
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?

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.

Greybeard · Dec 11, 2018

nickkohrn said:
One thing that I love about my Radion LED fixtures, that I presume differs from T5 fixtures, is that I am able to control the PAR levels with better control. With T5 fixtures, you have to place your corals based on the PAR levels, whereas you can adjust your LED intensities to match the PAR levels that you need, where you need to. Please correct me if that is inaccurate as I have never used T5 fixtures.

Bulb selection, number of bulbs, height over tank, water depth, reflector design... all impact par delivery... and several of these are easy to change. Not as easy as turning a dial, perhaps... but they can be changed. My 8 bulb T5 was producing a bit too much par, so I swapped two ABSpecial bulbs, and added a true actinic and a purple+. With those initial changes, I'm averaging very close to 250 across the tank.

Oh, and they do make dimmable T5 fixtures... but no, I don't have one, and don't see the need.

Greybeard · Dec 11, 2018

hart24601 said:
I have been very pleased with orphek v4 personally. Never really loved t5 myself but that is just my eyes, no knock on them of course.

Orphec makes an excellent light. All a matter of preference, really... I've got other things I could spend that much money on... and really like the smooth, evenly lit affect that T5's give. No, it's not for everyone... I'm not trying to 'push' T5's... I've got no horse in this race. Just don't agree that spending a bundle on lighting is necessary.

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.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 11, 2018

The radion palm will work flawlessly.

d2mini · Dec 11, 2018

Sounds about right to me for a sps dominant tank. I have 3 XR30 (G4 PRO) over a 47" long tank. They're rotated front to back since my tank depth is 31".
I hang them high (17") which helps greatly with shadowing and reduces intensity. I think they are running at around 90% and that's with diffusers as well.
My PAR is around the mid to high 200's around midway in the tank.

hart24601 · Dec 11, 2018

Greybeard said:
Orphec makes an excellent light. All a matter of preference, really... I've got other things I could spend that much money on... and really like the smooth, evenly lit affect that T5's give. No, it's not for everyone... I'm not trying to 'push' T5's... I've got no horse in this race. Just don't agree that spending a bundle on lighting is necessary.

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.

No doubt! I am all about this hobby being for everyone and so much of it is personal preference, we get too caught up in absolutes. Totally agree about the money too which is why I still think running the two lights he has is the best option for now, then when evaluating the tank when the colonies grow can make a choice to add another or go a different route. We suffer from having too many good choices in the hobby right now, ha!

cracker · Dec 11, 2018

My ATI T5 fixture is dim able

Huff747 · Dec 11, 2018

Greybeard said:
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.

+1 on this. I added the aquatic life hybrid to my radions and I really like it, I had rented a par meter and radions alone were lower than I thought (I did only have 3 XR15s on a 6 ft tank) and am much happier with the PAR numbers with the radions and T5s. And there are a couple of the hybrids for sale in the for sale section currently that'll save you a few bucks buying used.