LED-Only to LED/T5 Hybrid?

[nickkohrn]

I'm in the process of planning my transition from my display Waterbox 100.3 to a 40-gallon breeder, which will be used as a frag tank. I will be using the frag system to grow corals for my future display system, which will come when my wife and I are no longer in an apartment.

I currently have four EcoTech Marine Radion XR15s with diffusers over my Waterbox, which provides plenty of light. I went with four over a 3'x2'x2' tank because I house only SPS, and I wanted to have sufficient light penetration to the bottom of the tank. However, I am becoming more interested in hybrid fixtures as I have never had T5s; I started with metal halides more than a decade ago, took a short break when par38 bulbs were popular, and then re-entered when LEDs were mainstream.

I have been trying to decide between the following options:

• Keep all four Radions, set to the appropriate intensities to achieve proper PAR levels.
  • This would allow me to reduce shading.
• Keep three Radions and use the fourth over a coral quarantine tank.
• Get the dimmable Aquatic Life hybrid fixture, add two or three Radions, and use the others for a small coral quarantine tank and to recoup some money.
  • This would allow me to have the benefits of time-tested T5s with controllability alongside my Radions that run the SPS AB+ schedule.

I have never seen hybrid fixtures in person, and I have not used T5s, so I don't know how to gauge whether it's a worthwhile change.

I ask that you provide me with your questions, experiences, recommendations, concerns, and or general thoughts that may help me more easily decide.

Thank you!

 

[Jon Fishman]

I went from 3x 300w black boxes to 4x Radion xr30 pro’s set in 2 aquatic life 48” hybrid fixtures.

Colors and overall look is immediately better...... corals seem to be doing way better even though they were doing well before.

I may add 2 more xr30’s, but my WXM can’t support any more inputs

My tank is 8’ long and only 20” deep so one row of ligjts front-to-back is all I need.

 

[nickkohrn]

I went from 3x 300w black boxes to 4x Radion xr30 pro’s set in 2 aquatic life 48” hybrid fixtures.

Colors and overall look is immediately better...... corals seem to be doing way better even though they were doing well before.

I may add 2 more xr30’s, but my WXM can’t support any more inputs

My tank is 8’ long and only 20” deep so one row of ligjts front-to-back is all I need.

How did you decide which T5 bulbs to use? Was it simply trial and error?

I'm genuinely interested in the transition to a hybrid fixture because I have read, many times, how much better corals seem to do, in terms of coloration and growth, with the addition of T5s.

 

[Jon Fishman]

How did you decide which T5 bulbs to use? Was it simply trial and error?

I'm genuinely interested in the transition to a hybrid fixture because I have read, many times, how much better corals seem to do, in terms of coloration and growth, with the addition of T5s.

The LEDs can be fine tuned to whatever look you want, so I went with all Blue plus because I was told they have the best growth, so I just don’t run blue with my LEDs.

I did get some Actnics to try out, so blue plus and actnics. Probably stick to all blue plus though. My hybrids hold 8 bulbs so I ordered 16 to be covered for awhile