Lighting for a sps tank

[happyhourhero]

The radions will be fine for a while for sure. If you want to join the elite sps keepers, you run t5.

 

[mitch91175]

The radions will be fine for a while for sure. If you want to join the elite sps keepers, you run t5.

I went with an ATI 8x54w Sunpower for my frag tank. I had some in my DT that were dying and once I setup my frag tank and put them in there it really made a difference. Wasn't the light in the DT, SPS placement also matters as well. I do run 4 Hydra 52 LED with Aquatic Life T5 supplement in the DT, but I really have to aquascape the DT better for SPS.

I am learning more and more about keeping SPS and hope within the next 6-8 months to have my frags grow into mini-colonies so I can start putting them in the DT again.

 

[spartanman22]

In my opinion halide + T5 is the best combo for great growth and good color. T5 is best combo for great color and good growth, and LED will get you great color but slower growth.

The best combo, IMO, is T5 + LED. LED will get you some fantastic color and T5 will prevent shadowing, full in the spectrums, and boost growth.

With that being said, I run all LED. Similar to reefaboo, I’ve got a small tank, so most popular LED units will provide more than enough spread and coverage. Secondly, I like rimless, open top, minimalist look. Most LED fixtures look better than T5’s (again just my opinion). Plus no bulb changes.

My last tank ran 3 ocean revives and I had good growth and great color. I use a reefbreeder Photon V2 on my current tank.

Good example of shadowing as colonies grow out

 

[spartanman22]

FYI that purple stylo was a 1” frag 8 months prior to that photo. So pretty good growth, granted it’s a stylo but still.

 

[motoman37]

There are a multitude of factors playing when you talk about an sps tank
i am a strictly LED guy .. and run a Radion G4 pro on a 24 x 24 cube .. ( NO T5 for me )

all this is IMO :
would t5s bring out better coloration ( more shades ) in sps -- Definitely yes.
are Radion G4s capable of coloring up sps the way T5s does - a little lesser colors than T5 ..
would SPS be more happy under T5 than Leds ? -- Absolutely NOT both lightings can keep sps happy


having said that LEDs take longer to pull out the colors than t5s for sure .. but patience is the one thing thats utmost important in this hobby ..

to have some we have to give up some .. i give up that extra colors and faster growth under t5 for sleeker look and controllability of leds ..

below are some of my tank pics ( again all growth and colors are solely from under leds only)

Wow nice tank

 

[Big E]

I prefer T5 as the main lights and LED as supplements if you want some extra bling.

So, if it was me I'd sell the Radions buy an 8 bulb Sunpower and then later if you want to add some bling you can add some LED strips.

You will need 4 Radions to get the same brightness, consistent coverage and par of an 8 bulb Sunpower over your tank dimensions.

It's going to look like a cave with only two Radions. If you want to keep them add 4 T5s.

 

[jose hernandez]

i was thiking adding the aqautic life fixture to my gr4 pros would that be good or just sell my g4s and get the ati hyrid t5 led fixture

 

[Velcro]

You're using a lens filter on those pics, right?

 

[FarmerTy]

I prefer T5 as the main lights and LED as supplements if you want some extra bling.

So, if it was me I'd sell the Radions buy an 8 bulb Sunpower and then later if you want to add some bling you can add some LED strips.

You will need 4 Radions to get the same brightness, consistent coverage and par of an 8 bulb Sunpower over your tank dimensions.

It's going to look like a cave with only two Radions. If you want to keep them add 4 T5s.

Exactly what I'm running. I debated the G4s but kept my ATI 8-bulb sunpower and added two actinic bars for the extra "bling". @Big E was very helpful with that decision.

 

[Velcro]

Really hard to beat ATI fixtures. If bulb costs are the deciding factor you're in the wrong hobby.

 

[jose hernandez]

my g4 pros r brand new in the box i only opened them to make sure everything was intact i really dont feel like dealing wit the lowballers thats the only reason i rather stay with them was thinking the aqaitic life t5 kit with the radions

 

[Ashish Patel]

I think you should keep the Radions and add a row a T5. Can't go wrong with this combination IMO.

With the radions you get controllability, energy saving, and with limited T5 you add that extra pop. I have no problem changing 2 bulbs per year but doing 6-8 would be a pain. I also will say 2 T5 produce more heat than 2 radions so adding multiple rows would be that much more chance to overheating.

 

[jose hernandez]

so wat if got the aqautic life hybrid fixture and added just 2 bulbs instead of 4 wat 2 bulbs would i get would

 

[Ashish Patel]

so wat if got the aqautic life hybrid fixture and added just 2 bulbs instead of 4 wat 2 bulbs would i get would

It really depends on how its wired but I feel it would be a waste of money spending that much on a fixture and only using 1/2 of it. For this reason I went with the LET retro kit. apparently my retrokit uses ATI ballast and the reflectors are incredible. I use 2 ATI Blue+ bulbs just based on recommendation from friends. If you where running 4 rows then you could experiment with a few different bulb combinations but thats your choose.

 

[Norcalreef]

I just got a 36” aquatic life. Using it plus 1 Radion G4 pro over a 44x22x16 tank. It looks pretty slick and was a way better option than buying 2 more radions. With the aquatic life’s you would have to run the front 2 or back 2 at one time. You could just run all 4 for a shorter period?
I thought about buying the retro kit but didn’t want to mess with making a frame or hood set up.

 

[Big E]

i was thiking adding the aqautic life fixture to my gr4 pros would that be good or just sell my g4s and get the ati hyrid t5 led fixture

Between those two options I would buy the ATI hybrid.

my g4 pros r brand new in the box i only opened them to make sure everything was intact i really dont feel like dealing wit the lowballers thats the only reason i rather stay with them was thinking the aqaitic life t5 kit with the radions

You need 4 T5 bulbs

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You're in that same boat many people are/were in of having already spent the cash on LEDs
Aquatic life has taken advantage of this and produced those skeleton fixtures to help.
It's definitely a better option than just LEDs, just not as good as an 8 bulb Sunpower.

 

[Scorpius]

The problem with these aquatic life fixtures is parts availability. Are there replacement ballasts, reflectors and the like? With ATI they have parts for every part of their fixture.

 

[mtraylor]

I would personally just go with what you got. If you find you need a little more PAR down the road.... get a third one. Keep it simple and make sure you keep your water quality up.

 

[jose hernandez]

decided to stay with them as far hanging them from the ceiling what would be the ideal height

 

[rockskimmerflow]

decided to stay with them as far hanging them from the ceiling what would be the ideal height

If you're trying to get the best coverage I'd hang them a bit higher than generally recommended (maybe 10-16" off the water) and crank the intensities up a bit more. If light spill is a concern, though, that will be a limiting factor.

I do have to say the advice regarding the addition of T5HO or using a T5 as the primary light is the best for an sps driven system. You'll have sps doing just fine with the Radions, but there is definitely some growth vigor and complexity of coloration left on the table when running without any fluorescents in the system. Best of luck!