Lighting Question

[Aries426]

My tank is 24x24x12, I had the AI Vega LED Color but it didn't really cover enough of the tank so I decided to go back to T5, I purchased an ATI Sunpower 6x24w non dimmable fixture with 3 Blue Plus, Purple Plus, Coral Plus and Atinic. Being that my tank is only 12" deep, I have the light raised at 12" AWL. Do you think that the light will be to powerful for that depth of a tank? I don't want to have the light to high up because then it looks stupid. My other option is going to a Ecotech Radion Gen2 or Pro and maybe supplement with a T5 bulb on each side and sell the T5...


Any ideas?

 

[Aries426]

Any ideas?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

What type of corals are you wanting to keep? Tank is 12" deep right?

 

[mcarroll]

I've seen a 4-bulb t5 fixture do surprising well with LPS in a 36" deep tank - you should be rockin with 6 bulbs. Might even be too much on a 12" deep tank, could be stuck with the fixture "riding high".

As far as the Vega (and most other similarly formatted LED rigs) I have to image the coverage was fantastic, but not at all what you are accustomed to. Guessing it was more like a halide where there are lots of shadows and possibly big tons of shimmer vs like t5 where light is perfectly uniform across the tank with virtually no shadows - practically homogenous.

I would suggest getting the Vega back and filling in the shadows with some strip LEDs of your choosing - get something 12k to 20k in color so it blends ok. It shouldn't take much to cut the contrast between the shadows and the "properly lit" areas so it looks more normal to you. Two Vegas run at lower power would be another good option if the bank will support it.

-Matt

P.S. The halide fans in the crowd would tell you to make use of the different lighting zones provided by the shading (not unlike nature)...but I'd have to admit it's an acquired taste.

 

[Aries426]

Yea my tank is 12" deep. I planning on doing a mixed reef- zoas, lps and sps. Mcarroll- you are right in saying that I have to ride the light high. I have it 12" AWL and it still seems to be a little strong. I have zoas and some sps on a frag rack that is only about 4" above the sand bed and the skirts on some of the zoas look like they may be having an issue, the Sunset Monti doesn't look real happy either. I got rid of the Vega so that was why I was thinking of getting a Radion, I have heard and read good things about them. I would prefer the Pro version but it's around $300 more.

My chems are good

Salinity 1.025
pH 8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate <10
Alkalinity 8.4
Calcium 410
Magnesium 1210
Phosphate 0.03-0.05

 

[mcarroll]

Sunset M. isn't a real bright light coral, so not surprising. Maybe same goes for your polyps.

The Vega would be more than adequate IMO if you decide to double back and try LED's again. It's a great light by all accounts and based on the facts, I can't recommend anything different than your first choice. Just with the addition of a little fill light to cut how intense the shadows appear.

The problem with T5 (and halide to a lesser extent) is that if you get into the scenario you're in you wind up spilling tons of light into the room around the tank. Not the end of the world of course, but something that annoys the crap out of me....and makes more algae grow on the glass.

-Matt

 

[Aries426]

You are right, the light is spilling into the room, it is driving me crazy. I have the Vega Color, do you think the Vega Blue would be better? Or should I go with the Radion Gen2? I know the Radion is more but is it better for the money?

 

[mcarroll]

I would probably go for the Blue, but that's not a huge difference - mostly personal preference. Either should be eminently capable - I'd worry about trying to cut back on the shadows a bit first to see if that helps the overall look to be more to your tastes.

BTW, I would think that 12" from the water line would give you perfect coverage with the Vega (90° lenses, right?). Is this about where you had it?

-Matt