Radion deshadow template oplnions please.

[smokin'reefer]

Trying to build a "lamp shade/reflector " for my radion in an attempt to lessen shadowing.

After:

The inside of template is tan cardboard now, but I have a piece of white pvc moulding that should increase "softness". Would like to hear everyones opinion please. Effective? Looks? Any and all opinion ,good or bad, are appreciated.

 

[mcarroll]

Looks good so far! I don't now how, but a lot of folks just seem to ignore this problem.

Make it a reflector if you think it's worth any bother. Aluminum foil would be nice to experiment with. If you can get stainless steel flashing, that would make a nice alternative too.

Switching to narrow lenses or lowering the light a bit is the other answer. If I haven't already, I can tell you how high they should technically be to prevent spill. However, the barn doors you made might still be pretty handy.

I forget if I already know this, but is that mounting arm set at a fixed angle and height? And what are the surface dimensions of the tank again?

 

[smokin'reefer]

Lights are on RMS mounts fixed at 8" above water. Tank is a Reefer 450 which is 59" x 20" footprint and 22" deep. The bottom of radions have a black plate that I will paint or use white vinyl. I almost think sticking with white will give a better "glow" like in photography using a light box to bounce light off of for softer effects that remove wrinkles (shadows) from older subjects. I'm going to get a PAR meeter next week so I can get before and after readings and also try with reflective to gauge results. Thanks for that idea.

 

[mcarroll]

80º lenses at 8" height would mathematically give you about a 13" diameter of coverage, so you're actually fine by this measure already.

If anything, you could actually raise them to around 11" for better spread now that you have the anti-blindness-shields up.

Does it seem to be helping with shadows so far? (Without spreading out the actual LED emitters, I'm not sure I'd have high expectations....not sure I'd bother painting the fixture unless you see really good results from the barn doors.)

2¢

 

[mcarroll]

You could even drop to about 5" and switch to 120º lenses....that'd eliminate more shadows AND glare.

 

[reeferfoxx]

If your trying to grow SPS, maybe think about an LED fixture that would be better suited for SPS. You could easily sell that radion and buy something more for SPS.

 

[smokin'reefer]

Already dod the 120° lenses last week. One of the few "unfortunates" about these light/mount combos is the fixed height. Raising and lowering could be done but would have to scrap OEM mounts. I see a little improvement with shadowing with shade, but I might be just fooling myself. One advantage my girl and I notice is eliminating light "spill". If that light is being captured and redirected to tank, it should be helping. I hope. This is an inexpensive experiment compared to a lot of other options.

 

[smokin'reefer]

If your trying to grow SPS, maybe think about an LED fixture that would be better suited for SPS. You could easily sell that radion and buy something more for SPS.

That'll be one of my last resorts. With the introduction of the G4's, the market for G3's is going to be soft. Will definitely take a hit on these. Just trying to salvage my $1500 investment in these before I drop 2k on t5's. My SPS are actually growing and doing well but want to maximize coloration and preempt any issues caused by shadows. Thanx

 

[reeferfoxx]

That'll be one of my last resorts. With the introduction of the G4's, the market for G3's is going to be soft. Will definitely take a hit on these. Just trying to salvage my $1500 investment in these before I drop 2k on t5's. My SPS are actually growing and doing well but want to maximize coloration and preempt any issues caused by shadows. Thanx

Good luck. That lamp is for LPS unless you get another Radion. Best to have multiples for SPS. Adding reflectors won't help much.

 

[smokin'reefer]

You could even drop to about 5" and switch to 120º lenses....that'd eliminate more shadows AND glare.

Tried a second template with 30° cuts,which gives me a 45° reflector as opposed to the 22.5° cuts that gives me 30° reflector.

 

[smokin'reefer]

 

[reeferfoxx]

3 would work. Turning them sideways from how they are positioned.

 

[smokin'reefer]

3 would work. Turning them sideways from how they are positioned.

Do you think because this tank has a center return that putting a single puck xr15 in the middle would help? I also thought about adding a xr30 lengthwise in the middle and turning the two on the ends sideways.

 

[smokin'reefer]

First prototype cut.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Do you think because this tank has a center return that putting a single puck xr15 in the middle would help? I also thought about adding a xr30 lengthwise in the middle and turning the two on the ends sideways.

Another single puck would help. More than the dark area that is there already.

 

[smokin'reefer]

X2. Off to harbor freight for epoxy and paint.

 

[mcarroll]

Minor quibble as this looks really good, but seems like you could have a shorter cutoff from front-to-back. Side-to-side looks perfect.

My SPS are actually growing and doing well but want to maximize coloration and preempt any issues caused by shadows.

Wish I would've noticed this or asked about it sooner...

I wouldn't change anything major about your lights if your corals are doing well like this.

Nutrient and stability issues are more likely hindering coloration...possibly flow.

Still set up anti-blindness-shields....they make perfect sense and it could help some with your shadowing. It'll definitely make your living space feel better to be in!!

Also, if you decided to, 120º lenses, plus lowering the fixtures, should decrease your hot spot, making the shadows you have appear to be less intense, but the overall change shouldn't be very severe if you use a meter to match before/after intensities. They will also cast a greater percentage of light onto your new reflectors.

 

[smokin'reefer]

One side mostly done. A few finishing touches and it's good.

 

[eg8r210]

Do you think because this tank has a center return that putting a single puck xr15 in the middle would help? I also thought about adding a xr30 lengthwise in the middle and turning the two on the ends sideways.

Being completely honest, you don't have to worry about anything right now. What you have is more than sufficient. Also, if you are buying frags, it will take years before they grow in so much that you have to worry. If you feel you just need to do something then go for the gen4 xr15. it will have better spread (less hotspot), add more PAR and also give you a slightly different color rendition to blend with what you already have. Don't look to your lights for coloration until you have everything else completely under control. Radions work perfectly fine in SPS tanks.

Without spending anymore money you could move each fixture a few inches towards the center getting them closer and blending with each other a bit more. Right now you could "light" less of the outsides of your reef where you don't have any demanding corals anyways (especially on the left side where you see the sand lit up so much). This will give you some time before you buy the xr15 to add to the reef.

 

[Waters]

I agree with everybody that mentioned the wide angle lenses. Made a huge difference on my 105 gallon reef. I think these lenses should come packaged with the lights (unless you are using a super deep tank). Spreads the light out, eliminating hot spots.