Radion/T5 vs. 250 watt Radium/T5

Mr. Brooks · Oct 10, 2015

Strictly focusing on coloration of SPS coral, how would a Radion/T5 combo stack up against a 250 watt Radium/T5 combo? I'd really like to hear from people who are keeping or have kept SPS corals under Radion/T5 combo lighting. I already know what Radium/T5 lighting can do, and I'm fully aware that Radions can grow coral. I'm also aware that husbandry/feeding is extremely important when it comes to coloration. I want to know how well a Radion/T5 combo would perform when compared to Radium/T5 combo, all other factors being equal. Please only quote first hand experience or observation and please try to avoid perpetuating hearsay.

The tank I'm building is 96" x 36" x 26". I'm thinking either 4 x 250 watt radiums flanked by 8 x 36" T5's or 5 x Radions mounted perpendicular to the front glass, also flanked by 8 x 36" T5's. I actually own both the Radions and the Metal Halides, all I need to do is decide. I picked the Radions up recently, I've had the Halides forever. The only real benefit to the Radions in my situation is the reduction in heat. I don't care about anything else other than the color and growth of my SPS corals.

FoD · Oct 10, 2015

I always had better colors with Radiums. I did not supplement the MH with T5, but felt I needed to with Radions. I used a Reefbrite XHO on the MH setup for actinic viewing.

jasonandsarah · Oct 12, 2015

I have a 75g Sps dominant tank with 2 Radion gen 3 pro's and 2 54w Ati T5's. I love them, I get great growth, color and little to no heat. Can I say there better then halides? No because I've never used halides before.
Here's a few pictures of pieces in my display. [emoji4]

Fishphi784 · Nov 2, 2015

I am effectively running a similar comparison starting this week. I have two frag tanks, one with a radion and one with a 250w radium + blue reefbrites. I don't have much to offer now but will try to remember to post my results here. I will say that since I removed my t5s from one tank and put the radion up, most of sps have responded w/ improved PE. I did not expect that as I mostly read the opposite response.

rovster · Nov 2, 2015

I used to run a 250 radium with kessil actinics over my 30 gal and now run radions and t5 over my 100 gal. Growth was comparable. Color I give a 10-15% edge to the halide. Not enough for me to go running back to them, but that is my honest observation.