Radions with T5s?

[usfpaul82]

Hello all. Looking for a little guidance or info. I have a standard 90 gallon 48" tank. It is a mixed reef with a good amount of SPS in mini colony size along the top of my rock scape. I ran 250 watt radium halides for years but recently switched up to Radions. I decided to see if 2 XR15 G5 Blues would be enough for my needs, instead of 2 XR30s. I think they may suffice at a high output level, but my question involves T5s. I am new to running LED lights, but I notice that many people also run T5s with their radions. I notice that many only run them during the LED peak output timeframe.

Why is this? Do the T5s help with coloration when running the radions at a more full spectrum output? If we get decent PAR with just the radions, why would one add a few T5 bulbs to the mix?

Thanks!

 

[Bpb]

T5’s help to even up the coverage and par distribution that can come from hot spot pucks. I wouldn’t expect a pair of xr15’s to be able to provide the same coverage as a pair of radiums in good reflectors. T5’s will definitely be your friend

 

[usfpaul82]

T5’s help to even up the coverage and par distribution that can come from hot spot pucks. I wouldn’t expect a pair of xr15’s to be able to provide the same coverage as a pair of radiums in good reflectors. T5’s will definitely be your friend

Thanks for the reply. So I, for the most part, I enjoy the look the radions put out into my tank. If I were to add some T5's to my 90 gallon, do you think 2 or 4 would be best? Any bulb suggestions given the fact that I like the look of the radions and would prefer to not alter the look of the output too much?

 

[usfpaul82]

I have the Radions retrofitted into my very tall canopy as seen in the pic. I can easily retrofit 1 or 2 T5s in the front and behind the Radions.

 

[Bpb]

I’d go 4 bulbs personally. Bulb combo id personally do 2 blue+ 2 coral+ but your visual preference may vary

 

[X-37B]

Lfs runs all radions on all frag and display tanks.
The large display runs T5's with the radions.
They are all B+ bulbs and they help reduce shadowing quite well.

 

[X-37B]

I have the Radions retrofitted into my very tall canopy as seen in the pic. I can easily retrofit 1 or 2 T5s in the front and behind the Radions.

I would probably just add another Radion in the middle and one B+ on each side but the T5 is not really needed, imo.
Also take alook at the Orhek light bars too.

 

[Bpfor3]

I run 3 xr15s on a 150 and added a row of t5s in the front and back of the radions. Helps immensely with spreading the lights out. I only run my rations at 60% and have sps growing well at mid level. Im not sure if it correlates, but as soon as i added the t5s i started having significant coraline algae and coral growth. Made a big difference for me.

 

[usfpaul82]

I would probably just add another Radion in the middle and one B+ on each side but the T5 is not really needed, imo.
Also take alook at the Orhek light bars too.

I can't add another radion in the middle due to the brace in the middle of the tank. I need to upgrade to rimless one day.

 

[usfpaul82]

I run 3 xr15s on a 150 and added a row of t5s in the front and back of the radions. Helps immensely with spreading the lights out. I only run my rations at 60% and have sps growing well at mid level. Im not sure if it correlates, but as soon as i added the t5s i started having significant coraline algae and coral growth. Made a big difference for me.

Good to know! What bulbs did you go with?

 

[Bpfor3]

Man, id have to look, but Im pretty sure they are ATI blue plus. Two 36" bulbs in front and back.

 

[Wes10C]

Is it hard to retrofit t5s?

 

[usfpaul82]

Man, id have to look, but Im pretty sure they are ATI blue plus. Two 36" bulbs in front and back.

So 4 total?

 

[Bpfor3]

No. Basic wiring (instructions come in the kit) and a screwdriver/drill to install the endocarps into the canopy. Whatever you do, don't cut the wires too short!!!

 

[Bpfor3]

So 4 total?

yep. they do make 60" bulbs but 4 36 bulbs are cheaper than 2 60" bulbs and they ship easier.

 

[usfpaul82]

yep. they do make 60" bulbs but 4 36 bulbs are cheaper than 2 60" bulbs and they ship easier.

I see what you mean, you used 4 bulbs but still just one going across front and back. And just one strip front and back you noticed a difference. I’m debating between 1 or 2 sets

 

[Bpfor3]

Yep, one row in the front and one in the back. Two 36" bulbs side by side. Big difference in spread and uniformity of light.

Video of tank below.

 

[RayDRoot]

I have 2 XR15 Gen 5 Pros in a Aquatic life 4 bulb T5 hybrid over a 75g, and the Par was insufficient for SPS. 150-250 across most of the tops of my rock work 10" down. I added an XR30 G2 into the hybrid, and this brought the par to 250-400 across the majority of the tank where my SPS were located. For a mixed reef with a few strategically placed SPS the XR15 G5s in a T5 hybrid should be fine.

 

[Pisanoal]

I see what you mean, you used 4 bulbs but still just one going across front and back. And just one strip front and back you noticed a difference. I’m debating between 1 or 2 sets

Not sure where bpfor3 got 4 36" bulbs are cheaper then 2 60s, but this is not correct. At least not for ATI bulbs at regular prices. 36" bulbs on BRS are $22, and 60" are $25. So you are almost twice the cost in bulbs for 4 36's. Maybe they have a different source I dont know about, if so please share!! Plus the retrofit kits start at $122 for 36" so for "one bulb" flanking your leds, you will need 2 let kits of 36" at $244, vs one 5' kit at $160. So unless you want end to end t5 coverage for sure, go with the 5 foot. (Im assuming 6ft tank. I dont see where you specified. If its more then 6 ft you might want to consider the two 36"s, but at 6 ft, 5ft t5 is fine for supplementation). There was also a study that showed 36" bulbs were the least efficient wattage vs output. I dont put a whole lot of consideration into that, but it has been done for what its worth to you.

For retrofit, you have several options that I would look at. The LET kits are nice, but are more DIY. If you want a plug and play, check out the reef brite supra slim lines. They come in single, double and quad. The singles are pretty expensive, so if you do one bulb to either side, it would cost more then double to go this route over the LET kit. The duos are pretty affordable. Still more expensive, but not nearly as much more then the single slim lines. Two duos will cost you 225 a piece vs two LET kits at 160 per. The nice part about the duos is its all contained. The LET you will have wiring running everywhere. The reflectors are also wider on the LETs which can be good and bad but if you are limited on space, and want to squeeze 2 bulbs front and back, that would be another reason to go Supra.

For reference, I have done several 6 ft tanks with the Miro LET kits as the main lighting, so I have experience with these retrofit kits. The supras are relatively new. I wish they were out when I did mine because they look to be really nice and easy.


Edit: Looking back through, I thought you were looking at adding two side by side 36's, but now I dont know where I got that from. How long is your tank? I'm guessing 48" from the two radions?

 

[usfpaul82]

Not sure where bpfor3 got 4 36" bulbs are cheaper then 2 60s, but this is not correct. At least not for ATI bulbs at regular prices. 36" bulbs on BRS are $22, and 60" are $25. So you are almost twice the cost in bulbs for 4 36's. Maybe they have a different source I dont know about, if so please share!! Plus the retrofit kits start at $122 for 36" so for "one bulb" flanking your leds, you will need 2 let kits of 36" at $244, vs one 5' kit at $160. So unless you want end to end t5 coverage for sure, go with the 5 foot. (Im assuming 6ft tank. I dont see where you specified. If its more then 6 ft you might want to consider the two 36"s, but at 6 ft, 5ft t5 is fine for supplementation). There was also a study that showed 36" bulbs were the least efficient wattage vs output. I dont put a whole lot of consideration into that, but it has been done for what its worth to you.

For retrofit, you have several options that I would look at. The LET kits are nice, but are more DIY. If you want a plug and play, check out the reef brite supra slim lines. They come in single, double and quad. The singles are pretty expensive, so if you do one bulb to either side, it would cost more then double to go this route over the LET kit. The duos are pretty affordable. Still more expensive, but not nearly as much more then the single slim lines. Two duos will cost you 225 a piece vs two LET kits at 160 per. The nice part about the duos is its all contained. The LET you will have wiring running everywhere. The reflectors are also wider on the LETs which can be good and bad but if you are limited on space, and want to squeeze 2 bulbs front and back, that would be another reason to go Supra.

For reference, I have done several 6 ft tanks with the Miro LET kits as the main lighting, so I have experience with these retrofit kits. The supras are relatively new. I wish they were out when I did mine because they look to be really nice and easy.


Edit: Looking back through, I thought you were looking at adding two side by side 36's, but now I dont know where I got that from. How long is your tank? I'm guessing 48" from the two radions?

Yeah, 48”. The Radions are 7” from water level. I guess I could always splurge and bye two more XR15s for a total of 4 and no T5s at all, but that’s last resort for me. I don’t mind DIY stuff.