250G Marineland Failure Rebuild - Lighting Questions/Input

andrewdeme

andrewdeme

Member
I am starting to put back together my 250G DD that failed a couple of weeks ago and would like some imput on lighting. This tank is a challenge to light because of it's dimensions. 60x36x27. It seems the issue is no matter what the LED configuration is, I will need 4 light fixtures.

My current thoughts are to just stop all the messing around and get 4 EcoTech Radion XR30w G3 PRO LED Lights and be done with it, but that results in getting banged up in the wallet, but it is still what I think I want to do.

Another idea I had that i don't know if anyone has tried would be a mix of 2 Radion's and 2 Kessil A360W-E Wide Angle Tuna Blue LEDs.

or just 4 Kessils

Thoughts?
 
That's a hard footprint to light. That's a big tank. Honestly if it was me, I'd go 6 Radions and mabe 4-6 T5 depending on your rockwork. I will be running 4 Radions on my much smaller tank. That said, I am literally SPS from wall to wall. I notice that all the corals that are underneath the radions look amazing, anything on the outskirts looks less than amazing.

I would do something like this....

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---[O O]---[O O]---
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---[O O]---[O O]---
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This is all assuming a canopy or floating canopy. Matt did a great build. If budget a concern and you still like LED then some Chinese fixtures in place of the radions should work, maybe even better!
 
I know a few people that have tried both radion and Kessil lights. On large tanks. They all went with Kessil. So I would look into 4 Kessil and maybe 4 t5 bulbs if more light is needed.
 
Who is they? Show me results. I like kessil but the coverage is lacking. Radions and Hydras FTW!:D

Other thing to consider is an ATI hybrid. Yeah they're like close to $3K, but 4+ Radions plus supplemental and you are already there;)
 
433ad907c38b84ea7dee90fc05fe27d7.jpg


8 radion pros 8 ati 48in retro
 
rovster said:
Who is they? Show me results. I like kessil but the coverage is lacking. Radions and Hydras FTW!:D

Other thing to consider is an ATI hybrid. Yeah they're like close to $3K, but 4+ Radions plus supplemental and you are already there;)
Click to expand...


I don't know many people that run kessils. But The display at Elite Marine Life in Pompano Beach is and looks great. They had some nice sps in the tank but lost them or most due to a flood on the 2nd floor a few months back.
 
LFS has access to lots of pretty and large colonies. Easy to put together a nice looking tank like that. Show me a tank that was grown out with kessils. Just my opinion. They are great for display.
 
I don't run any t5's. I have 3 radion pros, but need to add an extra for better coverage. I haven't seen corals grown with radion pros and t5's. When I had my frag tank up I only used t5s and the color was fantastic. I think the t5s will enhance the colors and growth. If you have the room to add the t5's I definitely would.
 
Damn Jonny you are up already? Anyways Kessil and TRadions are gr8 lights but for coverage and price you can't beat the Hydras 52. At almost halof the price of the radions you can easyly get 2 extra fixtures and really light the crap out of that tank. It also has the same capabilties for tinkering witht he lights as far as intensity and colors.l Just my $.02
 
jonnyu said:
I'm not saying they are bad but swing by Mrx house and take a look at the disco ball effect that radions give. It's like watching Saturday night fever.
Click to expand...

Not sure what you are refering to you haven't been to my place in over 6 months and its never had a disco look lol you must have had too many before you came over lololo

Here judge for yourself these were at Johnnys over a year ago and they didnt look even half this size or as nice, anyone can go out and buy a ton of stuff and throw it in and it will look nice but how it looks in a year is what you should judge by ...had only radions since thse were put in

<a href="http://s17.photobucket.com/user/mrx66699/media/20150330_214259_zpstmnxqft2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/mrx66699/20150330_214259_zpstmnxqft2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150330_214259_zpstmnxqft2.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s17.photobucket.com/user/mrx66699/media/20150403_211736_zps3v9woczk.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/mrx66699/20150403_211736_zps3v9woczk.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150403_211736_zps3v9woczk.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s17.photobucket.com/user/mrx66699/media/20150502_210025_zpshr8ji9k1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/mrx66699/20150502_210025_zpshr8ji9k1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150502_210025_zpshr8ji9k1.jpg"/></a>
 
Last edited:
And didnt you have these under a hodge podge of different leds Jonny when you had them? I think you went through 4 or 5 different kinds didnt you?
 
Nice to see that it's all cleared up as what to do. LOL. Ok, I'm back on the fence. The debate it great. Everyone's perspective certainly has value and contributes to the process.

Will have to go see Matt's setup in person for sure. Looks BA.

tank not close to being back together. Still waiting on replacement parts.
 
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