Thanks sahin. I was thinking about the new wide-angle lens that is actually out now, but the numbers that ecotech has put out with a fixture set to 12k @ 100% intensity shows that within about a 24in radius you only get 200 PAR or so. IMO, not worth it, right?
I think that at the very least, I am going to get myself a pair of the TIR lenses, as I am running this g1 radion completely stock from when I got it when they originally shipped. A pro may be a good option if I can free up some cash though. I have never really had a problem with getting good colors, but the growth on this tank has never really been great and I am hoping the low lighting is the issue. I had the same radion and equipment set up over a 60g cube 1.5 years ago and I was AMAZING growth and colors, so maybe I just had the light hung too high?
What does your friend think are the colors that the Pro brings out more? How did his SPS respond specifically?
I hadnt realised that the lens was already out and that the PAR is so low. Everyone I know runs their Radions way less than 100% - usually they run somewhere in the region of around 50-64%. So I assumed that with the new wide angle lens the PAR would be spread out a little more without a hotspot, but didnt think that the overall PAR would be reduced so much. I thought the coverage would increase, and most people could push the intensity nearer to the max and get very good PAR and spread at the same time.
Well, I was wrong, if the PAR levels are as you say.
As for colours, one of my buddies SPS corals just coloured up so much after he changed to the Pro. He felt it was the addition of the Actinic LED's that made the difference.
Here are a bunch of photos I took of his tank because I was so impressed with his SPS colours:
Couldnt quite capture the intense green of this one, looks brighter in person.
Managed to pick out the golden colour on this one. Looks superb under LED's!
SPS group shot. Much better colour in person. These have coloured up nicely!
Two very nice Monti's. The one behind is a lovely light sky blue, but couldnt capture its colour.
Any LPS looks amazing in the evening under the Actinic and Royal Blue LED's. But you can see his colours are pretty good, considering he hasnt even been into SPS corals.
I almost ordered a couple of Radion Pro's for my tank and was thinking of getting the wide angle lens. However, I went with the ATI LED Powermodule in the end.
A number of people have said to me that the coral colours are more pleasing to the eye under the Pro's.
I have read that it is a slow grower. The guy I got it from got it as a frag, but after three years the colony is the size of a salad plate. We'll see how it likes my tank.
