Two units cover my 120 gallon. Sure there are some areas where I couldn't grow SPS, but I actually enjoy that as I have places to stick less light demanding corals like acans. Some people may want to fill their entire tank from edge to edge with high light demand SPS and then I would agree that they won't cover the area adequately. However, to say the light is horrific is a little stretch.
Aqua Illumination, Maxspect, Radion
- Thread starter Hunterfreeman1
- Start date
Two units cover my 120 gallon. Sure there are some areas where I couldn't grow SPS, but I actually enjoy that as I have places to stick less light demanding corals like acans. Some people may want to fill their entire tank from edge to edge with high light demand SPS and then I would agree that they won't cover the area adequately. However, to say the light is horrific is a little stretch.
reefsurfing
New member
I tried to do wall to wall sps in my 90 gallon but the coverage was too uneven with 2 AI units. If there was no center brace I could have added a third AI and switched all the optics to 70's and added a hanging kit but this option would have cost me about $550. After I sold my AI's it was only 600 more for the radions vs the 550 to keep AI's. AI's perform extremely well but the way I had them set up I couldn't accomplish what I wanted to do which is frustrating. With the two radions using 135 degree optics I shouldn't be dealing with any par deprived areas.
To me the extra power isn't needed. I am running my AI at nowhere near full power, so additional electricity draw isn't really needed. I think most people aren't running fully stocked SPS tanks that would need or even benefit from the extra power. I would also like to see some studies showing the benefit of red and green supplementation. In the ocean most red light is filtered out before it can even reach corals. I would be open that it could that red could make an aesthetic difference and if so would be all for it. Hopefully there will be some more scientific studies conducted to further elucidate any benefits to other color spectrums. I think the phrase "extremely limited spectrum" is a little misleading and implies insufficient, which I think we can agree on isn't true. Additionally, AI could come out with different color pucks so there is some flexibility there if needed. Overall I think the Radion is a great looking light, and would maybe buy it over the AI currently. However, it does come at a significant more expense and some features which many people may not even need.
Great point and illustrates that there isn't a "best" light. Many different factors play into what will be the best light for your setup. I think we can agree that having these options is a huge benefit to the hobby.
I dont think the tank he posted is that different. Sure it is taller but as long as he doesn't want SPS on his entire sandbed I think it would be fine. The 93" length isn't much different then two 48" long tanks next to each other, so simply need double the number of units. The width is exactly the same.
SkullV
They Got My Number
But he doesn't have double the amount of units. He is asserting that two of the fixtures is enough for the entire tank. Thank you for proving my point for me.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Please reread what I wrote. I didn't say the light was horrific, I said the shadowing was. When half a dozen local reefers all say that one unit can NOT cover a 24x24 area, I believe them over people I have never met. Then when I see the tanks with the AI lights and don't like what I see, yeah I can call the shadowing I saw horrific.
I have 3 sol blues running parallel on a 5x2x2 @ 12" with stock optics and have absolutely no shadowing what so ever, tank looks great!! Can't cover a 24' x 24' area my arse. How high above water line are you running them, 1"?? If you think the lights look bad on your tank its user error.
I'm sure the Radion will look great too!
I'm sure the Radion will look great too!
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
This right here is one of my favorite lines.
"have absolutely no shadowing what so ever"
You are using a POINT SOURCE light. You WILL have shadows in the tank. Enough to bother you? In your case, no. One of my biggest complaints about metal halide is the shadowing that goes on. I like a more filled out tank personally. Therefore, I prefer no optics when it comes to LEDs. They just aren't needed unless your tank is super tall - 30" or more.
I am glad you can make such a bold statement. "If you think the lights look bad on your tank its user error."
So everyone that doesn't like the look of T5's is/was using them wrong?
Everyone that doesn't like the look of an LED setup, is using them wrong?
Everyone who doesn't like the look of Metal Halide, must have used them wrong??? Are you really serious about that?
And if you think two radions will cover it you are crazy too. Obviously two units of any of the lights discussed wouldn't cover 93" so he would have to buy more of any light he wanted.
SkullV
They Got My Number
Where did I say that? Please point me in the direction of that post.
Where in this thread did anyone assert that two AI fixtures would cover a 93" tank?
Its really too bad that this thread has turned into a my light is bigger than yours competition, I guess it is just time to go watch what Jeremy comes up with and hope that thread doesn't get derailed like this one has.
And where did I say two units was enough???? Just said it will cover a 24" by 24" area if mounted correctly and dont plan on SPS in the corners.
Was referring to sol blue users complaining about their lights not looking good. That's what the controller is for, you can adjust them, hence user error.
I call bs on the shadowing, if the lights are high enough you won't have any visible shadowing, regardless of optics, unless you have super human, led shadowing detecting, sol blue's suck no matter what anyone says sight.
Enjoy your Radions
I call bs on the shadowing, if the lights are high enough you won't have any visible shadowing, regardless of optics, unless you have super human, led shadowing detecting, sol blue's suck no matter what anyone says sight.
Enjoy your Radions
