ATI Hybrid vs Radion G4

C

cpllongjk

Active member
So... I'm at a crossroads. Please help me make a decision.

I am about to upgrade my tank from a Reefer170 currently lit with a ATI Hybrid 4 bulb to a 24x24x20 cube.

The problem is my current light will work for my new tank but I really need a 8 bulb hybrid to make it work right.

Should I upgrade from ATI Hybrid 4 bulb to the 8 bulb?

or

Should I buy a Radion G4 and try out full leds over my tank?

Please keep in mind that my tank is growing very well with my current lights however, I know when I upgrade the tank in January/February I will not have enough coverage on my new tank.
 
I would still think that an ATI 4 bulb hybrid would still provide better coverage than a single XR30 4th generation. Its just the nature of a puck layout LED only fixture.
 
I am running a Gen 3 Pro w/ standard optics on the RMS over my 50g SCA "cube", and it is more than enough at 60% peak intensity, but I am "only" keeping a bunch of gorgonians and rock flower anemones. The Gen 4 seems to have much better spread than the Gen 3 on the RMS, and unless you were keeping nothing but SPS corals and were concerned with shading, I would think you would be fine with a Radion.

You also are not required to use the RMS mount for the Radion (although it is easier and nicer looking IMO) - you can hang it as high as you want to increase spread.
 
zooman72 said:
unless you were keeping nothing but SPS corals and were concerned with shading, I would think you would be fine with a Radion.
Click to expand...

This is precisely why I think the 4 bulb T5 / LED ATI Hybrid fixture you already own is the better option. It already addresses the concerns mentioned above.
 
The G4 is an excellent unit to transition from T5's into the Leds world with success.
Ive been a T5 guy, and just think Leds are here to stay, and are producing excellent results. The G4 is a very high option as far as delivering results. T5's are great and perform, we all know that. ATI's are great fixtures also, but if you think you will go the led only route, go with the G4 with confidence
 
Thanks for all your replies...

Yeah my tank is full blown sps. I dont have a single softy or lps in the tank. The concerns mentioned above about shadowing and coverage is why I am worried with a single radion vs my current light or the 8 bulb ati hybrid.

One thing I noticed with my current tank, a reefer 170 (24x20x20), is that less light was actually better. I normally would put a 6 bulb with reefbrites on this size of a tank but the 4 bulb hybrid was more than enough. Ideally with a 24x24x20 tank which is only slightly larger than my current tank I would use a 6 bulb hybrid. However, they don't make them yet.
 
Both lights are incredible.

Now I'm both a T5 and LED fanboy. I'm not biased with any of the two. I've had both with great success, even T5/LED Hybrid.

That being said, I know you're upgrading from a Reefer 170, but one of my favorite tanks is by hyphen-ated on the ZEOvit forums. It's lit by I believe a Radion XR30w Gen 3 non pro.

I may be downgrading to a tank this size, which is why this tank is such an inspiration as I run ZEOvit and would be going LED.


Here it is!

 
Hentz said:
Both lights are incredible.

Now I'm both a T5 and LED fanboy. I'm not biased with any of the two. I've had both with great success, even T5/LED Hybrid.

That being said, I know you're upgrading from a Reefer 170, but one of my favorite tanks is by hyphen-ated on the ZEOvit forums. It's lit by I believe a Radion XR30w Gen 3 non pro.

I may be downgrading to a tank this size, which is why this tank is such an inspiration as I run ZEOvit and would be going LED.


Here it is!

Click to expand...
\

Thanks Hentz,

I am still doing research but it looks like whatever option I choose it will work. I really wish ATI made a 6 bulb hybrid powermodule.
 
What's your rock work going to look like in the new tank? I think if you only have rock in the center, the radion will work but if you want SPS throughout the whole tank, stick with what you have. An 8 bulb will be too much light, imo.
 
solitude127 said:
What's your rock work going to look like in the new tank? I think if you only have rock in the center, the radion will work but if you want SPS throughout the whole tank, stick with what you have. An 8 bulb will be too much light, imo.
Click to expand...

Itll be the same rockwork as in my current tank. I've thought about it a lot after reading everyone's comments and speaking to Sahin. I think I will probably use the 4 bulb unit as long as possible until it is no longer viable on my new tank. I will look at the coverage and growth pattern of the sps in the tank. If necessary I will upgrade but time will tell. It will take a year minimum before I absolutely have to upgrade.
 
Remove the reflector from you ATI Hybrid. to avoid scorching your corals. The fixture packs a punch!
 
Just another option to consider... Have you ever thought about having Dave of Nanobox Reef retrofit some of his arrays into an 8 bulb Sunpower fixture? He could also anodize the fixture in a custom color of your choice as well. It wouldn't cost too much more than an XR30 and will definitely be cheaper than the Powermodule hybrid.



That photo us from this thread...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2568294
 
LQT said:
Just another option to consider... Have you ever thought about having Dave of Nanobox Reef retrofit some of his arrays into an 8 bulb Sunpower fixture? He could also anodize the fixture in a custom color of your choice as well. It wouldn't cost too much more than an XR30 and will definitely be cheaper than the Powermodule hybrid.



That photo us from this thread...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2568294
Click to expand...

For the cost of shipping, having them do it, ordering a new 8 bulb fixture (or used), etc. I'd probably be better off just buying the 8 bulb hybrid. One of the things I love about the hybrid is the 1 cord coming out of the fixture. One thing I hate about the hybrid is the software. I can use my Apex to adjust the radions which is nice.

At this point I am really leaning toward a 8 bulb hyrbid however I may just wait until I outgrow the 4 bulb hybrid. I can't imagine buying a radion right now and then having shadowing issues. One of the reasons I switched from LED back to MH/T5 was due to shadowing. LEDs have grown a lot since AI SOL days but still shadowing is a very real problem that still needs to be addressed.

I sent a email to the ATI distributor today and they said there are no current plans for the 6 bulb hybrid to be brought to the US. Kinda sucks but I understand.
 
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