Help to decide between these two lighting setups

[Marq]

I recently set up a new Waterbox Peninsula 6026 reef tank that has recently gone through cycling. I am having a tough time deciding between the two lighting solutions I have below so I am not sure which one I should set up for the tank so I want some feedback from the community to help me out a bit in making my final decision. Maybe just sharing personal experience with either lights will be helpful.

My Waterbox aquarium is 60" long, 24" high and 24" deep.

The photos below were taken from an online source but demonstrate closely how I expect both setups will look.


Lighting:

1. AT T5/LED Hybrid Powermodule - I had a 6 bulb fixture specially made. What I am hesitant to do is drill holes into my living room ceiling to hang the fixture. I'm not sure if it will be more aesthetically pleasing compared to option #2 but it sure looks clean in the attached photo although I can't verify exactly what type of t5 fixture is actually used in the photo.

2. Ecotech Radions: I have two XR30 and 2 XR15, the mounting arms, Ecotech diffusers for each module, and rail system to hang them over the tank. I expect the setup to look very similar to the attached photo setup and I also am in the process of having a custom lid made to accommodate the mounting arms.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

You can always change later-- Use what you have to start.

 

[Marq]

I have both of them.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

If your hesitant to go into the ceiling go with the Radions first & see.

 

[Marq]

If your hesitant to go into the ceiling go with the Radions first & see.

Thanks for your input. What lighting setup are you using now?

I currently am upgrading from my 75 gallon reef tank which is 4 feet long. I initially started off with 2 Kessil A360WEs over it using Kessil mounting arms. I didn't have the the growth or coloration that I wanted so I retrofitted 4 36" T5 bulbs into a canopy along with the Kessils and it really didn't do much. Sop I decided to switch to Two XR15s and one XR30. The color an growth of the coral improved significantly but not for all coral. I still was not satisfied with the overall success of the tank so I added the 4 bulb T5 back to supplement the Radions. The system significantly improved in growth and coloration but I still don't think it is a successful reef despite it really having some of the best setup and equipment out there.

I transferred one of the Kessils to another tank and that tank became an instant winner. I got curious about how that tank would look with a Radion over it so I switched the Kessil to a Radion XR15 and the tank did not like it despite careful acclimation.

I recently set up the Waterbox and would like to really try to pick a light system and just stick with the one I choose. I am finding it really tough to make a choice though, especially to my previous experience with my 75 gallon. Sometimes it just hard deciding on things.

I just wanted to hear some other thoughts and experience on lighting setups, especially if someone has experience with the ATI T5/LED hybrids.

 

[Marq]

Anyone with experience using/hanging the T5 fixtures?

My girlfriend and cousin (a fellow saltwater hobbyist) have told me I will probably regret hanging the ATI fixture due to the and that it will be an eyesore in my living room but I spent a good amount of money having this thing special made for my tank. So I am doing a bit of back and forth on it. The tank is setup so it's not moving anywhere.

I already have the Radions and the rail and mounts to hang them but can't help wonder if the ATI may produce better success. If I decide to hang the ATI fixture, I will sell my Radion setup and vice versa. I would probably have more difficulty moving the ATI fixture.