Issues maintaining SPS coloration with Radions

[xenon]

I have two Radions over my 75G tank (48x18x21).

I keep my lights @ 100% 20k with 0% green and I just don't feel I am getting enough PAR and spread to get good SPS coloration.

I ordered more Radions so now I will have twice as much light. Hopefully that will do the trick. Otherwise, I am going to need to go back to T5's or MH.

Anyone else having issues with getting good SPS coloration with LED's?

 

[xenon]

Before everyone says "it must be your water quality", its not.

My parameters have been rock solid for months using the Fauna marin balling lite method on automated doser with weekly water changes with Tropic Marin Pro Reef.

 

[HaleMoana]

Did you acclimate your tank to the Radion's? Radion's at 100% should be a lot of light. Hopefully you started at a much lower intensity and slowly increased to 100% n

How long have you had them over the tank?

 

[BigKahuna]

Two Radions over a 75 @100% is a lot of light. I have two Radions, albeit with the TIR upgrade, over a much deeper 150DD and I think 85% might be too much on them. I originally had my pair of Radions over my old 75 before the 150DD upgrade and I never got them over 60% to be honest. How high do you have them mounted?

 

[fishyguy7]

I agree that 100% is a lot of light. One radion is said to cover 24x24 inch area. I have one radion over my 24 inch cube running 60% and things look good.

 

[xenon]

It's not much light @ 20K settings. 100% RB, 100% B, 30% W?

I would totally agree that 100% @ 12K would be too much light but not at 20k.

You loose a ton of intensity when you want a more blue look.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

I have two over my 4x2x2. It is plenty par. I have SPS growing all over the place.

I think you have other issues.

 

[xfactor1315]

How long have you been running them and how did you aclimate to the new lights?

 

[Eastamherstbias]

I took the Par readings of the old fixture and then matched them to my par readings of the new fixture. Had the radion cycle max out of 80% of that old fixture par for a month and then ramped it up after that. I have had the radions since they were introduced and the same with the TIR lens.

 

[xenon]

Ive been running them since I setup my system 7 months ago.

I have been maintaining stable cal/alk/mag with FM balling method and do weekly water changes with Tropic Marin pro reef. I also have a chiller to maintain perfectly stable temps of 77F. I doubt its my water quality.

I am expecting to receive twice as many Radions early next week. Only time will tell.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

Two radions is the right amount for your tank size. Since it is a new tank. I think they may be more of your issue. It took me a full 15 months before SPS was not dying and thriving. I would pick up the TIR lens before buying more radions.

 

[chadfarmer]

maybe too much light ? are they browning?

 

[chris88]

i think your not using the light to is full potential if your not going to use the reds and green leds. You might as well have bought a cheap led fixture. I run might with 100 on both blue 60% white 50% green and a 100% red and i get amazing color and decent growth.

 

[xenon]

i think your not using the light to is full potential if your not going to use the reds and green leds. You might as well have bought a cheap led fixture. I run might with 100 on both blue 60% white 50% green and a 100% red and i get amazing color and decent growth.

I run mine @ 20K preset so it has plenty of green and red.

I dont think you guy realize how much PAR you loose @ 20K preset. It drops the white light output to 38%.

I could certainly get away with 2 module over my tank if I ran them at 14-18K but I prefer a blue look so I need more modules to get the proper intensity.

 

[chris88]

More radions could help depending on your tank size and depth. Did you ever think about adding some t5s. I have 4 t5s with my Radion and I love what each type of lighting brings to the tank.

 

[xenon]

More radions could help depending on your tank size and depth. Did you ever think about adding some t5s. I have 4 t5s with my Radion and I love what each type of lighting brings to the tank.

I have the standard sized Perfecto 75g tank (48x18x21).

I was ready to throw in the towel with LED's in general and go with T5's until I calculated how much it would cost me in bulb replacements, not to mention electricity and heat increase.

I really want to make LED's work and if adding more light does not do the job, I will be forced back to T5's or MH/VHO combo.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

Can I see a picture of your tank? I can't believe you are having issues with the radions and SPS and that it is light related. The radion pro will have better spectrum. Shouldn't you hold a few months until those come out?

 

[lowscooby76]

let me just throw this out there.what are you using for water flow in your tank? i do think in someways leds lights come short on lighting for some corals.i think over time led lighting will get better.from what i have read radion pro should be a better light when the software has the bugs out of it.

 

[xenon]

Can I see a picture of your tank? I can't believe you are having issues with the radions and SPS and that it is light related. The radion pro will have better spectrum. Shouldn't you hold a few months until those come out?

Here is a pic I took recently of some frags I have had for a while.

I will more than likely upgrade all the modules once the pro kit is available.

let me just throw this out there.what are you using for water flow in your tank? i do think in someways leds lights come short on lighting for some corals.i think over time led lighting will get better.from what i have read radion pro should be a better light when the software has the bugs out of it.

I have one MP40 and Tunze Wavebox for flow.

 

[ghostman]

I have the standard sized Perfecto 75g tank (48x18x21).

I was ready to throw in the towel with LED's in general and go with T5's until I calculated how much it would cost me in bulb replacements, not to mention electricity and heat increase.

I really want to make LED's work and if adding more light does not do the job, I will be forced back to T5's or MH/VHO combo.

Have you used a PAR meter to see if your lighting is off? While they do measure low in the blue range, it would still give you an idea of they were inadequate for your setup.
I have a different take on T5 versus LED. Bulb cost to me is insignificant. A six bulb T5 setup would cost you approx. $200 a year to replace, but an additional radion is 3.5x more than that. Also running 3 radions would be comparable to running 6 T5 bulbs in wattage. So the savings might not be as great as we hope. Heat would certainly be more with T5s though. T5s are proven performers. I certainly wouldn't discount them if you are unhappy with the colors of your corals.