Metal Halide or Ecotech Radions

[NikeLV]

Hi RC. I have a rimless 100 gallon SPS/LPS reef. I use 2x 120W LED PENDANTS and I am seeing horrible coloration! They are 2-colored, white and blue 1w LED bulbs. So, I am planning on switching to another lighting system. What does everybody recommend? Metal Halides or Ecotech Radions?

Please help on choosing the best Metal Halide fixture with the best bulbs and actinics if you recommend Metal Halide!

Tell me if you recommend Ecotech Radions!

Thanks everybody!

 

[vbsaltydog]

As for MH, I think the majority of people use either 14k phoenix bulbs or 20k radiums. Radiums are only available as mogul socket so keep this in mind when looking at MH fixtures if you want to use radiums. I use 14k phoenix hqi and I like them a lot, having said that, many of the more stunning corals on here use 20k radiums. You may also want to consider a combination of MH and LED.

 

[TucanSam007]

Your question really boils down to whats more important to you?

Halides-
Old technology
Great colors/growth from corals
Need a chiller
expensive to run
Tried and proven
Low upfront cost compared to leds
Change bulbs regularly

Radion-
Cutting edge technology
Superior control over intensity and spectrum
High upfront costs (not sure the dimensions of your tank may need 3+)
Low running costs
No need for chiller
New led's now can get outdated really fast (eco-tech will probably come out with new pucks though)
Not able to provide enough par for clams or sps 24" deep without overlap from several fixtures
Bulbs last for.....well it doesn't matter I'm sure we'll have upgraded by then!


With that said you have a mixed reef, Radions would be a great choice if you can afford to buy the appropriate amount of fixtures. I've never ran halides but I would try and do a combo like vbsaltydog until led's drop in price or they come out with a true Dream led fixture. I personally like the look of t5's with led's. Kinda get the benefits of both worlds minus the "shimmer" which hurts my eyes after too long anyways. Good luck in your researching!

 

[karsseboom]

I would with the ati fixture. Tried and true, you will get the great colors and growth. I don't think there is a better fixture to get then this.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I have 4 250w MH over my 180g DT and a single 250w MH over my nem tank. I'm in SW Florida... it's warm enough down here, I don't need the extra heat from the MH and would love to switch to leds... but in IMHO they just aren't ready for prime time yet. They keep coming out with newer and upgraded systems and a lot of people seem unhappy with them after awhile. And I think in 5 years they will be better and cheaper. Meanwhile, my corals look great, grow well and MH bulbs really only need to be changed every 18-24 months (they aren't like t5 or pc fluorscents that need to be changed every 6-12 months).

 

[ganjero]

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As for MH, I think the majority of people use either 14k phoenix bulbs or 20k radiums. Radiums are only available as mogul socket so keep this in mind when looking at MH fixtures if you want to use radiums. I use 14k phoenix hqi and I like them a lot, having said that, many of the more stunning corals on here use 20k radiums. You may also want to consider a combination of MH and LED.

Radiums come in DE, but only 150w. It depends how deep is your tank, you could run 150w.

Your question really boils down to whats more important to you?

Halides-
Old technology therefore improved
Great colors/growth from corals
Need a chillerNot always, depends on your setup.
expensive to runIt costs the same to run a watt of any piece of equipment, depending on where you leave running LEDs won't save that much money. He is running 242w on leds, bumping to 300w (2 150w) or 500w (2 250w) is not much more. Only use 400w if you tank is really deep 30"+
Tried and proven
Low upfront cost compared to ledsCould be costly too
Change bulbs regularlyTrue, a year or so.

Radion-
Cutting edge technology
Superior control over intensity and spectrum
High upfront costs (not sure the dimensions of your tank may need 3+)
Low running costsSee comment on MH
No need for chillerAgain, this depends on many things, including ambient temp. and pumps being used
New led's now can get outdated really fast (eco-tech will probably come out with new pucks though)
Not able to provide enough par for clams or sps 24" deep without overlap from several fixtures
Bulbs last for.....well it doesn't matter I'm sure we'll have upgraded by then!This is your personal choice to upgrade sooner and upgrading within a few years will probably cost more than replacing bulbs for other technologies. How long the leds will hold PAR is still unkown


With that said you have a mixed reef, Radions would be a great choice if you can afford to buy the appropriate amount of fixtures. I've never ran halides but I would try and do a combo like vbsaltydog until led's drop in price or they come out with a true Dream led fixture. I personally like the look of t5's with led's. Kinda get the benefits of both worlds minus the "shimmer" which hurts my eyes after too long anyways. Good luck in your researching!

The radions are ok, but overpriced because of all the extra unnecessary features that it packs. If you want LEDs research all the options before making a decision.

 

[sponger0]

If money was no object, Radions.

 

[reefnut2012]

With adequate ventilation you wont "need" a chiller. I ran a 300 gal sps tank with 3 250 watt MH for years and did not need a chiller.

 

[Palting]

Check out my sig for my tank specs, and my homepage under my avatar for my build thread. My tank is 72" 150 gallon that's 27" deep (top to bottom), and I use the Marineland 24Hr lighting system with 150 watt MH at 10K spectrum plus T5 actinics in the 460nm spectrum. I have been very happy with my fixture, with excellent mixed coral growth and color for over 2 years now, so I highly recoommed it. Until LED's evolve more fully and become standardized, I will recommend MH plus actinics fixtures over LED's. Let someone else be experimented on with the evolving LED technology.

 

[Faye]

Your question really boils down to whats more important to you?

Halides-
Old technology
Great colors/growth from corals
Need a chiller
expensive to run
Tried and proven
Low upfront cost compared to leds
Change bulbs regularly

Radion-
Cutting edge technology
Superior control over intensity and spectrum
High upfront costs (not sure the dimensions of your tank may need 3+)
Low running costs
No need for chiller
New led's now can get outdated really fast (eco-tech will probably come out with new pucks though)
Not able to provide enough par for clams or sps 24" deep without overlap from several fixtures
Bulbs last for.....well it doesn't matter I'm sure we'll have upgraded by then!


With that said you have a mixed reef, Radions would be a great choice if you can afford to buy the appropriate amount of fixtures. I've never ran halides but I would try and do a combo like vbsaltydog until led's drop in price or they come out with a true Dream led fixture. I personally like the look of t5's with led's. Kinda get the benefits of both worlds minus the "shimmer" which hurts my eyes after too long anyways. Good luck in your researching!

Not absolutely needed.

 

[sanchoy]

Nothing right now really beats mh pond for pound. Led is good technology but still not able to out perform mh. With that being said I would stick with mh.

 

[karsseboom]

If money was no object, Radions.

Really? A radion over an ati fixture? If there were 2 tanks packed with sps you would put your money on the tank with the Radions for growth and color? That's crazy

 

[vbsaltydog]

As a software developer, I often get requests from clients to upgrade them when there is a new version of whatever software they are using. My advise is always to wait until the new version has been on the market for a while and let others work out the kinks. This theory holds true for any new technology.

I would wait until there are long term definitive results on LEDs as to:

Does the PAR degrade over time?
Does the spectrum change over time?

I would consider LED technology to be in the beta testing stage. I will wait until the fixture designs settle and the prices drop before I change from my trusty MH.

If you want to join in the beta test, add some LEDs to a MH configuration and observe any changes in the corals before deciding whether to switch to a 100% LED configuration, and keep your MH fixtures in the closet in the event that you want to switch back.

 

[NikeLV]

As a software developer, I often get requests from clients to upgrade them when there is a new version of whatever software they are using. My advise is always to wait until the new version has been on the market for a while and let others work out the kinks. This theory holds true for any new technology.

I would wait until there are long term definitive results on LEDs as to:

Does the PAR degrade over time?
Does the spectrum change over time?

I would consider LED technology to be in the beta testing stage. I will wait until the fixture designs settle and the prices drop before I change from my trusty MH.

If you want to join in the beta test, add some LEDs to a MH configuration and observe any changes in the corals before deciding whether to switch to a 100% LED configuration, and keep your MH fixtures in the closet in the event that you want to switch back.

Sadly though, I already am using bad quality LED pendants so I am desperate for some nicer coloration. Here are my reasons for not going with either:

MH-rimless tank; heat generation; chiller probably will be needed due to my current tanks temperature of 78-80; electricity cost

Radions(or any other LED system)-may or may not be good for coral health; if I buy them and they don't work well, i will need to switch to MH's making the cost through the roof!

 

[vbsaltydog]

Sounds like T5 then.

 

[CeeGee]

just asked myself the same question. Been using T5 DIY for years.

Thought seriously about LED. Thought seriously about MH for years (love the look).

In the end I went with a ATI 6 X 54watt Powermodule. It will be here in 3 days

 

[vbsaltydog]

When you use a MH/T5 combo, you run the T5 alone in the early morning and late afternoon so you get the T5 look AND the MH look. If you throw in a reefbrite LED strip then you can have all three without committing to any single technology.

 

[Reef264]

A chiller isn't 100% necessary.I have 2, 250w Metal Halides running 10" above the surface, I just have a small clip on fan running that keeps it below 80 with no issues, it malfunctioned a while back and didn't run all day, my temp only went to 81F in a matter of 8.5 hrs.I like the 14k Pheonix Hexarc bulbs myself, they are pretty sweet.

 

[username in use]

Really? A radion over an ati fixture? If there were 2 tanks packed with sps you would put your money on the tank with the Radions for growth and color? That's crazy

I would choose a multi colored fixture that can more closely match the spectrum of the sun over a white/blue fixture any day of the week.

I would wait until there are long term definitive results on LEDs as to:

Does the PAR degrade over time?
Does the spectrum change over time?

I would consider LED technology to be in the beta testing stage. I will wait until the fixture designs settle and the prices drop before I change from my trusty MH.

There are tanks that have been using LED's for years now. How is that still beta testing?

 

[betamed]

Love my ATI T5 fixture. excellent for color(with the right bulkbs)and good for growth.