Radion or ATI?

[scar79]

Having gone from T5 to LED(AI SOL) to LED/Halide, to LED/T5, to LED alone again (Radion), my rebuild of my 135 (48"x24x27) will be either all T5 or probably T5/LED hybrid. If heat was no issue, I would be doing 2x 250w halides with two reefbrite XHO LED actinics. Since I don't want to run my chiller all day, T5 will light my tank. LED definitely has its place in the lighting spectrum, but I believe it's best left for actinic.

 

[mike810]

Looks like it will be T5 then. I had good success in my 65 cube when I ran a ATI PM. I will have to find someone to make a decorated board to hang on the ceiling above the tank so I have mounting points for the T5 fixtures.

The tank is the focal point when you walk into my house so everything needs to look nice. What do you guys think about the Giesemann Matrixx II T5 Fixture?

 

[scar79]

No personal experience with the Matrixx II, but it's a good looking fixture and Giesemann makes a fantastic (albeit expensive) product. I think you get what you pay for.

 

[fredro]

I've heard a few people with issues with 6-8 months with the Giesemann fixtures. Ballasts and hardware problems. The fixtures are good looking units, but IMO, ATi has readily available replacement parts at quite good prices, IF something breaks. I think you'll find the ATi fixtures to be pretty solid, quality units.

 

[fredro]

Fwiw, I just canned my 3 Radion Pros over my 48"x24" tank after considering adding a 4th to deal will shadowing and directional light issues, resulting in awkward coral growth and all the dark, bare back sides of my corals clinging to life. An ATi SunPower Dimmable 8x54w has brought the tank back to life. I tried to add a t5 supplement to the 3 Radions, but after a few weeks I realized I should've just stuck to T5 all the way. I may slap on a ReefBrite XHO Actinic LED strip for a little pop, but that's the least of my concerns now.

 

[kcinnick]

Nobody in the MH camp? Yup, going back to metal halide and super actinic supplements...

 

[BrentH]

i love my ati sunpowers have 5 of them 4 on one tank 1 on frag. I can grow anything beautifully

 

[Drae]

2-ATI 8x39 watt t5 watt +2x75 watt led. You don't need 2x48" units for your tank. 2 36" units would be great. If you're willing to buy 6 radions then 2 ati hybrids would be my choice. Jmo. Edit. Just thought about something. If you want more led then 2 48" units would be better. You'd get 6x75 watt leds

 

[mike810]

So I just discovered the GHL Mitras fixture and been reading up on them. They have 6 pucks of led and actually have reflectors for the leds. They're suppose to provide excellent coverage without much shadowing like all the other led fixtures on the market that uses lenses instead of reflectors.

Anyone with a fixture can chime in?

 

[4age]

i have two mitras over my 3 foot sps tank.It is a nice solid built unit, and the lighting is very uniform compared to other led lights with not too much shimmer, better spread and less shading.I rate it better than my radion I had.That said..i want to add t5 lights to my setup as the hybrid t5 led lighting just works better. I would go for the ATI hybrid if I had the opportunity to get one

 

[mike810]

I'm done looking and set on two ati 48" hybrid units. I was interested in the Mitras but reading a lot of people making the switch back to mh/t5 or t5/led. I'm also tired of finding a perfect balance with the led settings.

Sometimes less is more! I'll be using the leds on the ATI unit strictly for pop and let the T5 be the primary light over my tank. Thanks for the help everyone.

Now I just need to find a good bulb combo.

How much space should I leave between the two units?

 

[SCWA Reef]

I'm done looking and set on two ati 48" hybrid units. I was interested in the Mitras but reading a lot of people making the switch back to mh/t5 or t5/led. I'm also tired of finding a perfect balance with the led settings.

Sometimes less is more! I'll be using the leds on the ATI unit strictly for pop and let the T5 be the primary light over my tank. Thanks for the help everyone.

Now I just need to find a good bulb combo.

How much space should I leave between the two units?

I run a 6 tube ati sunpower, i like a blue look, currently running all ati tubes, 4 x blue plus 1 x coral plus and 1 x purple plus. Looks like this

 

[mike810]

Thanks so much for the picture, tank looks great! I am thinking of running

4 blue+
2 blue special
1 coral+
1 purple+

$352 bucks for 18 t5 bulbs :eek1::lolspin::eek1:

Will use LEDS mainly for the blue pop. If anyone wants to chime in regarding my bulb combo and make some recommendations, it would be appreciated!

 

[fredro]

I would say that bulb combo will likely be quite a white look. The coral plus and purple plus aren't much more than the aquablue specials with a slight pink or purple hue to them. It all really depends on the spectrum you're going for.

 

[mike810]

I would say that bulb combo will likely be quite a white look. The coral plus and purple plus aren't much more than the aquablue specials with a slight pink or purple hue to them. It all really depends on the spectrum you're going for.

I do like a nice crisp white look with hints of blue in it.

 

[Art13]

I have an 8 bulb 48" with that exact bulb setup and it works out great, my wife hated the blue hue i had with the leds, and this one works out perfectly.

 

[05cummins]

Do a search for the Ecotech / coral labs study. It's a pdf and has a link to some programs they developed that provide amazing results. I would try this before switching from radions

 

[05cummins]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/ecotech-marine-launches-coral-lab-project

 

[Tweaked]

Do a search for the Ecotech / coral labs study. It's a pdf and has a link to some programs they developed that provide amazing results. I would try this before switching from radions

What I posted earlier. The Radion results compared to halides and T5s in same tank and same water is ridiculous. And should not be ignored.

 

[Cheebs]

I love my Radions. You'll obviously get some pretty aggressive opinions from folks who likely have not done extensive tests with each method of lighting, but from personal experience with T5s and Radion LEDs, I'm not going back. They are fantastic.