Radion or ATI?

[mike810]

I have 4 AI Vega Color over my 8x2x2 tank. I'm not really happy with the color, growth and coverage I am receiving from my lights.

My question for you guys, which lighting would you guys go with and have you had success with any of the two lights mentioned?

Ideally I would like to go with the ATI T5/LED combo but that would require me to get two 48" fixtures and do some modifications to my ceiling to support the weight of the two fixture. I have no joist above the ceiling where the tank sits.

If I go with Radion pros, I would get 6 lights which the dry wall should be able to support. I believe going with 6 lights will help with the coverage and reduce shadowing.

Please thoughts and opinions?

 

[Big E]

If it was me I'd go with two 8 bulb x 48" Sunpowers.

If you want some LED pop for supplementing you can add them later on. I'm not a fan of the LEDs being in the center like on the Powermodule............more trouble than they are worth.

As far as the mounting goes..........all you need to do is run a board perpendicular to your joists.

 

[btb72]

You will get people who hate led and the ones who love them. I've seen great tanks with both. Radions are proven if you go that route

 

[Geeray]

Qty6 radion would be the min might want to consider qty8 radions if you go that route

 

[btb72]

6 should be enough. A lot of times people use 3 on a 4 foot tank.

 

[biecacka]

The big debate is quantity. I have 4 rapidled kits(same diode layout as radion) on my 48/48/24 cube. As it fills out I might add 2 more, but I did my rock work to hopefully avoid that. 6 would be the least I would suggest. Shading and what not are big issues. Anyone see/remember the test Sanjay did and he ended up w 3 radions on a small tank, like a 40 gallon or something. Eliminated shadows etc, might be somewhat overkill in our eyes but it goes to show we need more than we think and more than the makers are telling us.

Corey

 

[winwar]

I have seen many tanks with T5 - ATI corals grow and color better than Radion.
I have 3 radions for supplement only ...

 

[mike810]

Thanks for the replies fellas. The consensus seems to be that radions really need one per foot instead of the 1 per 2 feet as ecotech suggested. I have AI vega over the tank now and I don't think these fixture put out the right spectrum. Coverage is also not that great hence wanting to go with 6 radions.


I may have to consider running with 8 radions in my case. The tank is really 86" long as the over flow box takes up some safe. I assume the radions would be run with the pucks side to side and not online with each other correct?

 

[jdm1114]

If it was me I'd go with two 8 bulb x 48" Sunpowers.

If you want some LED pop for supplementing you can add them later on. I'm not a fan of the LEDs being in the center like on the Powermodule............more trouble than they are worth.

As far as the mounting goes..........all you need to do is run a board perpendicular to your joists.

I agree, maybe even throw in some e5 blue pop tubes as part of your combo.

 

[dkeller_nc]

Personally, and unless you have unlimited funds, I'd suggest the two ATI 4' fixtures. 2 8 bulb ATIs will set you back a little less than $1200, plus the bulbs. Those will add about $320, so a total of $1520.

8 Radion G3 Pros is going to cost you $6000, plus mounting, which is likely to set you back another $200 - $800, depending on your choices.

You can pay for an incredible amount of electricity and bulbs for the difference, and T5HO is pretty much bulletproof as far as coral growth, at least if you want SPS.

 

[Tweaked]

Anyone seen the new project Ecotech Marine is doing. The comparison shots of Radions vs. T5s and Reefbrite LED/Halide combos are insane. I knew LEDs could grow nice SPS but wow! One thing to note is they hung the lights pretty high up though generating good spread and color blend.

 

[moatdaddy]

Tank of the month currently is t5, in nicest tank thread mostly t5. Add a few led for shimmer and done. I just can't believe all the amazing sps tanks with t5. The growth and color unreal. I'm not seeing even close to same results with led. Not to mention the tanks with some growth with led get issues in most shaded areas on the coral. So as it grows, its base dies due to the led being so directional. I fried my corals with Chinese led because I thought new and cool was better. IMO look at how fantastic t5 results are with ati fixtures.

 

[Mark426]

I would go with T5. (from a LED owner).

 

[kcinnick]

Metal Halide and T5's...

 

[Geeray]

I have 6 hydra 52s over a 6foot tank. While the coverage is good it's somewhat embarrassing how much money I have tied up... I would strongly consider MH/t5 combo if I had to do it all over.

 

[horseplay]

Radion or ATI?

There is no question in my mind I would go with two ATI hybrids. Cheaper and better. You would need 8 radions get comparable coverage. And the truly nice Led lit sps tanks run one light per foot. You have a ceiling right? You should be able to find a beam.

 

[dadummy]

Ati

 

[mike810]

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. Money and electricity aside, everyone would still go with T5?

I have a 14kw solar panel system so I'm not worried about electricity.

 

[Big E]

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. Money and electricity aside, everyone would still go with T5?

I have a 14kw solar panel system so I'm not worried about electricity.

Color- Sunpwoer.........it's not even close

Growth- Sunpower

Ease of use-- Sunpowers

Reliabilbity- short & long term- Sunpowers

Long term maintenance-- Sunpower........it's very easy to replace a fan or ballast if something goes wrong after warranty. Cheap to replace these parts and ATI has how to videos on the web.

The 50,000 hour LED blurb is marketing and doesn't mention the electronics that drive these units, fans, ect. I shouldn't even mention this, but if you get a new unit, compare it's par numbers to one a few years old.

Setup- Sunpower-- Plug and play............maybe a little experimenting with bulb combos but that's more of a personal taste.

 

[jackson6745]

if it was me i'd go with two 8 bulb x 48" sunpowers.

If you want some led pop for supplementing you can add them later on. I'm not a fan of the leds being in the center like on the powermodule............more trouble than they are worth.

As far as the mounting goes..........all you need to do is run a board perpendicular to your joists.

+1