Radion Pro vs T5HO

[Hentz]

So recently I just added a T5HO unit to my Fusion 40.
It's a CoralVue 24" 4-bulb with individual reflectors.
Currently running:
Blue +
Blue +
Coral +
Blue +

I'm surprised at how much polyp extension I'm getting!
I was getting decent PE with just the Radion Pro XR15w by itself, but now with the T5 added its on corals that weren't even showing much before!

As surprised as I am, I'm thinking of maybe just doing straight T5?
What do you guys think?

Anyone here go Radion Pro to T5HO?
If so, what're you results?

 

[BrentH]

I think t5 are he best

 

[Bpb]

I ran that combo for a couple years and loved it. Actually had a lot better sps growth and colors than I do now with 2x250 watt radiums on a bigger tank.

 

[lonzoencho]

I do Kessil/T5 combo and have better results than either alone.

 

[jminick2]

not surprising at all an xr15 isn't anywhere near enough light for sps on any 40g, if you are getting great PE the with t5/led why keep messing with it?

 

[golferbud101691]

getting ready to add some t5 to help my kessils. looking forward to more growth and color!

 

[Hentz]

not surprising at all an xr15 isn't anywhere near enough light for sps on any 40g, if you are getting great PE the with t5/led why keep messing with it?

I'm getting even more PE WITH T5 alone.

I just took off the Radion today to see how it was.

Also, its the Fusion 40 -- 24" x 15.5" x 19"
Not a full 40 that would usually be 36" long

 

[jminick2]

I'm getting even more PE WITH T5 alone.

I just took off the Radion today to see how it was.

Well I would keep it that way then.

 

[BrentH]

I recently switched from 9 mh 400 watt to 4 8x54 t5 fixtures my growth has exploded and colors are better imo I think it's the spread my tanks getting better light all he way through

 

[Hentz]

I recently switched from 9 mh 400 watt to 4 8x54 t5 fixtures my growth has exploded and colors are better imo I think it's the spread my tanks getting better light all he way through

Agreed with spread.

Honestly, I think if I had 3 radions over my tank that covered the spread of my layout, it'd be great.

But considering that its an XR15w with just 1 puck, everything is great, in a general area which is the middle.

With the T5, the 4-bulb fixture is 11" wide as the DT is 15" wide.
Really, I think the Radion XR15w is perfect for a smaller tank, as its currently just sitting over my BioCube 14 nicely.

But for SPS in the 40, I'd need that coverage.

 

[Hentz]

4 Bulb T5 or 6 Bulb for an SPS dominant 40 Fusion?

its 24x15x19

 

[Wazzel]

A single 15XP is not enough for a 40 breeder, need two to cover the length and they need to be run with the power up. I suspect like most people you were running them with the blues up, the whites down and the power cut back. That is what most advise.

 

[Hentz]

A single 15XP is not enough for a 40 breeder, need two to cover the length and they need to be run with the power up. I suspect like most people you were running them with the blues up, the whites down and the power cut back. That is what most advise.

Its a 40 Fusion IM tank, 24x15x19.
I was using Adam's schedule from BattleCorals

 

[USAFReefer]

24 LEDs over a 60G mounted 18" above the tank has no problems growing SPS corals on the sand bed for the past 7 years, so it's hard to imagine 21 LEDs not being enough for a 40G.

 

[Hentz]

24 LEDs over a 60G mounted 18" above the tank has no problems growing SPS corals on the sand bed for the past 7 years, so it's hard to imagine 21 LEDs not being enough for a 40G.

What LED's are you using?

 

[USAFReefer]

Really old ones, Cree XR-E's for blues and XP-G for whites.

 

[cleverbs]

Id say T5ho for all. IMO hybrid still needs the LED to spread through the whole tank in order to benefit from it.

 

[Hentz]

Id say T5ho for all. IMO hybrid still needs the LED to spread through the whole tank in order to benefit from it.

Starting to agree. My Radion would be great I feel like, I just can't get that coverage I want.

With the T5 though, 4 or 6 bulb?

 

[USAFReefer]

If it were me going with T5s I would go with 6 bulbs. I needed 6 bulbs over my 29G in order to get good SPS growth. I started with a 4 bulb fixture with ATI and Giesemann bulbs but it wasn't enough so I had to add another 2 bulb fixture.

 

[Breadman03]

Starting to agree. My Radion would be great I feel like, I just can't get that coverage I want.



With the T5 though, 4 or 6 bulb?

I have a single Gen 2 over my 40B QT tank. It's about 8" off the surface and while the entire tank looks nice, there's a lot of area that won't grow coral. That's how I want it so that I can acclimate corals to the Radion just by moving them on the eggcrate.