Tank Coverage Question (Gen2)

[Cyzax]

I have access to 4 Gen2's and wondering if it would cover a 96 long x 40 front to back x 30 tall tank?

 

[mattgumaer]

For softies and LPS maybe. I wouldn't count on that lighting to do well with acropora. If you're looking to have acropora, I would consider: 1) doubling the number of radions and hanging them high above the tank; or 2) adding 8 4 foot t5s (so you have 2 rows of t5s in front of the radions and 2 rows behind. Just my two cents from struggling with acropora with 3 gen 2 pros over a 72x24x24 tank until supplementing with t5s. While I struggled with acropora, most everything else did great (LPS, montis, birdsnests, poccis, stylos). I think it is very, very helpful to have a par meter when using radions (and probably leds in general).

Matt

 

[androidx1]

I think the problem is not lumens or anything like that it is coverage and shading. as you prob know, LED's do not have great spread, and corals often suffer from shading issues........I have noticed in my old build (using DIY) that I my corals would always bleach out on the bottom side. This is because there isnt enough reflected light bouncing everywhere.

So on my new build....SCA 80 gallon (32 long x 24 wide x 24 deep) I am using two radions.

I am mounting them side by side, but in a front to back orientation. This will provide basically 4 points of light and using the wide angle lens should also help spread the light out to help avoid shading issues.

My feeling is 2 lights for every 36 inches should be enough to help with shading

 

[androidx1]

with the front to back width of your tank (40 inches) I would think you would need at least 6 radions to get good coverage.

I would mount them in 2 rows So you would either have 3 rows of 2

 

[mfinn]

I have access to 4 Gen2's and wondering if it would cover a 96 long x 40 front to back x 30 tall tank?

IMO to get good coverage you need 2 rows of 4 for a total of 8.

 

[androidx1]

6 should work, but 8 would be better

 

[Cyzax]

Thank you all for the input.

The tank has changed to 118x36(wide)x30(tall).

I'm going to start with 6 Radions with the wide lenses. I think this will be enough for awhile until I decide what coral(not a big fan of SPS) and placement?