Mine are at 10" with the problem...I have the exact same issue with my reefbreeders and I have even removed the optics. I don't think we can get around this. The lights are too direct. Tubular lights definitely spread a lot more due to their shape and there reflectors. Only thing I can think of, as in my case, would be to raise the lights a bit more to get more spread. I only have mine about 8 inches above water so I think I will try 12-14 inches next.
No problems with visual spread. I have two photon 32's over my 210gal (standard 6ft tank) so I'm overkill on coverage already.You have no shadowing?
Isn't your die off due to shadowing?I kinda on the fence with leds and thinking of trying a mh setup (probably 250w x3 running either radiums or Phoenix 14k on m80 ballasts) here if things don't get better. Really my main issue with led is the die off on the base of corals and the slower growth vs mh. A little more in electricity and paying for new bulbs won't bother me if the growth improves dramatically...
Isn't your die off due to shadowing?
Why wouldn't Kessel or radions have the issue? Same direct led tech right?Its more related to the reef breeders and not so much with kessel or radions.
I have to disagree with everything you just said.I,d imagine shadowing is even worse with radion and such led units where the LEDs are close together. IMO the best way to overcome shadowing is to not use optics and spread the LEDs out over the surfice as much as possible.
Your better off using multiple units run at lower intensity rather than one or two at high intensity.
If you have a 4" tank and running a 32" reef reeder on it your going to get shadowing and a lot of low light areas all around the edge. Your better off having 3 or 4 18" reef breeders mounted sideways.
I'm surprised nobody has linked to the August TOTM yet. Its a beautiful tank using only cool white and royal blue LEDs.
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Thank you. My mandarin has kept me from treating the tank or adding any fish to help with the bugs. I have to say the growth and color is good so I'm in no rush. This tank is pushing the 5 year mark and I'll likely be upgrading within the next year or two. I'll likely deal with the RBs when the upgrade comes.
I have to disagree with everything you just said.[/QUOTE
Fine, but can you explain how a single point light source (Radion, kessil) can overcome shadowing???
They are basically wide angled spotlights or torches.
Shine a torch on an object at night and everything behind the object will be in shadow. Place two torches some distance apart, but both pointing at the object and the shadow cause by each torch get illuminated by the other. Simple physics! Scale this up to multiple light sources and you virtually remove any shadow.
Thats why T5 tubes give very little shadow. They basically have an infinite number of points of light.
Just an FYI, I had red bugs and a fat Mandarin. I treated three weeks in a row, and while my Mandarin had a harder time finding food, three months later now he is getting fatter, and finding more food. once you nuke, throw in a fresh clump up chaeto from a local reefer, and watch those pods reproduce like mad. Don't let a Mandarin hold you back, they will be fine.
The outcome from killing RB was HUGE almost overnight on all of my SPS.