LED??? what to get opinions

[mckinleyw]

hey everyone I have a 220 gal display 72"longx 24"wide x 29" high. I am running 12 t5 bulbs on this thing right now and the cost of replacing bulbs is starting to show. I was thinking about upgrading to ecotech radions at like 3 to 4 fixtures. The cost of this is extremely expensive. So I am asking if there are other LED that will provide a coral reef tank with proper lighting with best control or do the radions give what they cost.

 

[SloppyJ]

There are plenty of options but many choose the radions for the features that they have, myself included.

To be honest, I hated them until I played with them enough to make my coral happy.. I'm still in that process but whatever you get, stick with it and don't give up.

 

[mckinleyw]

how many radions do u use sloppyj what size tank? im wondering about the spread of the light I don't know whether 3 would cover it or 4.

 

[joekool]

The ecotechs are nice but I don't feel they are worth the price tag. I have the same size tank and I use three other led lights. Check my thread and you will see them. I would check out reef breeders, ocean revive. There is another company which I used but I'm not recommending them anymore.

 

[Shep]

Take a look at the Kessil, Ocean Revive, Reef Breeders and Reef Radiance (last three are sponsors on R2R)

 

[SloppyJ]

how many radions do u use sloppyj what size tank? im wondering about the spread of the light I don't know whether 3 would cover it or 4.

I have one gen 3 pro over my 93g cube 30x30x24. May or June will mark 1 year for this tank and I'm just getting them dialed in. For the first 6 months I never messed with them though.

My footprint is exactly what ecotech says the maximum is. I am doing perfect with just one light. I also added the wide angle lenses. I am running at 70% intensity. I imagine I will get it up to 80-85%. This thing is surprisingly powerful. I had it maxed out for the longest time and I was super unhappy with the light. I backed it down to 60 and I'm working my way back up slowly.

Do you have braces on your tank? If so I would imagine there are two like a 180 giving you three spots to put a light. I think you would be fine with 3. Keep in mind my experience is with the pro model as well. I believe there is some PAR difference between that and the normal model.

 

[mckinleyw]

I have one gen 3 pro over my 93g cube 30x30x24. May or June will mark 1 year for this tank and I'm just getting them dialed in. For the first 6 months I never messed with them though.

My footprint is exactly what ecotech says the maximum is. I am doing perfect with just one light. I also added the wide angle lenses. I am running at 70% intensity. I imagine I will get it up to 80-85%. This thing is surprisingly powerful. I had it maxed out for the longest time and I was super unhappy with the light. I backed it down to 60 and I'm working my way back up slowly.

Do you have braces on your tank? If so I would imagine there are two like a 180 giving you three spots to put a light. I think you would be fine with 3. Keep in mind my experience is with the pro model as well. I believe there is some PAR difference between that and the normal model.

Thanks and yeah there are 2 cross braces. The pro models are what I was looking at difference is price y not pro. Thank u again.

 

[mckinleyw]

You're very welcome Azurel. Bryan is such a great guy and has been extremely generous to help me set this up so all gratitude really goes to him as he is just an awesome guy and a wonderful hobbyist :) I'll keep checking back....I still need to send my part of the payment but wanted to check in with Bryan first :)

I was looking at the kessils and Idk what the coverage area is. Or how many I would need to illuminate my 220.

 

[mckinleyw]

I was looking at the kessils and Idk what the coverage area is. Or how many I would need to illuminate my 220.

Sorry wrong quote lol

 

[jasonandsarah]

I was looking at the kessils and Idk what the coverage area is. Or how many I would need to illuminate my 220.

I started with "reef breeder" type leds and switched to kessils, wasn't happy overall with the kessils (mostly because of shadowing) so I switched to Gen 3 Radion Pro's and love them. I have a Sps dominant tank and things are growing great and color is spectacular.
With the wide angle tir lenses the Radions can light a 30" area.

 

[tigerdragon]

I really like the lumentek series that reef radiance brought back have a 360 pro over my frag tank which is 6' long covers all but last 6" on either side but that gives a low light area getting great growth