SPS dominate LED users

Terry4505

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I was running two Gen 3 Radions on my 120, mostly SPS. I wasn't really thrilled with the growth I was seeing. Lots of shadows, flesh was receding from the undersides of corals etc. I love the control-ability, the corals all pop, and the shimmer is beautiful.

I modded an old 8 bulb TEK light with 4 T5 bulbs that run 4 hours a day, and the 2 Radions and have been thrilled with the results:

20150201_151613_zpsig1xcy13.jpg


20150201_142903_zpsan2dufjb.jpg


2015-03-14%2016.06.48_zpsfoxi0yu3.jpg
 

Chaz D

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If you could have added two additional radions above your tank for the same price as the T5s, do you think you'd have gotten the same result? Beautiful tank by the way!
 

Terry4505

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Honestly, if I could have added 2 more Radions, I am not sure I would have. I really like the blending of color I get from the T5s. Not to mention, it would have cost me $1300 for two more Radions, when I was able to get the Tek light, and bulbs for $125...

I seriously could not be happier with the finished product. I have debated a 6' tank, and if I do, I plan on doing the same thing with a 6' T5 fixture.
 

Harold Green

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Last year I set up a 210 with about 500 watts of diy and chinese leds. Didn't really have any coral growth. I finally added another 500 watts of leds and then cut the whites back to about 20%. Corals have really begun to grow since then. The few mushrooms in the tank don't like the light and it's a little too bright for brown or green zoa's but the orange, red, pink zoa's are doing well. All my sps corals are encrusting and growing well. There are a few green and red led's in the mix and I think they tend to bring out the greens and oranges in the corals at least as far as viewing is concerned. I think the real problem with led's is they tend vary a great deal between fixtures. I would recommend that you put more than you think your tank requires on it and then cut back on the intensity until you get the best growth. My lfs has all their tanks led lite and they have some spectacular corals in the display that have been in there for a good while. Another near by lfs has only blue led's supplemented with t5's and the coral colors are fantastic but personally I wanted to get away from ballasts and florescent lamps and my tank remains around 78degrees without a chiller or additional fans.
 

hart24601

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Really just get the PAR where you want and enough coverage for shading and LEDs are easymode. I have had zero problem with SPS and LEDs, any issues I have had have been 100% my fault. I do think LED/T5 are a good combo, but I have no plans to add T5 to my tank and I really don't feel that any other lighting type would have any better performance.
 

gettaReef

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Really just get the PAR where you want and enough coverage for shading and LEDs are easymode. I have had zero problem with SPS and LEDs, any issues I have had have been 100% my fault. I do think LED/T5 are a good combo, but I have no plans to add T5 to my tank and I really don't feel that any other lighting type would have any better performance.


Sorry but I forgot....what led fixture(s) are you running?
 

WetWhistle

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I totally agree. I find most lighting today work. Some need more then others but they do work. It is really comes down to personal preference.
 

WetWhistle

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I was running two Gen 3 Radions on my 120, mostly SPS. I wasn't really thrilled with the growth I was seeing. Lots of shadows, flesh was receding from the undersides of corals etc. I love the control-ability, the corals all pop, and the shimmer is beautiful.

I modded an old 8 bulb TEK light with 4 T5 bulbs that run 4 hours a day, and the 2 Radions and have been thrilled with the results:

20150201_151613_zpsig1xcy13.jpg


20150201_142903_zpsan2dufjb.jpg


2015-03-14%2016.06.48_zpsfoxi0yu3.jpg

I like your hood mod job. Good idea.
 

Reefcowboy

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What ATi bulbs do u supplement with?
Three bulbs, two Actinic, one Blue+. I ran three actinic ones and sps colors were even better, but then replaced one for a blue+ To brighten the look of the tank for my overal taste. IMO actinic t5's do make a ton of difference if all other params are stable
 

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