Been at reefing since August and I've tried different setups. Current usa got me, switched to kessil, now hydra. I prefer the hydra 32 for growth. Running the brs settings and spacing recommendations.
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I'm kinda surprised there haven't been more comments on this thread about these. Absolute best bang for your buck on any considerable footprint IMO
Do you know/did you measure the difference in PAR and Spectrum from your last installation to your current one?Have been running Stratons since they came out. Considered the Coral Cares as I think they are pretty similar as far as light output goes. Before the Stratons I ran V4's and liked them but they just didnt fit the layout of my new 180. Prior to the v4's I had a hybrid set up. I am absolutely amazed at the difference in both color blending and coral growth. I have had to more than double the amount of Alk and Ca dosing just to keep up with the increased demand that I can only attribute to the new lights.
Hi, I’m using the Mitra LX 7206 LED lights, these are the closest to the old M/H VHO combo I used for decades. Great color and spread, with the shimmer effect I would get with my old M/H’s.I'm currently running a radion G3 with an Aquatic Life T5 hybrid. It works just fine, but since I haven't bought LED's in a while I'm curious about what you guys think are the best ones on the market today. I know radions are still great, and I've also heard great things about the Straton and Phillips Coral Care. What are your favorite LED's on the market now and why?
I'm currently running a radion G3 with an Aquatic Life T5 hybrid. It works just fine, but since I haven't bought LED's in a while I'm curious about what you guys think are the best ones on the market today. I know radions are still great, and I've also heard great things about the Straton and Phillips Coral Care. What are your favorite LED's on the market now and why?
No, I do not know the PAR numbers. Anecdotally I think that they are at least equal. To mehe difference seems to be the diffuser on the Straton that results in a more even spread.Do you know/did you measure the difference in PAR and Spectrum from your last installation to your current one?
Do you know/did you measure the difference in PAR and Spectrum from your last installation to your current one?
This... I agree completelyHaven’t used them yet but planning on using the Orphek Atlantik for my next tank. The ones I’ve seen look great.
I only asked about the PAR difference from lighting to lighting to see if the new ATI light threw more PAR, and thats why your Ca and Alk uptake increased. I agree numbers are not the end all. I am more concerned with flow, because i run mu lights 12hours, so not good for the nuclear PAR option. I have a 180 coming in the next few months . Not that i could change lighting course at this point. I have 6 Kessil a360we’s here waiting. And ill add some fill light, havnt decided between the Orphek strips or Reef Brite’s yet.I started with:
4 Radion G4 Pro, neptune PMK gave me about 100 par 24" down off-center ran for 1.5yrs
Switched to 4 Orphek Atlantik and the reading went up to about 170, ran alone for about a yr
Added 2 250w Radiums in lumen max 3 reflectors and the reading went up to about 200-220 if I remember right (MH was in between Orphek 2/3 and 3/4). Current config for 1yr
The hobby for me is more about getting corals to grow than tracking par/flow/wattage numbers so take that with a grain of salt.
I never moved the PMK (always been on the right side of the tank on the sand 8" from the right wall) so the increases have as much to do with achieving better spread as they do with Orphek being weaker than Radiums.
The Radion G4 Pro was def much weaker and narrower than either the Orphek or the Radium. By a mile. I would have needed 6-8 of them to do what 4 Orphek or 3 Radiums would have done.
Big fan of the Orphek shimmer too!!Big fan of the Kessil shimmer
How high would you recommend mounting the Mitras. Any other settings recommendation? I am wondering if I should go with them for my next tank. I really like my XR15 G5 Blue with diffuser, but I am planning on a 3’ long tank next.I use the Mitra's LX 7206 lights, and of all the LED lights I have used these are by far the best, including the new Radion XR 30 Pro's I just installed on my sisters tank. Love the natural shimmer, and no disco ball effect, as the shimmer is just as good as my M/H's, and VHO's I use to run years ago.