Ecotech Radions --is there a lot of light spill

dg3147 · 09/25/2013, 06:59 PM

Getting ready to build a seahorse rimless 34g Cube (20x20x20) and I am pondering the best lighting. I am thinking about going all out and getting an Ecotech Radion. Will there be a lot of light spill?

Ron Reefman · 09/27/2013, 06:16 AM

Are you going to keep coral in the seahorse tank? If not, save your money and get a cheaper fixture. Seahorses don't need lights that grow coral. And a fixture that costs 20% of what the radion costs would work just as well (50% as much if you want a built-in controller) and would still allow for keeping coral.

The Radion will cover the 20" x 20" tank just fine if mounted about 6"-8" off the water. The higher you go the more light spillage you will get.

HurricaneSystem · 09/27/2013, 07:28 AM

There is not much light spill with the Radion Pro because of the TIR lenses. The other versions, not so sure.

dg3147 · 09/27/2013, 08:38 AM

More thinking about just creating the best light spectrum from a purely aesthetic point of view. The Radion has additional colors in it (vs blue/white) and thought it might look better. Do these really make any difference during the day?

I looked at the Elos MIDI light fixture and I am sort of thinking I might just mount one these lights on the tank --though for $700 bucks it seems pricey; though, I REALLLLLLY like the low profile slim look of these fixtures).

Not going to keep any branching sps --but will have some photosynthetic gorgonians, maybe zoas, etc.

mfinn · 09/27/2013, 08:48 AM

My gen 1 Radion is 9" above a 30" x 20" x 20" tank and I get none of what I consider light spill.
As I sit on my computer chair which places my head( eyes) 10" - 12" lower than the light, I can look at the tank without the glare of the leds.
I had another popular value led fixture on this tank for a couple weeks and got rid of it because of that light spill.
It was hard to look at the tank because of it.
I even tilted the fixture towards the back a few degrees, but couldn't really make it work for me.

BAETech2004 · 09/30/2013, 09:33 AM

A Radion is a Radion, nuff said. I notice no annoying light spill based on the new lens. Look for a gen 2, a pro, or a gen one that someone upgraded the lenses.Radions are hard to beat unless you DIY... They are pricey, but this is the nature of the beast in this hobby(usually). A Photon series light from Reefbreeders is much cheaper and would be more than enough for LPS and softies, heck even some easy SPS would be ok.

d2mini · 09/30/2013, 11:32 AM

You only have light spill if your light is too big for your tank.
Doesn't matter who makes it.

mfinn · 09/30/2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

You only have light spill if your light is too big for your tank.
Doesn't matter who makes it.

Not really true.
It also depends on the lens on the leds.
I had a 96 watt Reef Breeders value fixture ( with only enough 90 degree lens to hold the light in)which measure approx 16" x 8" at 9" over my 30" x 20" tank and I had alot of light spill. Enough that it was one of my reasons to sell it.

I now have a Radion over the same tank, same height and I am not getting the same light spill.

d2mini · 09/30/2013, 01:08 PM

Ok, then in your case the light was the correct size but your tank was not big enough.

mfinn · 09/30/2013, 01:17 PM

How do you figure that?

d2mini · 09/30/2013, 03:02 PM

It's not complicated.

If you have too much light, for your taste, passing over the edges of your tank and lighting up your floor, then said light is too big or has too much spread. It doesn't matter what's causing it (lenses, reflectors, etc).

I like less light around the edges of my tank because it gives me places to put coral or sponges that like less light. So i'd always opt for the slightly smaller fixture.

Because of this, not every light is going to work over one tank. For example, if 3 radions was too much over my tank but two was too little, I might have to forget radions and go with Mitras instead. The Radion itself doesn't have "too much spill".

mfinn · 09/30/2013, 03:36 PM

If there is light spill over the front of the tank, you are right, then the light fixture is not right for the tank.
I still believe that it has something to do with the leds not having lens on them.
And the way the Radions are mounted.

mfinn · 09/30/2013, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

It's not complicated.

If you have too much light, for your taste, passing over the edges of your tank and lighting up your floor, then said light is too big or has too much spread. It doesn't matter what's causing it (lenses, reflectors, etc). ".

After re-reading this, I may be talking about something different then you are.

What I'm talking about where I look at my tank as I sit at my computer.

When I had the Reef Breeder value fixture, eveytime I looked at the tank, the light from the leds would drill me straight in the eyes. I would look in the direction of the tank and it was like looking at the sun. ( maybe not as intense)
With the Radion fixture mounted in the same place I don't get that. At all.

d2mini · 09/30/2013, 07:19 PM

Ah, i see. I usually think of "spill" as in spilling out of the tank and onto the floor.

What you are experiencing probably has to do with how much the leds are inset into the fixture. That's my best guess, anyway.

09/25/2013, 06:59 PM	#1
dg3147 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,178	Ecotech Radions --is there a lot of light spill Getting ready to build a seahorse rimless 34g Cube (20x20x20) and I am pondering the best lighting. I am thinking about going all out and getting an Ecotech Radion. Will there be a lot of light spill? __________________ Elos 160XL \| Powermodule LED/T5 \| BK Double cone 200 \| Pasadena, CA Home page: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23482778#post23482778

09/27/2013, 06:16 AM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Are you going to keep coral in the seahorse tank? If not, save your money and get a cheaper fixture. Seahorses don't need lights that grow coral. And a fixture that costs 20% of what the radion costs would work just as well (50% as much if you want a built-in controller) and would still allow for keeping coral. The Radion will cover the 20" x 20" tank just fine if mounted about 6"-8" off the water. The higher you go the more light spillage you will get. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

09/27/2013, 08:38 AM	#4
dg3147 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,178	More thinking about just creating the best light spectrum from a purely aesthetic point of view. The Radion has additional colors in it (vs blue/white) and thought it might look better. Do these really make any difference during the day? I looked at the Elos MIDI light fixture and I am sort of thinking I might just mount one these lights on the tank --though for $700 bucks it seems pricey; though, I REALLLLLLY like the low profile slim look of these fixtures). Not going to keep any branching sps --but will have some photosynthetic gorgonians, maybe zoas, etc. __________________ Elos 160XL \| Powermodule LED/T5 \| BK Double cone 200 \| Pasadena, CA Home page: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23482778#post23482778

09/27/2013, 08:48 AM	#5
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	My gen 1 Radion is 9" above a 30" x 20" x 20" tank and I get none of what I consider light spill. As I sit on my computer chair which places my head( eyes) 10" - 12" lower than the light, I can look at the tank without the glare of the leds. I had another popular value led fixture on this tank for a couple weeks and got rid of it because of that light spill. It was hard to look at the tank because of it. I even tilted the fixture towards the back a few degrees, but couldn't really make it work for me. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

09/30/2013, 09:33 AM	#6
BAETech2004 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 135	A Radion is a Radion, nuff said. I notice no annoying light spill based on the new lens. Look for a gen 2, a pro, or a gen one that someone upgraded the lenses.Radions are hard to beat unless you DIY... They are pricey, but this is the nature of the beast in this hobby(usually). A Photon series light from Reefbreeders is much cheaper and would be more than enough for LPS and softies, heck even some easy SPS would be ok. __________________ "In a perfect world, the mental handicaped lead the blind." -Cyanide and Happiness Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon Shallow, Cutsom Stand, Nanobox T5/LED Hybrid, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Apex Controller, 20L Sump, Sicce 3.0 return

09/27/2013, 07:28 AM	#3
HurricaneSystem Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: TN Posts: 528 Blog Entries: 1	There is not much light spill with the Radion Pro because of the TIR lenses. The other versions, not so sure.

09/30/2013, 11:32 AM	#7
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	You only have light spill if your light is too big for your tank. Doesn't matter who makes it. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

09/30/2013, 01:08 PM	#9
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Ok, then in your case the light was the correct size but your tank was not big enough. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

09/30/2013, 01:17 PM	#10
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	How do you figure that? __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

09/30/2013, 03:02 PM	#11
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	It's not complicated. If you have too much light, for your taste, passing over the edges of your tank and lighting up your floor, then said light is too big or has too much spread. It doesn't matter what's causing it (lenses, reflectors, etc). I like less light around the edges of my tank because it gives me places to put coral or sponges that like less light. So i'd always opt for the slightly smaller fixture. Because of this, not every light is going to work over one tank. For example, if 3 radions was too much over my tank but two was too little, I might have to forget radions and go with Mitras instead. The Radion itself doesn't have "too much spill". __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

09/30/2013, 03:36 PM	#12
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	If there is light spill over the front of the tank, you are right, then the light fixture is not right for the tank. I still believe that it has something to do with the leds not having lens on them. And the way the Radions are mounted. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank Last edited by mfinn; 09/30/2013 at 04:00 PM.

09/30/2013, 07:19 PM	#14
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Ah, i see. I usually think of "spill" as in spilling out of the tank and onto the floor. What you are experiencing probably has to do with how much the leds are inset into the fixture. That's my best guess, anyway. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.