Lighting a 36" tall tank with LEDs

ChrisColumbus · 10/28/2013, 03:16 PM

I'm in the planning stages of my first reef tank (been doing fresh water forever and the time has come to start my dream tank). I'm starting off FOWLR, but want the ability to grow into a reef tank soon thereafter.

Tank will be 84" or 90" long, 36" deep (front to back) and 36" tall.

It was suggested to me to use the EcoTech Radion XR30w Pro LED fixture. Anyone have experience with this fixture? I'm concerned about the depth of water and LEDs...though of course EcoTech says it would work well for my application. Any recommendations? Really trying to stay away from MH and high heat producing fixtures if at all possible.

GHill762 · 10/28/2013, 03:24 PM

I'd probably do reefbreeders LEDs with 60* optics..

radion pros are nice, but they're like $800 each, and you're going to need several.. also, the color from the reefbreeders is better.

asylumdown · 10/28/2013, 04:15 PM

Of the modular high-end units available, I think the radions are known for having the best punch at depth, so if that's the route you were going to go I'd say they'd probably be the right choice. However, as stated, for a tank that size you'd need at least 8 units if you wanted to be able to grow whatever you wanted wherever you wanted, maybe more if you really wanted lots of par at the sand bed. Marine Depot's got them on sale right now for $749 a fixture (normally $899), so you're looking at a minimum of 6 grand on lights. I spent less than that on my first car.

All depends on your priorities and your budget.

nanoreefer1000 · 10/28/2013, 04:18 PM

Evil Cluster DIY fixtures by far, they are meant to penetrate.

GHill762 · 10/29/2013, 07:13 AM

^evil cluster would work very well if you have DIY skills, may be the best option.. but, IMHO, reefbreeders would do the job with 60* optics, and have better color than the radion pro.

evolutionZ · 10/29/2013, 08:42 AM

agreed, reef breeders with tight optics.

ChrisColumbus · 10/29/2013, 11:48 AM

Thanks for the comments so far. Any thoughts on specific reef breeder fixture/spacing for 74"x36"x36" tank?...or any other suggestions for fixtures? Does anyone supplement LEDs with other light sources or 100% LED?

Ron99 · 10/29/2013, 12:31 PM

Another possibility to consider is a 5' Vertex Illumina 360 series fixture. Good spread and colour blending. Probably run you around $3500. Maybe another $400 or $500 if you want to add some multicolour or UV modules.

Unless you want to keep high light SPS at the bottom of the tank i wouldn't worry about optics or not. Keep your SPS in the top half and put LPS etc in the lower half.

10/28/2013, 03:16 PM	#1
ChrisColumbus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 41	Lighting a 36" tall tank with LEDs I'm in the planning stages of my first reef tank (been doing fresh water forever and the time has come to start my dream tank). I'm starting off FOWLR, but want the ability to grow into a reef tank soon thereafter. Tank will be 84" or 90" long, 36" deep (front to back) and 36" tall. It was suggested to me to use the EcoTech Radion XR30w Pro LED fixture. Anyone have experience with this fixture? I'm concerned about the depth of water and LEDs...though of course EcoTech says it would work well for my application. Any recommendations? Really trying to stay away from MH and high heat producing fixtures if at all possible.

10/28/2013, 04:18 PM	#4
nanoreefer1000 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area,CA Posts: 1,040	Evil Cluster DIY fixtures by far, they are meant to penetrate. __________________ 6 gallon reef

10/28/2013, 03:24 PM	#2
GHill762 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 226	I'd probably do reefbreeders LEDs with 60* optics.. radion pros are nice, but they're like $800 each, and you're going to need several.. also, the color from the reefbreeders is better.

10/28/2013, 04:15 PM	#3
asylumdown Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 437 Blog Entries: 5	Of the modular high-end units available, I think the radions are known for having the best punch at depth, so if that's the route you were going to go I'd say they'd probably be the right choice. However, as stated, for a tank that size you'd need at least 8 units if you wanted to be able to grow whatever you wanted wherever you wanted, maybe more if you really wanted lots of par at the sand bed. Marine Depot's got them on sale right now for $749 a fixture (normally $899), so you're looking at a minimum of 6 grand on lights. I spent less than that on my first car. All depends on your priorities and your budget.

10/29/2013, 07:13 AM	#5
GHill762 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 226	^evil cluster would work very well if you have DIY skills, may be the best option.. but, IMHO, reefbreeders would do the job with 60* optics, and have better color than the radion pro.

10/29/2013, 08:42 AM	#6
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	agreed, reef breeders with tight optics.

10/29/2013, 11:48 AM	#7
ChrisColumbus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 41	Thanks for the comments so far. Any thoughts on specific reef breeder fixture/spacing for 74"x36"x36" tank?...or any other suggestions for fixtures? Does anyone supplement LEDs with other light sources or 100% LED?

10/29/2013, 12:31 PM	#8
Ron99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: White Rock, BC, Canada Posts: 176	Another possibility to consider is a 5' Vertex Illumina 360 series fixture. Good spread and colour blending. Probably run you around $3500. Maybe another $400 or $500 if you want to add some multicolour or UV modules. Unless you want to keep high light SPS at the bottom of the tank i wouldn't worry about optics or not. Keep your SPS in the top half and put LPS etc in the lower half.