60 inch lighting dilemma. LED/T5 Help

[Scizzle]

I'm setting up an odd sized 60" long 110 gallon oceanic reef tank with the weird glass center brace. I don't know if I should go with LEDs or T5's. Do I get Radion's or Ai's sols. Or do I just stick with an ATI 8x80w 60 inch set up or two smaller T5's equalling 60 inches. I don't want to get metal halide's because they're too hot.

If I could get away with two Radions or AI sols that would be cool but I'd imagine I need at least 3 prob 4 which at 750 a piece for the Radions is too expensive. I'd like to be able to have anything that I can buy or trade so it would be a mixed reef. Ultimately I'd like LEDs but if it's not worth it then I'd get the T5's.

I know Mr. saltwater tank had 2 Radion's on his 48 inch 90 gallon tank. He ran them parallel to the length of the tank and he has an SPS heavy tank and he's*had no issues with it after two or three months and has had full color and growth seeing no change between his metal halides and the new LEDs. Give me your opinions guys I'm having a dilemma on what to do? I've been trying to make a decision but need some input.

[Mock]

If your pockets are deep enough for LED's on a 60" tank.... Radions are the way to go... Then again not everyone's pockets are that deep...

[Scizzle]

That is part of my question. Going $2000+ is too much. I could go 1500 for 2 but I don't know if that's enough light?

[Scizzle]

Bump

[aqua80]

I would get a 48inch ati sunpower over that tank...
2 radions won't cover it good...

[aleonn]

I went with Tek Lights (8 x 80W 60" fixture) for my tank. If I had money, I'd go with ATI. If I had even more money, I'd get a few Radions.

[reefermad619]

Can u DIY? If to can, you could easily build a fixture similar to a radion for probably <$400.

[Scizzle]

I wouldn't do the DIY I'd screw something up and have the wrong spectrum or something haha. And kill all my stuff.

@aleonn so if money wasn't an issue you'd go radion? Why?

[reefermad619]

Haha! Better to know your limitations ahead of time. If I had a choice, I'd go with AIs. Cheaper than a radian. I just can't see paying 750 for a fixture. Especially when I know I could DIY one myself for almost half the cost. Plus for a littler more than the radion, you could get two AIs.

[wooki]

Why not go with some chinese LED's? Someone I know has these eshine (http://www.eshinegrow.com/) units from Hong Kong and his growth is excellent. They use the exact same CREE LEDs as the aquaillumination. They have new 4G units now where you can get 108 W for $175. They don't have it on their website now, but you can just ask for a price list. I'm probably be going to go with these for my new build.

[Scizzle]

I can't visit the the Chinese website?

[Dr Colliebreath]

Originally Posted by Scizzle

I'm setting up an odd sized 60" long 110 gallon oceanic reef tank with the weird glass center brace. I don't know if I should go with LEDs or T5's. Do I get Radion's or Ai's sols. Or do I just stick with an ATI 8x80w 60 inch set up or two smaller T5's equalling 60 inches.

That is not odd-sized, it is a great tank. In fact, it is the one I have.

I have wondered the same things about the right lighting for the tank. I can't help you on the lights as I have only dabbled in corals and don't have any right now due to the tastes of my butterflyfish. However, are you sure that 2 Radions won't do? I have seen conflicting indications of coverage - both 24" and 30" per light. It seems to me that you would get pretty good coverage with 2 Radions slightly closer together than evenly spaced, and at worst you might have reduced light in the outer 3" of each side of the tank.

Do you use your lids or have the tank open? I use the lids and am running 260 watts of power compacts. The glass for the lids and brace are supposed to be special glass that transmits light getter than regular glass - hence the greenish tint. I have wondered if the brace and the lids interfere enough with the light to require additional power.

[Scizzle]

Originally Posted by Dr Colliebreath

That is not odd-sized, it is a great tank. In fact, it is the one I have.

I have wondered the same things about the right lighting for the tank. I can't help you on the lights as I have only dabbled in corals and don't have any right now due to the tastes of my butterflyfish. However, are you sure that 2 Radions won't do? I have seen conflicting indications of coverage - both 24" and 30" per light. It seems to me that you would get pretty good coverage with 2 Radions slightly closer together than evenly spaced, and at worst you might have reduced light in the outer 3" of each side of the tank.

Do you use your lids or have the tank open? I use the lids and am running 260 watts of power compacts. The glass for the lids and brace are supposed to be special glass that transmits light getter than regular glass - hence the greenish tint. I have wondered if the brace and the lids interfere enough with the light to require additional power.

I would in fact love it if I could just use 2. It just seems that most people suggest 3. I don't have the tank setup yet but I am gonna run it open no lid. I wonder about the light passing through the brace as well. That is why I have been in such a quandary. If I did get them do I run them left to right or front to back? And so on...

[rtparty]

2 Radions isn't going to cover 60". Ecotech has been very upfront and honest that they only cover a 24x24 area. PAR readings from SkullV have also confirmed this.

On a 60" tank you will want 3 units if you plan on SPS throughout the tank.

I would go with a 48" ATI Sunpower and have it sit about 8" over the water. You will get plenty of spread this way and plenty of light.

LEDs are very hit and miss. Do you really want to sit around and wait for your tank to acclimate to LEDs? I am at 10 months with my LEDs and things are still up in the air. Some of my corals are doing good and others haven't grown at all in 10 months.

I don't care how much money I can save with LEDs (actually I don't think I will ever see my money back with LEDs. My heater runs way too much now with no added heat from the lights.)

I would rather spend the extra $5/month on electricity to see growth and better colors. After all I am in this hobby to enjoy it, not tinker around and hope things work.

[Scizzle]

Originally Posted by rtparty

2 Radions isn't going to cover 60". Ecotech has been very upfront and honest that they only cover a 24x24 area. PAR readings from SkullV have also confirmed this.

On a 60" tank you will want 3 units if you plan on SPS throughout the tank.

I would go with a 48" ATI Sunpower and have it sit about 8" over the water. You will get plenty of spread this way and plenty of light.

LEDs are very hit and miss. Do you really want to sit around and wait for your tank to acclimate to LEDs? I am at 10 months with my LEDs and things are still up in the air. Some of my corals are doing good and others haven't grown at all in 10 months.

I don't care how much money I can save with LEDs (actually I don't think I will ever see my money back with LEDs. My heater runs way too much now with no added heat from the lights.)

I would rather spend the extra $5/month on electricity to see growth and better colors. After all I am in this hobby to enjoy it, not tinker around and hope things work.

I have no doubt T5's work well, but I like the control that comes with the LED's. When you say they are hit or miss do you mean your ecoxotic LED's? Have you even owned AI Sols or the Ecotech Radions? Have you tested any other LED's than the ones you own? Thanks for the input on the 48" t5's I'll definitely keep that in mind. Oh 6x54w or 8x54w? I'm guessing 8.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by Scizzle

I have no doubt T5's work well, but I like the control that comes with the LED's. When you say they are hit or miss do you mean your ecoxotic LED's? Have you even owned AI Sols or the Ecotech Radions? Have you tested any other LED's than the ones you own? Thanks for the input on the 48" t5's I'll definitely keep that in mind. Oh 6x54w or 8x54w? I'm guessing 8.

I've used a rapidled par38 bulb and some of the first LEDs that the hobby ever saw in the Current Powerbrite strips. I have 3 LFS right around me that use LEDs on some of their tanks. I've heard the success and failures from all of them. They all use different systems. One has the AIs, Radions and Ecoxotic. One has Acan lighting and Ecoxotic and some other no name cheap fixture. The other uses mostly the ReefKoi version but has some others as well.

You can also read countless threads on here of people who fail with LEDs. You can read countless threads of people succeeding as well. Again they are hit and miss for people. Could most of the failures be user error? Likely but if a technology is that inconsistent and tempramental, it may not be the best available for most hobbyists.

[Linkfalcon]

Lol I have the same tank I'm running a nova extreme 48 inch 6 bulb lol

[Scizzle]

I ended up getting 2 Radions. After 14 months or so, I have successfully grown Lps, sps, softies and polyps. Even though they say they won't cover. I tilted the light inward and have had great success.

[raynist]

Look at reefbreeders. They have a forum on here. You could get 2 24 inch fixtures for well under $700 that would work perfectly.

[Windirmere]

Look up the Ai Vega

[Linkfalcon]

Lol I have the same tank

[leveldrummer]

Originally Posted by Linkfalcon

Lol I have the same tank I'm running a nova extreme 48 inch 6 bulb lol

Originally Posted by Linkfalcon

Lol I have the same tank