How to add T5's to my Radion LED set up?

b7fig · 01/14/2015, 11:22 AM

I've got a 72" long 24" wide/24" deep 180 gallon open top SPS tank with 3 Radion Gen 3's going long ways across the top hung from my ceiling 12" above my tank.

The SPS are getting bigger and I'm needing more light to help with shadowing. I know I could add a 4th radion and turn them front to back and that would help, but I'm leaning towards adding some T5.

However, not sure the best way to do that. I can't set them on the tank with a stand because that would block the LED lights. Most of the hanging ones seem very wide and not sure 12" off the tank for T5 to match my radions would be okay and not sure how that would work. The longest T5 is 60", but my tank is 72" long. I guess at 60" centered wouldn't be a big deal since I really don't have any corals 6" from the end of either side. I'm just looking for ideas or suggestions and it has to look clean and sleek due to wife issues. (And I'm no master wood worker or electrician!)

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Brian

cody6766 · 01/14/2015, 02:00 PM

I found an 8 bulb light for my 120g that I'm going to modify. I"m going to remove the middle two or four bulbs and their reflectors and pop my Kessil A350s through it. I'm sure you can do something similar, or buy a pair of 2 bulb fixtures and hang them in front of, and behind the LEDs. You may be able to find 72" lights that use two smaller sized T5s set end to end.

swclown · 01/14/2015, 02:36 PM

I have 3 AI Hydra 52s on a 155. I 'm about to add a fourth when I upgrade to my 240 gallon. I was thinking of adding T5s to compliment but like you I have no where to put them. They will either block the LEDs or will look out of place. I'm currently thinking of adding two kessils with wide output lenses and the mount on the back option.

b7fig · 02/03/2015, 01:23 PM

Any other suggestions?

myram · 02/03/2015, 05:04 PM

It's much easier with a canopy as you can see, that's my setup over my tank.

You could make some metal arms and mount them off of the Radions, and then mount the T5 to them. Paint the metal black, use the Radion mounting bolts to hold them in place, and use a T5 retro kit.

machodik · 02/03/2015, 05:59 PM

T5 at 12" above water level , is this ok? I have 2 Kessil 360WE and I also wanted to add T5 but worrying about the high of T5 as my Kessill also hanging 12" above the water level too

sbeason · 02/03/2015, 08:19 PM

You could go with 6' vho's just as easy.

LinkinReef · 02/03/2015, 08:42 PM

This is what I did. Looks a bit ghetto but it's hidden by a canopy. I just used some 1x3 to attach it all and I have absolutely no carpentry experience lol.

b7fig · 02/06/2015, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinkinReef

This is what I did. Looks a bit ghetto but it's hidden by a canopy. I just used some 1x3 to attach it all and I have absolutely no carpentry experience lol.

If I had a canopy, that would be perfect, but I don't and my wife would never let that fly! She's already warned me!!!

LinkinReef · 02/07/2015, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b7fig

If I had a canopy, that would be perfect, but I don't and my wife would never let that fly! She's already warned me!!!

You could always do a "floating" canopy. That's what I did. I still need to hide the wires but it'll look all clean. Literally took me about an hour to do it. I just used some coroplast and spray painted it. Right now it's hanging from the conduit tube but eventually I'll hand it to the light's frame.

01/14/2015, 11:22 AM	#1
b7fig Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 250	How to add T5's to my Radion LED set up? I've got a 72" long 24" wide/24" deep 180 gallon open top SPS tank with 3 Radion Gen 3's going long ways across the top hung from my ceiling 12" above my tank. The SPS are getting bigger and I'm needing more light to help with shadowing. I know I could add a 4th radion and turn them front to back and that would help, but I'm leaning towards adding some T5. However, not sure the best way to do that. I can't set them on the tank with a stand because that would block the LED lights. Most of the hanging ones seem very wide and not sure 12" off the tank for T5 to match my radions would be okay and not sure how that would work. The longest T5 is 60", but my tank is 72" long. I guess at 60" centered wouldn't be a big deal since I really don't have any corals 6" from the end of either side. I'm just looking for ideas or suggestions and it has to look clean and sleek due to wife issues. (And I'm no master wood worker or electrician!) Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Brian

01/14/2015, 02:00 PM	#2
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	I found an 8 bulb light for my 120g that I'm going to modify. I"m going to remove the middle two or four bulbs and their reflectors and pop my Kessil A350s through it. I'm sure you can do something similar, or buy a pair of 2 bulb fixtures and hang them in front of, and behind the LEDs. You may be able to find 72" lights that use two smaller sized T5s set end to end. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

02/03/2015, 01:23 PM	#4
b7fig Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 250	Any other suggestions? __________________ What, not again! Current Tank Info: 40g Innovative Marine. Mixed reef. Radion XR30 Pro. Vortech 10 Quitedrives. Reef link. Apex controller. 180 gal acrylic. FOWLR. 30g sump. K1 Kalk Stirrer. LifeReef SVS@2-24 protein skimmer. Carbon dosing

02/03/2015, 05:59 PM	#6
machodik Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 1,225	T5 at 12" above water level , is this ok? I have 2 Kessil 360WE and I also wanted to add T5 but worrying about the high of T5 as my Kessill also hanging 12" above the water level too __________________ MD I love Taiwan, a free democratic independent country. Current Tank Info: 90cmx60cmx60cm (420 liters total volume), 12mm thick tampered glass aquariums , Eheim compact +5000, Jns SK2 protein skimmer, T5 x 4 x39 watt (2 blue , 2 white), MP40WES, SEIO 1000, TLF 150 2 + 550 1

02/03/2015, 08:42 PM	#8
LinkinReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 987	This is what I did. Looks a bit ghetto but it's hidden by a canopy. I just used some 1x3 to attach it all and I have absolutely no carpentry experience lol. __________________ 34g

01/14/2015, 02:36 PM	#3
swclown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 507	I have 3 AI Hydra 52s on a 155. I 'm about to add a fourth when I upgrade to my 240 gallon. I was thinking of adding T5s to compliment but like you I have no where to put them. They will either block the LEDs or will look out of place. I'm currently thinking of adding two kessils with wide output lenses and the mount on the back option.

02/03/2015, 05:04 PM	#5
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	It's much easier with a canopy as you can see, that's my setup over my tank. You could make some metal arms and mount them off of the Radions, and then mount the T5 to them. Paint the metal black, use the Radion mounting bolts to hold them in place, and use a T5 retro kit.

02/03/2015, 08:19 PM	#7
sbeason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lake St Louis, MO Posts: 1,391	You could go with 6' vho's just as easy.