LED lighting for 30x30x12" sps dominate tank

SteveNMegz · 05/07/2016, 07:50 PM

Hey guys,

Will be setting up a new 30x30x12 tank in the near future, just making the equipment list now.

We were originally thinking an ecotech radion 15pro. the 15 is ideal for a 24x24" tank but due to the depth I'm guessing I could raise the light a few more inches to gain more coverage and just up the light intensity if necessary as from what ive read most people are not running them much higher than 50% anyway.

What's everyone's thoughts? Suggestions? Alternatives?

gus6464 · 05/07/2016, 09:21 PM

No matter what ecotech tells you an XR15 Pro would never be able to keep SPS on a 24x24 area. Radion is horrible with shadowing. Do yourself a favor and just get an 8x24W Sunpower.

j_mazzy · 05/07/2016, 09:26 PM

I just purchased an orion sl-65. you would go up a size or two. not much info on them but the tech sheet looks good.

Uncle Luke · 05/08/2016, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gus6464

No matter what ecotech tells you an XR15 Pro would never be able to keep SPS on a 24x24 area. Radion is horrible with shadowing. Do yourself a favor and just get an 8x24W Sunpower.

agreed

oreo57 · 05/08/2016, 07:34 AM

Keep in mind the 2 "flavors" of Radions.
Wider optics fit a shallower tank better..

Hentz · 05/08/2016, 09:03 AM

You're doing SPS dominant with LED on a 30x30 tank. Without s doubt you're going to wanna use two LED's.

Why don't you use two Hydra 26 HD's? I'm running those two on a 36" SPS system perfectly. I just added 3 T5's only because a guy was selling a nice canopy super cheap.

SteveNMegz · 05/09/2016, 06:45 PM

I hear you guys about the t5's. I've always had luck on old tanks with t5's but I really wanted to go led on this one due to the colour variation, programming, energy effieceny, and most of all not have to replace expensive bulbs.

The reason I was going with the xr15pro was due to the features it provides. But maybe if I went with a cheaper alternative I would be able to buy two and angle one towards the back of the tank and another toward the front of the tank to eliminate shadowing somewhat.

But will this really be so much of a concern on a 12" deep tank???

Bpb · 05/09/2016, 07:05 PM

Agree with the aforementioned 2 x hydra26 units. The single radion would have too much shadowing on the outsides for my tastes. I find it important for branching sps colonies to have light hitting them from all angles. Yes with a single light, the entirety of the sandbed will be lit up, but with the line of sight principle, a good portion of each colony will only be getting reflected sandbed light.

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05/07/2016, 07:50 PM	#1
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	LED lighting for 30x30x12" sps dominate tank Hey guys, Will be setting up a new 30x30x12 tank in the near future, just making the equipment list now. We were originally thinking an ecotech radion 15pro. the 15 is ideal for a 24x24" tank but due to the depth I'm guessing I could raise the light a few more inches to gain more coverage and just up the light intensity if necessary as from what ive read most people are not running them much higher than 50% anyway. What's everyone's thoughts? Suggestions? Alternatives? __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

05/08/2016, 07:34 AM	#5
oreo57 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1,793	Keep in mind the 2 "flavors" of Radions. Wider optics fit a shallower tank better.. Last edited by oreo57; 05/08/2016 at 07:42 AM.

05/08/2016, 09:03 AM	#6
Hentz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 2,016	You're doing SPS dominant with LED on a 30x30 tank. Without s doubt you're going to wanna use two LED's. Why don't you use two Hydra 26 HD's? I'm running those two on a 36" SPS system perfectly. I just added 3 T5's only because a guy was selling a nice canopy super cheap. __________________ A Reef in the Desert: 120 Gallon (4x2x2) - MP40 x2 - Gyre 130 - ATI Sunpower - Simplicity Pump/Skimmer - Controlled by Apex

05/09/2016, 06:45 PM	#7
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	I hear you guys about the t5's. I've always had luck on old tanks with t5's but I really wanted to go led on this one due to the colour variation, programming, energy effieceny, and most of all not have to replace expensive bulbs. The reason I was going with the xr15pro was due to the features it provides. But maybe if I went with a cheaper alternative I would be able to buy two and angle one towards the back of the tank and another toward the front of the tank to eliminate shadowing somewhat. But will this really be so much of a concern on a 12" deep tank??? __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

05/07/2016, 09:21 PM	#2
gus6464 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,079	No matter what ecotech tells you an XR15 Pro would never be able to keep SPS on a 24x24 area. Radion is horrible with shadowing. Do yourself a favor and just get an 8x24W Sunpower.

05/07/2016, 09:26 PM	#3
j_mazzy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: about an hour from charlotte Posts: 622	I just purchased an orion sl-65. you would go up a size or two. not much info on them but the tech sheet looks good.

05/09/2016, 07:05 PM	#8
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Agree with the aforementioned 2 x hydra26 units. The single radion would have too much shadowing on the outsides for my tastes. I find it important for branching sps colonies to have light hitting them from all angles. Yes with a single light, the entirety of the sandbed will be lit up, but with the line of sight principle, a good portion of each colony will only be getting reflected sandbed light. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk