Radion G3 Pro vs ATI SunPower 24"

[Vapour1ze]

Hi all, I've had the G3 Pro for about 6 months now, while growth and color is ok, I feel I could do better...

I've seen a lot of nice T5 combination setups and never ran one, I've always been either MH or LED.

I really am considering the switch.

Someone convince me.

[cleverbs]

go MH/t5ho

get a MH with 4 T5ho's

I just did that after running LED. I am saying Peace to LED for now because like you I think the growth could be a lot better.

[Vapour1ze]

fixture recommendation?

Going over 93 cube... rimless, I want a nice look... I don't have a canopy to hide ugliness....

[jminick2]

no such thing as a nice look with t5 and MH they are too bulky, you just have one g3 over a 93?

[Vapour1ze]

Isn't that the truth, maybe I'll just change up settings on my G3 and see what I can come up with.


thanks

[jminick2]

you could try supplementing with some kessils they are nice lights. I think one radion on 93g cube might be stretching it as far enough light.

[Vapour1ze]

I have them at 95% intensity, without running WHITES over like 20%, maybe I should boost up my whites a bit? I'm also not running Red or Green over like 15%...

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Also, I am using the wide angle TIR on RMS.

[clownfish123321]

Would one radion be enough for a 40 g breeder?

[jminick2]

Would one radion be enough for a 40 g breeder?

yes. spread is 24x24 with wide angle they say you can go as far as 36 but I wouldn't do much more than 30.

[jminick2]

I have them at 95% intensity, without running WHITES over like 20%, maybe I should boost up my whites a bit? I'm also not running Red or Green over like 15%...

​​
Also, I am using the wide angle TIR on RMS.

yeah boost the whites is it a pro? whats the the dimensions on that tank

[itzonlithai]

The whites are what is going to give you that full spectrum and you can fine tune with the reds and greens to your preference. I'd turn them up and see how your corals respond. If it were me I'd have at least two fixtures over a 93 cube. The dimensions make it hard to light with one light

[Vapour1ze]

Cool, I'll bump the whites up tonight. Colors are good, some corals look good, some look like not enough light. I'll play with it tonight a bit.

Thanks

[Tattoocean]

Have you checked out Kessil.com? They have a lot of video feed from stores that have been using them for a while and seem to really dig them. The cost is a little steep but the results will pay for itself in time id expect. Most use the a350w on their tanks and a few use a150w depending on what you prefer. With checking out the stats I tend to lean towards the a150w because Ive had success with growth from 10k T5's and that model is comparable. A fellow refer is switching to MH because he said he should be getting 1/2'' growth on sps a month not every 3 months he's getting from the LED's. Believe he has 2 ecotech 183w piece if that sounds correct... If I would recommend I would say Kessil
a350w.

[Vapour1ze]

I have, I have a Kessil A160WE on my frag tank, and like it a lot!

I think I'm going to play with the radion a bit more, I am getting way more than 1/2" / mo on SPS. Easy.
:)

I'll stick with my Radion.

Thanks!

[Hitch08]

If I may ask, why did you switch to the radion if you were doing so well with the Kessil?

[Vapour1ze]

The kessil is in the basement, over the frag tank, I bought it last month when it came out. I've had the radion for over 6 months. I like the radion, a lot, I just get shading and weird issues sometimes.... Out of the 40+ corals I have, I've lost maybe 2 or 3 due to random issues, (not lighting)

I just feel like colors werent popping as they should and look a bit dull.

[Spartanman22]

I had a kessil on my 25 gallon cube and switched to a 250 watt reefbrite combo pendant and love it. 250w radium plus 2 reefbrite xhos equals perfection! Corals responded tremendously after the switch.

[Hitch08]

The kessil is in the basement, over the frag tank, I bought it last month when it came out. I've had the radion for over 6 months. I like the radion, a lot, I just get shading and weird issues sometimes.... Out of the 40+ corals I have, I've lost maybe 2 or 3 due to random issues, (not lighting)

I just feel like colors werent popping as they should and look a bit dull.

Thanks for the information!

[TAZ_67]

no such thing as a nice look with t5 and MH they are too bulky, you just have one g3 over a 93?

Really? what about this... http://www.giesemann.de/431,2,HQI%20&%20T5,.html I know they are expensive but let's not be exclusive.

The ATI hybrids T5/LED are nice also. I love my ATI T5 fixtures. Tank of the month is running them.

[Mark426]

Like has been posted...I would definitely add another Radion and while you at it bump up the whites. I would think you have lots of shadowing. Go for the 14k setting for at least a few hours each day.

Another alternative is the 8 lamp ATI Hybrid.

[bmullikin1]

Consider using wide angle lenses, much better spread w/o as much shadows, but do lose some par, maybe do like i did , bought cheap ebay t5, gutted it except for outer 2 t5s the put radions in middle, like it alot.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m202/bmullikin1/dsa105002.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/bmullikin1/media/dsa105002.jpg.html)
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m202/bmullikin1/samscellpics063.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/bmullikin1/media/samscellpics063.jpg.html)

[jminick2]

Really? what about this... http://www.giesemann.de/431,2,HQI%20&%20T5,.html I know they are expensive but let's not be exclusive.

The ATI hybrids T5/LED are nice also. I love my ATI T5 fixtures. Tank of the month is running them.
Yea I don't like it.

[Reef Frog]

There is an informative thread in the SPS forum right now on high end LED lighting. It starts out as kind of a breathless partisan debate, but later on there are some thoughtful ideas on how to address issues like intensity settings, light spread, spectrum choice, hot spots, shading, insufficient coverage, mounting height and more that are peculiar & specific of Gen 3 puck fixtures.

The take aways for me were

-There are so many options and users sometimes start with a poor combination of choices & compound the problem with frequent changes.
-Some problems were rooted in NOT having enough fixtures over the tank, despite manufacturers' recommendation. This was surprising.
-In many Gen3 lit tanks, the light is hitting the bottom in an extremely uneven manner with hot spots, low intensity spots & different unblended spectrums side by side. The unidirectional nature of LED light is delivered so differently than MH & T5.
- All these variables are a challenge to combine in the optimum manner.
- These challenges can be overcome. It's harder to change to LED lighting on an established successful tank than it is starting with LED from scratch.

As I contemplate my next build, I really want to go with a high end LED system, but my first and really only concern is that the corals grow and look their best. Everything else is secondary, including the money. So I am still on the fence.

[reefanatik]

The kessil is in the basement, over the frag tank, I bought it last month when it came out. I've had the radion for over 6 months. I like the radion, a lot, I just get shading and weird issues sometimes.... Out of the 40+ corals I have, I've lost maybe 2 or 3 due to random issues, (not lighting)

I just feel like colors werent popping as they should and look a bit dull.

I also have the radion pro g3 with the wide angle lens over a 93 cube. I really like mine but only have a TEK T5 that I used on my 90g to compare them to. I started off with the radiant color setting and although I saw some coral growth i would love more growth so I changed to the high growth setting at 80%. I change fit about a week ago so I will see how that works out.

[kenpau]

Go for the 14k setting for at least a few hours each day.

+1 here. I have AI Hydra52s which I'd say are similar to Radions in terms of output. I run mine at the preset 14k setting and am getting very good growth. It's hard to get settings right with LEDs by eye as we can't see whats happening with the full spectrum. Try the 14k setting and see how you go, you may have to add another unit to get sufficient lighting though.

[Vapour1ze]

Thanks! How many hours at 14k?

[Mark426]

Thanks! How many hours at 14k?

Me...I would give it at least 4-6 hours. If you like a different look, run the 14K that EcoTech has pre-programmed while you normally dont view your tank. A total "lights on" for 10 hours or so. I would seriously consider adding an additional unit. EcoTech, for some unknown reason recommends WAY to few lights.

[dkeller_nc]

I'll second/third/fourth the thought of one Radion Gen3 not being enough for a 30" x 30" footprint, even with wide-angle lenses. As others noted, it's not so much a lack of intensity as it is coverage - the point-source nature of modular LED fixtures means that you're going to have shading issues with one fixture.

If you decide to switch to T5HO, I personally think the ATI fixtures look quite nice. Over your tank, I'd suggest the 8-bulb SunPower fixture. Another alternative would be the Hamilton Belize Sun 2xT5HO/ 250w D.E. MH fixture; it's 36" long, so will exceed your tank's long dimension by 3" in both directions, but hung 12" over the water's surface, I wouldn't think that would be noticeable. Perhaps a better dimensional fit for your tank would be the Hamilton Cebu Sun 4xT5HO/ 250w Mogul MH fixture.

All of these fixtures would be about the same or a bit less $$ than an additional Radion G3 Pro.

[Mustang67]

Following.

[kenpau]

Thanks! How many hours at 14k?

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/15976003653_3f3a818445_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qkKchR)Screen Shot 2015-02-21 at 8.11.00 am (https://flic.kr/p/qkKchR) by kenpau01 (https://www.flickr.com/people/72958087@N05/), on Flickr

As you can see my 14k starts at 0600 and ends at 2030, however actually intense sunlight time is around 8 hours with and extra 30 minutes intermittent cloud cover. Works very well for me, and am only running them at 85% max.

[Vapour1ze]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/15976003653_3f3a818445_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qkKchR)Screen Shot 2015-02-21 at 8.11.00 am (https://flic.kr/p/qkKchR) by kenpau01 (https://www.flickr.com/people/72958087@N05/), on Flickr

As you can see my 14k starts at 0600 and ends at 2030, however actually intense sunlight time is around 8 hours with and extra 30 minutes intermittent cloud cover. Works very well for me, and am only running them at 85% max.

That's over a 93 cube?

[kenpau]

That's over a 93 cube?

No thats over a 1.5m x 750mm x 500mm, 150 gallons.

[Zacktosterone]

Consider using wide angle lenses, much better spread w/o as much shadows, but do lose some par, maybe do like i did , bought cheap ebay t5, gutted it except for outer 2 t5s the put radions in middle, like it alot.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m202/bmullikin1/dsa105002.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/bmullikin1/media/dsa105002.jpg.html)
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m202/bmullikin1/samscellpics063.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/bmullikin1/media/samscellpics063.jpg.html)

Do they come in more bulbs than that? I would want to have 2 bulbs on each side. Could you send me a link?