Stick With Radions Or Go To Mh

reef keeper

reef keeper

Super Active Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2014
Location
Hamilton, Ontario
hey all. I'm growing frustrated with my radion G2. I have a 150 g 6 ft tank. I get good polyp extension but the growth is really slow. My Params are good (calc 450 mag 1300 alk dkh 8.9). I have good coralline growth but it's also slow.

I don't have a chiller and my tank floats 78-79 degrees controlled by my apex.

I think MH might be the way to go. My tank is sps on top and LPS on bottom. Advice needed
 
barebottomcouple

barebottomcouple

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Location
Hanover, Ontario
been using halides for ever tried 175's 250's and 400's and even had a set of 1000's tried the radions also I removed them after 6 months i have used 250's now and exclusively use Hamilton true 14000k. amazing polyp extension and growth i got sps frags from reefkeeper420 almost a month ago and they have grown almost 1/4 inch in that month. i find the best color comes with the 14000k i don't like it too blue or too white either 14000k is a nice balance of color.......... just my experience
 
reef keeper

reef keeper

Super Active Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2014
Location
Hamilton, Ontario
What type of fixture do you recommend. I have a centre brace so 2 3 footers?

What about a canopy. Is that necessary or would I need to modify mine

The tank is 29" deep. You recommend 250 w?
 
barebottomcouple

barebottomcouple

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Location
Hanover, Ontario
i run mine between the braces I have 2 braces if you have 1 brace in the center then I'd run 2 bulbs if you have 2 braces id run either one on each end and just have t5 lighting over total length. 400 watt would be ideal at that depth but 250's are a good compromise, I get amazing depth penetration at 26 inches. 400's are extremely costly to run and a lot of heat to deal with. I run about 4-5 inches above water and stays around 78-80 in summer when I ran 400's I had to run chiller I have no hood just the fixtures. I have no idea what make they are but they where 175 watt with internal magnetic ballasts and I refitted to 250watt with external icecap electronic ballasts you can get retro-fit halide kits to install into your hood actually I actually got mine used for $150
 
reef keeper

reef keeper

Super Active Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2014
Location
Hamilton, Ontario
Ok. I have a friend with some new ballasts. I can take the canopy off. It's in the basement so heat won't become an issue. 250 is about as high as I want to go.

Now to find 2 units. How do the t5s work into this whole thing?
 
barebottomcouple

barebottomcouple

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Location
Hanover, Ontario
heres a pic might be easier than explaining my setup those stupi leds in the front are going to junk they are just to fill in shadows in the front I am replacing with t-5s
DSCN2407.JPG
 
scubasteve

scubasteve

Distinguished Member
Joined
May 4, 2014
Location
Cambridge, Ontario
halides are the way to go for amazing growth i have seen people turn frags into huge colonies in a year where my led would take 4 lmao thats why led are on my display but got t5ho and halide for what was suppose to be my frag tank :)
 
reef keeper

reef keeper

Super Active Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2014
Location
Hamilton, Ontario
Just going to firm up some details this weekend on the in wall system. I have a perfect spot for it with actual access to floor drains and all my water lol.

I will have a sump, skimmer, return pump and all plumbing as well as the radions x 3 g2. The stand is maple with a maple canopy.

What's that worth?
 
reef keeper

reef keeper

Super Active Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2014
Location
Hamilton, Ontario
Any more photos of your lighting setups?

I have a plastic center brace in the middle of my tank. MH will melt this right?

I found 2 mh pendants on line used. I don't know how to light the middle or where the T5s would go. Ugh
 
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