Ryan S June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 http://reefbuilders.com/2012/05/16/tir-lens-radion-ecotech/#ixzz1v2FdRIS5 Ecotech Radions are "equivalent" to 250w MH's, which means they are recommended for tanks up to 24" deep. Well, for those of you with tanks that are 24-30" deep, Ecotech is about to release a new TIR lens that you can put on your Radions to give them the better depth penetration (with the same spread). The price hasn't been released yet, and it's supposed to be a very simple upgrade you can do at home. As someone with a 27" deep tank, this is definitely an upgrade I would make. Hopefully the lenses aren't too expensive!
BowieReefer84 June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 Why not just leave SPS off the bottom few inches? You have a sandbed anyways. OR, turn them up. Don't a lot of people run them well below 100%? (Devils advocate)
trockafella June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 Why arent they free.? Now you have to spend another $100-200 on lenses.? Pfft... No thanks. Just make it right the first time.
Ryan S June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 (edited) It wasn't wrong the first time. They were made for tanks 24" or less. The same penetration as 250w MH bulbs. Now you can get a lens with the same penetration as a 400w MH bulb. Sure, I wish they had the "shallow version" and the "deeper version" available when I got mine, but upgrades/new things develop over time. No big deal. And maybe they won't be that expensive to swap out. You're just jealous your T5s can't penetrate more than 12" of water. Edited June 21, 2012 by Ryan S
hypertech June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 And, while they are selling you lenses to make them have better penetration, they'll sell you a couple more units too because the spread will be less. On a big tank like that I wouldn't do LEDs. The light is too collimated and a big coral colony would be easily shaded.
Ryan S June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 (edited) And, while they are selling you lenses to make them have better penetration, they'll sell you a couple more units too because the spread will be less. On a big tank like that I wouldn't do LEDs. The light is too collimated and a big coral colony would be easily shaded. The spread is the same. And I'm not really seeing any shading issues on this tank, which is 30" deep: or on this one: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/115-tank-of-the-month or on this one: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2062544&page=46 Edited June 21, 2012 by Ryan S
hlem June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 not trying to debate or anything. and I'm definitely not a physic guy... but how is it possible to focus the same beam of light (make it more intense) and yet still cover the same surface area? Basically, an example, how is it possible that a 90 degree lens (less intense) and a 60 degree lens (more intense) cover the same surface area?
Incredible Corals June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 It wasn't wrong the first time. They were made for tanks 24" or less. The same penetration as 250w MH bulbs. Now you can get a lens with the same penetration as a 400w MH bulb. Sure, I wish they had the "shallow version" and the "deeper version" available when I got mine, but upgrades/new things develop over time. No big deal. And maybe they won't be that expensive to swap out. You're just jealous your T5s can't penetrate more than 12" of water. My tank is 32" deep and I have 6 T5's 4-5" above the water and 2 reef brite strips. I have some SPS I left on the sand bed (too lazy to find a spot of the rock) and they colored up great and are growing. Always surprised how much power those little bulbs have.
hypertech June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 The spread is the same. And I'm not really seeing any shading issues on this tank, which is 30" deep: or on this one: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/115-tank-of-the-month or on this one: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2062544&page=46 I don't have time to look at all the links, but the first one has 12 radions over half the tank. The spread must be oustanding. Its also simply not possible to have the same coverage area. The emitters put out a certain amount of light. You can redirect it lots of ways. If you use a narrow pattern for more penetration, you will have less coverage. If you have a wider coverage area, you get less penetration. With the same emitter, no lens is going to give you better penetration with the same coverage (unless it is recovering wasted light that didn't get out of the fixture before in which case that lens should be includied IMHO). I don't care what their marketing materials say - they can't break phsyics.
trockafella June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 It wasn't wrong the first time. They were made for tanks 24" or less. The same penetration as 250w MH bulbs. Now you can get a lens with the same penetration as a 400w MH bulb. Sure, I wish they had the "shallow version" and the "deeper version" available when I got mine, but upgrades/new things develop over time. No big deal. And maybe they won't be that expensive to swap out. You're just jealous your T5s can't penetrate more than 12" of water. Youre right .. T5s are terrible.. How about the nicest looking 150DD ive ever seen was lit by T5s. Hmm... No comment huh.? Oh, remember one of the many times you havent been happy with your radions you considered T5s. I understand you got suckered into these lights and need to defend the 1500 you spent on them, but knocking something that is tried and true is a joke. My T5s dont need an upgrade, they dont need silly lightning to try to justify the cost.. Nope, they simply work. And very good at that.!
trockafella June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 My tank is 32" deep and I have 6 T5's 4-5" above the water and 2 reef brite strips. I have some SPS I left on the sand bed (too lazy to find a spot of the rock) and they colored up great and are growing. Always surprised how much power those little bulbs have. Thats amazing, bc the above post states they only work up to 12" of water..... Haters....
steveoutlaw June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 You keep on telling us how great leds are and keep right on spending money to make them as good as MH. Just get a MH and be done with it!!
trockafella June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 You keep on telling us how great leds are and keep right on spending money to make them as good as MH. Just get a MH and be done with it!! LOL.... :clap: :clap: :clap:
Ryan S June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 (edited) Holy crap. I go to lunch and look what happens! So many haters. Actually, just the same old haters. I wonder if there are more LED users on the boards than MH and T5 users yet? If not, you haters can cling to your cassette tapes; your dvds; your incandescent light bulbs... as the rest of us, enlightened ones, already know where the future lies. Disclaimer: if the stock marineland dd canopy wasn't so shallow, it's possible I would've gone with a 400w MH in a lumenarc reflector instead of leds... but now that radions are penetrating the same depth as 400w MHs, I definitely don't see the need for a hot, expensive, non-customizable MH anymore! Edited June 21, 2012 by Ryan S
trockafella June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 (edited) Sorry guy, but I think youre in the minority on this one... How many people in this club own radions, 4-5 people.? Were not talking about LEDs as a whole, were talking about the holy grail of lights "The Radion" I hate on the fact that its the most expensive mainstream LED, yet its never complete. The free updates are fine I guess, but having to pay more for something it should already be able to do is a bit silly.. Edited June 21, 2012 by trockafella
Ryan S June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 Sorry guy, but I think youre in the minority on this one... How many people in this club own radions, 4-5 people.? Were not talking about LEDs as a whole, were talking about the holy grail of lights "The Radion" Radions may be the holy grail of reef lighting, but YOU are the holy grail of WAMAS.
BowieReefer84 June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 (edited) You're just jealous your T5s can't penetrate more than 12" of water. You obv haven't seen a nice T5 setup with quality reflectors/balasts. You will see dot's just like any other light. This is coming from someone who grew SPS under LED's way better than you have... They are nice for not putting off heat, and not taking up much space, but they are not the next best thing imo. This thread was meant to be a debate right? Edited June 21, 2012 by BowieReefer84
roni June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 That's a pretty cute picture I think most people can agree that the future of reef lighting is LEDs, but in terms of cost/performance, they're not there yet. You can't use a tank like Davidwin's 12 radions over a 500 or the 16 sols over a 300 (from Brazil). Those are not financially feasible for most people. I've seen a few nice LED lit tanks but still, the three nicest tanks I've seen in person are lit by: 400W radium+VHO; 250 radium + T5, and 250 radium + t5. I just saw a tank of the month on R2R which is also 400 W + T5s (and some LED supplements). I've also seen a few pics of T5 only lit tanks that are phenomenal. I haven't seen that with a reasonable affordable LED light yet. It doesn't mean it doesn't exist but in my mind, it's not there. It's pretty ridiculous if they charge extra for new optics (other then a nominal fee) for a $750 light. BTW, metal halide when it came out in widespread use (mid 90's) was about the same cost as it is now.
trockafella June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 (edited) Ryan you have a great collection of cute kitty pictures.. Doesnt change the fact that LEDs arent there right meow. Edited June 21, 2012 by trockafella
yauger June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 I have both MH and LED's (radion infact) I love them both and they both work very well. The biggest difference I see in my (yes my tanks are side by side) LED's is the fluorescence in my corals look better. Btw I'm old school and think the best combo I have ever seen is 400watt Radiums SE MH with VHO for atinics.
Ryan S June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 I have both MH and LED's (radion infact) I love them both and they both work very well. The biggest difference I see in my (yes my tanks are side by side) LED's is the fluorescence in my corals look better. Btw I'm old school and think the best combo I have ever seen is 400watt Radiums SE MH with VHO for atinics. blasphemy! you can't love them both!!!
epleeds June 22, 2012 June 22, 2012 Ryan you have a great collection of cute kitty pictures.. Doesnt change the fact that LEDs arent there right meow. Meow. That's funny.
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