TonyInVa June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 I have a 110gal aquarium. I have been using a Metal Halide Fixture, but it seems Metal Halides are a thing of the past. Most LED fixtures I have seen are 12 inches long. As my tank is 48 inches how many of these fixtures do I need? Looking at the Radion XR30. (Man these are expensive) What other options are there? My tank set up is SPS up top and softies and zoas on the lower levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apcoleman June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 I ran 2 radions on a 4 foot 90 gallon (48"x18"x24") that was a mixed reef and currently run 4 G3 pros over a 250DD. I love the radions and the control they provide but wish I could run halides. I don't because of the extra heat, chiller, electricity etc. The initial cost of the radions is no small chunk of change but long run I have been happy with them. If you are happy with the halides stick with them. If you are set on a change the radions are a great choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruleyii June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 I run it2040's and have 2 on my 90g 4' tank. The coverage is complete but wish I had a bit more. Might be just the led pattern. They are great lights and much cheaper. They come in 3 different sized I believe. It2040, it2060, and it2080. Check out some reviews on these. Not too sure what your coming from but I know the growth is slower with these but I get great colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khh27 June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 On a 110 you will meet the umph of a xr30 as most economical led's fixture are only effective up to the 24" depth range. You would need 2 xr30's. I don't know about the penitration range on the IT range but they are good fixtures I have a it2060 and am impressed. Most led fixture will provide a 24"x24" footprint but it's just the effective depth range that will get you. I think the xr30's are a 36"x#" spread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyInVa June 2, 2015 Author Share June 2, 2015 Apcolman, I actually like my MHs. But I was running Phoenix 250s, which are no longer made. It seems MH are fasing out. Plus my t5 ballast have burnt out so If I change now may bee a good. Not that I want to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefer_Madness June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 (edited) Try eBay for fixtures or the for sale forum on here. The Ecotech warranty is awesome, so you won't have to worry that. That being said, I would not just get rid of the MH because they are "a thing of the past". Both lights have their pros and cons. I have a Radion, but when ever I see a MH tank there are things that make me jealous. Vice versa for MH guys that see my tank. I would suggest you think long and hard about it. There are some very strong opinions for both sides. Also, you would be fine with 2 Radion XR15 Pros rather than spending the extra money on 2 non-Pro XR30s. Just sayin' Edited June 2, 2015 by Reefer_Madness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londonloco June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 Talk to Marcos over at ERC, he'll hook you up with a couple of Evergrows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowieReefer84 June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 Apcolman, I actually like my MHs. But I was running Phoenix 250s, which are no longer made. It seems MH are fasing out. Plus my t5 ballast have burnt out so If I change now may bee a good. Not that I want to. If you like the MH/T5 getting new pendants and ballasts would be cheap. Here are T5 ballasts: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-fulham-workhorse-ballast-1.html SE reflectors: http://www.hellolights.com/Hamilton-Cabo-Sun-Mini-Reflector/dp/B00CSAU6UE?field_availability=-1&field_browse=6794597011&id=Hamilton+Cabo+Sun+Mini+Reflector&ie=UTF8&refinementHistory=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Ccolor_map%2Cprice%2Csize_name%2Citem_type_keyword&searchBinNameList=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Ccolor_map%2Cprice%2Csize_name%2Citem_type_keyword&searchNodeID=6794597011&searchPage=2&searchRank=salesrank&searchSize=12 I think if you LIKE what you have you could easily replace it all for tons less than switching to the high ends LED's. Also, you may not be happy with the cheap LED's, and end up going back anyways. I can't imagine T5 and MH are going anywhere anytime soon. Phoenix may be gone, but there are tons of other options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyInVa June 2, 2015 Author Share June 2, 2015 If you like the MH/T5 getting new pendants and ballasts would be cheap. Here are T5 ballasts: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-fulham-workhorse-ballast-1.html SE reflectors: http://www.hellolights.com/Hamilton-Cabo-Sun-Mini-Reflector/dp/B00CSAU6UE?field_availability=-1&field_browse=6794597011&id=Hamilton+Cabo+Sun+Mini+Reflector&ie=UTF8&refinementHistory=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Ccolor_map%2Cprice%2Csize_name%2Citem_type_keyword&searchBinNameList=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Ccolor_map%2Cprice%2Csize_name%2Citem_type_keyword&searchNodeID=6794597011&searchPage=2&searchRank=salesrank&searchSize=12 I think if you LIKE what you have you could easily replace it all for tons less than switching to the high ends LED's. Also, you may not be happy with the cheap LED's, and end up going back anyways. I can't imagine T5 and MH are going anywhere anytime soon. Phoenix may be gone, but there are tons of other options. What do you think about retro fitting leds instead if t5s. I was thinking 3 ecoxotics on each side. What would the pros and cons be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave w June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 I know this sounds crazy, but I was in Home Depot a couple days ago and they have 42" long LED shop lights in cool white tubes. If I recall correctly, the fixture put out 3800 lumens or so from the two tubes. I'm not a coral guy and I have no idea whether the CRI is appropriate other than the description of cool white. But the unit only used 38 watts which means you could run several. I think the cost was $35. They'd probably be perfect for an algae turf scrubber and maybe a reef tank too. For $35 they might be worth hooking up to your tank to see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s2nhle June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 I know this sounds crazy, but I was in Home Depot a couple days ago and they have 42" long LED shop lights in cool white tubes. If I recall correctly, the fixture put out 3800 lumens or so from the two tubes. I'm not a coral guy and I have no idea whether the CRI is appropriate other than the description of cool white. But the unit only used 38 watts which means you could run several. I think the cost was $35. They'd probably be perfect for an algae turf scrubber and maybe a reef tank too. For $35 they might be worth hooking up to your tank to see what happens. Costco has it too. It is very bright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowieReefer84 June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 What do you think about retro fitting leds instead if t5s. I was thinking 3 ecoxotics on each side. What would the pros and cons be? If you retrofit and have a canopy I would recommend rapidled.com. Their service is great, and their retro kits are so simple to DIY for anyone. I have no experience with ecoxotics. sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime June 2, 2015 Share June 2, 2015 What do you think about retro fitting leds instead if t5s. I was thinking 3 ecoxotics on each side. What would the pros and cons be? If you want to switch the T5's for LED's, I would presume you are going to look for some sort of blues? I would recommend the ReefBright strips. I've run them with my T5's, and I can only imagine they would pop with the MH's. While they are pricy, I believe they last longer, and are of better quality. That's just my 2c. I also agree with sticking what you like. I've found that I prefer the T5's with an LED combo for color, but it's really all personal choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave w June 3, 2015 Share June 3, 2015 Costco has it too. It is very bright. Oops, my bad. It was Costco where I saw the lights, not Home Depot. Thanks for the correction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyInVa June 3, 2015 Author Share June 3, 2015 If you retrofit and have a canopy I would recommend rapidled.com. Their service is great, and their retro kits are so simple to DIY for anyone. I have no experience with ecoxotics. sorry. I will be staying with MHs. And likely retro fit leds from rapidled.com. Their kits make it look so easy thsnks for all the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave w June 6, 2015 Share June 6, 2015 There is a youtube review of the costco LEDs. They put out a lot of par but the light is a little too orange for some people and they have a lot of side light bleed through around the sides of the bulbs that prevents their use in anything other than a closed canopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmerek2 June 6, 2015 Share June 6, 2015 http://www.addictiveaquaculture.com/en/led-lighting-reef-grow/8-arctic-t247-led-aquarium-light.html These are the ones to buy. Previous TOM SPS tank cliffpuckstable (Jamie) runs them they have a great spread which is what I look for. But he has the non programmable ones but I bought programmable. I would run two of these and two reef brights from ERC at an angle on front and back. You will have less shadowing than MH with a crazy setup like that but I like being different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khh27 June 9, 2015 Share June 9, 2015 http://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/for/5060393141.html Found these yesterday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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