EcoTech Radion XR15w VS. Metal Halide

[SI-Reef]

Polling a recommendation

I have a 29 gallon BIO cube with mixed LPS and SPS

is it better to use Metal Halide 14K Phoenix bulb
or
EcoTech Radion XR15w PRO

 

[Mattl22]

I think u gonna find it tough to keep temp down on that small a tank with the mh but if ur ok with hanging it high enough above water with fan I think if I had the bio cube I'd retrofit the hood to fit a led so it keeps it's sleek look just opinion also I have mh and 2 radions on my tank and can't pick which I like but LEDs can fry sps if not careful

 

[Rob&Gab]

IMO. Get the current USA fixture. We were running it on our 34solana. Had a slight heatproblembut nothing a small fan didn't fix.

The phoenix hexarc 14k is a great bulb and awesome growth you'll get with amaIng color.

Also. Radions compair o MH ALLOT.


They can fry yur tank if not unedin correctly. Essp on a smaller tank. . IMO I would go my depending on whatbype of coral. I had LPs ZOA and sps under mh all did very good. Sat 8" above the water line.

 

[SI-Reef]

Ok, so i went with the Metal Halide 14K Phoenix bulb, looks great
i currently have it suspended 12 inches above the water

1. what is the recommended height for keeping the fixture above the water?
2. How long should i leave the light on?

 

[Mattl22]

Keep an eye on ur temperature not trying to beat a dead horse just when I had 2 250 over my 75 gallon I cooked my tank but was not 12" up good luck can't beat mh If ur going to keep sps

 

[Mattl22]

I run mine 6 hrs a day
U will get many opinions on time but 6 is good starting point

 

[jackson6745]

Polling a recommendation

I have a 29 gallon BIO cube with mixed LPS and SPS

is it better to use Metal Halide 14K Phoenix bulb
or
EcoTech Radion XR15w PRO

Definitely the halide is better. You will get better coverage and the corals will respond better. I absolutely hate LED as primary lighting.

 

[SI-Reef]

I'm not concerned about temperature, i have theJ BJ Arctica Titanium Chiller running on my tank it works great really quite almost don't hear it

6 hours sounds like a good starting point

 

[Rob&Gab]

Ran our fixture when we had our 34 aolana for 7.5 to 8 hours

 

[Rob&Gab]

6 is good to. Also get a blue a trip try lumen for extra pop and viewing when lights turn off. Amazon has em cheap

 

[SI-Reef]

Alright ordered a strip from marine depot

 

[fredro]

How about a pic?!!!

 

[Geraud]

I just saw that too late... but I actually went from a 150W MH (electronic ballast, and Radium bulb) supplemented by 2 Reefbrite strips to the Radion 15wpro and I must say I love it.

The tank looks exactly the same with the setting I use (at 55%, with blues and purple at maximum, other colors a bit less, so I get a very white tank, but with pop).

Growth wise, more or less what I had before, maybe a tiny bit less due to the decrease in temperature from 81 to 79...

The good things? It is using half of the electricity, and my chiller which used to be on 4-5 times a day is now kicking only when the steam pipe radiator decides to turn the place in a sauna.
The bad things? Well the minor reduction in SPS growth I guess... but I do not really care about that since I am not going to open an aquaculture business anytime soon.