Ecotech Radion Pro

[picoreef78]

I was thinking of ORA red planet (Acropora anthocercis), Green, Pink and purple Stylophora picillata and maybe a couple of Acropora millepora variations. Then wanted to add a few Monipora species.

 

Anyone with experience using the Ecotech Radion or Radion Pro and different corals that do well or don't?

[BeardedReeferLLC]

I will say if you start off slow and ramp up intensity you can grow anything. Depending on size of tank you shouldn't have to go over 45% intensity with the Pro and have great growth.

[BusterDB]

+1 to the above. I run a Pro and have very good growth and color from all of my Acropora (including red planet). Montipora grows very well in my tank. I can place them on the sandbend and they still grow like weeds with vibrant color.

 

I have noticed a slight shift in color in a few orange acans that have turned red. I think this may be related to an issue with intensity rather than the spectrum of the light. Some lower light chalices can be sensitive to the power of the Pro. A shaded, indirectly lit spot will work for them with good results.

[GrandLotus]

I have also kept an ora red plant with my radion pro's gen 2 at either 90-100% intensity half way down on my 29g.

I have been thinking about scaling them back a bit in the intensity.

[BusterDB]

I have also kept an ora red plant with my radion pro's gen 2 at either 90-100% intensity half way down on my 29g.

I have been thinking about scaling them back a bit in the intensity.

I did the same thing and my red planet was a very washed out pink. I scaled the light back to 65% and almost everything has colored up a bit more including the red planet.

[Bill Nye]

I dont have a Radion but I have a full spectrum LED set up and I find red planets to have the best response to LEDs of all acros I have. Mine always stays very green with bright pink/red tips and grows relatively quickly. My pink lemonade on the other hand will not color up correctly and has a slow rate of encrusting. To me it seems like different acros accept LED lighting differently.

[ReviloM]

Yep. Small tanks with radions shouldn't exceed 45%. Trace elements also impact color so if you received a piece it may change color because the amount of trace from the original system is not the same in yours. I know some local guys that buy ugly pieces then put them in their tank and get beautiful specimens.

[flypenfly]

I recently got the radion pro for my 60g cube. I plan to run it at 75% or so. I also have a secondary cheap reef breeder style led to act as a full light to prevent shadows and polyp die off.

[Spirofucci]

I run my Pro at 100% on natural mode for 14hrs/day about 8" abover the water. LOL, I think almost all my sps have incredible color except I did have a red planet early on.....it grew like crazy, but it was aways beige......

[Ebn]

I've been reading up on some builds and here are some pics from a build that I think you'll like.

 

Paraphrasing from the build:

This is from a 50G SPS CAD Lights tank on RC. Lighting is with a Radion G1 which was then upgraded with TIR lenses. Light isn't on a controller. At 100% on and off at specific time of the day and it has been on LED since the tank was first started.

 

The red planet is the little nub in the lower right hand corner on the edge of the rock (2/17/12).

 

 

Nub starting to encrust (2/24/12)

 

Close up of it on 3/8/12

 

6/11/12 shot

 

7/30 shot in the same spot

 

10/8/12

 

11/29/12

 

1/15/13

 

2/23/13

 

4/10/13

 

6/6/13

[GrandLotus]

I did the same thing and my red planet was a very washed out pink. I scaled the light back to 65% and almost everything has colored up a bit more including the red planet.

 

Thanks for the tip. I will watch my corals and make sure they do not wash out.

[Steensj2004]

I run mine at 100% always, obviously I have a sunrise-sunset programmed. But by mid-day 100%, acclimate from sand bed to desired spot. Either its going to survive or its not....I have yet to buy a coral and lose it(the guy I buy from runs Radions at 100% too over frag tanks). All my corals love the LEDs from Radion....LPS, Softies, and SPS especially like it. I leave my softies in the lower light areas obviously, but the only issue I have had is some of my chalice corals are funny about the LEDS. They do well, but they are in lower light areas of my tank than people normally keep them under T5s or Halides....donno why........

I've been reading up on some builds and here are some pics from a build that I think you'll like.

 

Paraphrasing from the build:

This is from a 50G SPS CAD Lights tank on RC. Lighting is with a Radion G1 which was then upgraded with TIR lenses. Light isn't on a controller. At 100% on and off at specific time of the day and it has been on LED since the tank was first started.

 

The red planet is the little nub in the lower right hand corner on the edge of the rock (2/17/12).

 

 

Nub starting to encrust (2/24/12)

 

Close up of it on 3/8/12

 

6/11/12 shot

 

7/30 shot in the same spot

 

10/8/12

 

11/29/12

 

1/15/13

 

2/23/13

 

4/10/13

 

6/6/13

Is that a green DIgi I see? I have one and it is my favorite and best grower!

[VABumpkin]

that's a green slimer.

[malady]

most of those are easy to grow

 

the only sps that seem to grow slow for my under my hydra is millies

 

red planet and birdsnest grow faster than the rest for me

[picoreef78]

SO I am running the pro's at 50%. Thinking about a slow ramp up. I had to move my Montipora down as it was starting too bleach to a pale orange.

I run mine at 100% always, obviously I have a sunrise-sunset programmed. But by mid-day 100%, acclimate from sand bed to desired spot. Either its going to survive or its not....I have yet to buy a coral and lose it(the guy I buy from runs Radions at 100% too over frag tanks). All my corals love the LEDs from Radion....LPS, Softies, and SPS especially like it. I leave my softies in the lower light areas obviously, but the only issue I have had is some of my chalice corals are funny about the LEDS. They do well, but they are in lower light areas of my tank than people normally keep them under T5s or Halides....donno why........

Is that a green DIgi I see? I have one and it is my favorite and best grower!

Wow great tank, I just placed an order from Reef_Gardeners.

 

 

Pink Lemonade
1

 

 

Big ORA Red Planet
1 $ SD Hot Pink Acropora millepora
1 ORA Birds of Paradise Birdsnest D ORA Glowing Green Birdsnest D Rare Tyree Sunset Montipora
1 D Sweet Magenta Birdsnest Sweet Whammin Watermelon Zoanthids

How is the dual vortech setup working for you?

[picoreef78]

I run my Pro at 100% on natural mode for 14hrs/day about 8" abover the water. LOL, I think almost all my sps have incredible color except I did have a red planet early on.....it grew like crazy, but it was aways beige......

 

Over what period of time did you ramp up the Radion? This is over both the Red Sea 130 and Solona?

 

I've been reading up on some builds and here are some pics from a build that I think you'll like.

 

Paraphrasing from the build:

This is from a 50G SPS CAD Lights tank on RC. Lighting is with a Radion G1 which was then upgraded with TIR lenses. Light isn't on a controller. At 100% on and off at specific time of the day and it has been on LED since the tank was first started.

 

The red planet is the little nub in the lower right hand corner on the edge of the rock (2/17/12).

 

 

Nub starting to encrust (2/24/12)

 

Close up of it on 3/8/12

 

6/11/12 shot

 

7/30 shot in the same spot

 

10/8/12

 

11/29/12

 

1/15/13

 

2/23/13

 

4/10/13

 

6/6/13

 

Noted the rear dual power heads. How is flow in the tank? Did you upgrade the stock return pump?

[Spirofucci]

 

Over what period of time did you ramp up the Radion? This is over both the Red Sea 130 and Solona?

 

I started it a 50% but after a week I ramped up to 100% with no problems as the stock lighting on the RSM is pretty good. I have the Pro over the RSM and the G1 over the Solona.

 

 

 

Noted the rear dual power heads. How is flow in the tank? Did you upgrade the stock return pump?

[jservedio]

I run pros over my 20g and the biggest thing to watch for is bleaching the hell out of the tank when you switch over to them - start slow if you have LPS. I have a mixed reef and started them out at 35% and ended up starting to bleach a few acan echinatas - which I just moved to the sides and they colored right back up. I am only at 40% now after a few months (since May) and am taking it slow. My Red Planet is growing like mad - however I don't have a green base yet (It came from a bad tank where it was washed out pink) and it is slowly coloring back up. Even at 35%, Acros on the sand are perfectly fine, don't worry about lack of light.

 

When you switch, make sure you are monitoring your Alk 2-3 times a week because consumption is going to skyrocket. I went from dosing 8ml Reef Fusion a day on T5s to 22ml with LEDs in just 3 weeks.

 

Also - shading is inevitable with LEDs - the bottom of your acros are going to lose color unless you have super high intensity (and get enough reflection off sand/glass). It won't hurt them at all, but it is just something to expect. I plan on adding 2x T5s in addition to my Pros to combat this without burning my Acans and Chalices.

 

Edit: It isn't just LPS you need to watch for bleaching in, you can bleach SPS - a lower-light stag I had at the top of my rockwork bleached when I put the Radion Pros over it. However, it is the only acro that bleached on me and is recovering from it. They are super powerful.

[picoreef78]

I run pros over my 20g and the biggest thing to watch for is bleaching the hell out of the tank when you switch over to them - start slow if you have LPS. I have a mixed reef and started them out at 35% and ended up starting to bleach a few acan echinatas - which I just moved to the sides and they colored right back up. I am only at 40% now after a few months (since May) and am taking it slow. My Red Planet is growing like mad - however I don't have a green base yet (It came from a bad tank where it was washed out pink) and it is slowly coloring back up. Even at 35%, Acros on the sand are perfectly fine, don't worry about lack of light.

 

When you switch, make sure you are monitoring your Alk 2-3 times a week because consumption is going to skyrocket. I went from dosing 8ml Reef Fusion a day on T5s to 22ml with LEDs in just 3 weeks.

 

Also - shading is inevitable with LEDs - the bottom of your acros are going to lose color unless you have super high intensity (and get enough reflection off sand/glass). It won't hurt them at all, but it is just something to expect. I plan on adding 2x T5s in addition to my Pros to combat this without burning my Acans and Chalices.

 

Edit: It isn't just LPS you need to watch for bleaching in, you can bleach SPS - a lower-light stag I had at the top of my rockwork bleached when I put the Radion Pros over it. However, it is the only acro that bleached on me and is recovering from it. They are super powerful.

I noticed my k dropping like mad. Placing bicarbonate on topoff water and dosing with RSM buffer, but will need to move to larger buffer source to maintain.

 

I am going to try to ramp up over the next 15 days to 100%. I have a 24X24X20 50g cube, hopefully with room to spare with lighitng.

[mrhighline]

I run my Gen2 at 65% and my corals seem to be happy. My redplanet is sorta a maroon planet right now. May try and ramp up the lights to 70/75% and see if it colors up a little more. I like the Pinkish/red color the best.

[jservedio]

I noticed my k dropping like mad. Placing bicarbonate on topoff water and dosing with RSM buffer, but will need to move to larger buffer source to maintain.

 

I am going to try to ramp up over the next 15 days to 100%. I have a 24X24X20 50g cube, hopefully with room to spare with lighitng.

 

Don't do that. 100% over a 20" Deep Tank is going to bleach everything. ESPECIALLY with the TIR Lenses... You should be ramping up like 5% every week or two. Not every day... Corals take a long time to adjust. My tank is 16" deep and only at 35% after five MONTHS.

 

If you have any LPS and they aren't totally shaded, 100% on a tank that small is going to fry it. Even the acros may bleach in the top 1/3 of the tank... Photoinhibition in a lot of smooth skinned acros starts around 700-900 par...The only Acros that can benefit from light that bright are the high-energy reef-crest tables which you probably don't have many of (if any) since they get absurdly giant for a tank that size.

 

Edit: And my Acros are very colorful. I can post pics for you to see.. My tank is predominantly acros (like 15+ different acros, not including frags, in a 20g with LPS on the bottom 1/4 and on the sand).

[picoreef78]

Don't do that. 100% over a 20" Deep Tank is going to bleach everything. ESPECIALLY with the TIR Lenses... You should be ramping up like 5% every week or two. Not every day... Corals take a long time to adjust. My tank is 16" deep and only at 35% after five MONTHS.

 

If you have any LPS and they aren't totally shaded, 100% on a tank that small is going to fry it. Even the acros may bleach in the top 1/3 of the tank... Photoinhibition in a lot of smooth skinned acros starts around 700-900 par...The only Acros that can benefit from light that bright are the high-energy reef-crest tables which you probably don't have many of (if any) since they get absurdly giant for a tank that size.

 

Edit: And my Acros are very colorful. I can post pics for you to see.. My tank is predominantly acros (like 15+ different acros, not including frags, in a 20g with LPS on the bottom 1/4 and on the sand).

WIll up the light about 10% every 3 days. WIll hold off at 65% now. I have a mycedeum robokahki in the shade and some ricordia in the shade. Will hold of for a while then.

[jedimasterben]

Having that quick of a ramp to full intensity is asking for trouble, especially if you are not doing a parabolic lighting schedule (aka the 'natural' mode on the controller).

 

5% every week, or every other week preferably if you have a lot of corals that are established, otherwise you will have problems on your hands that you won't be able to solve.

 

Keep in mind that Spiro had a Radion over his tank at 100% before purchasing the Pro, and actual PAR is only a little higher on the Pro.

[picoreef78]

I do have the parabolic natural mode on. Again now rush so far so good.

So far corals doing well except for a monti which was bleached to a pink color. He is now on the sand bed.

[picoreef78]

My ex-fiancee destroyed the tank and killed all the coral's and fish.

 

Bought a brand new cad lights 50G tank essential the same set up with upgrade Cadliths skimmer.

Coral

Light requirement

Recommended Placement

Sylophora Pisillata

Medium

Middle-Top

Sylophora Pisillata

Medium

Middle-Top

Acropora (ORA Red Planet)

Medium-High

Middle-Top

Acropora Nana

High

Middle-Top

Acropora (Paleta Pink Tip)

High

Middle-Top

Acropora (Tyree Pink Lemonade)

Medium-High

Middle-Top

Favia (Mia’s Po of gold)

Medium

Bottom Middle

Acanthastrea lordhowensis

Medium

Low

Echinopora lamellosa (HollyWood Stunner)

Medium

Low-Medium

Actinodiscus

 

 

Actinodiscus

 

 

Bought new frags from your reef. Running Radion Pro at 55% at 14,000 K initially at natural mode then with high growth algorithm. They came from 250 watt 20,000K.

 

Bleached echinopora llameosa (Holly Wood Stunner) from LFS, in shade and getting some color back. Was under AI sol Blue spectrum.