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I hope you get what you want out of the G5’s. I think they would be better if they were spread out over a large panel like the sky so you don’t get the shadowing.
I glad you like the T5’s. I’ve ran nothing but T5’s for the last 10-15 years. No doubt they are great lights. However, you can see for yourself on the spread charts above that the G5’s are now beating T5’s on spread. There is no shadowing, and that’s not even with diffusers. There is no argument, because I’m stating visual facts clearly shown on the charts. Compare the outside numbers to the inside and you’ll see there is no doubt which has the better spread.

357EA740-0E01-4C5D-B014-D2792603C817.jpeg F4F557CE-DB8A-4155-A333-BEA7E8D38AEB.jpeg C971A3E9-88E6-48B5-A12D-1894DA34E13C.jpeg
 

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Ok, please clarify the above. That says G5 "2 fixtures/13" center spacing". To me, that says they are spaced 13" OC or on center. Is that correct?
If so, my 8 foot x 3 foot wide tank would need 14 fixtures.
 
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mitchell77546

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Ok, please clarify the above. That says G5 "2 fixtures/13" center spacing". To me, that says they are spaced 13" OC or on center. Is that correct?
If so, my 8 foot x 3 foot wide tank would need 14 fixtures.
Lol exactly… those are for baby tanks. You would want XR30’s and you still wouldn’t get the coverage you would need
 
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Ok, please clarify the above. That says G5 "2 fixtures/13" center spacing". To me, that says they are spaced 13" OC or on center. Is that correct?
If so, my 8 foot x 3 foot wide tank would need 14 fixtures.
14 fixtures??? Max would be 8 fixtures.

Depends on what you’re trying to achieve and what PAR intensity you’re looking for.

XR15’s cover 24”x 24”
XR30’s cover 32”x 32”
 
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I think your fishing. If you love them I’m happy for you.
What would I be fishing for. I’m commenting on what you said and posting spread charts to back up what I’m saying. You said you think they would be better if spread out like the sky so you don’t get shadowing.

I’m saying there is no shadowing and the spread is better than T5’s.

Here’s 2 XR15 G5 Pro’s on a 48”x24” tank. Show me the shadows!
F5AC3E7F-E773-4B8D-BF55-91E38E1C2950.jpeg


If 2 cover 48”x24” then 4 will easily cover 96x24” and that’s only XR15’s- Not even XR30’s.
 
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mitchell77546

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It will cover the floor of the tank and not the sides of the rock. I could debate this all day but I’m not. I have a 48x24 and it still had shaodows even with XR30’s that was my experience maybe yours will be different
 

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1637965759961.png

This right here says (2) fixtures / 13" center spacing. That means, to get the aforementioned "spread," they are placing TWO fixtures 13" apart. Yes the spread on paper looks good, perhaps better than T5, because they are using two fixtures close together. The fixtures you show in the picture above are more than 13" apart. Therefore, the spread won't be the same as the chart you posted. You say the XR-15's above cover 24"x 24", and they would probably cover 36" x 36", or even your whole bedroom for that matter if you mount them on the ceiling. But if you mount them over the tank as shown above, your PAR won't match what is indicated on the color chart.

Also notice that at the bottom of that picture, they state that the measurements are taken using TWO lights mounted 12" high over a 120G tank but they don't mention the dimensions of the tank. What size is the tank you show the above ones mounted over? Running the numbers myself, that tank looks to be 40" long. A 48" tank would be stretching it at the outer edges.
 
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What would I be fishing for. I’m commenting on what you said and posting spread charts to back up what I’m saying. You said you think they would be better if spread out like the sky so you don’t get shadowing.

I’m saying there is no shadowing and the spread is better than T5’s.

Here’s 2 XR15 G5 Pro’s on a 48”x24” tank. Show me the shadows!
F5AC3E7F-E773-4B8D-BF55-91E38E1C2950.jpeg


If 2 cover 48”x24” then 4 will easily cover 96x24” and that’s only XR15’s- Not even XR30’s.
Where are the shadows? Look at your wave makers and your return nozzles. Lots of shadows. Rocks will have the same effect.
 
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1637965759961.png

This right here says (2) fixtures / 13" center spacing. That means, to get the aforementioned "spread," they are placing TWO fixtures 13" apart. Yes the spread on paper looks good, perhaps better than T5, because they are using two fixtures close together. The fixtures you show in the picture above are more than 13" apart. Therefore, the spread won't be the same as the chart you posted. You say the XR-15's above cover 24"x 24", and they would probably cover 36" x 36", or even your whole bedroom for that matter if you mount them on the ceiling. But if you mount them over the tank as shown above, your PAR won't match what is indicated on the color chart.

Also notice that at the bottom of that picture, they state that the measurements are taken using TWO lights mounted 12" high over a 120G tank but they don't mention the dimensions of the tank. What size is the tank you show the above ones mounted over? Running the numbers myself, that tank looks to be 40" long. A 48" tank would be stretching it at the outer edges.
All the graphs are at the BRS recommended spacing. Yes, it’s two fixtures. Obviously you can’t compare 1 fixture that’s 7” x 7” to a 48” 8 bulb sunpower fixture. At the bottom is my edit to the chart from what they said in the video. It’s a standard 120/G (48x24x24). That 13” spacing from each side of tank and 22” spacing from center to center of each light fixture is where I have mine mounted. It is the most optimal mounting for spread and reduces PAR drop off and light spill. These data points were 12” down from top of glass. Some of my Acro’s will be 2-4” higher than their data points (12”). Basically most will be at the 8-10” mark from top of the glass, but a lot will be lower than the mid point of my tank. Which is 20” tall. If you have a deeper tank say 24” to 28” deep you would just do the math for the sweet spot according to your own depth and use XR30’s for deeper penetration.

113CC6D4-BB72-4F43-B947-CCF54A7D050C.jpeg 11A5F61A-8BCC-4817-A0A5-F0C4656A0E62.jpeg
 
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I’d be willing to bet you could get away with and be pretty darn impressed with 4 XR30’s on that 96x36” tank mounted longways 17.5” apart and 13” from each side.

17.5 x 4 = 70
13 x 2 = 26

70+26 = 96”
 

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Just messing with you on the shadows......haha. But I think you already knew that. Interesting commentary on the spread. That's the clarification I was asking for. Wasn't very clear from your initial posts.

Nice looking tank. Now put some water and rocks in it so we can see it.
 
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Just messing with you on the shadows......haha. But I think you already knew that. Interesting commentary on the spread. That's the clarification I was asking for. Wasn't very clear from your initial posts.

Nice looking tank. Now put some water and rocks in it so we can see it.
Sump will be here this coming up week.



Check out this video above ^^^ and you’ll see all the PAR charts, spacing, tank, data points, etc. I’m basically running lower light on this system, because I’m in the Dana Riddle camp and feel like most corals do just fine anywhere from about 120-300 PAR. Yep, even Acro’s. Of course there’s some that do better in intense light, but IMO most don’t like the quality of light we give and the intensity we give in our aquariums with crystal clear water that we over-filter. The turbidity and food floating around in the ocean is nothing like our aquariums. If you look at most Acro tanks, the colonies are “short” and “stubby” little bushes. Very compacted. Yes you get intense colors, but I feel like most people are actually slowing growth.

Check this out:
CB5B5579-3700-4345-BFB2-1940D79BECEB.jpeg
 
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I feel like this guy got PAR exactly right. Nothing short and bush-like in here.



Here’s a tank with too much light. Look at these “compacted” corals. At fist glance you might think wow, but if you’ve ever owned some of these corals then you know she’s hitting them with too much light.



This is what happens when you hit them with 400-500+ PAR. Look at the tissue.

08D4FE6C-999F-49F6-A40B-8813CEB0FA0A.jpeg
 

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Man… this is why I don’t come here anymore. Mitch, so glad you found a system that produces results for you and makes your happy. As far as lights are concerned,

It’s good to hear that @Reefahholic is flexible with his own opinions at least. 🙄


Post in thread 'T5s, LEDs, and Spectrum'
T5s, LEDs, and Spectrum | Marine and Reef General Discussion

“I think MH and T5's can grow a wide range of coral easier and better than all other lighting. The only people who rave and really push LED's are being paid and are sponsored with the lights. Sanjay, Top Shelf, Reef Dudes, Rico's Aquariums, WWC, etc.”

and with that… I’m out . Peace✌️
 
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Man… this is why I don’t come here anymore. Mitch, so glad you found a system that produces results for you and makes your happy. As far as lights are concerned,

It’s good to hear that @Reefahholic is flexible with his own opinions at least. 🙄


Post in thread 'T5s, LEDs, and Spectrum'
T5s, LEDs, and Spectrum | Marine and Reef General Discussion

“I think MH and T5's can grow a wide range of coral easier and better than all other lighting. The only people who rave and really push LED's are being paid and are sponsored with the lights. Sanjay, Top Shelf, Reef Dudes, Rico's Aquariums, WWC, etc.”

and with that… I’m out . Peace✌️
Nobody said that T5’s or Metal Halides can’t grow coral. Yes, there’s a lot of guys sponsored by EcoTech Marine who push their products. That said, back in January of 2020, we didn’t know the spread of the Radion G5’s because BRS hadn’t tested them yet. Shortly after the first of the year BRS put the G5’s to the test. We then had data on the Spread/PAR and we realized that they were about everything you’d want in a LED fixture. Finally, for the first time I thought about switching over to LED’s. Before that time, I never really thought about it, because the spread was not there and most LED’s created a lot of hot spots with disco ball effects. The G5 finally bridged that gap with the new diodes and diffusers. That was why I personally made the switch. Plus.. I followed that coral lab study back with the G3’s and knew it would only be a matter of time.
 
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