How Many Mitras?
 

Hey folks, I've been considering upgrading my lights, presently on a 6'x3'x27" tank I have 8 radion Gen1s with the TIR lenses. I probably only needed 6 lighs, but at the time I was planning this, I didn't trust LEDs that much, and wanted to have too much light as opposed to too little. As a result, I can't run my lights any higher than 75% max intensity.

How many Mitras's would I need to cover the same space, and still be able to grow SPS on the sand-bed (which is about 25" down)

3 units should do you the spread we are seeing is 36x32 budget for 4 but start with 3.

Here is one on a 36x32x24

http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...59078467_o.jpg

The shading at the back is clearly the shadowing from the rock work at the back, the light is center hung of course.

thats at about 50% intensity at just under 14k

3 should be fine I firmly believe I could have done my 225g with just 2 but here is perfect

3 parallel or 4 perpendicular. 3 would be enough but if 4 is in the budget then that's what I would recommend especially since you're running 8 radions @ 75%, 3 Mitras simply won't match that much light.

To get similar coverage, I'd say 6. But it really depends on how your rock is spread out. Mitras have a sick spread and amazing spectrum, but you will still have some shading with a center point over your tank. Spread it out to 3 lights (length wise) on the front and 3 on the back and your set. Getting light on the viewing side of the corals makes a huge difference.

6 would be great but I strongly suggest starting with 3-4 I have seen so many people buy more and end up with too many.

There could be a black market from the over purchasers :)

You must have missed the part where he said he is currently running 8 Radions. :-D

If it were me I would put 4 (perpendicular) over my tank.

6 is ridiculous for that size tank. Even with 3 you won't have any shaded spots.

I have had a Mitra over my tank with very similar dimensions 72X36X27, and to eliminate any dark spot in the tank I guarantee you will be looking at 6 units.

Sorta depends how big and high a persons rock and colonies are.

My tank is 64x32x32, three units hung at 8", zero dark spots. being 4" wider and 5" shorter isn't going to result in dark spots.

6 over that size tank is insane I don't care what your rock work looks like

Yup, Steves tank looks fantastic with just the three units.

I would go for 3 or 4 units IMO. 6 would be ridilculous

EXACTLY! :mrgreen:

The Mitras has the coverage to easily do 36x32 but if you have lots of rock and hang overs, and big colonies, no amount of LED will stop this shading.

4 strategically placed units might be the key then...

so it seems the consensus is you should either go with 3, or 4 or 5 or 6 lights. I'm glad we all come together to figure this one out!

Start with 3-4 this is all you really need, if you wish to go higher I am not going to stop you ;)

All I am saying is if you are running 8 radions now and you switch to 3 mitras it will seem dim. When I had it over my tank at 100% its has the same coverage as 2 ai sol units and that is it. If you have a lot of lps with some sps in the tank then ya three will probably suffice but if you are heavy into sps then just prepared for the extra cost in case you feel that coverage is less then optimal. I know I wasn't happy with the light coverage with only 6 ai units on the 300 and even with 9 it still didn't meet my expectations. Again different people different strokes, this is merely my opinion. You can always start with 3 and throw some radions back on if the coverage isn't great.

I say scrap the LED's and throw some MH's on there !!!!!!!!!!!!!



:bolt:

Totally different lamp against the Mitras you just cant compare the coverage intensity or spectrum that's why they are sub $500 and you need so many.

There is no way you can put an Ai SOL against a Mitras.

Best advise if you want mass end user input is post on these two forums

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2220972
and
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ghlight=mitras

Spectrum lacking for sure but coverage 2 to 1 is very similar. As far as intensity goes AI sols are par monster. Don't knock it because its a sub $400 lamp. It will grow sps just as fast if not faster then any other lighting system out there. They just don't reflect certain color of the coral due to missing spectrum.

Well once again it comes down to this all being completely useless without pictures :lol: Especially when someone tells a guy with Radions that a Mitra spread is like two Sols.

Here's a pic of my tank with only the center Mitra on to give an idea on spread. The view-able size within the framing is marked, the actual glass is 64x32.625 and the bottom of the light is 8" above the water surface which is approximately 2" below the top of the Euro brace. From bottom of light to sand the distance is approximately 37".

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...2/20130410.jpg

I bumped up the contrast quite a bit to kind of show the line better but honestely it blends so well it's hard to see it. Draw your own conclusions from this.

I'd say that looks exactly like 2 SOLs worth of spread. Maybe less.

Photoshopped!!! I call shenanigans!

:question: :lol: seriously?

what about the optical spotting due to the high degree angled lenses?

Dont get me wrong the Ai is an awesome fixture for the price but you cant put the two anywhere near in the same performance bracket. You do get what you pay for.

But this is distracting from the original question and I must apologize for the detraction this is not a thread about trying to prove a sub $400 lamp = a high end $1200 lamp. that can be for another thread.

Back on topic - Steve has highlighted that yes 3 would be enough 4 would be optimum

:lol::mrgreen:

If I didn't bump it up the whole tank would look fairly well lit.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...20130410_2.jpg

dang! That one unit looks like it lit the whole freaking tank!

Honestly one light actually looks pretty good, if I ran it parallel it would be even better. Something to keep in mind as well, the tank is 32" front to back and the spread you're seeing is the shorter length.

And while spread isn't everything I don't have any issues keeping virtually any coral anywhere in this tank. Clams in the sand, no issue.

haha, I would burn my house down, or at the very least cook my tank. The tank is built in to a wall, so the lights are inside the wall space above it, which is completely enclosed. Even with a 90cfm fan evacuating air in the space where the lights are and sending it outside 24/day, 8 radions is enough to heat the space above the tank up enough to warm the water in the tank 1.5 degrees C over the course of a day. If it was an open top tank, I probably would have gone with halides in the original design.

I still stand by the statement that I could probably run 2 in parallel and cover my 72x30x24 tank and yes its almost entirely sps. I prefer the three units. Four would be overkill and I would probably only be able to run them at 50%.

I think I would probably do 4 to start with, in two rows positioned lengthwise. I have really obnoxious internal overflow boxes on either end of the tank that would cause major shadows on the corners if I only had a centre line of three I think.

hmmmm, 4 Mitras, that's what, 4800?. I wonder how much I could get for 8 Gen 1 radions?

Gen 1's are no longer supplied so you would be looking at Gen 2's at $640 each x 8

I'm assuming he is wondering how much he could get for his 8 gen1 radions

I think Michael missed the part where Adam said he's currently running EIGHT g1 Radions :lol:

Oops sorry my mistake ;)

correct

Am I to understand that there will be Radions for sale in the future ??????