How Many Mitras?

[Bblinks]

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.

[FishyFishy!]

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

[asylumdown]

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

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

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.

[Aqua-Digital]

Originally Posted by Bblinks

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

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.

[Aqua-Digital]

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

[Bblinks]

Originally Posted by Aqua-Digital

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.

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.

[sphelps]

Well once again it comes down to this all being completely useless without pictures 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".



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.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by sphelps

. Draw your own conclusions from this.

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

[Aqua-Digital]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

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

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

[kien]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I bumped up the contrast quite a bit

Photoshopped!!! I call shenanigans!