Need advice for new/used LEDs

[SallyWho]

So my G2 Radion XR30s are old and, as my most recent inquiry illustrates, beginning to fail. It's time to think about replacing them. Here's the catch: my canopy is built with those channel slots attached to slats spaced perfectly for the hardware holes in the back of the radions. I have fat screws in those, and it's super easy to slide the lights in and out on those rails. Are the Gen 3 or 4 radions built the same way? It looks like most of the brand new lights are made such that the back is one big heat sink. Do they have screw holes for mounting hardware in there somewhere? Any advice on how to adjust my canopy for different lights without having to get it down off the ceiling? It'd be really awkward to try doing too much to the canopy while it's hanging, especially since I live alone and won't have help. Thanks!

 

[XtraKargo]

Could see if a fellow reefer could lend a hand or you could use spring clamps to hold some things temporarily while you remove a screw or two.

Do you have a new light picked out already? We could look up the screw placement and see if they line up that way.

 

[SallyWho]

Could see if a fellow reefer could lend a hand or you could use spring clamps to hold some things temporarily while you remove a screw or two.

Do you have a new light picked out already? We could look up the screw placement and see if they line up that way.

I haven't chosen the replacements yet. :/ It kind of depends on what's available for sale used. If the radion G3 or 4s are built the same as my old G2s, then I'll just find a couple of those! If they're not, then my options are suddenly wide open.

 

[Dburr1014]

It may be super awkward to work on it but here is what I would do,

Place a board to cover the tank. Buy new lights and mount them to your rails with those wood slats removed from the canopy.

Place a couple cardboard boxes or wood pieces on top of the tank with the board on it to raise the light and you won't have to hold it. and mount the wood slats back to the canopy.

Doing it this way, you won't have to worry about needing help and you can buy any light you want.

So my G2 Radion XR30s are old and, as my most recent inquiry illustrates, beginning to fail. It's time to think about replacing them. Here's the catch: my canopy is built with those channel slots attached to slats spaced perfectly for the hardware holes in the back of the radions. I have fat screws in those, and it's super easy to slide the lights in and out on those rails. Are the Gen 3 or 4 radions built the same way? It looks like most of the brand new lights are made such that the back is one big heat sink. Do they have screw holes for mounting hardware in there somewhere? Any advice on how to adjust my canopy for different lights without having to get it down off the ceiling? It'd be really awkward to try doing too much to the canopy while it's hanging, especially since I live alone and won't have help. Thanks!

 

[SallyWho]

It may be super awkward to work on it but here is what I would do,

Place a board to cover the tank. Buy new lights and mount them to your rails with those wood slats removed from the canopy.

Place a couple cardboard boxes or wood pieces on top of the tank with the board on it to raise the light and you won't have to hold it. and mount the wood slats back to the canopy.

Doing it this way, you won't have to worry about needing help and you can buy any light you want.

Oh, that's clever as heck! If I end up with lights that require adjustments to the canopy, I'll definitely do it this way!

 

[lbacha]

The fact you have 80/20 rails means you can easily add any type of mounting bracket to them to accommodate any light you go with. You may not be able to just slide the lights into the rail but you will have lots of options as the rail can handle anything you want to mount to it.

The mounting hardware on Orpheks slide right into 15 series t-slot but atlantics need mounted way higher than what you have. The new naturas may work though

 

[SallyWho]

The fact you have 80/20 rails means you can easily add any type of mounting bracket to them to accommodate any light you go with. You may not be able to just slide the lights into the rail but you will have lots of options as the rail can handle anything you want to mount to it.

The mounting hardware on Orpheks slide right into 15 series t-slot but atlantics need mounted way higher than what you have. The new naturas may work though

Naturas? Haven't heard of them? Google is showing me warehouse-style lighting systems. Where can I read more?

 

[Dburr1014]

Natura iCon - Reef Aquarium LED Lighting

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shop.orphek.com

 

[lbacha]

Naturas? Haven't heard of them? Google is showing me warehouse-style lighting systems. Where can I read more?

The link is in the post above this. They are made to be mounted a lot closer to the water than the older Atlantiks

 

[SallyWho]

The link is in the post above this. They are made to be mounted a lot closer to the water than the older Atlantiks

My canopy is on chains and pulleys so I can raise/lower as needed. Much higher than its current height though, and the T5s will blind me on the nearby couch, reflectors angled away or not!

 

[lbacha]

My canopy is on chains and pulleys so I can raise/lower as needed. Much higher than its current height though, and the T5s will blind me on the nearby couch, reflectors angled away or not!

T5’s are designed to be close to the water so you will want LEDs that are similar or you will get hot spots. The good thing is many LEDs are designed for 7-9” height