Aquarius Marinus

Good day, Reef Addicts!

I have a lot of decisions to make for my new tank set up. (Rimless 60g 24"x24"x24") But there are two larger ones that are weighing on my mind heavily. The first one is my sump location (I'll do a separate blog entry on that) the second is my lighting system. I basically have my heart set on one of two options, but if anyone can convince me to change my mind, then props to them.

First option is to have 10 NO T12s.

Okay I was actually kidding. I wouldn't do that. Can you still even buy T12s?

I'll start with a bit of history. On my previous 180 reef (6' x 2' x 2') I had 3 250w Radium bulbs in Lumenbrite Large (20" x 20" x 9") reflectors. I didn't want the larges, but when I ordered my lighting in 2009, the other sizes seemed to be out of stock everywhere. I used actual M80 magnetic ballasts for these, at a time when it was getting very hard to find actual magnetic ballasts. I know it uses less energy to run them on e-ballasts, and all the associated PAR and spectrum and bulb life things, but my primary reason for being a stickler on the M80 was that I am an engineer, and if I designed a bulb, I would be annoyed to no end if people ran it on a ballast that I didn't design it to run on! But that's just me. Suffice it to say that I love the way Radium's look and you could almost say I love the hum of the magnetic ballasts. (Did I mention my audio amplifiers are vacuum tube..?)
I also ran a Super Actinic VHO and a 454 VHO. I still have my lighting system from this reef.

That being said, I am a techno geek. And I do understand that MH (esp on magnetic ballast) is far from the most efficient thing there is. I have been in love with the Radion fixture since the first generation came out, and on a 2'x2'x2' cube, I would only need to buy one! Which would of course mean I would be buying the Pro model...

So let's talk about the Pros and Cons and see if you guys can help me make a decision, or offer viewpoints that I haven't considered.

Radium MH Set up
Pros:
-I already have all the equipment (this is a big Pro)
-I would have triple redundancy (since my previous tank was a 6'...I have 3 ballasts and pendants) not a big PRO, but just saying...
-I know I love the way the Radium's look in a reef tank (amount of light intensity, color spectrum, and that "sparkle")
Cons:
-Inefficient (b/c its a MH and b/c I choose to run magnetic ballasts)
-A Lumenbrite Large is freaking huge, especially on a rimless cube (this counts as two Cons bc my wife really doesn't like how big the Lumenbrite is)
-I would (most likely) not have the VHOs that I had on my last set up. While It's not a huge deal because I know the Radium is a reasonably full-spectrum bulb, I used the VHOs in the morning and evening, and I don't feel great about "slamming" my tank out of darkness with one 250w MH every morning.
-Similar to above, but no ability to ramp up or down light intensity
-No "Blue Only" mode without VHOs (I'd use this mostly for photography)
-Would have to buy a timer or controller since I no longer have my Apex

Radion XR30w Pro
Pros:
-Very efficient
-Integrates with Reeflink for OCD satisfying control
-Intensity and spectrum can be controlled
-Lunar Mode
-Storm mode (and syncs with vortechs) cool points
-I don't have to buy a timer or controller
-SIGNIFICANTLY smaller and better looking over a rimless tank (double points)
Cons:
-We all know how expensive these are
-I haven't (and probably won't be able to) see(n) one in person. None of the local stores are very Ecotech savvy
-Do they have the same "sparkle" as MH? Does anyone know how their intensity and spectrum compare to Radiums?
-MH set-up would continue to collect dust (not a huge deal, I could sell them...or use them for citrus plants...not a joke)

I look forward to hearing anyone's thoughts!