2xg2 lights for a 6foot long tank?

boboyo · Feb 10, 2021

Buying my first sump tank. Got an amazing deal on a 72x18x21 inch tank (125 gallons)

the guy selling it to me has 2 radion g2 but someone told me I’m better off with 3 lights because they only cover 24”?

i have no sps yet only LPS and softies. My current tank is 2 months old 55 gallon with 11 fishies and a dozen corals. Running a viparsoectra light.

i need a bigger tank so I can put more tangs (and at the same time so they don’t kill each other).

would it be recommended to run it like the seller did with 2 g2 (assuming it’s 30w ones). Or should I get 2 g4? Or 3? Let me know your thoughts. I’m trying to make a very nice setup and the viparspectra will most likely have to go once I sell my current tank.

ShepherdReefer · Feb 11, 2021

Just my opinion, I would run at least 3-lights spanning over the 6' tank. On which brand model, that will depend on you. I currently have 2-Ecotech XR15 on our tank but thinking about using Orphek on the next build.

Anirban · Feb 11, 2021

If you have only LPS and softies then for now I will say get atleast 3 XR15 gen4. Because you are buying them so dont go for gen 2 or 3 they have much lesser coverage than gen4. In future you can upgrade to a 4th one if you want to do more SPS.

SoggyNW · Feb 11, 2021

You can absolutely get away with 2 lights, place them toward the center and accept that the edges of the tank will be dimmly lit.

I feel like people get into their head that the entire tank needs to be uniformly lit which just isn't true. You can put a single prime hd over a 120 and still grow SPS directly under it.

boboyo · Feb 11, 2021

Anirban said:
If you have only LPS and softies then for now I will say get atleast 3 XR15 gen4. Because you are buying them so dont go for gen 2 or 3 they have much lesser coverage than gen4. In future you can upgrade to a 4th one if you want to do more SPS.

Wouldn’t 2 xr30 gen 2 be better than 2 xr15 gen 4? Or is there really that much difference?

I also have a metal hallide that came with my current tank so like if I made some ventilation at the cover of my tank (has a wooden folding top thing). Would that be a good addition to 2x gen 2?