Can you really use just 2x XR15 G6 to light a 4ft tank?

flashsmith

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I'm running 2 xr15 pros over a 5ft. tank mixed reef with acros also 2 big maxima clams. I bought a new rs reefer 625xxl about a year ago. I already had the radions from another system. It was only going to be temporary but everything was doing fine and growing well. I don't see a reason to overspend on lighting at this point. I'm running ab+ at 70% with whites turned down a bit.Of course placement is key and proper spacing to get the most out each light. It can be done. I don't need 300 par on my walls and floor..lol. I decided to give it a try because a very popular shop in my area was running the same setup on their frag tanks All 5ft water box frag tanks. I replicated it as best I could and it worked for me.
 
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I have 3 XR15 PRO on a 4” tank.

At peak intensity the lights are at 100% point intensity [blues at 100%, red+green at 20%, warm white at 25%, cool white at 90%]. This results in an even 300-325 par wall to wall. The only obstacle for lighting is aquascape but that is up to you!
I need to try this settings. I am trying to achieve something that does not look too blue.
I'm running 2 xr15 pros over a 5ft. tank mixed reef with acros also 2 big maxima clams. I bought a new rs reefer 625xxl about a year ago. I already had the radions from another system. It was only going to be temporary but everything was doing fine and growing well. I don't see a reason to overspend on lighting at this point. I'm running ab+ at 70% with whites turned down a bit.Of course placement is key and proper spacing to get the most out each light. It can be done. I don't need 300 par on my walls and floor..lol. I decided to give it a try because a very popular shop in my area was running the same setup on their frag tanks All 5ft water box frag tanks. I replicated it as best I could and it worked for me.
Interesting. Idk if my aquascape will let me just run 2. I am about to try it haha.

IMG-20220904-WA0004.jpg
 

flashsmith

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This is about 6 months ago. At the time I was running reefbrite add on kits. I took those off right after this to experiment and I decided I didn't need them. You could always go that route too.
IMG_20220515_200332098_MP.jpg
 

Lavey29

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I need to try this settings. I am trying to achieve something that does not look too blue.

Interesting. Idk if my aquascape will let me just run 2. I am about to try it haha.

IMG-20220904-WA0004.jpg
That's nice scape. I thought my XR15s were perfect over my 3 foot tank but after checking par yesterday I was shocked at how weak they performed. Yes my LPS and softs are fine but the numbers on my top rocks were ridiculously low for SPS and I'm at 90% now intensity. I use diffusers which I measured with and without and the par difference was minimal but the spread and even par was much better with diffusers on my gen 5. If you want a mixed reef or SPS dominant go with the 30s. Buy once cry once.
 

Lavey29

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This is about 6 months ago. At the time I was running reefbrite add on kits. I took those off right after this to experiment and I decided I didn't need them. You could always go that route too.
IMG_20220515_200332098_MP.jpg
What is the tall soft coral growing behind your scape?
 

RGoltz

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I need to try this settings. I am trying to achieve something that does not look too blue.

Interesting. Idk if my aquascape will let me just run 2. I am about to try it haha.

IMG-20220904-WA0004.jpg
I like the aquascape. I started with two lights but had to add a third for SPS.

How are you mounting the lights? Are you using RMS mounts on the rear of the tank or a rail? If you are using a rail you can always add another light without having a new lid made..
 
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DeadEnd

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That's nice scape. I thought my XR15s were perfect over my 3 foot tank but after checking par yesterday I was shocked at how weak they performed. Yes my LPS and softs are fine but the numbers on my top rocks were ridiculously low for SPS and I'm at 90% now intensity. I use diffusers which I measured with and without and the par difference was minimal but the spread and even par was much better with diffusers on my gen 5. If you want a mixed reef or SPS dominant go with the 30s. Buy once cry once.
Wait, 1x30 has more par than 2x15s?
 
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I like the aquascape. I started with two lights but had to add a third for SPS.

How are you mounting the lights? Are you using RMS mounts on the rear of the tank or a rail? If you are using a rail you can always add another light without having a new lid made..
I am hanging them in the back... I really don't like the look of the rail. Maybe I can have the lid made with multiple spots for lights in case I want to add more
 

Lavey29

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Wait, 1x30 has more par than 2x15s?
I use 2 XR15s on my 3 foot 65g DT. I am recommending you use 2 XR30s on your 4 foot tank if you intend mixed reef and or SPS dominant tank. The XR15s are weak. Only 200 par at top rocks. 90%.

20220915_172641.jpg
 
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I use 2 XR15s on my 3 foot 65g DT. I am recommending you use 2 XR30s on your 4 foot tank if you intend mixed reef and or SPS dominant tank. The XR15s are weak. Only 200 par at top rocks. 90%.

I use 2 XR15s on my 3 foot 65g DT. I am recommending you use 2 XR30s on your 4 foot tank if you intend mixed reef and or SPS dominant tank. The XR15s are weak. Only 200 par at top rocks. 90%.

20220915_172641.jpg
I would have thought that 4x XR15's would be as good as 2x XR30's
 

HudsonReefer2.0

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BRS recommended 4x xr15 on the 4 foot tank. I have same system as @Lavey29. Mixed reef 2x xr15 g5 pro. Ab+ 80%. May adjust more for greater Par / sps. Like what I’m seeing atm tho
 

RGoltz

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I have spoken with other people running 3 XR15 on 4” tanks or 4 XR15 on 5” tanks. The PAR numbers are consistent with what I measured. My lights are at 90% and render well over 300 PAR wall-to-wall.

Obviously 4 would be even better. Hopefully my next tank will use either panels or a hanging rail so that I can just thrown on additional lights as-needed!

But for the first couple years of a tank, I think 3 is just fine.
 

Lavey29

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I would have thought that 4x XR15's would be as good as 2x XR30's
After the par numbers I saw from mine I doubt it and I think 2 looks much cleaner then 4 lights but I've seen them set up both ways. Again just depends how deep your tank is and how your scape is along with your coral preference. I'm up to 92% now increasing 1% daily until I get to 100 and hopefully that will get me 300 par at the top. Do you think it will be better on your lights long term to run XR15s at 100% or XR30s at maybe 60% to get your par requirements?
 

Lavey29

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I have spoken with other people running 3 XR15 on 4” tanks or 4 XR15 on 5” tanks. The PAR numbers are consistent with what I measured. My lights are at 90% and render well over 300 PAR wall-to-wall.

Obviously 4 would be even better. Hopefully my next tank will use either panels or a hanging rail so that I can just thrown on additional lights as-needed!

But for the first couple years of a tank, I think 3 is just fine.
Wall to Wall? You mean your top level rocks 5 inches below the surface?
 

Lavey29

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BRS recommended 4x xr15 on the 4 foot tank. I have same system as @Lavey29. Mixed reef 2x xr15 g5 pro. Ab+ 80%. May adjust more for greater Par / sps. Like what I’m seeing atm tho
Take a look at my tank puc above. 90% schedule at the highest rock point in my tank barely touched 200 par.
 

ekandler

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I thought about 2 XR30's which would be the best I could do or 4x XR15's. I decided to go with the XR15's because I like how it looks
I totally agree with 4x XR15s over 2x XR30s, better spread and control over lighting. But I’m cheap and didn’t want to pay for 4 RMS arms ha
 

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