Double the Radions or not?

[Titleist]

Pending forum input, today is the day I buy the Radions. I've seen a few posts about this but not in this combination or situation so once again a quick rundown would certainly help out:

7 foot x 24" tank.

Current choice is either 4 XR30 G4 Pros, or 8 XR15 G4 Pros.

Trying to consider all aspects, I see only 2 possible down sides to the 15's, 8 power cords rather than 4, and the possibility of a dud unit buying twice as many lights. Well maybe a bit more cost in extra mounts maybe.

From spec it appears they are the exact same light, just double the count in the 30 without a fan in each one.

Anyone with an opinion on this? Thinking I'd like half the cords and power supplies.

Tank will eventually be mixed. Tank is still empty, waiting for paint to dry and ABS for the bottom to arrive so I have time but I'd like to get the lights over the weekend if anyone has opinions that would lean either way.

Thanks

 

[RobW]

I'm kind of on the fence about what to do with my lighting for my tank build as well. I'm going to follow to gather some information as well.

 

[Titleist]

Other than a tiny bit more flexibility in spacing between front and back I'm on the fence on it. Is that worth double the power supplies and cabling? Is having the fans that big a plus vs no fan?

 

[Kristophf]

If your tank is onky 24" wide i see no point in having more seperate units. It will just be more of a pain to program and more cables

 

[DangerDave]

If your tank is onky 24" wide i see no point in having more seperate units. It will just be more of a pain to program and more cables

I agree...

 

[SuncrestReef]

I have two XR30 Pro’s on my 48”x24” tank and I think it’s fine, so I’d imagine four on your tank would be good. The power bricks are pretty large, so I’d hate to have 8.

Here are my PAR readings at 80%.

 

[Titleist]

Agreed. the 30's are in my cart right now pending input. The original idea was 30's turned sideways. When I start getting acros I can turn them front to back and add another 1 or 2 unless common wisdom is 4 30s sideways is good enough for a well stocked acro-on-top tank eventually. End goal is fairly well stocked front to back so I assumed eventually needing to turn the lights front to back.

 

[Titleist]

I have two XR30 Pro’s on my 48”x24” tank and I think it’s fine, so I’d imagine four on your tank would be good. The power bricks are pretty large, so I’d hate to have 8.

Here are my PAR readings at 80%.

Hmmmm.... and you have yours front to back across that space. Interesting. Thanks for those readings Suncrestreef, that helps immensely. You'd feel confident you could fill up to the sides of your tank higher up with acros? I guess if the par wasn't high enough for me I can sub in something other than a high par loving acro. Maybe just adjust what goes where if par drops near the sides. And I was going to add on a seneye to give me some numbers anyway.

 

[SuncrestReef]

Hmmmm.... and you have yours front to back across that space. Interesting. Thanks for those readings Suncrestreef, that helps immensely. You'd feel confident you could fill up to the sides of your tank higher up with acros? I guess if the par wasn't high enough for me I can sub in something other than a high par loving acro. Maybe just adjust what goes where if par drops near the sides. And I was going to add on a seneye to give me some numbers anyway.

I'm not sure if the placement of my frags and orientation of my lights is clear in the photo I posted, so I shot a quick video for you. I built my rockscape in a specific way to place certain corals under certain lighting levels. Hopefully this helps explain my layout:

 

[Titleist]

Looks sweet! With your rock set up like that are you considering the top 1/3 filling in with colony growth or are you considering LSP fillers on the ends? This is much like I'd like mine to go although the end goal is the typical solid wall side to side full with colonies up top.

Thanks for that video BTW

 

[SuncrestReef]

Looks sweet! With your rock set up like that are you considering the top 1/3 filling in with colony growth or are you considering LSP fillers on the ends? This is much like I'd like mine to go although the end goal is the typical solid wall side to side full with colonies up top.

Thanks for that video BTW

This tank is only 1 year old. I plan to continue adding more SPS in the top 1/3 and eventually they will grow into larger colonies. The lower 2/3 I plan to add more encrusting SPS and more LPS.

 

[Titleist]

I have plenty of room to elevate the lights high enough for good coverage, planning on hanging kit.

Excuse the framing ripped off the wall.... the tank was a fraction larger than I was told it would be. Like an 1/8th, and couldn't get it in without pulling down the framing.

 

[Titleist]

BTW, how high are your lights cranked to get that par?

 

[SuncrestReef]

BTW, how high are your lights cranked to get that par?

I'm running them at 80%, but I also have the Radion diffusers installed which reduces the intensity a bit. I prefer the look with the diffusers, both to elimate the disco effect and to shade the view from across the room so they don't glare in your eyes as much.

I forgot to mention, my lights are 9" above the water. They provide pretty good coverage at that height.

I just pulled out a tape measure to see how I would position the lights over 7 feet. I'd either do 4 lights lengthwise like mine:



Or I'd rotate them 90 degrees and use 5 lights:

 

[Titleist]

I think to keep the wife happy I'm going for 4 at the moment. Thanks for taking the time and effort to post your thoughts and pics. Order #1 sent for the 30s'. I also did the diffusers. Everything I see in video shows they make the shimmer softer and more blended. And like you have yours at 80 with them on I'm feeling good that I can get what I need with a 24 deep tank.

I'll send another one later today, then 2 on Sunday. Trying to make sure I get the freebees that go with!

 

[SuncrestReef]

Sounds like a good plan! You'll love these lights. Glad to help.

 

[ca1ore]

No brainer - go for the eight XR15. I have both 30s and 15s. We’re I given a do over, I’d buy all 15s. Yes, you will have more cords and power bricks to deal with, but that’s about the only disadvantage. 15s give you much more positioning flexibility, which is important in lights that are, in part, point sources. Also the fans in the 15s run as needed rather than all the time in the 30s. Quite annoying. I DiY’d all the hanging hardware for mine.

 

[Titleist]

Hmmmm..... did not know the fans run as needed on the 15's. Well, already bought a 30. Thinking about it though, it'd cost another 120 bucks or so for the second track and hanging kit, plus 4 extra rail mount kits. Cheaper I think then to go with the 30s and position corals. I know, already dribbling away the cash on these lights what's another 200 bucks. Going to add that to the carx I think.

And again, thanks for the pics. I used the second one with 5 pieces of paper to help me determine which length rail kit to get. I was originally thinking the 70 but if I go for 5 I'll need the 80.5

 

[ca1ore]

Well, like I said; I did my own rails and hangers since the ETM stuff is silly expensive. BTW, on a 24” deep tank, don’t orient the 30s sideways; unless of course you intend to mount corals to the front glass.

 

[Titleist]

sideways as in the opposite way SuncrestReef's are? His are what I would say sideways, elements oriented left to right rather than front to back.

I should probably be good into the foreseeable future with 4 then if I shouldn't be mounting them front to back.