How many radion lights should i use?

[Makoto]

Hi. I have been stuck with trying to figure out a proper light set up for a while now and i have decided to go with radion lights. My tank is 60x24x24, and I would like to make it an sps dominant tank. My lfs told me that 3 xr15 g6 pros would be enough, but from what i read it doesn’t seem like it’s enough. I was thinking instead that maybe i need one xr30 g6 pro and i would get 2 xr15s. Should i listen to my lfs or get an xr30?

 

[edsbeaker]

Hi there.
I disagree with your LFS. I just purchased a 5’ tank and will have three G6 XR15 pros on it for softies and medium light LPS. I have two on my 3’ X 2’ - 75 gallon right now and on the AB+ settings and 100% intensity the highest par I get is 220. Most of the tank is in the mid 100’s. If you are aiming for SPS you will probably need more then three. Also if you will be using predominantly blue channels, the blue version of the g6 fixtures will give you higher par. That fixture has more blues and less white leds.

Recently there have been a lot of posts regarding the G6 radions and the low par readings people are getting.

 

[Crabby48]

I would use 3 xr30 even if it wasn’t sps.

 

[bobnicaragua]

You’re trying to light a large area with 3 small light sources. SPS need light hitting them all over. They don’t do well with shadowing.

They also like a lot of par, I don’t think 3 XR15 would do it without supplementation.

T5, panel LED, LED bars, or lots of modules.

 

[Red_Beard]

Are you stuck on radions? Even with 3 or 4, I would add some strips like quanta helix or orphek or4s to keep par up and shadowing to a minimum if you are planning a full box of sps.

 

[Crabby48]

I am using two xr15 on an 30” x 20” x 16 tank as it was best fit. I have many xr30 and xr15 that I tried to see what work best

 

[ninjamyst]

You will need 3 XR30s for SPS. They will grow in colonies.

 

[Lavey29]

XR 15 lights are weak. You will need 3 XR30 lights for that size tank.

 

[Shanephillips27]

Hi. I have been stuck with trying to figure out a proper light set up for a while now and i have decided to go with radion lights. My tank is 60x24x24, and I would like to make it an sps dominant tank. My lfs told me that 3 xr15 g6 pros would be enough, but from what i read it doesn’t seem like it’s enough. I was thinking instead that maybe i need one xr30 g6 pro and i would get 2 xr15s. Should i listen to my lfs or get an xr30?

I would do 2xr15s for every 24 inches of tank length you can spread out better than xr 30s and I would also add the high intensity lens kit to each one. It’s a charm.

 

[exnisstech]

I would look for something besides radions so the lights don't come on in the middle of the night when mobius decides to randomly change date and time ;)

 

[Shanephillips27]

I would look for something besides radions so the lights don't come on in the middle of the night when mobius decides to randomly change date and time ;)

Hmmm I’ve never experienced this

 

[rtparty]

Hmmm I’ve never experienced this

Give it time

It’s such a well known issue that Ecotech added a section in Mobius to tell you exactly how many times the clock has had issues

 

[AKReefing]

I replaced the chips in my G3 XR30Ws with the Mobius chip. There have been growing pains, because Mobius can be a handful when setting up lighting schedules on a small cell phone screen. It also seems to occasionally change settings on its own?

Anyway, my recommendation is to get more LEDs than you think you'll need so you can arrange them to cover a larger footprint to reduce shading. I Have a mix of G3 XR30 Pros, G5 and G6 XR15 Pros. I've spread them out into a grid to all but eliminate shading on most of the rock, but I also operate them well below the maximum intensities, and use less than 5% red, green and white during peak intensity periods. They'll last years longer and degrade more slowly due to less heat.

 

[Shanephillips27]

Give it time

It’s such a well known issue that Ecotech added a section in Mobius to tell you exactly how many times the clock has had issues

I’ve had my lights for several years plus I run it with an mxm module on my apex so I don’t think I ever need to worry about that

 

[exnisstech]

Hmmm I’ve never experienced this

My gen 4 xr15s are on a shelf because of it. It's been an issue since mobius was released with no attempt to correct it. It doesn't happen to everyone one but it happens often enough IMO ecotech should have figured it out. Their fix is to sync the time in the app. Sure that resets it to the current date and time but it shouldn't happen to begin with. One time too many I got up in the middle of the night with lights blasting so I switched lighting.
I only use mobius now for my vortechs. Not too long ago I was looking at a tank and noticed my gsp wasn't moving like it should be. Sure enough mobius has changed again and the pumps were in night mode which I run a reduced flow.

Mobius date and time

The correct settings

 

[Shanephillips27]

My gen 4 xr15s are on a shelf because of it. It's been an issue since mobius was released with no attempt to correct it. It doesn't happen to everyone one but it happens often enough IMO ecotech should have figured it out. Their fix is to sync the time in the app. Sure that resets it to the current date and time but it shouldn't happen to begin with. One time too many I got up in the middle of the night with lights blasting so I switched lighting.
I only use mobius now for my vortechs. Not too long ago I was looking at a tank and noticed my gsp wasn't moving like it should be. Sure enough mobius has changed again and the pumps were in night mode which I run a reduced flow.

Mobius date and time

The correct settings

Like I said I don’t have to worry about it because the MXM module bypasses mobius.

 

[Red_Beard]

Took my gen 3s apart for their scheduled cleaning and noticed that they melted and scorched black the lenses for the uv diodes and some of the whites. I had the wide angle lenses in, and still had the factory standards, so i changed them out and lifted the fixture to get a little more spread. Mine do have timekeeping issues too, but only if they loose power. Not using the mobius app though. I think my issue is because the little button battery they soldered in wont hold charge anymore. And since it is soldered it isnt a quick easy thing to change.
With all the other options out there i dont think i can make myself want to cough up over a grand for new gen 6s.

 

[xiong_reef]

I have 4 XR15 G5 blues with an aquatic life 4 blub hybrid t5 light and I am getting about 400 par at the top of the tank. XR15 at 100% intensity

 

[Lavey29]

I just replaced my gen 5 with gen 6 XR15s when the lights are off at night some colored diodes flicker and stay at. Ecotech customer service was excellent though and shipped out new lights right away for me.

 

[Lavey29]

I have 4 XR15 G5 blues with an aquatic life 4 blub hybrid t5 light and I am getting about 400 par at the top of the tank. XR15 at 100% intensity

The hybrid set ups work well with radions.