Lighting for Reefer 425

aaron186 · Jun 25, 2023

I have a Red Sea Reefer 425 (47”x22”x22) that is currently lit with 2x Radion xr15 gen 6 using the rms mount. My lid has a cutout in the middle to add 1 more light. I want to keep mostly SPS this time. I ran a par meter and I need more light (200 under the light but 100ish not too far out and towards top). Should I add an xr30 in the middle? Or just another xr15? Or should I try to add 2x blades using the new hybrid mount?

mjgonereefing · Jun 26, 2023

aaron186 said:
I have a Red Sea Reefer 425 (47”x22”x22) that is currently lit with 2x Radion xr15 gen 6 using the rms mount. My lid has a cutout in the middle to add 1 more light. I want to keep mostly SPS this time. I ran a par meter and I need more light (200 under the light but 100ish not too far out and towards top). Should I add an xr30 in the middle? Or just another xr15? Or should I try to add 2x blades using the new hybrid mount?

I am running the same exact lighting as you and am going with the blades and hybrid mount. Just waiting for the mount to arrive! Didn’t answer your question per se but the reason I’m going with the blades is to fill in shadows as this tank is not getting acros. I could tell you that if I were to go sps heavy I would definitely throw in another radion. I find mixed tanks extremely difficult for this reason. Your meat slabs probably won’t appreciate getting blasted like most sps like. Just my opinion. Would love to hear what you go with.

aaron186 · Jun 26, 2023

mjgonereefing said:
I am running the same exact lighting as you and am going with the blades and hybrid mount. Just waiting for the mount to arrive! Didn’t answer your question per se but the reason I’m going with the blades is to fill in shadows as this tank is not getting acros. I could tell you that if I were to go sps heavy I would definitely throw in another radion. I find mixed tanks extremely difficult for this reason. Your meat slabs probably won’t appreciate getting blasted like most sps like. Just my opinion. Would love to hear what you go with.

My wife nixed the blades. She didn’t like how it looked in the pics and the tank is in living room so she gets a say in this. I guess the question is if 3 xr15s is enough or if I need the 30. Not sure how to know without trying both and testing but I’m not sure if I can return one without getting dinged for restocking fee

mjgonereefing · Jun 26, 2023

aaron186 said:
My wife nixed the blades. She didn’t like how it looked in the pics and the tank is in living room so she gets a say in this. I guess the question is if 3 xr15s is enough or if I need the 30. Not sure how to know without trying both and testing but I’m not sure if I can return one without getting dinged for restocking fee

I’d go with the 15. Looks cleaner and will probably get you into the 300s in some areas.