Lighting (radions) for Red Sea 300xl (36x22) input requested

Jstn · Aug 3, 2021

What you you do for lighting

Currently have 2 xr30 blue from a 120 (48x24) tank build and a xr15 blue from a nano, I broke this tank down relocated across the county and now am setting up a smaller Red Sea 300xl (36x22). I kept a mixed tank and most likely will do the same with a minimalistic aquascape 40 or so lbs of rock. I enjoy acros (high par) and acans euphillya (low to med par) and plan on doing the same with my next setup.

Now obviously the xr30x2 is over kill, but would I be better to run this, or sell my xr30 and get another xr15? One one hand having the larger light for a potential down the road upgrade might be nice, on the other hand selling them off and buying a xr15 would yield some cash that can be used for livestock. I don’t think a single xr30 would have the spread needed.

What have people run in rations over these dimension of tank and any advice for real world experience is appreciated.

Jon's Reef · Aug 3, 2021

I tried 2 XR15 on a similar tank. Par was there, but there was not enough wrap around coverage. I would go with 2 XR30 mounted front to back.

Jstn · Aug 3, 2021

Jon's Reef said:
I tried 2 XR15 on a similar tank. Par was there, but there was not enough wrap around coverage. I would go with 2 XR30 mounted front to back.

makes sense havent considered “wrap” any pictures by chance ?

Jon's Reef · Aug 3, 2021

Here is a sequence. Notice how is starts with more "sharp" shadows. This comes from the directionality of the light and the size of the source. I tried turning the XR15 G5's so the "long" direction was front to back vs left to right, but it does not make much difference. I think the lenses form it into a pretty good square.

As more lights are added, you can see the "sharp" shadows turn more into gradients. Still have lighter and darker areas, but in general everywhere is getting some light.

2 XR15 with 1 A160. In particular see the shadowing in the lower right corner and along the left edge.

2 XR15, 1 A360X, 1 RB XHO Actinic, 1 RB XHO 50/50. Shadowing still present, but softened. Notice in the lower right there is now light wrapping the rock even though the corals are larger.

2 A360x, 2 Actinic RB XHO, 2 50/50 RB XHO. The shadowing in the "open" area is almost gone. Still some "gradient" in that the exposed areas have more light and the covered areas have less. Only dark areas is the "cave network" under the rocks. The reason I removed the XR15 was that I felt like the spectrum of the A360x was more complementary to the RB strips.

Jstn · Aug 3, 2021

Thank you so much, I see just sticking with the xr30 will be a lot more blanketing ,now you mention front to back as I should rotate them 90 degrees to the standard installation ? The last thing I want is to have to supplement my leds with leds and based on your experience I agree with your conclusions.
Also notice your mp40 have moved to side from the bottom, I was thinking of trying the rear but seeing your evolution i am questioning myself.

Jon's Reef · Aug 3, 2021

The XR30 should work well. The diffusers are also a nice addition as they further enhance the blanketing effect.

I completely removed the MP40s now. I just did not like the direct flow and the direct pull. As the tank fills up it is hard to find a spot where you can get them to intersect and not hit a coral or blow around the sand. The gyres have been working amazing. 2x XF330 (XF350 way too strong for this size tank). Since they are such a slim profile they tuck up at the waterline nicely and they run on 1 controller. Key with them is to program correctly. For a 36" tank, 0.6 sec alternating pulse with it ramping from 0 to 100% so the point of intersection moves during the day. Gives a really nice broad, random flow pattern throughout the tank with a perfect LPS sway.

Robertellis30 · Aug 3, 2021

I have 3 xr15 above mine.

qhduong · Aug 4, 2021

I have 2 xr 30 on same tank.

Jstn · Aug 4, 2021

Robertellis30 said:
I have 3 xr15 above mine.

So looks like I would need 3 not 2 (xr15), are you happy with your spread/coverage.

qhduong said:
I have 2 xr 30 on same tank.

Are you happy , would you recommend it ?

flashsmith · Aug 4, 2021

I'm no expert by any means but I run a single xr15 gen5 over an IM 30l 36" length. I have softies and lps end to end with no issues. Light is ran on soft/lps program at only 50% and it seems more than adequate to me. Alot of money gets wasted on lighting IMO. If I had a do over I wouldn't have bought a light that is overkill for my tank. Anything higher then 50% and your melting softies with a radion. I learned the hard way on that. I also have a 50 lagoon lps with a big maxima clam running the same light and program with no issues. Got an sr 80 on the way I went with a current USA setup for that one . Couldn't justify buying 2 radions or any other comparably priced lights if I wasn't planning on utilizing the power.

Tonycass12 · Aug 4, 2021

Xr30 in the center and an xr15 on each end is what I would do. Ive got 2 xr15 pros over a 24x24x16 tall. And get good coverage, around 210par on the sand bed to just over 300 4" below the surface.