Lighting Upgrades

[TiredDuck]

Hi! I’m currently doing research on upgrading my lights. I currently have a Mixed reef with SPS, LPs and softies. My tank is 48 length, 24 width , and 30 height.

I’m currently interested in Hydra Edges or Radions, but my main concern is ensuring I get lights that are strong enough for acropora as they grow.

What would you guys recommend and what are some things I should keep in mind? Thank you!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@oreo54

 

[Reef Jedi]

I’ve had really good results with radions over the years. They last forever and the ease of use is so nice. Currently I have the G6 Pro models and have amazing color blending with the new optics. Personally I will continue to run radions since they work so well.

 

[TiredDuck]

I’ve had really good results with radions over the years. They last forever and the ease of use is so nice. Currently I have the G6 Pro models and have amazing color blending with the new optics. Personally I will continue to run radions since they work so well.

I’m definitely leaning towards the Radions, I see the Blue version is more blue spectrum over the pros, would the pros be more of a natural lighting?

 

[Reef Jedi]

I’m definitely leaning towards the Radions, I see the Blue version is more blue spectrum over the pros, would the pros be more of a natural lighting?

I run 3 pros and one blue in line over a peninsula tank. I personally prefer the pros over the blue’s. All blues are just too blue for my liking. Where as the pros have a better blend of led pucks and will still get stupid blue lol. I get really good growth running a modified AB+ setting where the whites are turned up. I have an hour of ramp up and down that gets really blue.

Here’s an example of them ramping down where they are more blue than during the day.

 

[TiredDuck]

I run 3 pros and one blue in line over a peninsula tank. I personally prefer the pros over the blue’s. All blues are just too blue for my liking. Where as the pros have a better blend of led pucks and will still get stupid blue lol. I get really good growth running a modified AB+ setting where the whites are turned up. I have an hour of ramp up and down that gets really blue.

Here’s an example of them ramping down where they are more blue than during the day.

I like that! That looks amazing. Since my tank is 30 deep, would you say I should stick with the xr15 or xr30? I don’t need high par all the way down to the sand

 

[Reef Jedi]

I like that! That looks amazing. Since my tank is 30 deep, would you say I should stick with the xr15 or xr30? I don’t need high par all the way down to the sand

That depends on what type of coral you want to keep? If your going heavy sps then I would do xr30’s. However I get good sps growth with the xr15’s I have when sps is placed at the top. I chose xr15’s because I didn’t need the wider spread since it is a peninsula tank. I knew my rock scape would be straight down the middle. I own a par meter and 4” from surface is 650 par. 1/4 down is 400, 1/2 is around 250-300, 3/4 down is about 150-200 ish all measured from the top. I have a Red Sea P500 and my depth from top to bottom is about 24” high. So not too far off from your depth. Over the years I’ve put everything from sps, LPs in at different depth and had really good results finding a good par range for the individual coral. 10 years ago I wouldn’t have considered xr15’s and I use to only run xr30’s. But over the years I’ve learned a lot and it is nice to space the xr15’s differently than the xr30’s.

These are just thoughts and experience however I personally will always run radions. They are a proven light in my experience.

 

[TiredDuck]

That depends on what type of coral you want to keep? If your going heavy sps then I would do xr30’s. However I get good sps growth with the xr15’s I have when sps is placed at the top. I chose xr15’s because I didn’t need the wider spread since it is a peninsula tank. I knew my rock scape would be straight down the middle. I own a par meter and 4” from surface is 650 par. 1/4 down is 400, 1/2 is around 250-300, 3/4 down is about 150-200 ish all measured from the top. I have a Red Sea P500 and my depth from top to bottom is about 24” high. So not too far off from your depth. Over the years I’ve put everything from sps, LPs in at different depth and had really good results finding a good par range for the individual coral. 10 years ago I wouldn’t have considered xr15’s and I use to only run xr30’s. But over the years I’ve learned a lot and it is nice to space the xr15’s differently than the xr30’s.

These are just thoughts and experience however I personally will always run radions. They are a proven light in my experience.

Thank you so much! I appreciate your advice and insight. I'm going to try out the XR15 Pro and test par levels, and if I need to upgrade to XR30 then I will.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your advice and insight. I'm going to try out the XR15 Pro and test par levels, and if I need to upgrade to XR30 then I will.

I think you’ll find the G6 have some good output. The new optics they put on this model blend light so well. No overly disco ball effect. Just the perfect amount of shimmer. Lots of people I’ve seen say the g6 are not as powerful because of that. But in my experience and especially measuring par my self, that’s not the case. Once you get one let me know what you think!

 

[slingfox]

Hard to go wrong with Radions but they have also or been materially updated for a very long time. Other options:

High value with modern tech: Reef Breeders

Most technologically advanced light which will be available soon: ATI Straton X

Alternative to Radion at better price point but less intuitive app: ReeFi Uno

 

[rtparty]

Hard to pass up the Nicrew Gen 2 fixtures when you can get 3 for the cost of 1 Radion.

The new Straton X looks incredible but I don’t know when they’ll be in the States

I really like the AI Blades as well. They are super sleek and cover the tank in an even blanket of light