ReefBrite XHO-K15 Review (Radion G5 XR15 Addon)

[Jon's Reef]

Just wanted to get some info out there since I could not find it while contemplating this add on. This is not a rigorous study, rather just some thoughts/ impressions. In short, I like them.

Background:
My tank is a Red Sea 200xl ( similar size to 60 gal cube). Primary light is an XR15 G5 Blue. Par readings from Seneye. Pictures from iPhone8 with polyplab lens. My goal was to minimize shadowing around the rocks and corals.

Fixture:
Looks nice. The metal brackets are a little flimsy, so I had to bend them to get everything level. There are 8 "emitter" areas on each bar. Each emitter area has 1 downward facing LED and 2 side facing LEDs giving a total of 24 LEDs per bar.

I wanted to mount them on the left and right of the G5 while keeping the G5 oriented "left-right". What this means is that the front mounting bar covers the buttons. I don't use the buttons often, so not a big deal to me. Since the lights hang slightly lower, they do not block the fan vents in any way.

Control:
I wanted to ramp it up and down with my light schedule, but did not want to pay the $$$ for the bluetooth dimmer from ReefBrite. I found this controller on amazon for $13, and it works well (you also need an adapter). Only issue is if you turn the power switch off and on, the light turns on (even if it was off) and you have to connect to it with your phone to re-establish the schedule.
It allows 6 timer points, so I can't follow the Radion ramp perfectly, but I step it up to roughly match.

Spectrum : (Calculated based on BRS and Aqua Splendor G5 videos, I do not have a spectrometer)
I prefer a whiter look to the tank.

(ReefBrite and Royal+Blue balanced so they provide the same PAR in the middle of the tank)

Approximate Spectrum (could be totally wrong... but I think it's close to right)

Par:
ReefBrites at 100% seem to add ~100+ par at 6", ~50 par at 12", ~25 par @ 18"
For Comparison, the Royal + Blue XR15B channel at 100% gives ~200+ par @6" (middle)

Radion only:

ReefBrite only:

Radion and ReefBrite:

Shadow comparison:

 

[Ron Reefman]

Good review, thanks.

BTW, very nice looking tank!

 

[PbMan26]

Nice write-up, thanks. What did you use to measure PAR?

 

[Jon's Reef]

What did you use to measure PAR?

Seneye.
Positions measured:

 

[infinite0180]

Hey so that bluetooth controller works fine? I have this kit for the xr30 but havent installed it yet...

 

[Jon's Reef]

Hey so that bluetooth controller works fine?

All I can say is it works for the K15 (and my Skimz macroalgae reactor light). It is rated to 96 watts, I think the K15 is 48 Watts and the K30 is 96 watts max. You could use 2 (after the Y cable) if running at max is an issue (it gets hot or PAR looks low).

Also, this one is WIFI. I like the longer range. There is a BT version, but I have no experience with it.

If it is on a circuit where you routinely turn the power off and on, it would be annoying that it defaults to an ON state when it regains power.

(I also do not know if there is any long term effect... I don't think it will... but as in most DIY suggestions I do not take liability for it not working, damage etc)

 

[CoralNerd]

How do you and the corals like the gen5 / reef brites?

 

[Jon's Reef]

The RB addon is great when you need a little more par or coverage. Not a full additional light, but just need to boost the par and coverage. I moved to a larger 3 ft tank, so had to add a second XR15 and sold the RBs.

 

[stevem650]

My tank is the Redsea refer 750, 6 feet and I am using 3 Radion XR30 G5 pros with the XHO K30 Reef Brite add ons. The K30's make my corals pop with color. I am very happy with them, look great and were easy to install.

 

[polyppal]

Just wanted to get some info out there since I could not find it while contemplating this add on. This is not a rigorous study, rather just some thoughts/ impressions. In short, I like them.

Background:
My tank is a Red Sea 200xl ( similar size to 60 gal cube). Primary light is an XR15 G5 Blue. Par readings from Seneye. Pictures from iPhone8 with polyplab lens. My goal was to minimize shadowing around the rocks and corals.

Fixture:
Looks nice. The metal brackets are a little flimsy, so I had to bend them to get everything level. There are 8 "emitter" areas on each bar. Each emitter area has 1 downward facing LED and 2 side facing LEDs giving a total of 24 LEDs per bar.

I wanted to mount them on the left and right of the G5 while keeping the G5 oriented "left-right". What this means is that the front mounting bar covers the buttons. I don't use the buttons often, so not a big deal to me. Since the lights hang slightly lower, they do not block the fan vents in any way.

Control:
I wanted to ramp it up and down with my light schedule, but did not want to pay the $$$ for the bluetooth dimmer from ReefBrite. I found this controller on amazon for $13, and it works well (you also need an adapter). Only issue is if you turn the power switch off and on, the light turns on (even if it was off) and you have to connect to it with your phone to re-establish the schedule.
It allows 6 timer points, so I can't follow the Radion ramp perfectly, but I step it up to roughly match.

Spectrum : (Calculated based on BRS and Aqua Splendor G5 videos, I do not have a spectrometer)
I prefer a whiter look to the tank.

(ReefBrite and Royal+Blue balanced so they provide the same PAR in the middle of the tank)

Approximate Spectrum (could be totally wrong... but I think it's close to right)

Par:
ReefBrites at 100% seem to add ~100+ par at 6", ~50 par at 12", ~25 par @ 18"
For Comparison, the Royal + Blue XR15B channel at 100% gives ~200+ par @6" (middle)

Radion only:

ReefBrite only:

Radion and ReefBrite:

Shadow comparison:

This is awesome info, been looking for a decent review on this like light. Thanks for the review!

 

[scottkoji]

Just wanted to get some info out there since I could not find it while contemplating this add on. This is not a rigorous study, rather just some thoughts/ impressions. In short, I like them.

Background:
My tank is a Red Sea 200xl ( similar size to 60 gal cube). Primary light is an XR15 G5 Blue. Par readings from Seneye. Pictures from iPhone8 with polyplab lens. My goal was to minimize shadowing around the rocks and corals.

Fixture:
Looks nice. The metal brackets are a little flimsy, so I had to bend them to get everything level. There are 8 "emitter" areas on each bar. Each emitter area has 1 downward facing LED and 2 side facing LEDs giving a total of 24 LEDs per bar.

I wanted to mount them on the left and right of the G5 while keeping the G5 oriented "left-right". What this means is that the front mounting bar covers the buttons. I don't use the buttons often, so not a big deal to me. Since the lights hang slightly lower, they do not block the fan vents in any way.

Control:
I wanted to ramp it up and down with my light schedule, but did not want to pay the $$$ for the bluetooth dimmer from ReefBrite. I found this controller on amazon for $13, and it works well (you also need an adapter). Only issue is if you turn the power switch off and on, the light turns on (even if it was off) and you have to connect to it with your phone to re-establish the schedule.
It allows 6 timer points, so I can't follow the Radion ramp perfectly, but I step it up to roughly match.

Spectrum : (Calculated based on BRS and Aqua Splendor G5 videos, I do not have a spectrometer)
I prefer a whiter look to the tank.

(ReefBrite and Royal+Blue balanced so they provide the same PAR in the middle of the tank)

Approximate Spectrum (could be totally wrong... but I think it's close to right)

Par:
ReefBrites at 100% seem to add ~100+ par at 6", ~50 par at 12", ~25 par @ 18"
For Comparison, the Royal + Blue XR15B channel at 100% gives ~200+ par @6" (middle)

Radion only:

ReefBrite only:

Radion and ReefBrite:

Shadow comparison:

I know this is an old post but thank you for putting this together. This is exactly the info that I needed.