Starting UNS 60A tank

Endless_Kimchi · Jul 15, 2026

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to decide on lighting for my new UNS 60A AIO (approximately 24” × 15” × 15”). My goal is a mixed reef, but I eventually want to keep SPS, including Acropora, so I want to buy the right light the first time.

My priorities are:

* Healthy coral growth and coloration
* Good spread with minimal shadowing
* Reliable hardware
* Stable, easy-to-use app or controller
* Long-term reliability
* Good customer support
* No subscriptions or unnecessary recurring costs

Lights I’m considering:

* Reefi Uno 2.1 Pro
* Illumagic (Dalua) X4
* Radion XR15 G6 Blue
* Radion XR15 G6 Pro
* AI Hydra Edge 44
* ReefBreeders Meridian 11

A few things I’ve heard, but I’m not sure if they’re true:

* Reefi has incredible PAR and value, but the app isn’t the best.
* Illumagic seems to have one of the nicest apps, but it’s expensive.
* Radions are the industry standard, but I’m wondering if they’re still worth the premium.
* The Meridian looks interesting, but I don’t know enough about long-term reliability or SPS performance.

For those who have actually used these lights:

1. Which would you choose for this tank and why?
2. If budget wasn’t the deciding factor, which light would you buy?
3. Which has the best software and least connection issues?
4. Has anyone switched from one of these lights to another and regretted it?
5. Would you recommend buying used if I can find a good deal?

I’d really appreciate real-world experiences, especially from people who have owned multiple lights rather than just seen PAR charts.

Thanks!

Gumbies R Us · Jul 15, 2026

@oreo54

KingAlee · Jul 22, 2026

Heyo, I'm one of the DALUA reps, so I'll give you my perspective while trying to stay as unbiased as possible.
For a tank that's only 24" × 15" × 15", I honestly think an X4 is probably more light than you need for a mixed reef. That said, if your end goal is Acropora and other SPS, it definitely gives you plenty of room to grow. You'd just need to run it at a lower intensity and slowly ramp it up as the tank matures.

One thing I really like about the X4 is the spread. The diffuser and optics do a great job of blending colors and minimizing shadowing, and the app has been extremely reliable in my experience. I've got DALUA lights running on my own systems, so I'm not just speaking from the rep side of things.

If I were setting up this exact tank, I'd probably lean toward a single X4 or a smaller modular setup depending on what I planned to keep long term. If it was going to stay mostly LPS and softies, I'd personally say an X4 is more than enough. If it's truly going to become an SPS-dominant tank, then buying the stronger light once instead of upgrading later isn't a bad idea either.

Looking at your list, I honestly don't think there are any bad choices. Reefi is a great value (the interface/app is indeed terrible), Radions have a proven track record (great spectrum if it’s Mobius compatible it’s very good with the app), and the Meridian is getting some good feedback (this is the only one I haven’t used here). I'd focus less on chasing PAR numbers and more on spread, spectrum, reliability, and the user experience—those are the things you'll appreciate every single day. Anddddd if you do end up going dalua shoot me a message and I’ll see what I can get setup for you!

Now, whatever you choose, I think you'll have a successful SPS tank as long as your water chemistry is stable. The light is only one piece of the puzzle.