XR15s?

[Leon.NYC]

Not to add to more confusion, but I too purchased the XR15's, but paired it with AI Grow blades on my Waterbox 230.6
I'm currently running 3x XR15 & 2 AI Grow blades. The major benefit i see is the light dispersant as i can angle the blades for broader distribution under corals & rock work. With AI @60% and Radions at 80% i'm getting 350 at the top of the rockscape, 1-170 on the sandbed. Closer to the rocks, you'll get around 100 PAR, as i move to the edge and closer to the glass, i get 170-180.

 

[RoanokeReef]

For Budgets sake, maybe 2 XR15's and when you feel the need to get SPS (you will) add some AI blades

 

[Rocks reef]

Even better than the snickers is my battlebox out for delivery!

Mine will be here tomorrow. You're doing the growout over on HF right?

 

[RoanokeReef]

Mine will be here tomorrow. You're doing the growout over on HF right?

Woot! Yes sir

 

[Rocks reef]

Not to add to more confusion, but I too purchased the XR15's, but paired it with AI Grow blades on my Waterbox 230.6
I'm currently running 3x XR15 & 2 AI Grow blades. The major benefit i see is the light dispersant as i can angle the blades for broader distribution under corals & rock work. With AI @60% and Radions at 80% i'm getting 350 at the top of the rockscape, 1-170 on the sandbed. Closer to the rocks, you'll get around 100 PAR, as i move to the edge and closer to the glass, i get 170-180.

Great idea! I'm a huge fan of adding supplement bars to a light fixture for that very reason.

 

[Rocks reef]

Woot! Yes sir

Same brother. Thought your forum name looked familiar.

 

[Rocks reef]

For Budgets sake, maybe 2 XR15's and when you feel the need to get SPS (you will) add some AI blades

Or grab a used T5 fixture, put the 15s in the middle. I know I'm adding to the confusion. I apologize.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Helps to even out coverage and reduce shadowing as well. Tank looks great BTW

Yea it really does! Being a peninsula tank and having an aquascape down the center I really didn’t want to add the extra cost of xr30’s since the aquascape is about 1ft wide.

For OP, think about what you will keep, how your scape will be and make a decision from there. Personally reading OP other comments I think XR15’s would be fine and a huge upgrade.

 

[jadedog]

Man im so conflicted!! Part of me thinks I should just spend the extra $1000 since im already spending alot but at the same time idk! Thank you everyone for your comments and help! I will make my decision tonight and let you guys know. Still open for suggestions if anyone has them.

 

[X-37B]

I run 3 xr15's on my 30x24x16.
Plenty of power if kept close with light overlap. Current 65%.
Also ran the same xr15's over my old 48x24x16. On this system I got 200 par at the bottom but that's only 13,5 inches of water. 100% ab+ on this system.
The 15's par goes down as the depth increases.
All run ab+ on standard mounts.
The 3 are same height but on 8020 mount.

 

[jadedog]

Yea it really does! Being a peninsula tank and having an aquascape down the center I really didn’t want to add the extra cost of xr30’s since the aquascape is about 1ft wide.

For OP, think about what you will keep, how your scape will be and make a decision from there. Personally reading OP other comments I think XR15’s would be fine and a huge upgrade.

This is my current scape. I honestly think the xr15 will get it done. I guess it just limits me in the future if I ever want sps especially since my scape isnt very tall. This is a old pic but right now I have two torches a hammer a lobophyllia some zoas and micro mussas also a montipora but idk if im going to keep it. Thank you for the comment

 

[jadedog]

Not to add to more confusion, but I too purchased the XR15's, but paired it with AI Grow blades on my Waterbox 230.6
I'm currently running 3x XR15 & 2 AI Grow blades. The major benefit i see is the light dispersant as i can angle the blades for broader distribution under corals & rock work. With AI @60% and Radions at 80% i'm getting 350 at the top of the rockscape, 1-170 on the sandbed. Closer to the rocks, you'll get around 100 PAR, as i move to the edge and closer to the glass, i get 170-180.

How are the xr15 mounted with the ai blades? If I buy the back mount arms for the XR15 will that work if I ever add AI blades? Sorry if this doesnt make sense

 

[vandy]

Hey mate an actual quick easy fix that will work for you is upgrading to the high intensity lenses on these. It drastically increases your par on the xr15s. This will save you a ton of money compared upgrading to xr30s

 

[Leon.NYC]

How are the xr15 mounted with the ai blades? If I buy the back mount arms for the XR15 will that work if I ever add AI blades? Sorry if this doesnt make sense

@jadedog I used the 3dreefing product and it works amazingly. It sticks out enough that i can angle the light to direct it under rockwork and corals that may shade the sand. I believe adaptivereef.com also has a similar solution.

AI Blade To Radion Mounts 2.0

Updated AI Blade To Radion Mounts 2.0 Now compatible with our premium wide shades Slightly wider coverage with easier Blade tilt adjustment bracket Can be installed in 5 minutes or less. No longer necessary to disassemble your Radion to install! Install Guide: Radion AI Blade Mount Install...

3dreefing.com

 

[jadedog]

@jadedog I used the 3dreefing product and it works amazingly. It sticks out enough that i can angle the light to direct it under rockwork and corals that may shade the sand. I believe adaptivereef.com also has a similar solution.

AI Blade To Radion Mounts 2.0

Updated AI Blade To Radion Mounts 2.0 Now compatible with our premium wide shades Slightly wider coverage with easier Blade tilt adjustment bracket Can be installed in 5 minutes or less. No longer necessary to disassemble your Radion to install! Install Guide: Radion AI Blade Mount Install...

3dreefing.com

I feel like this is the route I might take thank you. One last question and I'll stop bugging you is it ok for the XR15 to run at like 80% have you had any problems?

 

[Leon.NYC]

How are the xr15 mounted with the ai blades? If I buy the back mount arms for the XR15 will that work if I ever add AI blades? Sorry if this doesnt make sense

Yup, they actually attach to the lights. I’ve included a photo of my setup. Note: I don’t have the back LED’s mounted as they are out for delivery.
Also the price for the LEDs are cheaper than going with 3x XR30. For 30” led bars it’s 280 per bar on BRS. The lights also work in Mobius so it’s all one app control.

 

[Leon.NYC]

I feel like this is the route I might take thank you. One last question and I'll stop bugging you is it ok for the XR15 to run at like 80% have you had any problems?

Not a problem at all :)

I enjoy sharing info as i went through the same thing a few weeks back. I actually upgraded to the XR30's but then someone shared with me their setup of using the AI Blades and how it actually provides better coverage so i changed back. I rented a Apogee MQ-510 par meter from Pod your reef & tested. At blades pushing 80% i was getting 300 1/2 way down the tank. Given that i keep LPS at that level, i lowered the Blades to 50%. At the peak of my tank (about 7-8" from surface its hitting 440 Par) - correction from earlier, i just looked at my video when I did the mapping of the scape.

 

[jadedog]

Not a problem at all :)

I enjoy sharing info as i went through the same thing a few weeks back. I actually upgraded to the XR30's but then someone shared with me their setup of using the AI Blades and how it actually provides better coverage so i changed back. I rented a Apogee MQ-510 par meter from Pod your reef & tested. At blades pushing 80% i was getting 300 1/2 way down the tank. Given that i keep LPS at that level, i lowered the Blades to 50%. At the peak of my tank (about 7-8" from surface its hitting 440 Par) - correction from earlier, i just looked at my video when I did the mapping of the scape.

So your blades are running at 50% and your XR15s are at 80%? Ill probably buy the blades later down the road when I want more demanding coral.

 

[Leon.NYC]

So your blades are running at 50% and your XR15s are at 80%? Ill probably buy the blades later down the road when I want more demanding coral.

Correct. At this time with the 3 XR15's & 1 Blade running as seen in the photo, its 50% AI & 80% Radions.

Note: With the second lightbar i'm going to have to lower the XR15's down to around 50% since it'll be getting more light. Depending on what you want to keep will determine your PAR requirement.

With 1 lightbar at the front, the back is good to keep softies as i'm getting 100-120 at the back without the second lightbar.

I have a few SPS up top sitting at 350 Par and a few torches at 200 PAR about mid-way down the tank.

 

[rtparty]

I didn’t read all 50+ replies but can easily guess the rhetoric

“Radions suck”

“Not enough PAR”

“Not enough punch out of the 15s”

Yada yada yada bologna sandwich nonsense. Probably a couple plugs for Reefi or Quanta thrown in as well.

2 XR15s are plenty for that size tank. I ran 6 on a 72*36*22. Each set of 2 was required to cover 36*24*22 and I had 170-200 PAR on the sand bed.

These days I would pick the Nicrew Gen 2 over Radions but not because the Radions won’t work, I can just get all the performance for 30-40% the cost