3 radion x30 g4 pros overkill for 55x26x18?

Salty.Reefer · Dec 14, 2017

Hey guys. Looking for your opinion. I am upgrading from a 50g cube to a 110 shallow tank. It is 55long 26 wide and 18 deep.
I really like my Kessils aw360 on my 50 gallon but hey grass is always greener.
I wanted to try out the radions espically with the new diffuser coming out.
I want to mount them using the rsm mounts because it looks super clean. Should I expect the coverage to be 24x24? Is the far sides of the lights spread less actractive with more disco effect?
If I did 3 they may look cramped when mounted.
Any more info you need I’ll be on r2r kinda regularly today.
Thanks for your input!

madweazl · Dec 14, 2017

I think three, mounted perpendicular to the length of the tank, is the best choice for your dimensions given the width of the tank. I don't have any first hand experience with the Gen 4s but I recently picked up some Gen 3s XR15 Pros that I was going to use on the 150g for the sake of trying something different but I just don't like them nearly as much as the Kessils. I was thinking about grabbing the diffusers to help but that is another $180 (to cover four lights) that I wouldn't need to spend with the Kessils. In the end, lighting is a difficult subject as the "look" is completely subjective while the function is largely acceptable across the board.

HiddenUser · Dec 14, 2017

I'd try 2 first and see how you like it...I use to only have 2 over my 90G which was 48x18x24. I currently have 4 XR30 G3 Pros over my 72x30x28.5 running at 70%. I initially started with 3 of them, but went to 4 for more even lighting across the tank for acros.

madweazl · Dec 14, 2017

ChukeeR said:
I'd try 2 first and see how you like it...I use to only have 2 over my 90G which was 48x18x24. I currently have 4 XR30 G3 Pros over my 72x30x28.5 running at 70%. I initially started with 3 of them, but went to 4 for more consistently lighting across the tank for acros.

Three over his tank is almost identical to the coverage you're getting with four over a 72" tank (slightly worse actually).

HiddenUser · Dec 14, 2017

madweazl said:
Three over his tank is almost identical to the coverage you're getting with four over a 72" tank (slightly worse actually).

and someone people would consider 4 over my tank as 'overkill'.

Could also start with 2 and add a 3rd one later unless you found some amazing deal on 3 of them. Maybe you can rent or borrow a PAR meter from a LFS or a local reefer to help you make your decision too.

Here's what 3 looked over a 6' tank...

and 4...

Salty.Reefer · Dec 14, 2017

madweazl said:
I think three, mounted perpendicular to the length of the tank, is the best choice for your dimensions given the width of the tank. I don't have any first hand experience with the Gen 4s but I recently picked up some Gen 3s XR15 Pros that I was going to use on the 150g for the sake of trying something different but I just don't like them nearly as much as the Kessils. I was thinking about grabbing the diffusers to help but that is another $180 (to cover four lights) that I wouldn't need to spend with the Kessils. In the end, lighting is a difficult subject as the "look" is completely subjective while the function is largely acceptable across the board.

My idea was that if I don't like them I could sell them and have more than enough money for Kessils. Why don't you like your new lights?

ChukeeR said:
and someone people would consider 4 over my tank as 'overkill'. Could also start with 2 and add a 3rd one later unless you found some amazing deal on 3 of them. Maybe you can rent or borrow a PAR meter from a LFS or a local reefer to help you make your decision too.

Here's what 3 looked over a 6' tank...

and 4...

Thanks! might just be the exposer but your tank almost looks darker with more shadows with 4

HiddenUser · Dec 14, 2017

I think it's a mixture of that and it also looked lighter in the first one because it was right after the tank finished cycling and the rock hadn't really colored up.

mfinn · Dec 14, 2017

3 is good.

madweazl · Dec 14, 2017

Salty.Reefer said:
My idea was that if I don't like them I could sell them and have more than enough money for Kessils. Why don't you like your new lights?

Thanks! might just be the exposer but your tank almost looks darker with more shadows with 4

The color blending of the Kessil is in another league; has nothing to do with the potential to keep critters alive. I started with the AB+ profile but it is extremely blue vs the Kessils that I run at 60% color.

Salty.Reefer · Dec 14, 2017

madweazl said:
The color blending of the Kessil is in another league; has nothing to do with the potential to keep critters alive. I started with the AB+ profile but it is extremely blue vs the Kessils that I run at 60% color.

Nice. I run about 25% color but have a ton of natural sunlight on it too most of the day.