A500x Vs XR15

[Mrcote1]

I am setting up a new tank, Im going with a Waterbox Infinia 190.5 And looking for light recommendation between using 2 Kessil A500X lights, or 3 Radion XR15s.

Tank length is 60" and 25" deep. Ill be keeping mostly lps and soft coral. Maybe a couple sps.

Thank you!

 

[Jekyl]

I am setting up a new tank, Im going with a Waterbox Infinia 190.5 And looking for light recommendation between using 2 Kessil A500X lights, or 3 Radion XR15s.

Tank length is 60" and 25" deep. Ill be keeping mostly lps and soft coral. Maybe a couple sps.

Thank you!

I would do 3 of the 360x instead of 2 500's

 

[Jmp998]

Whichever you go with, at least 3 of them for a 5 foot tank IMO.

 

[Mrcote1]

So I guess the comparison should be 3 360X's vs 3 XR15's?

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

I agree with the 3 360X you could do 2 9Xs as these have a more rectangular spread than the 500X. It would also be 4 pucks instead of 3.

 

[tzabor10]

I have noticed that the real awesome tanks on YouTube have so many lights. Of course start slow, but now I have 4 a360 Tuna Blues and 4 48” Reefbrite XHO Actinic Blues. Corals look great and are growing fast. So with lighting, consider adding more down the line
If you did get Radions, would it be the blues or Pro?

 

[areefer01]

I have noticed that the real awesome tanks on YouTube have so many lights. Of course start slow, but now I have 4 a360 Tuna Blues and 4 48” Reefbrite XHO Actinic Blues. Corals look great and are growing fast. So with lighting, consider adding more down the line
If you did get Radions, would it be the blues or Pro?

Well there is a thing called too much light. I understand the social media comment but the onus is on the hobbyist to wade through the marketing, sponsor, and differences between home and aquaculture. Can be tricky especially for new hobbyist.

OP I see you caught that the a500 line and XR 15 are not exactly the same. The a360x is 90 Watts, a500 is 185 or 190 Watts, and the xr15 g6 100 Watts, xr30 g6 at 206 Watts. Pretty large price difference between them not to mention designs (dense array vs panel).

Nice thing about the Kessil's is that you can buy lens kits that will help punch through depts and maintain par. The size of your display it may be a moot point. The a500 would probably not be ideal in this case.

Price point and par all things considered have you looked into the Reefi 2.0 kits? I think you may find them a better dollar per par for your needs. I'm not one to push products especially ones I've not used but do a search and you will find a lot of positive feedback on them.

I was very happy with my Kessil's and love their shimmer. Plus they are somewhat local to me. Crisp light. Having said that do a quick read on Reefi's and see what you think.

All the best.

 

[Mschmidt]

This is 3x kessil 360s over you 60". 21 inches deep.

I'm happy with the kessils. But I do have a thread me today how to get more light. But I have sticks. Lps and softies are happy.

If money were no issue, it go 2x a9s as suggested above, maybe keep a 360 in the middle.

 

[SocalReefer760]

If it were me I’d have 4 xr15s and some supplemental led bars like ai blades or reefbrites . I have 4 xr15s and two 36” reefbrite xhos over my 48x20x20 tank but I’m doing wall to walls acropora and other sps.

 

[Mrcote1]

Has anyone here had both the A360X and the XR15?

Im surprised more people are saying the 360x, I thpught Radion was more popular

 

[tzabor10]

Has anyone here had both the A360X and the XR15?

Im surprised more people are saying the 360x, I thpught Radion was more popular

I think you are right. Also, your post seems to lean towards the Radion. Both are excellent, but go with your gut. Most people are very loyal to their lighting choices. Probably because they cost so much.

 

[Mrcote1]

I think you are right. Also, your post seems to lean towards the Radion. Both are excellent, but go with your gut. Most people are very loyal to their lighting choices. Probably because they cost so much.

Ive never had Radion or Kessil, my last tank about 5 or 6 years ago I had reefbreeders and before that was when LEDs were still really new to the hobby so I had off brand ones. So i could be convinced to go either way! Im intrigued that more people are saying kessil as originally I was leaning Radion.

And about your question on blue vs pro, i Tried researching the difference and that seems like a whole separate decision id have to make if I went Radion as I am not sure

 

[vcollins9850]

No experience with the 360, but did have the 180 pendant a few years ago over 40 gal aio tank, came with the light. Liked it but definitely undersized and prominent shadows from the pendant. Switched to xr15 and enjoy the spread and no complaints/issues.

 

[Troylee]

I’d get 3 reefi uno pro 2’s and be done.. blow both of them lights away and priced right!

 

[Outlaw Corals]

If you go with Kessil go with the AP9X i just got one last week hooked it up yesterday i love it

 

[Mrcote1]

Just looked up the Reefi, looks like a disco party on all the videos I see which is what I hated about my last lights. The AP9x looks good, but Im not sure if I like shimmer or not since Ive never had or seen it.

Im guessing I woukd need 2 Ap9x for a 5' tank. So cost would be about the same as 3 XR15's

I Actually really am liking everything im seeing online for the ap9x. Ill have to try to find an lfs with one to see the shimmer

 

[Bruttall]

Just looked up the Reefi, looks like a disco party on all the videos I see which is what I hated about my last lights. The AP9x looks good, but Im not sure if I like shimmer or not since Ive never had or seen it.

Im guessing I woukd need 2 Ap9x for a 5' tank. So cost would be about the same as 3 XR15's

I Actually really am liking everything im seeing online for the ap9x. Ill have to try to find an lfs with one to see the shimmer

4x reefi uno 2.0 above this 8ft Oceanic Tank 12inches above water line 90 degree reflectors. Attached my light profile with Peak Time highlighted so you can see I am not using 100% of the power. In fact I am only using 95% of that profile at peak and getting 220par on the acro shelf. These lights put out 270watts, more powerful than any other light on the market that I know about. 3 year warranty, longest in the industry I believe. About a year growth on that Stylo and plating monti.





I like my lights a lot, but even more then the lights, I get to see Daniel's customer support on the facebook page, how fast he helps people with any detail.

 

[Sdot]

This is over a 6 foot tank. Not the same requirement, but I want the ability to grow wall to wall sps or sps anywhere in the tank. Mission accomplished... I also have both panel (4 Orphek icons) and spot or pendant styled lights (3 Kessil a500x)

 

[Jmp998]

Just looked up the Reefi, looks like a disco party on all the videos I see which is what I hated about my last lights. The AP9x looks good, but Im not sure if I like shimmer or not since Ive never had or seen it.

Im guessing I woukd need 2 Ap9x for a 5' tank. So cost would be about the same as 3 XR15's

I Actually really am liking everything im seeing online for the ap9x. Ill have to try to find an lfs with one to see the shimmer

If you are bothered by color separation (disco), you would want to add the diffusers for XR15’s. Before I added the diffusers I did not like my XR 15’s. The Kessil lights of course don’t have this potential issue since all the LED are under one lens.

 

[Mschmidt]

Has anyone here had both the A360X and the XR15?

Im surprised more people are saying the 360x, I thpught Radion was more popular

I traded a g5 I had won and am happy I bought 360s. It's a lot of shimmer, almost too much but now I wouldn't go back. G5 blues were a little flat in color, which I think they fixed on the g6.

You won't go wrong with any of the options you've gotten.