Adding lighting for SPS in 90-gal.

[cshouston]

Right now, I have two Radion G5 XR15 Pros over my 48”x18”x24” tank. My intention was to add two more in order to achieve the levels that BRS showed in their XR15 Pro video for SPS in a 4’ tank. That would be another ~$1,000 after adding in the RMS mounts so I was considering another option.

I’d much rather spend ~$400, but I’m wondering if this fixture will provide enough PAR for an SPS-dominant tank when combined with the two XR15 Pros. Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated.

 

[WIReefer]

I think that would be a great fixture for what you want.

 

[cshouston]

I just placed the order for this fixture and the bulbs. I’m going to use the normal schedule for the Radions and put the T5s on a separate “smart plug” outlet to turn them on and off. Can anyone suggest a good schedule for them? Right now, the Radions start at 9am, hit peak at 12pm, start dimming at 6pm and shut off at 9pm, so 6 hours of ramping and 6 hours peak. I was thinking about having the T5s turn on during those 6 peak hours.

My other thought was to turn the T5 on halfway through the ramp-up period—at around 10:30am, and then shut them off at 4pm. That leaves 2 peak hours with just LED before the ramp-down period.

Since they’re not dimmable, I’ll rent a PAR meter and adjust the Radions to compensate and set my PAR zones.

 

[Pdash]

Right now, I have two Radion G5 XR15 Pros over my 48”x18”x24” tank. My intention was to add two more in order to achieve the levels that BRS showed in their XR15 Pro video for SPS in a 4’ tank. That would be another ~$1,000 after adding in the RMS mounts so I was considering another option.

I’d much rather spend ~$400, but I’m wondering if this fixture will provide enough PAR for an SPS-dominant tank when combined with the two XR15 Pros. Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated.

If you have enough light or not depends on a lot of variables. Are you diffusing the xr15s? Are you using a mesh top, and how high are you planning on mounting your lights? How long a max photoperiod would you like to run? I would assume you will be fine initially, but you will probably end up wanting more light/spread down the road as everything fills in, that's assuming you really do want a mostly SPS tank.

I have 4 diffused G4 XR15s and the 48 inch hybrid fixture running 2 blue + and two actinic over a Red Sea Reefer 350 with an acrylic mesh top. I run the right two xr15s at 100% and the left 2 at 90% due to differences in aquascape height. I only run the t5s for 6.5 hours and have my max intensity on the g4s for 8 hours. Hope that gives you an idea as we have similar sized tanks.

p.s. please disregard the bubble algae I'm nuking it with vibrant right now.

 

[cshouston]

If you have enough light or not depends on a lot of variables. Are you diffusing the xr15s? Are you using a mesh top, and how high are you planning on mounting your lights? How long a max photoperiod would you like to run? I would assume you will be fine initially, but you will probably end up wanting more light/spread down the road as everything fills in, that's assuming you really do want a mostly SPS tank.

I have 4 diffused G4 XR15s and the 48 inch hybrid fixture running 2 blue + and two actinic over a Red Sea Reefer 350 with an acrylic mesh top. I run the right two xr15s at 100% and the left 2 at 90% due to differences in aquascape height. I only run the t5s for 6.5 hours and have my max intensity on the g4s for 8 hours. Hope that gives you an idea as we have similar sized tanks.

p.s. please disregard the bubble algae I'm nuking it with vibrant right now.

Thanks! That’s awesome info. I have two G5 XR15s that are diffused, but no mesh top. I’ll play with the photo period and may extend it. Right now, with 6 hours at peak with just the Radion, I have no algae so I’ll take that a sign. The long-term plan is to set up a 180-gal. so when that time comes I’ll probably go to a larger hybrid fixture and add more Radions. My bank account is going to hate me.

 

[dadnjesse]

I am a believer in you can't have too much light. I have 3 XR30 gen 5 Blues and 2 XR30 Gen 4 Pro's with a Giesemann Stellar T5 Hybrid running 4 Blue Plus bulbs on my 4 foot 120 Gallon Tank. My tank was started 9/15/19 with mostly 1 inch frags.

 

[uhgster1]

I just placed the order for this fixture and the bulbs. I’m going to use the normal schedule for the Radions and put the T5s on a separate “smart plug” outlet to turn them on and off. Can anyone suggest a good schedule for them? Right now, the Radions start at 9am, hit peak at 12pm, start dimming at 6pm and shut off at 9pm, so 6 hours of ramping and 6 hours peak. I was thinking about having the T5s turn on during those 6 peak hours.

My other thought was to turn the T5 on halfway through the ramp-up period—at around 10:30am, and then shut them off at 4pm. That leaves 2 peak hours with just LED before the ramp-down period.

Since they’re not dimmable, I’ll rent a PAR meter and adjust the Radions to compensate and set my PAR zones.

Just curious, why did you get the 36 inch instead of the 48?

 

[cshouston]

Just curious, why did you get the 36 inch instead of the 48?

The dimensions of the 48” would have been too tight inside my canopy without modification. Plus, when I upgrade to my 180-gal. system, I plan to repurpose it and my old sump to a 40 Breeder frag tank.