Decisions, Decisions, Decisions- Lighting Help!

nycfishy · Aug 31, 2018

Look at lighting options for a RSR 525XL tank. 59" L x 22" H x 22.6" D.
At first I was going to go with deluxe edition which has 3 AI Hydra 26's but the more research I did the more I thought I'd regret this quickly. I'm looking to do a mixed reef w/ some nice SPS. Like color and texture more than specific type of coral so SPS is nice but not #1 driver.
So for lights I am trying to decide between:

1) 2X- Radion XR30 Gen 4
2) 2X- Radion XR30 Pro Gen 4
3) 1X- Radion XR30 Pro G4 and 2X- Radion XR15 G4
Don't even have tank ordered yet but if I am going to go with XR30's want to order today so I can save a few bucks on the sale that ends today.

What would you guys/gals recommend and why?
thanks everyone.

Crabs McJones · Aug 31, 2018

Any reason why you think you'd regret the hydras? They're great lights that grow coral and are wifi controllable right out of the box, no additional modules needed.

nycfishy · Aug 31, 2018

everyone I have talked to has recommended some form of radion over the hydras.
For control I bought a used WXM module so that's covered.

I'm upgrading from a RSM130d with led light upgrade in the hood so in reality the hydra's will be 10X better but considering what I'm spending on this tank I want to do it right the first time and not have regrets.
Now that I have committed to this project I am willing to spend some extra money on "nice" things as part of the over project, but I would have lots of trouble spending $1600 on lights anytime latere upgrade I dont think there is anyway I could justify that kind of send to myself.

Mopartech · Sep 2, 2018

you might want to consider 4 xr15s over 2 xr30s as you can spread out the light better.

nycfishy · Sep 3, 2018

Mopartech said:
you might want to consider 4 xr15s over 2 xr30s as you can spread out the light better.

This is sorta where I started with this, was thinking 3 xr15 and could then add a 4th if I really got into SPS coral. Price wise this works out the same as 2 XR30 (non-pro)so I figured 4 pucks was better than 3. So besides cost the other down side to this is the number of arms on the tank (don't want to hang anything from ceiling).

I'm really confused and stuck on this this area, don't feel I have enough data and don't want to just buy more (quantity and price) just because.

jsker · Sep 3, 2018

FYI, echotech and AI are the same company

one reason I went with the Hydra26 hd's and I have been very happy with my choice

nycfishy · Sep 3, 2018

jsker said:
FYI, echotech and AI are the same company one reason I went with the Hydra26 hd's and I have been very happy with my choice

I know it's same company now but my understanding is they are not the same lights. The controls are different (reeflink vs wifi) and the LED's/color spectrums are different.
Over time I'm sure each brand will have a niche but they are not the same rebadged product.

Mopartech · Sep 3, 2018

nycfishy said:
This is sorta where I started with this, was thinking 3 xr15 and could then add a 4th if I really got into SPS coral. Price wise this works out the same as 2 XR30 (non-pro)so I figured 4 pucks was better than 3. So besides cost the other down side to this is the number of arms on the tank (don't want to hang anything from ceiling).

I'm really confused and stuck on this this area, don't feel I have enough data and don't want to just buy more (quantity and price) just because.

Well they do have a rail system instead of 4 arms which is basically 2 arms; 1 one each side with a rail that runs the length of the tank.

nycfishy · Sep 5, 2018

the rail system is an option.
Anyone thing the pro version of the XR30's is a waste of money for a mixed reef?

nycfishy · Sep 5, 2018

So to further complicate things I have thrown AP700's in the mix. Lose Apex control but the seem like better lights...,maybe? I am really struggling to decide on what lights I want.

sfmacguy · Sep 5, 2018

I actually just switched from 4x xr30's to 3 and the 48" Aquatic Life hybrid to add t5's to the mix. Only have had it up for a few weeks, but liking it a lot!

Breefin1220 · Sep 5, 2018

sfmacguy said:
I actually just switched from 4x xr30's to 3 and the 48" Aquatic Life hybrid to add t5's to the mix. Only have had it up for a few weeks, but liking it a lot!

I had xr30s as well and this tank I’m setting up will have t5 hybrids with kessils or only t5. Not 100% yet