How would you combine lighting?

Gerald Anderson · Apr 18, 2020

Hi all!

So I'm embarking on a new 525 XL build (pallet should be here Wed, my first NEW reefer!!) and I went ahead and sprang for the RS 90w LEDs (X3) as I am really intrigued with the price, limited spectrum options (kind of like Kessil), and single recessed lens. I also have a Reefer 170 that I will be shutting down and moving livestock and a good amount of equipment to the 525 (apex, trident, DOS, etc, etc). The 170 currently has a Radion XR30 G4 pro (with diffuser) on it.

The plan is a mixed reef leaning toward SPS mostly, and some LPS, very few softs.

What I'm wondering is if I should try and figure out some way of adding the Radion to the 525 as well, and if so what would that look like (not aesthetics). The point being that even though I think the RS LEDs are going to be decent lights, and I am a *little* concerned about some of the reds and greens not being there, this would give the me the opportunity to supplement, at least over part of the reef. To be clear, I think the lights will be great, or I wouldn't have ordered them, I'm just playing with ideas.

I'd be interested in getting feedback on this idea as well as any suggestions you may have. How would you configure it?

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Gerald

Spare time · Apr 19, 2020

The corals do not need the reds (which can actually be bad for the coral, causing damage if not previously exposed to it or causing it to protect itself which lowers its ability to effectively use light of any color) and especially the greens (which is practically useless for coral but great for red cyano). I am not sure how well the radion would look over the tank in between the three. You could always play with it and see. However, you could use it as for serious refugium growth (I am a big fan of refugiums).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962463/ Here is my source

Gerald Anderson · Apr 19, 2020

Spare time said:
The corals do not need the reds (which can actually be bad for the coral, causing damage if not previously exposed to it or causing it to protect itself which lowers its ability to effectively use light of any color) and especially the greens (which is practically useless for coral but great for red cyano). I am not sure how well the radion would look over the tank in between the three. You could always play with it and see. However, you could use it as for serious refugium growth (I am a big fan of refugiums).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962463/ Here is my source

That's been my thinking (I've been in the hobby a few decades), but in watching an Ask BRS about the RS Lights there was a couple questions that made me wonder about coloration.

I too never run a tank without a fuge and am a huge fan of the Kessil lights (H380, and 160). However, my 160 is starting to have some problems and not sure I want to put my old 380 in that cabinet (overkill without a dimmer), I might use an old XR15 G3 Pro I have on the fuge.

At the end of the day I'll probably just pack up the XR30 until I bring the 170 back online. I just started pondering the possibility and thought I'd see if anybody else had thoughts on the matter. And yes, it'd be an awful eyesore without doing a hanging fixture or something.

Thanks!!

Gerald

Spare time · Apr 19, 2020

Gerald Anderson said:
That's been my thinking (I've been in the hobby a few decades), but in watching an Ask BRS about the RS Lights there was a couple questions that made me wonder about coloration.

I too never run a tank without a fuge and am a huge fan of the Kessil lights (H380, and 160). However, my 160 is starting to have some problems and not sure I want to put my old 380 in that cabinet (overkill without a dimmer), I might use an old XR15 G3 Pro I have on the fuge.

At the end of the day I'll probably just pack up the XR30 until I bring the 170 back online. I just started pondering the possibility and thought I'd see if anybody else had thoughts on the matter. And yes, it'd be an awful eyesore without doing a hanging fixture or something.

Thanks!!

Gerald