Hydra 64HD versus XR30 Pro G4

Chemaholic · Nov 7, 2022

I am going to be building a tank soon. It is a 220g that is 30" deep. This is deeper than my current tank that I have 32HD's on.

It will be a mixed reef tank. I am looking at either four Hydra 64HD's or four XR30 Pro G4. I was curious if anyone had thoughts on which one would be the better light for this application.

dschuffert · Nov 7, 2022

I think they are both good lights. There is a lot on Youtube comparing the two. Here is one from BRS that was good (although they are comparing it to a G5, not G4).

theMeat · Nov 7, 2022

If it’s a standard marineland 220 you have a brace that goes across the top and will interfere with 4 lights. Three is good.
Imo radion is better

Chemaholic · Nov 7, 2022

theMeat said:
If it’s a standard marineland 220 you have a brace that goes across the top and will interfere with 4 lights. Three is good.
Imo radion is better

Not sure of the brand. I bought it used. It does have those two braces though. Darn I wanted to over engineer just a bit and have more light than I really needed so I could run them all at lower intensities. I wonder if I can have a different style brace installed.

Chemaholic · Nov 7, 2022

dschuffert said:
I think they are both good lights. There is a lot on Youtube comparing the two. Here is one from BRS that was good (although they are comparing it to a G5, not G4).

That is a very good video. I am not looking at G5 right now because they cost so much still. I will probably be 6 months setting the tank up though so maybe by then the G5's will come down in which case I will go with them.

My instinct is the new 64HD will be as good or better than the G4 XR30 Pro but I cannot be sure. I have had a G4 XR30 before and it is a powerful light.

Poochaku · Nov 7, 2022

Reefi

theMeat · Nov 7, 2022

Chemaholic said:
Not sure of the brand. I bought it used. It does have those two braces though. Darn I wanted to over engineer just a bit and have more light than I really needed so I could run them all at lower intensities. I wonder if I can have a different style brace installed.

Can’t imagine making one that looks as good as the original. Three lights is more than enough