LED lighting help on Reefer 170

[Jason Magee]

Just purchased a new Red Sea Reefer 170 tank and I'm completely torn on lighting for the tank.
This will be my first time lighting a tank with LEDS and I'm completely torn on what is the best solution for stony corals on this tank. I do not have a budget that I'm working but I would prefer a single brand solution for aesthetic purposes.

I'm looking at this from a strictly growth perspective and what the most beneficial for my livestock not my eyes. I don't care what brand it is I just want an established company with good customer service. How the light looks is always a factor but not as important to me as the results on my tank. The light doesn't have to be compatible with any other equipment other than itself and other products from the same brand.

I'm completely flexible on mounting options as well

So far Ive considered:
2- kessil 160's
2 - kessil 360's
1 - ap700
1 -XR30 g4 Pro
2 - XR15 g4 Pros
1 - AI Hydra 54
2 -AI Hydra 26's
1- Orphek Atlantik compact V4
1- Mitra LX7

I really like the videos on the last two but I just cant find as much info or builds that have them
Any advice would be awesome! Ive watched so many Youtube and BRS videos and I just havent been able to land on a option. After I get this nailed down Ill start my build thread and thank you for any help

 

[DarthSimon]

I am and have always been a Radion guy... One XR30 Pro would be great over the RRR 170... It has 2 Light pucks and would fill that tank wonderfully.... Do you plan on doing SPS? Or just LPS and Softies?

 

[Vincent100]

I had the radion xr15 g4 pro on my 170 and it done a brilliant job for that size tank .
Obviously the xr30 would be stronger but the xr15 would do just fine

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!! I would recommend either the 2 kessil A360s or two Radion Xr15 g4 pros. I really like kessils for their shimmer, color blending, and ease of use. The radions are tried and true, but I have no experience with them but have seen them over plenty if tanks that have proven results.

#WelcometoR2R

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Orphek or mitra. You won’t have to hear or worrry or be cajoled into t5 to escape “shading.”

 

[Fudsey]

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

I'm particular to the Hydra 26HD as you can control them from your phone or PC and you don't need an additional controller like the Kessils

 

[Gareth elliott]

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

I'm particular to the Hydra 26HD as you can control them from your phone or PC and you don't need an additional controller like the Kessils

+1

I also like the ai system, no need for a separate controller or wire to a controller.
With the extra savings compared to the others, can use on something else, livestock, better skimmer.... giant bean bag to watch the tank from.

 

[Jason Magee]

I dont envision any soft corals, anemones or zoas inside this tank ... it will be purely stony corals mostly sps with maybe a few choice lps

 

[DarthSimon]

Oh yeah.... Welcome to R2R! You have found by far the best Reefing Community on the Net! Welcome to the family...

Ok then so 2 pucks will be better for SPS, I Run 3 XR15 Pros on my RRR250 and achieve par levels of 300 around top quadrants of tank.... My Acros love the Rdaions and their intensity. One Single XR30 centered on your RRR170 hung at the correct height would fill that tank perfectly for SPS....

Here’s a shot of the tank with SPS and 3 Radions:

 

[Jason Magee]

Oh yeah.... Welcome to R2R! You have found by far the best Reefing Community on the Net! Welcome to the family...

Ok then so 2 pucks will be better for SPS, I Run 3 XR15 Pros on my RRR250 and achieve par levels of 300 around top quadrants of tank.... My Acros love the Rdaions and their intensity. One Single XR30 centered on your RRR170 hung at the correct height would fill that tank perfectly for SPS....

Here’s a shot of the tank with SPS and 3 Radions:

Very sexy display and thx for the welcome

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

If you can find the older orbit marine pro, non ic loop version those lights are well with in your budget and easily compare to the list of lights you mentioned. If you can’t fond that light I would hands down to with the mitras ghl lx7.
Those lights are far superior to anything in that list and I have purchased three of them for my up and coming 425 gallon tank. They are absolutely just fantastic, I would have stayed with current but, they wouldn’t work on the 425 well do to width and length, since they are made 72 inches long 48, 24 etc. they are a 60 degree lens so you will need two of them. You would also need two of the mitras as well I went with three and thinking of four. Here are some pics of my 240 which is 72 long and 34 tall and 24 deep. The currents are way more par than you need. I tried three on this tank and it was severe over kill even running at 30%.

 

[James Mikell]

2 hydra 26 or 2 xr15 would probably be best as with 2 you can spread them apart and then turn them in to avoid any shaded areas once the sps start growing in.

 

[Jboulerice]

I dont envision any soft corals, anemones or zoas inside this tank ... it will be purely stony corals mostly sps with maybe a few choice lps

I think people should be mindful of the tank model asked about; I have a Red Sea 170, and I’m running a mixed reef with a xr15 pro;

Because of the limited space on the back glass you’ll be most satisfied with a xr30 to have two pucks on one central bracket and completely spread intense light everywhere. My tank looks amazing with the xr15 but I can tell you the par is gonna be amazing if you go xr30.

Most of my friends have changed brands over the years and then return to what works... radion. The integration is great with a typical Red Sea set up: two mp10s, and a s1 or M1 for return. You’ll probably be running a Neptune so just the wxm module will get everything connected.

As for other lamps, the tanks width is 20” wide. Not many t5 options out there that won’t look like poop... if you want something clean the Red Sea overflow has a cutout designed for one bracket only... it’s there for a reason... if you try two xr15’s you couldn’t use the arms because the position would waste half the spread.

Just my two cents and an actual Red Sea 170 owner. Also more importantly swap out the filter sock for a filter cup and run carbon... carbon is probably going to increase your par in a Red Sea noticeably... at least it did for me...

 

[Jason Magee]

Hello,

If you can find the older orbit marine pro, non ic loop version those lights are well with in your budget and easily compare to the list of lights you mentioned. If you can’t fond that light I would hands down to with the mitras ghl lx7.
Those lights are far superior to anything in that list and I have purchased three of them for my up and coming 425 gallon tank. They are absolutely just fantastic, I would have stayed with current but, they wouldn’t work on the 425 well do to width and length, since they are made 72 inches long 48, 24 etc. they are a 60 degree lens so you will need two of them. You would also need two of the mitras as well I went with three and thinking of four. Here are some pics of my 240 which is 72 long and 34 tall and 24 deep. The currents are way more par than you need. I tried three on this tank and it was severe over kill even running at 30%.

I was so close to pulling the trigger on the white lx7 before making this thread .... do you have your lights on the ghl mounting arm or hanging?
It looks like the only way to mount it would be with the lcd display facing the front of the tank and that made me think hanging would be the best option

 

[Jason Magee]

Everyone recommending Radions does anyone have the diffuser installed?
And on the xr30 has anyone had issue with salt since the fan pulls air from the bottom?

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

I have a mounting arm for each one, although I haven’t received those yet. There is also some diy ways to hang but lol I’m not good at that. But the hanging or mounting them seems ideal.

 

[Jason Magee]

Hello,

I have a mounting arm for each one, although I haven’t received those yet. There is also some diy ways to hang but lol I’m not good at that. But the hanging or mounting them seems ideal.

Do you know how it mounts to the stand? Is the height adjustable?

 

[Mattrg02]

I’ve got this tank. I’ve been running one hydra26hd with the hanging kit. I am in the process of adding a second hydra26hd and will be using the hms rail, hanging kit, and brackets to keep the look clean. This should provide a ton of par and very good coverage for acroporas. Radions are just pricier hydras. Same company, same diodes.

Two hydra26hd gives more light and much more coverage than one Radion XR30 for less money.

 

[Mattrg02]

I think people should be mindful of the tank model asked about; I have a Red Sea 170, and I’m running a mixed reef with a xr15 pro;

Because of the limited space on the back glass you’ll be most satisfied with a xr30 to have two pucks on one central bracket and completely spread intense light everywhere. My tank looks amazing with the xr15 but I can tell you the par is gonna be amazing if you go xr30.

Most of my friends have changed brands over the years and then return to what works... radion. The integration is great with a typical Red Sea set up: two mp10s, and a s1 or M1 for return. You’ll probably be running a Neptune so just the wxm module will get everything connected.

As for other lamps, the tanks width is 20” wide. Not many t5 options out there that won’t look like poop... if you want something clean the Red Sea overflow has a cutout designed for one bracket only... it’s there for a reason... if you try two xr15’s you couldn’t use the arms because the position would waste half the spread.

Just my two cents and an actual Red Sea 170 owner. Also more importantly swap out the filter sock for a filter cup and run carbon... carbon is probably going to increase your par in a Red Sea noticeably... at least it did for me...

20in wide? Mine is 23.5in wide.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

From what I have been told they are adjustable and mount to the tank like the average joe stand. @Brew12 he has these lights as well and I think he mounts them. There is also supposedly a newer one coming out soon. If you search here under mitras ghl x7 there are pics of it and also parts list and instructions for a diy version that is way better than ones you can buy. Even mitras asked what parts he used and listed them. For newer leds out, the mitras are far above anything I have seen or tested, used. There also is a new current high powered light coming out, but I don’t know the release date. From current and others, it will be twice as powerful as the 60 degree marine orbit pros, Bluetooth and will run in the same category as the new mitras x7.