Upgrade to XR30 pro, a second 360WE, or just chill?

tangerine3486 · Aug 13, 2017

Hey R2R,
I have a Deep Blue Professional 35 gallon cube (20x20x20") with a 360WE (8 months now). Coverage of the light is great, but no matter what it will still be a single point light.

Recently I have had an itch to have one more light source for better PAR coverage of the corals / less shadowing.

Am I getting worried about long term effects of a single point light source for no reason? It is only a 20x20, but that does not change the fact that it is single point and there IS more shadowing than 2 points.

A 20x20 would look a little ridiculous with 2 360WEs on it, but much more cost effective.

A XR30 g4 is another option, also with proven results, also too much for a 20x20.

Anyone with long term single point LED experience weigh in too?

Thanks!

Daniel@R2R · Aug 14, 2017

I love radions! My .02.

Salty1962 · Aug 14, 2017

I added a dual T5 to my 2 XR30 Pros to cut down on shadowing with ATI Blue+ and Purple+. Just an idea[emoji362]

chefjpaul · Aug 14, 2017

Salty1962 said:
I added a dual T5 to my 2 XR30 Pros to cut down on shadowing with ATI Blue+ and Purple+. Just an idea[emoji362]

I just did same thing, only with hydras

mfinn · Aug 14, 2017

tangerine3486 said:
A XR30 g4 is another option, also with proven results, also too much for a 20x20.
!

It would be great on a 20" x 20" foot print.

There are some great deals to be had on gen 3's out there.

tangerine3486 · Aug 14, 2017

I'd love to do t5, but a 24 inch bulb will stick way of the sides.

Gen 3 would be a nice cost efficient option. Otherwise I do like the radions. Not sure if I like it more than kessil yet.

Otherwise it sounds like more light coverage = better results.

Velcro · Aug 20, 2017

I'd add another kessil because the produce light that looks 1 billion times better than the disco fest that radions are (if you use white channels above 20%).

Otherwise, I'd save a ton of money and get the reefbreeder photon v2. I went double the recommendation of reefbreeders so I could hang them very high and still saved one thousand dollars vs buying radions.

mfinn · Aug 20, 2017

Velcro said:
I'd add another kessil because the produce light that looks 1 billion times better than the disco fest that radions are (if you use white channels above 20%).

I've been using Radions for 5+ years and have no idea what you are talking about.

Velcro · Aug 20, 2017

mfinn said:
I've been using Radions for 5+ years and have no idea what you are talking about.

The whites look terrible unless you hang them 18+" from the waterline.

mfinn · Aug 20, 2017

Velcro said:
The whites look terrible unless you hang them 18+" from the waterline.

Mine are at 8" on both tanks and they are just fine.
I have 4 other friends local to me that use Radions and they don't have this issue you speak of.

Velcro · Aug 20, 2017

Okay [emoji3]

iemsparticus · Aug 20, 2017

Radians absolutely do produce a disco ball effect, but if it doesn't bother you (or it's just not something you notice), it isn't really much of an issue... Radions absolutely grow great looking corals. I own Kessils, because the disco ball effect bothers me, and Kessil's shimmer is as close to Halides as LEDs get. Another option (if you don't like the look of two A360s, and don't mind the thought o spending the $800 to get a Radion) is to spend that $800 on a Kessil A700.

Velcro · Aug 20, 2017

iemsparticus said:
Radians absolutely do produce a disco ball effect, but if it doesn't bother you (or it's just not something you notice), it isn't really much of an issue... Radions absolutely grow great looking corals. I own Kessils, because the disco ball effect bothers me, and Kessil's shimmer is as close to Halides as LEDs get. Another option (if you don't like the look of two A360s, and don't mind the thought o spending the $800 to get a Radion) is to spend that $800 on a Kessil A700.

As someone who has owned kessils and G4 radions, I ALWAYS warn anyone that is used to kessils about the disco. It's there and it's obvious if you are used to t5, halide or kessils. Kessil plus t5 is probably perfect.

iemsparticus · Aug 20, 2017

Velcro said:
As someone who has owned kessils and G4 radions, I ALWAYS warn anyone that is used to kessils about the disco. It's there and it's obvious if you are used to t5, halide or kessils. Kessil plus t5 is probably perfect.

I have 2x Kessil A360WEs and 4 T5s over my 120... love the look