Which light should I pick?

WIReefer · Feb 28, 2020

Setting up a 60 gallon cube 24x24x24 which light would you guys suggest between the kessil a360x, hydra 32, or radion xr15? Need some suggestions.

texdoc77 · Feb 28, 2020

Alex Pete said:
Setting up a 60 gallon cube 24x24x24 which light would you guys suggest between the kessil a360x, hydra 32, or radion xr15? Need some suggestions.

I am a fan of the kessil shimmer and spectrum logic. I have kessils, I have not had either of the others.

Killer Reefs · Feb 28, 2020

I recently got an AI Prime 16hd and I also love the shimmer it gives off. Easy to use interface and presets that you can get off their websites.

Keithb22 · Feb 28, 2020

ai and kessel are rated at 18”x18”, at least the ai definitely is. The gen 5 Radion xr15 P is rated for your tank and up to 30” deep

tupes · Feb 28, 2020

What are ypu wanting to pumt in the tank? Softy, lps, sps, mixed? This is what will lead us to the right answer. Doing soft go with kessil, etc.

WIReefer · Feb 28, 2020

tupes said:
What are ypu wanting to pumt in the tank? Softy, lps, sps, mixed? This is what will lead us to the right answer. Doing soft go with kessil, etc.

Plan on mostly soft but possibly some sps but mostly like acans and so on.

WIReefer · Feb 28, 2020

Penguin Reef said:
I recently got an AI Prime 16hd and I also love the shimmer it gives off. Easy to use interface and presets that you can get off their websites.

I have 3 AI primes on my other tank and I do like them but I want to change it up now to a more intense light.

WildChurchMonkeys · Feb 28, 2020

I honestly think you’ll be fine with any of these. It’s more personal preference at this point. I have a 32HD and am very happy with it especially at the price point it came with. Plus you can run them and your primes on your other tank from the same app.

tupes · Feb 28, 2020

I have the hydra 26HDs and they are great. Defiantly can't go wrong with the hydra. It will give more spread than the xr15and you can file it way down. The one problem Ive heard is the app for the new hydra is Bluetooth not Wi-Fi and sucks compaing to the radion. This is where the radion would be better if you are looking for ease of use.

WIReefer · Feb 28, 2020

tupes said:
I have the hydra 26HDs and they are great. Defiantly can't go wrong with the hydra. It will give more spread than the xr15and you can file it way down. The one problem Ive heard is the app for the new hydra is Bluetooth not Wi-Fi and sucks compaing to the radion. This is where the radion would be better if you are looking for ease of use.

Okay, I was leaning on kessil since it’s prefer spread is 24” but i am not sure if I like the shimmer effect or not. But okay I will look into that.

tupes · Feb 28, 2020

All leds that i know of have a shimmer effect. You can always put a light diffuser and it'll cut the shimmer back. I personally like it.

WIReefer · Feb 28, 2020

tupes said:
All leds that i know of have a shimmer effect. You can always put a light diffuser and it'll cut the shimmer back. I personally like it.

This is true I think I’ve decided and going with the kessil a360

chowberg · Feb 28, 2020

I have had the 360w (previous generation) and currently have a AI Hydra 26HD. I like both, but felt like I got more shadowing issues with the Kessil. I don't think you can go wrong with either. Never had any experience with Radions.

SmallLebowski · Feb 28, 2020

Have you checked out the BRS video series on these lights? Might help you decide.

Keithb22 · Feb 28, 2020

i looked at the kessil when looking for an alternate to the orphek and the lfs told me about the low par of the kessils when compared to its competitors, the need to buy the controller, and mount on top of the light. Mind you they run kessil. Either way you go the support for the light will be there regardless

WIReefer · Feb 28, 2020

I’m just lost on what to buy lol

Keithb22 · Feb 28, 2020

I’m sure plenty of people can jump in here as well but your choices in the hydra and Radion are both sufficient for what you need. I’m running the Radion xr15 pro gen 5 on a 24x24x12.5 and the coverage is great. EcoTech rates them up to a 24x24x30. So it comes down to which one you like the best, which mount works best for your tank and preference and which app or control system you like best. I called EcoTech to get info about the light and they were easy to get ahold of and located stateside, which was also a selling point for me. Hope this helps and just know that all the choices you came up with can grow coral lol

WIReefer · Feb 28, 2020

Keithb22 said:
I’m sure plenty of people can jump in here as well but your choices in the hydra and Radion are both sufficient for what you need. I’m running the Radion xr15 pro gen 5 on a 24x24x12.5 and the coverage is great. EcoTech rates them up to a 24x24x30. So it comes down to which one you like the best, which mount works best for your tank and preference and which app or control system you like best. I called EcoTech to get info about the light and they were easy to get ahold of and located stateside, which was also a selling point for me. Hope this helps and just know that all the choices you came up with can grow coral lol

Haha okay thank you for the input, I really like the radion xr15 which you have but wasn’t sure on how the coverage would look on a 24. Do you have a picture of yours I would weather buy the radion over kessil.