Xr30 pro or Atlantik v4 gen 2

[Phillyd1990]

I'm going to be starting a new build in the next month and I will be purchasing the lighting this weekend. I'm pretty set on the v4 compact but I was also looking at the radion xr30 pro. I figured I would see what everyone's thoughts were.

The tank will be an sca 50 cube and hoping to have a spa dominate system but a few lps on the sand as well

 

[RCS82]

Orphek = awesome
Radion = awesome

I've never run an Orphek but wouldn't hesitate to try one.
Or how bout:

Kessil 360x = looks pretty awesome

 

[Phillyd1990]

Orphek = awesome
Radion = awesome

I've never run an Orphek but wouldn't hesitate to try one.
Or how bout:

Kessil 360x = looks pretty awesome

Yeah there's enough out there to back up how great radions are but I've also read alot of good things about the v4. I like the idea of how well everything blends together on the orphek

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Both are awesome lights, PAR monsters and proven to grow very colorful coral. If you want a little better color blending and PAR spread get the Orphek. However the diffuser on the Radion blends the light very well. I personally would pick the Radion but I really like that light and have not seen an Orphek in person to form an opinion on it first hand.

 

[jda]

Less shadows, but more disco balling with the V4. Radion will have more shadows and not as good of spread. This is the age-old challenge of panel vs puck based units.

Radion is easier to fit in a T5 hybrid system. I know that you might not be thinking this, but lots and lots of SPS people end up here even though they had no intentions of ever having T5s.

If it were me, I would be all over the Atlantik V4. I like that they have some IR and true UV. I also would live with any disco balling to have better coverage with less shadows, but I keep colonies and not just frags.

 

[Phillyd1990]

Less shadows, but more disco balling with the V4. Radion will have more shadows and not as good of spread. This is the age-old challenge of panel vs puck based units.

Radion is easier to fit in a T5 hybrid system. I know that you might not be thinking this, but lots and lots of SPS people end up here even though they had no intentions of ever having T5s.

If it were me, I would be all over the Atlantik V4. I like that they have some IR and true UV. I also would live with any disco balling to have better coverage with less shadows, but I keep colonies and not just frags.

I did like the idea of the v4 having less shadowing hoping I could stick to just the panel without going hybrid.

 

[lancesmith1]

Less shadows, but more disco balling with the V4.

You are spot on with this comment. I had this light and sold it due to the colored spots all over the tank. You could literally see spots on the rock. Orphek needs to figure out how to make their acrylic shield diffuse the light.

 

[jda]

After I thought at this more, I would suggest that you buy the one that you can put in an Aquatic Life or the Giesemann most easily. If you are going to delve deeply into acropora, then there is a 99% chance that you end up here.

Just look look at the many who have and nearly none of them expected to in the beginning.

 

[Phillyd1990]

I actually had the aquatic life hybrid before but with hydras..I think I'll go radion to be able to upgrade to a t5 hybrid later on. How much difference is there between the xr30 and the xr30 pro?

 

[bckey]

I love my Orphek v4 compact. I dumped kessil 360we for it. Corals that looked like they were done for started growing and coloring up almost instantly. I have never owned a radion but if you are trying to go all led then I believe Orphek is the best option out there for that right now. Either way though you are getting 1 of the 2 best led options out there. The orphek just throws a blanket of light. If it was still black friday sale week it would be a no brainer for you. The orphek atlantic v4 full size was $799 and the compact was $570. Here are a couple of BRS videos to help you out on your decision and a link to Dana' Riddle's thread on the orphek

orphek-atlantik-v4-par-distribution.528508

 

[bckey]

BRS has 3 of the full size Orphek Atlantic V4's open box A grade (meaning basically brand new) for $719 each which is $381 off each. If I had a bigger tank setup already I might would jump on it. That is a steal at those prices.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/atlantik-v4-gen-2-led-light-fixture-open-box-orphek.html

 

[hart24601]

I really don’t notice much disco from the v4, but I have it mounted pretty high. I have found it does an admirable job of blending for a panel light, much better than reefbreeders v2 (which is a solid light) and IMO better than radion G3 which I sold because I couldn’t take the disco. That being said it’s not going to beat blending by a kessil or even a radion with diffuser kit. I added diffusor paper to a reefbreeder v2 just taped on the bottom and it was better, so I don’t know why one couldn’t also do that with the orphek if it was a problem. I think it would work better since it appears the LEDs are higher inside the unit than the RB are, or one could try using a plastic diffuser like atoll as I think there are corner screws:

LED Light Diffuser - Hydra 52 HD

But again I don’t notice it being a problem with the v4, however it could be the layout of the current system I have that helps as well. I tend to really dislike disco color separation and will still use kessils if I have to mount the light close to the tank surface for that reason.

 

[lancesmith1]

Maybe I am just sensitive to it but I could literally see the individual LED color spots on my rock. I had mine mounted at 16 inches AWL. I had the same issue with Hydras, Radions and RB's. I went to a Powermodule hybrid which had zero issues and IMO are a great option. However, I am downsizing ongoing back to Hydra 26 with a DIY diffuser. I don't have the new tank up and running but should have it online later this week. I am hopeful that the diffuser solves the problem.

 

[hart24601]

Maybe I am just sensitive to it but I could literally see the individual LED color spots on my rock. I had mine mounted at 16 inches AWL. I had the same issue with Hydras, Radions and RB's. I went to a Powermodule hybrid which had zero issues and IMO are a great option. However, I am downsizing ongoing back to Hydra 26 with a DIY diffuser. I don't have the new tank up and running but should have it online later this week. I am hopeful that the diffuser solves the problem.

That is surprising to hear, but we are all different! I have not noticed it on this tank, so I am just going to say I am lucky in that respect now! You might want to consider kessil if you are that sensitive to it. I still noticed some disco with RB and diffuser although it was much less. I hope the 26 with DIY works out for you!

At least we have some good ideas of DIY diffusers to try if people have problems with disco that are not very hard or expensive to make.

 

[lancesmith1]

I think diffusers may be the next big thing for LEDs, if they aren't already. Ryan at BRS hinted in a recent post that he thought there were some big advancements coming down the pike in the next 18 months or so. So, I am going to hold off on buying anything new for a bit to see what transpires. Maybe Philips will make a bigger push into the US hobby trade???

 

[hart24601]

The nice thing is that they are a very easy add to most existing lights like radion has done and many DIY solutions. It doesn't even need to be a "next gen" type of product, but an add on for many. The one knock I have is they scatter the light so well you get more light bleed and need to play with mounting height but then you are back to where you started. I put my reefs next to sofa or other sitting areas so I really don’t want light bleed in anyone’s eyes so I hope the diffusers are optional or they somehow minimize light bleed as I personally am not willing to run a canopy. But for what I have now I don’t see any disco with the v4 so I can’t complain, lol, but again this could just be an artifact of the tank size, it’s very shallow so there isn’t much vertical height to separate the colors.

 

[bckey]

I had some led color spots when I first installed the Orphek. It turns out that most was caused by a whole lot of surface agitation in my tank. A quick adjustment of my return flows and it is gone. The other thing was I had set on my orphek program "heavy clouds". It changes the look of the tank when simulating a cloud passing overhead. Brett was the one that asked if I had alot of surface agitation. That alone will make a big difference. I too had come from the kessil world. Kessil is a polished product that put its main focus on tank appearance. My tank looked nice but corals were not doing well at all (sps). LPS did quite well with kessils. Once the orphek went over the tank within 2 weeks corals were growing and coloring up. I will take that any day with a slighty lesser apperance and shimmer than a kessil over appearance and sloooowww growth. I am extremely happy with the orphek atlantic and the tank looks great. I think for reefers using kessils it is best to go with something like aquatic life t5 hybrid. That is a really good option that will get you a fantastic looking tank and grow all your corals. I considered that myself and may still do it for a frag tank in the future with my left over kessils.

 

[bckey]

BRS has 3 of the full size Orphek Atlantic V4's open box A grade (meaning basically brand new) for $719 each which is $381 off each. If I had a bigger tank setup already I might would jump on it. That is a steal at those prices.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/atlantik-v4-gen-2-led-light-fixture-open-box-orphek.html

These did not even make it through the day. Sold out!

 

[Jay Norris]

If you are having a problem with the so called disco effect, and are considering the Radions, or Orpheks, why not try the Mitra LX 7206 lights, as there is no disco ball effect as they use parabolic light diffuser in each puck like the M/H reflectors, and they have a larger light spread then the Radions, and a little less then the Orpheks. All three of these lights are excellent lights, and all will grow any type of coral you want to put in your tank, so good luck with what ever lighting system you choose.

 

[hart24601]

I do think it would be intersting to play around with diffusing material on the v4, even just putting a sheet right on the bottom and seeing what all changes.