OK guys, I traded my t5 hybrid setup today for a xr15 g4 pro. I kept my 2 hydra26hd's that I was using the the t5's. Trying to decide between leaving it as is, ditching the hydras for 2 more xr15 g4 pro's, or ditching the xr15 for another hydra.
So I picked up an apogee 210 par meter and started testing. Here are my results. What are you guys thoughts? The goal is sps dominated mixed reef. I do intend to keep some zoas and some lps/euphyilia in lower lit areas.
All lights where set to the ab+ spectrum at 100% to try and get the most accurate results as possible. My initial impressions are, the xr15 has a slightly more violet color while the hydras look a bit more green. Its suttle, but its there. Also of note, the hydras do a much better job of blending the led colors. Much more noticeable "rainbow" effect, as my wife called it, from the xr15. I was a little shocked by this. Visibly the hydras are more pleasing to look at. I would absolutely have to run diffusers with the xr15's.
I think I am leaning towards the hydras at the moment, which honestly is shocking. I was almost dead set on switching to radions. Now I'm not so sure.
Par readings are in the pics. I took par readings under 1 hydra 26hd placed in the exact same location as the xr15, with no other lights on, so it would be as accurate as possible. I then took par readings of just my hydras. And lastly I took par readings of all 3 together, with the radion mounted in the center of the tank.
The xr15 does appear to put out a touch more average par at 134 vs 111 of the hydra. It also did a much better job of spreading that par out evenly. I would say in a strictly sps tank, this would be ideal. However, going mixed reef, its not necessarily a bad thing that the hydra has more of a center hot spot bc this gives me some low light areas for lps or zoas.
First 2 pics are par readings, 3rd pic is with all 3 lights on. Pic #4 has the xr15 on one side and 1 hydra26hd on the other side. Pic #5 is a rough representation of where my rockwork falls in the testing depths.
Thoughts?
So I picked up an apogee 210 par meter and started testing. Here are my results. What are you guys thoughts? The goal is sps dominated mixed reef. I do intend to keep some zoas and some lps/euphyilia in lower lit areas.
All lights where set to the ab+ spectrum at 100% to try and get the most accurate results as possible. My initial impressions are, the xr15 has a slightly more violet color while the hydras look a bit more green. Its suttle, but its there. Also of note, the hydras do a much better job of blending the led colors. Much more noticeable "rainbow" effect, as my wife called it, from the xr15. I was a little shocked by this. Visibly the hydras are more pleasing to look at. I would absolutely have to run diffusers with the xr15's.
I think I am leaning towards the hydras at the moment, which honestly is shocking. I was almost dead set on switching to radions. Now I'm not so sure.
Par readings are in the pics. I took par readings under 1 hydra 26hd placed in the exact same location as the xr15, with no other lights on, so it would be as accurate as possible. I then took par readings of just my hydras. And lastly I took par readings of all 3 together, with the radion mounted in the center of the tank.
The xr15 does appear to put out a touch more average par at 134 vs 111 of the hydra. It also did a much better job of spreading that par out evenly. I would say in a strictly sps tank, this would be ideal. However, going mixed reef, its not necessarily a bad thing that the hydra has more of a center hot spot bc this gives me some low light areas for lps or zoas.
First 2 pics are par readings, 3rd pic is with all 3 lights on. Pic #4 has the xr15 on one side and 1 hydra26hd on the other side. Pic #5 is a rough representation of where my rockwork falls in the testing depths.
Thoughts?
