Number of XR Pros for 96x30x30?

[MjOB]

I'm getting a 96x30x30" mixed tank, will be both LPS and SPS, and am looking at getting XR pros for my lighting.

When looking into the XR30 / XR15, EcoTech's site states the XR30 coverage is 36"x36" and the XR15 is 24"x24". BRS recommends 24"x24" spread for the XR30 and 18"x18" for the XR15.
I'm planning to leave 4-6" borders to allow for better water flow (so effectively becoming ~84x18x24 of space the coral will be).

Would 3 XR30s be sufficient - it'd give me 108" of EcoTech's stated coverage, but only 72" of BRS' recommended. Should I trust BRS' rec and go to 4 XR30s?
Would 5 XR15s be better (and slightly cheaper) - Would give me 120" of EcoTech's stated coverage, and 90" of BRS' recommended - although I would lose coverage on some on the width, but I wouldn't be placing coral within the lost width anyway

 

[Acros]

Why not look at bigger panels such as Phillips and orphek?

 

[MjOB]

I'm open to other suggestions, absolutely. I am wanting to give myself the highest chance of success with the tank. All of the reviews and analysis have seemed to show the XRs to always be the best.
That said, I'll admit I don't know how much that "better" translates to improved success. And so if it's, "Yeah it's better, but you are your coral won't actually appreciate the difference." Then I'm open to something cheaper.

 

[Billldg]

I currently have a 72x30x24 tank, aka 225 gal, and I am using 4 XR15 G5 Blues in a hybrid. I can easily get 200 par on the sand bed at roughly 50 to 60 percent when the T5's are on. I will likely go with a 5th XR15 G5 Blue to prevent shadowing when the T5's are off.

 

[MjOB]

I currently have a 72x30x24 tank, aka 225 gal, and I am using 4 XR15 G5 Blues in a hybrid. I can easily get 200 par on the sand bed at roughly 50 to 60 percent when the T5's are on. I will likely go with a 5th XR15 G5 Blue to prevent shadowing when the T5's are off.

You're looking to add a 5th for your 72"?

 

[jda]

8 of them. They cover about half of what EcoTech says for SPS and you need twice the number. This is general.

LPS/SPS is a large range. If more LPS, then maybe 4. If more SPS, then maybe even more than 8. If you are leaning more towards the SPS side, then dig up some larger tanks lit with LEDs... all have about twice what most folks recommend or have moved on to reflectors where they wattage can hit the tank more evenly. Most have added T5s. Maybe 4 of these and 2x T4s on each side to flank.

Lighting larger tanks is no joke and people who have smaller tanks think that what they do can scale. They mean well, but they rarely have any idea.

You can find a few folks who have 3x over a tank like yours - outliers. You can also find somebody who uses like 15 panels over a tank like yours too - also outliers. Look at the rule, which is pretty much what I said in the first few sentences. If money is a factor, then look elsewhere. Radions are in no way, shape or form the most economical (or most effective, IMO) way to light a larger reef tank... to light this right, you will use the same wattage as other types with daily running.

 

[Billldg]

You're looking to add a 5th for your 72"?

Possibly, If so it will be to prevent shading when the SPS grow out and the T5's are off.

 

[dedragon]

You're looking to add a 5th for your 72"?

Yea they run them with t5s so the hybrid solution helps with shadowing, more of a problem in sps tanks. But yea that seems accurate more like 6-8 for your size tank if just doing leds and also are doing sps

 

[MjOB]

Why not look at bigger panels such as Phillips and orphek?

If looking at Philips (Coral Care Gen2) or Orphek (Atlantik V4 Gen 2), would I be looking at needing only 3 of the Philips (which would be about the same price as the XR) or 2 of the Orphek? Or will I likely eventually need more than the "recommended coverage"?

​

 

[jda]

Don't overlook Photon v2. You might need 4 of these 48 inchers for good coverage.

I mostly do acropora and of the many large-tank folks that I am friends and trade with use MH and T5 since they cover better, but Therman (on this board) kicks butt with Photon v2 as well as anybody that I know. he usually has a for-sale thread full of photos of his tanks if you want to look at them.

 

[Acros]

If looking at Philips (Coral Care Gen2) or Orphek (Atlantik V4 Gen 2), would I be looking at needing only 3 of the Philips (which would be about the same price as the XR) or 2 of the Orphek? Or will I likely eventually need more than the "recommended coverage"?

​

If you are going with an acropora dominant tank, you will need 1 of philips, orphek, Neptune sky or similar fixture per 2ft length. I do not think your width of 30” would be a problem.

 

[MjOB]

I am opening up to the idea of doing a hybrid Photon V2+ with Aquatic Life T5 Hybrids.

If I do the hybrid, would I be able to go down to 2 of the 48"'s instead of doing 4 as jda suggested?

So if I were to do a price comparison:
Two Photon V2+ 50 (which is 47.5") at $715 each = $1430
Two Aquatic T5 Hybrid 48" at $335 each = $670
Eight 48" T5 bulbs at $25-35 each = ~200
Total: $2,300

vs

Six to eight Radion XR15 at $462 each = $2,772 to $3,696


So, I guess my question is, would that hybrid setup be sufficient for my tank?

 

[Hydrored]

I had 5 XR30’s G5’s over my 8’ tank, ended up replacing them for 4 Stratons and get much better coverage.

From a few months ago, now it’s all sps other than my dragon soul

 

[dedragon]

I guess a more budget friendly option (nothing this size is really budget friendly) would be 8-12, 48" Orphek or3 bars, they run the same leds as the orphek atlantik but arent dimmable (retail $190 each). They are also on sale all the time
10-15% off. idk about heat from that, new acrylic tank mounts look nice though

 

[MjOB]

Would a hybrid with Two Photon V2+ 50 (which is 47.5") and Two Aquatic T5 Hybrid 48" be enough for this tank?

Or would I need to get four photon V2+ 50s?

 

[dedragon]

Would a hybrid with Two Photon V2+ 50 (which is 47.5") and Two Aquatic T5 Hybrid 48" be enough for this tank?

Or would I need to get four photon V2+ 50s?

either should work but i would ask someone that has a photon or photon/aquaticlife hybrid first just to be sure

 

[Jekyl]

I am opening up to the idea of doing a hybrid Photon V2+ with Aquatic Life T5 Hybrids.

If I do the hybrid, would I be able to go down to 2 of the 48"'s instead of doing 4 as jda suggested?

So if I were to do a price comparison:
Two Photon V2+ 50 (which is 47.5") at $715 each = $1430
Two Aquatic T5 Hybrid 48" at $335 each = $670
Eight 48" T5 bulbs at $25-35 each = ~200
Total: $2,300

vs

Six to eight Radion XR15 at $462 each = $2,772 to $3,696


So, I guess my question is, would that hybrid setup be sufficient for my tank?

Do you need LED or looking for the best chance at success? 8 bulb T5 will be far more user friendly than LED and way cheaper.

 

[kzenoni]

My 2 cents lol . I have an 84x36x27 -350gallon running 5 xr30 and everything is doing very good.

 

[MjOB]

Do you need LED or looking for the best chance at success? 8 bulb T5 will be far more user friendly than LED and way cheaper.

I would like to go LED. I am open to a hybrid approach, but am leaning more towards LED only.

In continuation of being all over the place (and spending too much time reading reviews and watching videos on them while I wait for my tank to be made) I am now leaning towards going Kessil. A rep from Kessil recommended doing:
Two AP9X with a middle A360X.
That'd come out to be ~$2,200 and I believe give me adequate coverage for a mixed-reef tank.

 

[Jekyl]

I would like to go LED. I am open to a hybrid approach, but am leaning more towards LED only.

In continuation of being all over the place (and spending too much time reading reviews and watching videos on them while I wait for my tank to be made) I am now leaning towards going Kessil. A rep from Kessil recommended doing:
Two AP9X with a middle A360X.
That'd come out to be ~$2,200 and I believe give me adequate coverage for a mixed-reef tank.

I run kessil and love them