Xr-15’s not cutting it!

[Naturalreef]

I switched my lense to high intensity for a smaller tank which fixed the low par.

 

[VintageReefer]

I switched my lense to high intensity for a smaller tank which fixed the low par.

This is a 180g tank, those lens will help but he will need many more lights, as coverage area will diminish and he doesn’t have enough lights to begin with

 

[anything prints]

pick up some xr30s or add some blades. thats def not enough

 

[twentyleagues]

Just for reference my tank internal dimensions are 28x27x24. I am not 100% on the actual coverage with the 120 reflector on the reefi but I think its 36x30 mine sits about 11.5" off water surface running at 150-ish watts at peak out of 270. I have 250ish par at about 12" down, 100-125 on the sand. 2 of these would cover the 48x36x24 tank np, You may need to invest in supplemental lighting down the road to handle shading. Just for giggles before corals were added I had it at 250w 100% all channels and sand was cooking at around 400 par.

 

[Shawnd08]

Hey everyone. Looking for some advice/guidance. I currently have 2 Ecotech XR-15 Pro lights on my reef. The tank is 48”x 36” x 24”! I have the output power set at 90% using the AB+ lighting scheme. The lights are about 12” off the water. I finally got a par meter and took readings today. I was hoping to see 100 - 150 on the sand. Instead I was shocked to only see a reading of 32 par. All of my LPS are doing well, but I have lost a few SPS frags. Even at the top of the reef I am only reading 150 par. Going to re-check tomorrow but am planning to get new lights.

Please offer up light suggestions or what changes I can make to see if the XR-15’s can do better.

Add 1 or two AI blades to the XR15s. If you can lower the XRs closer to the water you will increase the par quite a bit.

They also have a high intensity lens kit for the G6 XRs but I dont think two XRs would be enough still.

I have 2 xr15 g6s with a 39inch blade grow on the front and I just added a 21 inch to the back that I removed from another tank. My tank is 48"x24"x19" and par at the sand bed is 150-200 and 400+ top of rock. This is with the XRs at 70% and the Blades at 65%. With just the XRs at 7 inches above the water at 90% I see low 100s at the sand bed and 250 at the top of my rock work.

 

[rtparty]

Many in here are missing the 36” front to back. 99% of the recommendations in here aren’t going to cover that footprint.

The “more PAR, more better” crowd is also interesting….this was all the rage 10-15 years ago and we killed more coral than any other event in the hobby. It’s a terrible way to look at and judge lighting

Also funny to see so many “tHe XR15 iS tOo WeAk”

Guess all this was under lit?

 

[spsick]

Not sure who told you those would light a 36” wide 24” deep tank but you would need like 8 to do that effectively. I would add some Quanta bars at front and rear for fill.

 

[VintageReefer]

Many in here are missing the 36” front to back. 99% of the recommendations in here aren’t going to cover that footprint.

The “more PAR, more better” crowd is also interesting….this was all the rage 10-15 years ago and we killed more coral than any other event in the hobby. It’s a terrible way to look at and judge lighting

Also funny to see so many “tHe XR15 iS tOo WeAk”

Guess all this was under lit?

Great looking tank! Nobody saying they won’t work, it’s just you have 6 and he has 2, and would need $2000 more in xr15’s plus possibly led bars

 

[Mastiffking]

I agree that you will need more than just 2 x XR15s BUT you should also double check your app - when you go to adjust the power which you say is at 90% - is the SCHEDULE at 100%? The default is 50% - which means you are only pushing 45%. I made this error and went a long time with much less par with my 2 x XR30s.

That went completely over my head. But thank you for pointing that little issue out. Here is my adjusted schedule. Still only 65 par at the sand. It’s awesome I get 600+ 3 inches from the light!

 

[Mastiffking]

Not sure who told you those would light a 36” wide 24” deep tank but you would need like 8 to do that effectively. I would add some Quanta bars at front and rear for fill.

Many in here are missing the 36” front to back. 99% of the recommendations in here aren’t going to cover that footprint.

The “more PAR, more better” crowd is also interesting….this was all the rage 10-15 years ago and we killed more coral than any other event in the hobby. It’s a terrible way to look at and judge lighting

Also funny to see so many “tHe XR15 iS tOo WeAk”

Guess all this was under lit?

Not under powered when you have the correct number of them!

 

[Mastiffking]

Many in here are missing the 36” front to back. 99% of the recommendations in here aren’t going to cover that footprint.

The “more PAR, more better” crowd is also interesting….this was all the rage 10-15 years ago and we killed more coral than any other event in the hobby. It’s a terrible way to look at and judge lighting

Also funny to see so many “tHe XR15 iS tOo WeAk”

Guess all this was under lit?

Oh and beautiful tank!

 

[Mastiffking]

If you're willing to bite the bullet on a new light. You could get a single light as long as you can mount it high enough.

Selectable power 150/200/240 watts. It's cheaper than a single xr15

Atlas

Designed for simplicity, reliability, and easy installation, this industry-leading light features 720 LED chips along with both primary and secondary optics to optimize light output, spectral blending, and efficiency. The unique, science-based spectrum design incorporates the correct ratios of...

www.quanta-lights.com

That looks like a nice light! Do you have any experience with it?

 

[14 foot reef]

If you're willing to bite the bullet on a new light. You could get a single light as long as you can mount it high enough.

Selectable power 150/200/240 watts. It's cheaper than a single xr15

Atlas

Designed for simplicity, reliability, and easy installation, this industry-leading light features 720 LED chips along with both primary and secondary optics to optimize light output, spectral blending, and efficiency. The unique, science-based spectrum design incorporates the correct ratios of...

www.quanta-lights.com

I have three of the new Atlas above my first of 5 frag tanks in my new frag farm,
I love the Atlas Lights by Quanta
My tank is 72 x 48 x 20

 

[Mastiffking]

Reefi is great choice
Photons are great choice also

I don’t have reefi pics but since I have a photon over a mixed reef…

Beautiful tank!

 

[14 foot reef]

That looks like a nice light! Do you have any experience with it?

I've had mine running since the beginning of July, they are really growing coral well, Mine frag tank is SPS only

 

[rtparty]

Great looking tank! Nobody saying they won’t work, it’s just you have 6 and he has 2, and would need $2000 more in xr15’s plus possibly led bars

My tank was also larger and I clearly stated in my original post the OP didn’t have nearly enough lights.

He could light the 48*36 with 4 XR15s just fine. Especially for LPS. They can easily cover the 24*18 area with SPS PAR.

 

[Mastiffking]

I have three of the new Atlas above my first of 5 frag tanks in my new frag farm,
I love the Atlas Lights by Quanta
My tank is 72 x 48 x 20

Dang! The price is on point with the Quanta’s I am adding them to the running!

 

[Mastiffking]

My tank was also larger and I clearly stated in my original post the OP didn’t have nearly enough lights.

He could light the 48*36 with 4 XR15s just fine. Especially for LPS. They can easily cover the 24*18 area with SPS PAR.

When I saw your original post that I needed more…I cried inside and my wallet ran away!

 

[Mastiffking]

So far after some research while fighting with Covid…( I can use that as the excuse for the wife. Covid made me do it! ) I am deciding between

1. 3 - Reefbuilders Meridian 24”
2. 2 - Orphek Natura iCon
3. 2 - Quanta’s

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions!

 

[14 foot reef]

So far after some research while fighting with Covid…( I can use that as the excuse for the wife. Covid made me do it! ) I am deciding between

1. 3 - Reefbuilders Meridian 24”
2. 2 - Orphek Natura iCon
3. 2 - Quanta’s

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions!

The Quanta's are also pre-wired to be dimmable, not just the 3 manual power outputs of 150, 200, & 250 watts,
they are very versatile