Xr30 or xr15 for 20 gal cube 95% sps

[SpencerT82]

Getting a waterbox 20 gal it’s 17.7x17.7x15.7 LxWxH. It’s going to be 95% sps. Do you think I should go for 1 xr15 blue or 1 xr30 blue? Don’t want to deal with not enough par and spread and would like to not have to upgrade lights in the future for the 20 gal.

 

[14 foot reef]

Getting a waterbox 20 gal it’s 17.7x17.7x15.7 LxWxH. It’s going to be 95% sps. Do you think I should go for 1 xr15 blue or 1 xr30 blue? Don’t want to deal with not enough par and spread and would like to not have to upgrade lights in the future for the 20 gal.

Then you answered your own question. You will almost never have to upgrade and you will have more than enough light with the XR30.
My only thing I would say is, make sure you are certain about the "Blue" The Pro you can always tune blue, but you can't tune the Blue very white.
Good look, A 20 gallon full blown SPS will be a very cool reef !!!!!

Happy Reefing

 

[KC2020]

I've just set up a WB20 with the same goal of a largely SPS dominated tank within 6 months.

I purchased the XR-15 Gen 6 Pro, put the Reefbrite XHO kit on it and added their dimmer that plugs into my Apex to control them. The XR-15 provides plenty of coverage and with the Reefbrites there are no shadows unless I intentionally create them with my aquascape. Par with the lights at 100% is over 300 on the sand so I'll probably end up running them at 50-60%.

I've been keeping reef tanks for 40+ years and have used MH, T5, AI Sol Blue, Kessils, and now the current Radions.

Frags and mother colonies from a 225G reef I just took down are currently hanging out in a 40 breeder while the 20 gets established. This is a bad phone photo but you can see I've got 2 Kessil A360WE, 3 A160 and a Reefbrite.

 

[Miguel.PT]

Then you answered your own question. You will almost never have to upgrade and you will have more than enough light with the XR30.
My only thing I would say is, make sure you are certain about the "Blue" The Pro you can always tune blue, but you can't tune the Blue very white.
Good look, A 20 gallon full blown SPS will be a very cool reef !!!!!

Happy Reefing

Good point, I am so confused in choosing the blue or the pro… I love blue in the morning and evening but a tad bit of white during the peak hours… but without going full on the whites…
You think the pro will lose a lot of par? Or should I go with Blue and dial the blues down?