radion question

[matt7]

I currently have 4 radion units. I have 2 standard g2, a g1 that was upgraded to a g2 pro and a g3 pro- all XR30. These 4 will be going over a standard 120 and an 80 rimless. I have been looking and debating... with the new g4 xr15 they say they will cover a 24x24 cube with ease, so what would be better 2 of the g4 xr15 or a combination of 2 of the xr30s that I have?

info: 120 is 48x24x24 and will be a display tank mixed reef, 80 gallon is 48x24x16 and the right side will be a frag tank (24x24x16 area) and the left side will be a zoa garden and some LPS. The 80 will not be a display it is in the sump room.

 

[axio]

Matt7;1104706 wrote: I currently have 4 radion units. I have 2 standard g2, a g1 that was upgraded to a g2 pro and a g3 pro- all XR30. These 4 will be going over a standard 120 and an 80 rimless. I have been looking and debating... with the new g4 xr15 they say they will cover a 24x24 cube with ease, so what would be better 2 of the g4 xr15 or a combination of 2 of the xr30s that I have?

info: 120 is 48x24x24 and will be a display tank mixed reef, 80 gallon is 48x24x16 and the right side will be a frag tank (24x24x16 area) and the left side will be a zoa garden and some LPS. The 80 will not be a display it is in the sump room.

I say if you already have the Radion XR30s then use those... why spend more money?

The only down side would be if you use a G2 and G3 over the same aquarium... either side of the aquarium will look slightly different. Some people absolutely hate that... others don't mind it.

 

[matt7]

I would sell the ones I have now, and price would be pretty even no matter what way I went. Just not sure which would be better... I mean obviously the g4 pros are the best lights but are they good enough to the point that 1 xr15 now beats out the g2 xr30?

 

[axio]

Matt7;1104718 wrote: I would sell the ones I have now, and price would be pretty even no matter what way I went. Just not sure which would be better... I mean obviously the g4 pros are the best lights but are they good enough to the point that 1 xr15 now beats out the g2 xr30?

Ah I see. That is going to be a tough call and comparison. If you just comparing the 1 LED puck from the g4 XR15 to 1 puck from the g2 XR30 then yes absolutely the XR15 would be better choice... but the kicker is the g2 XR30 has 2 LED pucks... which might be better off then having 1 XR15. Don't really honestly know which would be the better way to go.

Maybe since you already have the g2 XR30w try that one out for a while and see how it does and worst case sell it and swap it if it doesn't work well enough for you.

I guess the main pluses of getting the new LED unit would be the new Hemispherical lenses and a fresh new warranty on the lights. But as I always tell everyone... Ecotech will not leave their customers hanging even well after the warranty period has ended so that might be a non-issue on the last part.

 

[Trizzino]

Are you going pure LED therefore the Radion's will be the only light source or will you supplement with T5? If radions will be the only light source I would go with two xr30's for the 120. 4 pucks win over 2 pucks in my book. Especially given the tank dimensions.

Now which combination of XR30's will depend on preference. I like my light uniform and can't stand color variations left from right. So I would pick the two with the most similar visible color output if you go mix and match.


Austin

 

[matt7]

At the moment the plan is just use the radions. My current 120 has the 2 g2s on it and it's grown pretty much anything i've wanted to grow well up to this point...

 

[Trizzino]

Well if I have learned one thing in this hobby it's if it isn't broke dont try to fix it. I have learned that "upgrading" doesn't always translate to more success ha. I wish I never sold my first 120 gallon tank to upgrade. This 125 gallon upgrade has been trying to say the least. A year + later and I think I am finally getting the same rate of growth I had in the 120. Battling high nitrates currently.

I say stick with the XR30's.

 

[matt7]

Yeah, i'm just switching tanks basically. 120 has new rocks but will have the same coral and fish from my 120 now just adding the frag tank and a new sump into the system.... i'm seeding with the filter sponges and a few pieces of rock hopefully that's enough to jump start it. Another option would be sell the g2 pro and get a g3 pro then put the g3 pros over the DT and the g2s over the frag?

 

[Trizzino]

That would be the way I would go. Sell the G2 pro and keep an eye out for another G3 Pro. I just bought 2 xr30w g3 pro's and love them. I need a third for my 6 foot tank.

 

[matt7]

I just found 2 used g3 xr30s for a decent price, however it would only be $50 more to get brand new xr15 g4s... tough choice... if they were the g3 pros i would go that way but how much better is the g3 pro from the standard g3??

 

[seand]

From what I was told the pro is more beneficial if the tank is over 24" deep. That being said however I now have mine hanging over a 12" frag tank

 

[matt7]

So 120 is going to have 2 standard G3s. Frag tank decision is next. Here's a pic so you get a better idea of what I mean when I say frag tank on the right (more 18" frag, 30" tank than 50/50), mainly softies and some LPS on the left.

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QUESTION: Use my 2 G2s XR30s or go G2 or G2 Pro on the left side and G4 XR15 over the frag section??