Radion XR15 G6 Pro over SR60 PAR

[Joeganja]

Just purchased an open box Apogee MQ-510 from BRS and did some sample testing.
I have 2 Radion XR15 G6 Pro with diffusers set at 100% intensity on AB+ template.
Lights sit about 9 inch from top of water.
Turned off all pumps and I started to move the PAR meter around the tank and at the top of my rock work I was able to get 160-180 and at the lowest I was able to 50-80 PAR. I have some SPS and plan to have quite a bit more and everywhere I’ve read states the PAR output on my radions should be higher am I missing something? Do I need to supplement them? Could my PAR meter be off?

 

[rtparty]

Something sounds wrong for sure whether it’s your settings or the PAR meter. Over a 36*24 on my tank I had 2 XR15 G6 Pros and was 400 PAR at the top and 170 PAR at the sand.

 

[Joeganja]

Something sounds wrong for sure whether it’s your settings or the PAR meter. Over a 36*24 on my tank I had 2 XR15 G6 Pros and was 400 PAR at the top and 170 PAR at the sand.

Do you have or have used the diffusers on them? I will have to check again to see if they could be limiting some of the PAR.

 

[VintageReefer]

I remember reading that the diffusers do reduce the par

 

[tREEFarm]

BRS website: "The overall light loss is around 20%"

 

[rtparty]

Do you have or have used the diffusers on them? I will have to check again to see if they could be limiting some of the PAR.

Yes, I ran diffusers on them. Didn’t drop the PAR enough to worry IME.

 

[Joeganja]

Yes, I ran diffusers on them. Didn’t drop the PAR enough to worry IME.

I may have to look at adding supplemental lighting or possibly changing to the high intensity lenses.

 

[tREEFarm]

I'd double check your point intensity just to be sure that isn't the problem.

 

[oreo54]

Just purchased an open box Apogee MQ-510 from BRS and did some sample testing.
I have 2 Radion XR15 G6 Pro with diffusers set at 100% intensity on AB+ template.
Lights sit about 9 inch from top of water.
Turned off all pumps and I started to move the PAR meter around the tank and at the top of my rock work I was able to get 160-180 and at the lowest I was able to 50-80 PAR. I have some SPS and plan to have quite a bit more and everywhere I’ve read states the PAR output on my radions should be higher am I missing something? Do I need to supplement them? Could my PAR meter be off?

9" seems too high for the g6.
What are your tank dimensions?
Lwh...

Par reading XR15G6 g6

Just shows the imortance of choosing the right version of the light - Running a pro at 100% intensity is never going to get you 100% of the par you thought because nobody will run white, red and green channels at 100% - AB+ does not run those channels at 100% - The blue was desinged to aid AB+...

www.reef2reef.com

See #54...

Oh and yes the lenses will help w your current height issue..
Now one more thing..
You say:.

2 Radion XR15 G6 Pro with diffusers set at 100% intensity on AB+ template.

The " blue version is ab+ with all channels at 100%
The ab+ with the pro version dims some channels so 100% is not 100%. Not sure if the number but believe the par loss is significant.
So are you running the blues or pros?

This is the problem w 9"...

The Radion G6 LED light fixture has a lens angle of 124–126° for the XR15 model and 124–125° for the XR30 model.

Since their arm won't allow 6" or so height they can only recommend 9". The min height for their mount.

6"...

So reread your post .saw you are using the pros... So par loss running the ab+ spectrum.
You can do a search. Pretty sure someone's measured how much that is.

Spread w 90 degrees and 9" height..
Note the huge difference..1/2 the spread.

 

[Joeganja]

9" seems too high for the g6.
What are your tank dimensions?
Lwh...

Par reading XR15G6 g6

Just shows the imortance of choosing the right version of the light - Running a pro at 100% intensity is never going to get you 100% of the par you thought because nobody will run white, red and green channels at 100% - AB+ does not run those channels at 100% - The blue was desinged to aid AB+...

www.reef2reef.com

See #54...

Oh and yes the lenses will help w your current height issue..
Now one more thing..
You say:.
The " blue version is ab+ with all channels at 100%
The ab+ with the pro version dims some channels so 100% is not 100%. Not sure if the number but believe the par loss is significant.
So are you running the blues or pros?

This is the problem w 9"...

Since their arm won't allow 6" or so height they can only recommend 9". The min height for their mount.

6"...

So reread your post .saw you are using the pros... So par loss running the ab+ spectrum.
You can do a search. Pretty sure someone's measured how much that is.

Spread w 90 degrees and 9" height..
Note the huge difference..1/2 the spread.

Dimensions 34.65" L x 17.88" W x 16.14" H

 

[oreo54]

Dimensions 34.65" L x 17.88" W x 16.14" H

Keep in mind these are estimates or starting points.

 

[GARRIGA]

When first setting up my XR15 Pro G6 had to calibrate each channel to get full intensity. Don't recall what I did but that increased the visual intensity. Don't have a PAR meter. Perhaps call Ecotech and they can verify if this might be a concern.

 

[buruskeee]

I have 2 Radion XR15 G6 Pro with diffusers set at 100% intensity on AB+ template.

This is your problem right here. If you wanted to run AB+ for your peak period, you needed to get the Blues and not the pros. There’s fewer blue LEDs and more white LEDs in the Pro version that will run more of a 10K-12k look rather than the 16k or so spectrum AB+ is, so when you set it to run AB+, you’re cutting your white channels in a very low intensity and thus giving yourself just over half the PAR output the units are capable of.

 

[william Lutman]

I remember reading that the diffusers do reduce the par

Yes defusers drop par by about 10% as I remember

 

[buruskeee]

Yes defusers drop par by about 10% as I remember

I run diffusers on my G5 XR30s and when I was measuring PAR I don’t remember much of a difference. I’m getting 450 PAR 9” under the water surface and 150-180 on my sand at 60% intensity in my tank, so maybe I just didn’t notice myself bumping up the intensity a 5% percent to compensate.

Anyways, diffusers isn’t really an issue with the OP’s problem as it’s not why there’s a 40% drop. The problem is trying to run AB+ as the peak intensity spectrum on the pro version.

 

[Joeganja]

9" seems too high for the g6.
What are your tank dimensions?
Lwh...

Par reading XR15G6 g6

Just shows the imortance of choosing the right version of the light - Running a pro at 100% intensity is never going to get you 100% of the par you thought because nobody will run white, red and green channels at 100% - AB+ does not run those channels at 100% - The blue was desinged to aid AB+...

www.reef2reef.com

See #54...

Oh and yes the lenses will help w your current height issue..
Now one more thing..
You say:.
The " blue version is ab+ with all channels at 100%
The ab+ with the pro version dims some channels so 100% is not 100%. Not sure if the number but believe the par loss is significant.
So are you running the blues or pros?

This is the problem w 9"...

Since their arm won't allow 6" or so height they can only recommend 9". The min height for their mount.

6"...

So reread your post .saw you are using the pros... So par loss running the ab+ spectrum.
You can do a search. Pretty sure someone's measured how much that is.

Spread w 90 degrees and 9" height..
Note the huge difference..1/2 the spread.

Great template I appreciate it. The mount that I am using is the RMS Arm but I think I may have to add supplemental lighting and might get 2 AI Blade grows to not only add more blue like your saying since the G6 Pro has those white lights vs the G6 Pro but increase my par.

 

[Joeganja]

This is your problem right here. If you wanted to run AB+ for your peak period, you needed to get the Blues and not the pros. There’s fewer blue LEDs and more white LEDs in the Pro version that will run more of a 10K-12k look rather than the 16k or so spectrum AB+ is, so when you set it to run AB+, you’re cutting your white channels in a very low intensity and thus giving yourself just over half the PAR output the units are capable of.

I will either have to change that setting and add more white and or potentially add supplemental lighting and even possibly the high intensity lenses.

 

[VintageReefer]

Is this your tank?

Shop | Innovative Marine Products

Shop Now | Innovative Marine's Official Store | Free Shipping on all orders* | NUVO aquariums and saltwater reef supplies.

www.innovative-marine.com

 

[Joeganja]

Is this your tank?

Shop | Innovative Marine Products

Shop Now | Innovative Marine's Official Store | Free Shipping on all orders* | NUVO aquariums and saltwater reef supplies.

www.innovative-marine.com

that's the tank.

 

[VintageReefer]

Ok so I don’t know if you bought your stuff new or used but I’m just using new gear prices as an example:

2x xr15 g6 pro - $1000
2x Diffusers - $50
2x Mounts - $200
$1250

Ai blade grow 30” - $265 each
Total - $530

Total lighting cost - $1780

In the end you are using 4 lights to illuminate a 35x18x16” tank

This sounds absolutely ridiculous to me. It’s a huge cost. It’s a ton of clutter above the tank. Your radions are going to be run at max power shortening lifespan. You have over $1000 on lights already that don’t give enough par and your answer is…let’s throw in another 500$ and add two more lights ?

You can do whatever you want..but if it was me I’d stop buying weak lights and get one light that can light the entire tank and have a sleek look instead of 2 sets of lights from 2 different companies that all need to be synced, or, controlled in pairs.


If it was me, I would sell all this stuff that doesn’t work for you and buy a Photon 32 V2 for $775 (quick search and I find for $750ish) and that comes with the mounting legs and a hanging kit. And built in mounting points for supplement led bars just in case you ever decide you have a need for them.

This one fixture has a Coverage Area for SPS: 36" x 24"
Par map is attached for a 36” tank

I’ve used this light on a 36” 40b which is the same dimensions as your tank and I can tell you, it will light the whole tank.

I am lighting my 48” 75g tank with a single photon 48, at 40% power, and get 100-150 on the sand and 300 mid level. On 40% power! For 900$. I have no problem growing acros on a frag shelf, front glass, mid height, at 40% power. You can light that tank for 750$

Im not trying to derail your thread, and just wanted to throw out a suggestion to consider.