Some lighting advice please

[parclife]

Hey all, I’m in need of some help please with lighting choice I have a Redsea reefer s550 and currently have 2 Radion G6 XR15’s on it which were off my previous tank. They have been fine till now as no corals but don’t think the par down on the sandbed will be that great as it’s a deeper tank. I’m also looking to future proof and get some lights that will give me the option to grow all coral types . Dimensions added in the pics (cm and inches)

Was thinking radion xr30 or Redsea reefled 160’s.

Many thanks in advance as it’s a tough choice..

 

[Red_Beard]

throw some bars on the sides. with your width and depending on what corals you want, you may want 2 on each side. My tank is a 48 incher, but only 18 wide (75gallon) and that is what i have done with success. you should have enough on the sand for some kinds of zoas and other low light corals as is though.

 

[parclife]

Did think about bars, just checked your tank out and looks great!

 

[Red_Beard]

Thanks!

Bars are definitely the way to go, IMO. Once you start getting bigger colonies the more diverse point sources of light you have, the better to avoid shading, most particularly with LED where it is a very directional type of light emission. Also gives you some flexibility as well as redundancy should you have a fixture failure. I have been eying the quanta-helix, but my current setup uses an AI blade. I would also be interested in seeing first hand the orphek OR4s. for what that is worth.

 

[OriginalUserName]

I'd consider adding AI blades. They can mount directly to the Radion rails. My old tank had 2 AP700s and 4 T5s. New one has a XR30 and a grow and a glow.

 

[parclife]

Thanks both, will do some investigating into the bars.

 

[DanyL]

3 ReeFi Uno 2.1 mounted perpendicular to the length of the tank would produce enough spread without the need of additional bars, you will be able to grow acros on the floor if you wish, and it would still cost you as much as purchasing one and half XR30s, but with 3 times the warranty and a wider spectrum.