Help With Suggestions For Lighting And Flow Re: New 120g Short!

[Quartapound]

Okay guys... I just put an order in for a plain 120G short (48x24x24).
with a plain steel tube stand I'll skin later.
it'll have the plastic trim/brace on it.

I plan on drilling/installing a ghost overflow onto one end... probably the Elite Aquatics 3 drain.

I am considering lighting right now and see there's a few deals, especially on the ecotech xr15 pro G4's... 449.

I'm thinking about getting 2 of them, and hanging one over each "end", probably attached to the same 'light bar' thats suspended over the tank.

would anyone else consider a different route for the money?

 

[TORX]

I would advise against the 2 xr15's. You would need at least 4 for that tank. I would say 3, but the black brace will block the middle one. Yes, the spread is max 24x24, but the PAR is nothing outside the 18x18 which is the recommended coverage. I have the same tank and 2 XR30's are just enough. Bigshow just posted a few used G3Pro xr30's for sale. Would be a little more, but would be a much better option.

 

[co1inder]

I agree that a pair of XR30's would likely be spectacular on that tank.
I like the g3's better than the g4's. (although perhaps nobody I know has figured out how to adjust those nicely yet)
Personally, I also prefer those light bars to the L mount kits.

 

[Quartapound]

I would advise against the 2 xr15's. You would need at least 4 for that tank. I would say 3, but the black brace will block the middle one. Yes, the spread is max 24x24, but the PAR is nothing outside the 18x18 which is the recommended coverage. I have the same tank and 2 XR30's are just enough. Bigshow just posted a few used G3Pro xr30's for sale. Would be a little more, but would be a much better option.

Thanks for the opinion... You've got me really questioning it now. Your tank is the same dimension? What % are you running your XR30's at?

My thought is if the new G4 optics would help spread the PAR out a lot better than the G3's... and you're running the G3's at a lower %.... it creates the question if the G4 XR15 Pro (95Watts) run near 100% would be similar to the G3 XR30(175w) at say 60%

I was tempted by the used G3's... but if I'm investing now, I keep asking myself if I don't want to spend the extra $ now and benefit from the new G4 optics.

If the light spread is that much better on G4 vs G3, it also leads me to question the need for xr30 vs xr15... (with G4).... also doesn't seem to be any benefit of xr30 vs 2x xr15 (price wise it's actually cheaper right now to get 2x xr15 than 1 xr30)... and would allow you to spread them out a bit more?

I'm just thinking out loud.

I really do think I want to go G4... and seems like I could start with 2x XR15 running at a higher %... and add 2 more later if necessary?

Hmmm.

I need to order them today to get the sale.

 

[TORX]

All very good points.

I run mine at 65% and 9" over the water. Something to keep in mind is with that PAR spread, as you adjust the lenses to wider ones, you greatly reduce the PAR in the hot spot. To counter that, you run the lights at a higher power, which will create more heat, louder fans, and reduce the life of the LED greatly. The more I read about the G4 vs G3 over the last little while, I am on the fence as to the 15 may actually be enough over a 24x24 tank. I had not realized all the upgrades to the G4. Honestly I think you will be okay with 2 G4 15's. You may have to run it higher to get the same par output, just get the upgraded HEI lenses.

 

[Quartapound]

Okayyy so I pulled the trigger. 2x XR15 G4 Pro's to start with... we'll see what that looks like. It'll be a work in progress. Next thing to buy (maybe by the end of the day if theres a deal online) is circulation.

My plan was to move the MP10 over from my cube and crank it up to 100%...
I was also going to do this to the XF130 Gyre, but it's failed... not sure if I want to spend money to replace the motor block or just go with something new.

My CC is kinda smoking after the Tank/stand/lighting, so I might consider a Jebao, or something similar as opposed to a Tunze or Ecotech to get me going.

This will be in addition to the MP10 (which isn't wireless).


Any suggestions on Flow?

I plan on using the Elite Aquatics overflow on one end panel of the aquarium (they're the only ones not tempered).

I'll also drill a return line on the same side next to the overflow I imagine.

 

[TORX]

Nothing wrong with jebao. They are hit and miss on the long run but should get you through a year or 2. I had 2 rw15's I beleive before switching to 2 MP40QD. They were great and more then enough flow.

MP10 cranked drives me bonkers. I had to sell my mp10wes's because my wife couldn't sleep when they were running.

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[Quartapound]

gotta love BRS

they're testing 2x XR15 G4s over a 40x20 space in this vid. not exactly the same but close.

 

[kapelan]

Jebao cp-40 about $150 on ebay , shipping from canada. Delivered in 1 week.

 

[TORX]

Wow. Now I kind of wish I would have done 2 new G415's rather then 2 G3 30's. This is very impressive and exceeds my expectations. You made the right call and I got schooled.

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[Quartapound]

Wow. Now I kind of wish I would have done 2 new G415's rather then 2 G3 30's. This is very impressive and exceeds my expectations. You made the right call and I got schooled.

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The new diffusers might be worth looking into

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