Radion XR30w Pro Gen 3 or Gen 4 for SPS Dominant?

[Hentz]

I've come down to wanting the Radion XR30w Pro. My only biggest gripe is, is the Gen 4 worth the extra buck?

I see plenty of used G3 Pro's going for $400-500 including the RMS mount, which is where I'm torn.. Do I save a couple of bucks? OR is the Gen 4 that much better that it's worth spending xtra?

My tank will be an SPS Dominant Reefer 170 (24x20x20 [24x15x20 including the overflow]). My aquascape will be 15"Lx11"W.
Its a quite flat surface and my Acro's will be solely on the rock, giving it a clean look.
What do you guys think?

 

[Mr. Brooks]

I'd say if you can mount the G3 high then you'd be fine going that route. The gen 4 hasn't really been out long enough to show a justifiable (for the price) improvement in coral growth and color.

The G3 is more focused. So you need to run it higher to get more even spread and blending.

 

[Hentz]

I'd say if you can mount the G3 high then you'd be fine going that route. The gen 4 hasn't really been out long enough to show a justifiable (for the price) improvement in coral growth and color.

The G3 is more focused. So you need to run it higher to get more even spread and blending.

My only option would be to mount the fixture on the tank using the RMS Mount.
Unfortunately I can't hang anything in the house.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Your tank is 20" front to back? If yes, the Gen3 should be fine. Just don't crank it up too much at first.

 

[BOBBY]

Is there any particular reason(s) you're moving away from the Hydra?

 

[mattgumaer]

If you're going to use an rms mount, I think your choices are: 1) gen 3 with wide angle lenses; or 2) gen 4 with the new lens. I tried (unsuccessfully) to get some data comparing the gen 3 with wide angles to the new gen 4 in both the Ecotech and BRS forums. All the testing done to show how great the new lights are by Ecotech and BRS appears to compare the new lens to the old TIR (non-wide angle). So, it's hard to say how much the spread has improved as compared with the old wide angle.

If it were me, I'd do one of two things: 1) get two used gen 3s with the thought of achieving even lighting with the extra light; or 2) get one gen 4 and see how it goes, understanding that you may want to add a second at some point.

Also, at least during set up, I would beg/borrow/steal a par meter to see what kind of light levels your getting. If you haven't tried one, you'll be amazed at how different light levels that look consistent are.

Matt

 

[Griff500]

I've run the G3 with wide-angle lenses and the G4 and the G4 gave me far more consistent PAR through the tank. If you can afford the G4 then it's worth getting over the G3.

 

[Mike de Leon]

get two XR15 G3.