Derek's 225g - Magnifica / SPS Reef

[derek_SR]

Bought a couple of the A8SE lights on AliExpress to play around with. These are Radion XR30 knockoffs ($180 each). I've always been chasing the AB+ spectrum with the Reefis (which are excellent lights) but haven't been able to really replicate it all the way. It seems the AB+ on these a8se are pretty close, if not exact.

I decided to hang a couple of them over my frag tank, using some janky parts I had laying around in the garage:

Way overkill for a frag tank so I have them tuned down pretty low. No issues with the software so far other than I can't get the time zone sync to stick. Need to do some reading, there's a large troubleshooting forum on R2R. Otherwise adding them, connecting them to wifi, making them into a group, setting the light schedule - all relatively intuitive and easy to do (better than the Reefi web app).

The plan is to see how they perform and if I have any issues for a few weeks. If they are going strong and the corals grow, I may consider buying a few more and adding them to the DT to replace the Reefis...we shall see.

Couple screenshots of the interface:

 

[derek_SR]

I figured out the timezone issue.

So far, my experience with these lights is that they have a solid build quality, very nice AB+ spectrum, and a pretty functional iOS app. It's translated from Chinese so it's a LITTLE bit funky but in the grand scheme of terrible light apps, it's really pretty decent. I haven't had a single issue since figuring out the time zone sync. Color me impressed!

They do have some crazy side glare though, I need to get some 3d printed shades.

BTW the mounting screws on the top are M6, 1.25 thread pitch - different from my Ecotech XR15 (but maybe the same as the XR30?)

 

[MichaelB]

I figured out the timezone issue.

So far, my experience with these lights is that they have a solid build quality, very nice AB+ spectrum, and a pretty functional iOS app. It's translated from Chinese so it's a LITTLE bit funky but in the grand scheme of terrible light apps, it's really pretty decent. I haven't had a single issue since figuring out the time zone sync. Color me impressed!

They do have some crazy side glare though, I need to get some 3d printed shades.

BTW the mounting screws on the top are M6, 1.25 thread pitch - different from my Ecotech XR15 (but maybe the same as the XR30?)

I have one of those plus another type i'm debating trying one my main biocube32 tank. If it is able to grow a and color sps.

No idea which is better.

 

[RandyC]

BTW the mounting screws on the top are M6, 1.25 thread pitch - different from my Ecotech XR15 (but maybe the same as the XR30?)

XR15 & XR30 are the same screw.

 

[derek_SR]

XR15 & XR30 are the same screw.

Interesting, that implies that the size and thread pitch on the A8SE is different from the Radion, which is odd since it seems like everything else is identical. They do come with mounting screws (thumb screws with little holes drilled laterally).

 

[MarcosD]

I figured out the timezone issue.

So far, my experience with these lights is that they have a solid build quality, very nice AB+ spectrum, and a pretty functional iOS app. It's translated from Chinese so it's a LITTLE bit funky but in the grand scheme of terrible light apps, it's really pretty decent. I haven't had a single issue since figuring out the time zone sync. Color me impressed!

They do have some crazy side glare though, I need to get some 3d printed shades.

BTW the mounting screws on the top are M6, 1.25 thread pitch - different from my Ecotech XR15 (but maybe the same as the XR30?)

If you find a file let me know and I can’t print it for you. Although I probably wouldn’t be able to print many before tomorrow considering they take a decent amount of time each to print

 

[derek_SR]

If you find a file let me know and I can’t print it for you. Although I probably wouldn’t be able to print many before tomorrow considering they take a decent amount of time each to print

XR30 G6/G5 Ecotech Radion Light Shade by Kevin Martens | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Shades for Radion XR30 Gen 6/Gen 5, to minimize the light spill outside the tank. | Download free 3D printable STL models

www.printables.com

I think this one? Maybe just try a single and I'll test it out?

 

[MarcosD]

XR30 G6/G5 Ecotech Radion Light Shade by Kevin Martens | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Shades for Radion XR30 Gen 6/Gen 5, to minimize the light spill outside the tank. | Download free 3D printable STL models

www.printables.com

I think this one? Maybe just try a single and I'll test it out?

Cool I’ll give it a try. I’ll try to make two if there’s enough time

 

[derek_SR]

I have one of those plus another type i'm debating trying one my main biocube32 tank. If it is able to grow a and color sps.

No idea which is better.
View attachment 67123View attachment 67124View attachment 67126

I have the a8se "max" which is similar to the xr30 "pro." looks like you've got the blue version - can't speak to the actual spectrum but it looks like the same light as mine other than that, at this point I would recommend it but I've only had it 2 days.

not sure about the other one - haven't seen anything on it.

 

[jhuynh]

u can use the xr30 sliders, but need to drill the holes little bigger on the mount to fit the screws.

 

[Baykes]

I figured out the timezone issue.

What was the solution?

 

[derek_SR]

u can use the xr30 sliders, but need to drill the holes little bigger on the mount to fit the screws.

You are using some of these A8SE too right? The MAX or the BLUE?

What was the solution?

You have to go here first to the "MY" account page and set the master timezone to UTC-7 (PST DST):

THEN when you go into the light and confirm the timezone sync you click "save device" and it will actually stick this time. I think you have to do this for each light. Haven't had an issue since and am now able to use schedules for my own timezone.

 

[derek_SR]

ICP came back, everything looks pretty good: https://www.triton-lab.de/en/showroom/icp-oes/220105
Triton seems to have really stepped up their game, I mailed my sample on Monday, it arrived Wednesday, and I got the results Thursday. I know they were making some "upgrades" that slowed everything down for a bit but seems it's resolved now.

A couple pics on the short side of the peninsula, 1 year apart:

April 2024:

March 2025:

Not much space left!

 

[derek_SR]

Everything is going really well with the tank right now - so of course I'm going to make a major change to one of the most critical inputs.

6x a8se xr30 knockoffs ready to go:

Thanks to @MarcosD for printing all of the brackets for me. I started cutting the aluminum and will take a shot at installing everything this weekend.

These are the A8SE II MAX version - I got 2x on aliexpress for $185 each and then 4x came from alibaba for $145 each - 6 lights for less than $1k in total. I couldn't say no to this experiment. The goal is really just more spread and an improved visual spectrum over the Reefi lights I have now (which are excellent).

 

[MichaelB]

Everything is going really well with the tank right now - so of course I'm going to make a major change to one of the most critical inputs.

6x a8se xr30 knockoffs ready to go:

View attachment 67966

Thanks to @MarcosD for printing all of the brackets for me. I started cutting the aluminum and will take a shot at installing everything this weekend.

These are the A8SE II MAX version - I got 2x on aliexpress for $185 each and then 4x came from alibaba for $145 each - 6 lights for less than $1k in total. I couldn't say no to this experiment. The goal is really just more spread and an improved visual spectrum over the Reefi lights I have now (which are excellent).

Would definitely like to see in detail of how you hook up aluminum rails etc for for mounting the light .

I probably need to do similar but without more confidence on my part. I would probably wind up buying mounts for each different light Or just use 2x4s.

 

[Alexander1312]

Everything is going really well with the tank right now - so of course I'm going to make a major change to one of the most critical inputs.

6x a8se xr30 knockoffs ready to go:

View attachment 67966

Thanks to @MarcosD for printing all of the brackets for me. I started cutting the aluminum and will take a shot at installing everything this weekend.

These are the A8SE II MAX version - I got 2x on aliexpress for $185 each and then 4x came from alibaba for $145 each - 6 lights for less than $1k in total. I couldn't say no to this experiment. The goal is really just more spread and an improved visual spectrum over the Reefi lights I have now (which are excellent).

Please clarify - they are supposed to replace the reefis?

 

[Darkxerox]

Try to track your algae growth on the viewing panels pre/post install. Testing a hypothesis.

 

[derek_SR]

Try to track your algae growth on the viewing panels pre/post install. Testing a hypothesis.

What's your hypothesis? The glass pane algae growth seems to really take off at a certain amount of PAR/spread. It's almost like an on/off switch for algae growth past a certain point. It's why I turned my lights way down a few weeks back - dramatic reduction in glass cleaning frequency.

Do you have thoughts on this re: the actual spectrum differences between the reefi and xr30?

 

[derek_SR]

Please clarify - they are supposed to replace the reefis?

Yes.

I really have no complaints with the reefis, i just like tinkering with lighting. I've always loved the XR30 AB+ spectrum but am not willing to spend $6k on the real lights, so it turned into a bit of an experiment with the knockoffs. I was using two of them over my frag tank and have found them to be great lights so far.

 

[Darkxerox]

What's your hypothesis? The glass pane algae growth seems to really take off at a certain amount of PAR/spread. It's almost like an on/off switch for algae growth past a certain point. It's why I turned my lights way down a few weeks back - dramatic reduction in glass cleaning frequency.

Do you have thoughts on this re: the actual spectrum differences between the reefi and xr30?

My guess is that high spread lights like Radion panels nail the front and cause crazy algae growth while the 90 degree reflectors on the ReeFis prevent growth. When my lights were angled slightly forward due to me waiting for my tnutz, the growth was insane (had to clean the glass twice a day). Now that I have them more vertical and slightly back, I can go almost a week without cleaning.

Before you take down the ReeFis, you could run Telegraham's file. The color differences are due to the overall # of diodes (ReeFis have way more violet and UVA than Radions so you kind of have to multiply the wattage of the LEDs by the % output to get an estimate or reduce their output to match colors). Then drive the royal blues harder. This is something not super clear to hobbyists that 10% "white" is not the same thing as 10% "blue" for any light really.