I don't see these for sale locally.. Who carries them?

I believe ProReef can get them in. I would like to see one running though...

I think BWA and OA are the 2 authorized dealer.

Garreth made it sound like he's brought many in...

Does the price on these vary, or is it locked by the manufacturer?

it varies. i got 3 for under a 1000 dollars during the store tours here :)

Same here..

Garreth says he's set some up, so I'll see if I can find some locally.

Sweet.

heres how i mounted mine. basic 13 dollar u channel.

not the rip off rails that AI sells for 60 bucks or whatever

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/s...5at32005PM.png

will that work with radions?

YouTube has a couple side by side comparisons. From the recerch I did and first hand seeing them in action side by side I went with the sols

Goreef sells them four 399$ that's where I got mine free shipping over 150$

Marko,
Where did you get the U-channel from? Which store did you get your Sols at? PM me if you like. Thanks.

i got sols from red coral and i got the U channel from totem. they also sell them at princess auto

Set up both brands up for many clients and like both BUT. given the price difference my preferance would be for the AI. Although the Radion does have more features and tech advantages(like wireless communication vs messy wires between fixtures), has better spread(although not better depth) and replicates the full color spectrum more adequetly. Also, not sure if the AI's come in black, but the white on silver is not my first choice for a light fixture...

Some up sides to the AI is that its fan is located near the top of the unit rather than the bottom....for those without a glass top, the salt will eventually find its way into that Radion fan. Also the ability to add legs and not just be limited to hanging kits as with the Radion.

Yes, they come in black now. Which was the flip over for me to consider them. Gotta be color coordinated :)

I have owned several different leds fixtures including a pacific sun unit. I am strong beliver on leds as I believe they are the future of reef keeping. I am currently running AI sol units on my sps dominate tank with great success. All the sps has displayed tremdously amount of growth and coloration due to a higher par reading that AI has compare to most other units or fixtures. I am running them on an identical schedule compare to my 250w metal halides with the exception of ramping up and down during sunrise and sunset. Its like I am running 400W MH(the 400 was used on the my tank prior to 250s)without any of the excess heat and electricity cost. It's like I got the best of both worlds. If I was asked to rate the performance of one AI, I would tell you that 1 AI sol unit has the intensity equal to a 400W MH with the coverage 12"X24" area, and if you are looking to grow sps coral with good coloration that won't break the bank, my friends this is the light for you.

Going through this thread, it was almost humorous to hear some of the arguments people are making. You need 2 AIs to 1 radions for coverage. I for one can tell you that's bull$***. Comparing par rating one would almost think you will need 2 radion to 1 AI instead. Don;'t get me wrong, I do like the radion's added benefits with wireless control being on the top of the list, but the radion is designed to replicate radium 250 metal halides bulbs which would make it less intense and the only reason it has better coverage is because it doesn't use any lens which makes them a 120 degrees spread compare to 70 degrees on the AIs.

Bottom line for me will always be as long as the fixture can grow sps coral that's all it matters to me! I have seen many sps tanks using AI's with great success(search reef central for more reference) which reinforced my decision on the purchase, plus not to mention all the saving I got which I can use towards other stuff for the tank.

Talk is cheap so if anyone wants to argue please show me some pictures of your tank with radion running before you start. A picture speaks a thousand words.

That pretty much sums up my requirements. I'm going to try three on my 180 and see what the acros think :)

you can always add more as your needs dictate. thats the beauty of buying modular LED pendents over a single large fixture.

No, I can afford 3. Almost..If that doesn't work, the MH go back on.

i dont see the logic there.

my metal halides cost me over 75 dollars per month to run. 5 months and that pays for an additional sol fixture

Not a chance in hell 3 AI's would work for me on a 6 ft 180g! Myself I would definitely go with halides over 3 AI's over a 180g. Compare Coralgurls tank with 3 Radions to other pictures of 180 gallon tanks on Canreef that show 3 AI integrating spotlights with the disco light effects I almost guarantee with dark ends of the tank. Too many uneducated LED people is the main problem.

oh and then you have this radion fanboy.

i think too many fanboys that think "more expensive means better" is the problem

You must the guy who could use another 2 or 3 fixtures on your tank! :lol:

Mine cost less than half that. And I get to make monthly payments. The logic is I may be able to come up with the 1500 to equip the tank with 3 units, not 1900. Don't have it.

3 sols can cover my rock work perfectly

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/s...5at24327PM.png

and i dont have to clean the glass as often since theres no light spilling onto it, yay

Brad, I am sure you will be happy with the purchase, You saw how it looks on apexfd's 210 with only 40% intensity. However it will appear a bit dimmer then what you are use to when you first put them on but I assure you it will have enough light to keep all the corals happy and colorful.

I know Martin at Modular have them on sale for 399 with free shipping plus its only 7% GST up there. I know its not much savings but its better then nothing.

Let me know how it goes.

We don't need name calling. Thanks.

Three units should work just fine, based on Dez' success. My rock/coral area is about the same as his, and he's fine with three.
And I do think the SOLs are better lights at a better price. They put out more light. I don't need, no, want all the stuff radion owners think is cool, I need light that grows coral and gives the same color as my MH.

It look kinda dark for my liking but each to there own! Check out Coralgurls tank with 3 Radions. Way better coverage and colour spectrum!

its dark because you obviously dont know how a camera works. cameras cant capture the same dynamic range as a human eye

how about you show us your tank?

That seems to be the going rate. Saving a couple of bucks on tax may work out better than buying in BC. Plus he offers swapping of the optics if he's got some. Still thinking on that feature.

I think coverage might be a bit better, but they're less intense. I need more intensity for my tank. Coverage is sufficient with the AIs for my needs.
I also need color close to my radiums. Maybe a bit whiter. I don't need red or green. Seems like a waste of space to me, better utilized for practical bulbs. But to each their own..

I totally agree with you, 3 will cover a 180 no problem with way better par reading then the radions on any day of the week. sorry uncle, marko has a point here. I have used it on my own 210 running just 3 units and now its running on my good buddy's similar size tank with only 3 units with all good results.

Yes, I would highly recommand you changing to all 70 degrees lens since he will do it for free. I was going to get all mine changed over but since I got 9 on the tank, coverage isn't something I am concerned with.

What effect on intensity do you think this would have?

Sanjay's new article on LED fixtures:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/3/aafeature

I'd like to see the new Kessil Tuna Blue unit........ but I guess that's to new.

Cheers,
Vic

heres a realistic comparison

Radion:
8x Cree XP-G Cool White LEDs run at 5w each
8x Cree XP-E Blue LEDs run at 3w each
10x Cree XP-E Royal Blue LEDs run at 3w each

White and blues on radions equal to 94 Watts

4x Cree XP-E Green LEDs run at 3w each
4x Osram Oslon SSL Hyper Red LEDs run at 3w each
i dont consider these as photosynthetic light


Sols:
8x 3 watt white
8x 3 watt blue
8x 3 watt royal blue

total 72 watts



so with radions you're basically paying more than double for an additional 22 watts. and when you consider that the radions dont have any kind of optics; that 22 watts probably just gets dispersed into the water or ends up lighting the inside glass of your tank

I was asking more about the effects on intensity when switching out the 40 for 70 degree optics.

I am really not sure Brad, but I would guess it to be down about 10% of what was originally tested. I am getting a par meter from a LFS, I could swap out 1 unit into all 70 degree lens and see what the difference is in par reading. One can only speculate without doing proper testing.

That would be awesome, thanks