Lighting options

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

heres a picture of my tank right now, only 2 AI sols (still waiting for one to come in)
they are only 8 inches above the water. and running at 65% power



im sure once i get 1 more fixture in the middle and i raise them all to about 12" above water, ill get great coverage and power

Looks like really good coverage with the AI's considering it's only 2 units over six foot long tank. Makes me wonder why some say the coverage is bad with the AI's. Oh well, I guess if I paid double the price for poorer par I would look for a justification too. To each their own, either fixture will grow coral just fine.

[unclesalty]

Originally Posted by Borderjumper

I'm REALLY impressed with the Radion!

I'm blown away by mine! the coloring, settings, programing and features that work with the powerheads! I bought mine blindly before any reviews were out but figured coming from Ecotech it would be A+ product with excellent customer service. Also glad I saved a few $$ by not buying the Vertex

[ensquire]

how do most of these fixtures get mounted?? Side by side or length ways? My tank is only 18" wide and I feel that If I mounted 2 fixtures length ways it would be enough using the Radions as long as they were a foot off the tank. I feel I would need 3 if I went side by side and would probably not need to be quite that distance up. now price wise that would be significant , I personaly like the radions better, but I'm not sure if they are that much better. having a hard time justifying the extra expense. If 2 lengthways works its 1700.00 compared to 1000.00 with controller and rails.. If it's 3 side by side that makes it about 2500.00 compared to 1300.00..
But if it's 2 radions lengthways vs 3 AI side by side it brings things closer..
Are the Radions that much better??

[d33ps3a]

Originally Posted by unclesalty

I did read that article a couple months back! The AI has better par but "spotlights" and has less coverage as seen in the pics. Lots of people on RC are also not happy with the AI's and there coloring.

That review was done with the 40 degree optics. There would probably be significantly less spotlighting if it had the 70 degree optics.

[unclesalty]

Originally Posted by d33ps3a

That review was done with the 40 degree optics. There would probably be significantly less spotlighting if it had the 70 degree optics.

I did have a brand new AI with 70 degree optics installed. Still not as good coverage as the Radion

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by unclesalty

I did have a brand new AI with 70 degree optics installed. Still not as good coverage as the Radion

its cuz the radions have no optics

[d33ps3a]

Dollar for dollar the AIs look way more enticing to purchase. 3 radions @ 800 for a total about $2400. For the AIs, with $2400 you could get 5 AIs. IMHO