Ecotech Marine’s Radion XR30w wins the 2011 Reef Builders LED showdown

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by unclesalty

This is why the Radion was a no brainer choice for me as the price works out to be close to the same by the time you buy 2 AI's. Also no wires, nicer looking, better spectrum and better programming and features. The Radion still has some bugs to be worked out and things added to software but I'd live with them the way they are right now, no problem whatsoever!

there is no way that 1 light source can be better than 2 light sources.

with 2 AI sols i can light a coral from 2 directions with 140 watts of power and you can only light it from 1 direction.

and with this:

• 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
• 4x Cree XP-E Green LEDs run at 3W each
• 4x Osram Oslon SSL Hyper Red LEDs run at 3W each

when added up, radions are only 118 watts. and when you subtract the 12 watts of red and 12 watts of green (which are not proven yet to make any kind of difference to coral growth) you're only at 94 watts of proven coral growing power.

even if red and green are beneficial to corals, the penetration and usable light at a reasonable depth would be almost nothing

[MarkoD]

they also both advertise full spectrum.

sol



radion

[unclesalty]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

there is no way that 1 light source can be better than 2 light sources.

with 2 AI sols i can light a coral from 2 directions with 140 watts of power and you can only light it from 1 direction.

and with this:

• 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
• 4x Cree XP-E Green LEDs run at 3W each
• 4x Osram Oslon SSL Hyper Red LEDs run at 3W each

when added up, radions are only 118 watts. and when you subtract the 12 watts of red and 12 watts of green (which are not proven yet to make any kind of difference to coral growth) you're only at 94 watts of proven coral growing power.

even if red and green are beneficial to corals, the penetration and usable light at a reasonable depth would be almost nothing

No way was 2 AI's enough for my 120g for my liking from what I saw. IMO 3 or 4 AI's for sure would of been enough. 2 Radions look awesome!

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by unclesalty

No way was 2 AI's enough for my 120g for my liking from what I saw. IMO 3 or 4 AI's for sure would of been enough. 2 Radions look awesome!

Yeah so if you're comparing price. You can get 2 ai for 1 radion.

And with 2 ai you'd get better spread and more power and "larger" light source with less shadow. So on a 120 gallon you'd run 4

You'd sacrifice the red and green tho

[Nano]

I'm with you on this one Marko, I mean for better spread (sleaker look IMO) and price wise, AI takes the cake, and if the red and green are really that important long term, there are tons of led strip lights that could be retro fitted, though I dont know how necessary it really is. I understand they have different spectrums and diferent spectrums have diferent funtions on different corals lol. I'd personally get 2 AI before I got one Radion.

Sh*t I'm at the top of the page again.. sry...

[unclesalty]

Originally Posted by nanomano

I'm with you on this one Marko, I mean for better spread (sleaker look IMO) and price wise, AI takes the cake, and if the red and green are really that important long term, there are tons of led strip lights that could be retro fitted, though I dont know how necessary it really is. I understand they have different spectrums and diferent spectrums have diferent funtions on different corals lol. I'd personally get 2 AI before I got one Radion.

Sh*t I'm at the top of the page again.. sry...

Personally I think the total complete opposite! The AI's are big thick and bulky with cables everywhere- no comparison in looks!

The AI's have better spread? hmm I must of bought a faulty par meter! lol

[Nano]

not trying to arue with you cause I really dont have the knowledge to do so, I'm just going from what I have read and seen in person. lol if that makes sense. And after seeing the comparison between AI and halide and AI and Radion online here, to me, the AI looks a bit brighter, but I'm not stating that is is for the record

[Nano]

also I remember seeing on here earlier about par meters not being 100% accurate for leds cause they measure the yellow light? I could be mistaken

[unclesalty]

Originally Posted by nanomano

not trying to arue with you cause I really dont have the knowledge to do so, I'm just going from what I have read and seen in person. lol if that makes sense. And after seeing the comparison between AI and halide and AI and Radion online here, to me, the AI looks a bit brighter, but I'm not stating that is is for the record

I am not a journeyman light guy either but you are right the AI had a bit better par but it spotlights and then you don't get the proper coverage compared to the Radion

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by nanomano

I'm with you on this one Marko, I mean for better spread (sleaker look IMO) and price wise, AI takes the cake, and if the red and green are really that important long term, there are tons of led strip lights that could be retro fitted, though I dont know how necessary it really is. I understand they have different spectrums and diferent spectrums have diferent funtions on different corals lol. I'd personally get 2 AI before I got one Radion.

Sh*t I'm at the top of the page again.. sry...

If you want to add red and green LEDs to an AI set up just go onto modularled's web site and they have the kits for under $40 and using all Cree bulbs instead of lesser makes. If you don't like it or it just proves to be an algae producer you're only out $40 not an extra $400. The only reason to spend a lot of money on lights is to grow coral otherwise any cheap fixture would do. You can see pictures and tank journals from hundreds of successful coral growers that have been using the AIs for years and I'm sure at one point in the future the Radion's will prove to grow coral equally well but I doubt one will grow coral better than the other. They are both nice products and you can't really go wrong with either one. And if you can find a Radion that doesn't have a power cord like the ugly cords on the AI as pointed out on an earlier post then even better, it must just kill batteries though!