75 Gal. LED Fixture Opinion Needed!!!

[Darth Chingas]

Hello everyone!

I currently have a standard 75 gallon tank (with black center brace) and am looking to upgrade to LEDs sometime within the next two weeks. I have around $1600 to spend but would like to spend as little as possible. These are the three options I have come up with so far and was hoping someone out there has/had one of these configurations and could help me make a decision.....

1) 2 AI Sol Blue units
+ Less than $1000, look nice, modular, dimmable and programmable
-Phoenix coming soon
? Spread enough to cover tank? good shimmer?

2) 2 Ecotech Radion Units
+ Hot new item, compatible with mp40 I have, wireless
- Expensive, cutting close to budget
? 2 enough? good shimmer? How are they controlled and mounted?

3) 2 or 4 Kessil a150w
+ Low cost, great shimmer, small
- Not dimmable, only seen 15K and were really blue, a250w coming soon
? 2 enough? should i get 4 (2 15K and 2 10K)?, SPS capable?

Ok, there it is. I would really like to buy the lights within the next 2 weeks as the money is burning a hole in my pocket. Looking for opinions but pics or videos would be great! I currently house LPS and some SPS (acros and montis) and a big GBTA with a 4x54 T5 Tek Light.


Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[96p993]

I would just do a search for each one...You will find plenty of info and pics on all these fixtures...

 

[Darth Chingas]

I have only found one pic of AIs over a 75 and they were turned sideways and did not look that great. Nothing on the others over a 75.

 

[cadre]

The Radions may work for you but I'm pretty sure you may need three. They don't have lenses so it looks like they don't have the spot light effect of the Sol units. That said, they probably have inferior depth penetration. I looked at a Radion unit the other day and it was actually pretty cool. You can tell Ecotech put extra time into the programs. The other plus is that the power supply is separate (although that may be a drawback for some). It looked like the only way to control it was from the unit itself though (no external controller like other units).

I would do 4 Kessils if you choose to go that route. That would be more even with the amount of lighting your other options will be putting out. You lose the control that you have with the other two options but you will spend less money. Also, I think you could arrange the Kessils to have more even lighting than just two of the Sols or the Radions.

I don't have any pictures but I hope that helps. I'm thinking about building a larger tank and if I do I will probably go with the Kessil lights but for me it's mostly about the money. I don't need thunderstorm settings and all that.

 

[rtparty]

2 of the 24" ecoxotic panorama PRO fixtures would work as well. They will be out this month and you will be right around $1000 for two of them. Plenty of spread and power for anything. If you need more light just add more modules. They have a full range of LED colors to choose from as well.

They will be dimmable as well.

 

[Darth Chingas]

2 of the 24" ecoxotic panorama PRO fixtures would work as well. They will be out this month and you will be right around $1000 for two of them. Plenty of spread and power for anything. If you need more light just add more modules. They have a full range of LED colors to choose from as well.

They will be dimmable as well.

I see the Panorama Pro modules for sale (article said they came out in June) but I was unable to find any info on the fixtures other than they can go in the old ones. Are these the ones you were mentioning? I figured they were not as you said they would come out this month.

Thanks again for the responses.....

 

[Darth Chingas]

The Radions may work for you but I'm pretty sure you may need three. They don't have lenses so it looks like they don't have the spot light effect of the Sol units. That said, they probably have inferior depth penetration. I looked at a Radion unit the other day and it was actually pretty cool. You can tell Ecotech put extra time into the programs. The other plus is that the power supply is separate (although that may be a drawback for some). It looked like the only way to control it was from the unit itself though (no external controller like other units).

I was thinking about 3 units for the AI's as well but I have a black center brace in the way so I don't think 3 units will work for the Radions either?

 

[nemosworld]

Is diy not an option?

 

[rtparty]

I see the Panorama Pro modules for sale (article said they came out in June) but I was unable to find any info on the fixtures other than they can go in the old ones. Are these the ones you were mentioning? I figured they were not as you said they would come out this month.

Thanks again for the responses.....

The old panorama fixture has been discontinued. The new fixture comes out this month. Search on google "panorama fixture skinny little number".

It should take you to a reef builders.com article.

 

[Darth Chingas]

Is diy not an option?

I dont think so. I am not 100% confident in my set up abilities......

 

[Darth Chingas]

I think at this point, my best option is the Ecotech Radions. The one that did it for me was seeing the spread of the AIs sideways and the guy claiming it made more of a difference and the mrsaltwatertank video of him testing the Radions on a 90 with better PAR than a 250w MH. I think the AI has better controlability and thunderstorm program but the Radions also seem to have a better color. I really don't want to wait for the ecoxotic, kessil a250w or the AI phoenix. Gonna order later today so thanks for everyone who chimed in. Just in case.... I am looking for an online dealer with the best service, any recommendations?

 

[rtparty]

Here is a GREAT thread for you to read before buying.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2088048

I was a big fan of the Radions when I saw them first introduced and an even bigger fan when I saw them in person. However, the PAR on them is pretty bad IMO.

I have seen a few different readings from people on here and none of them were near what Mr. Saltwatertank showed on his website. I think he had them set at the 100% 12k setting to get those numbers. 95% of us aren't going to run them at 100%.

Just a thought.

 

[mordibv]

PLus 1 to the above statement . Ur really not using all the 118 watts of the unit . 24 are green and hyper red .
I can see the better color factor over the Ai's but those halide numbers kinda suck .
Using an antiquated halide fixture or agro light with an unknown bulb age or color . This was not stated in the vid .
Imho , most users of halides are using way more efficient reflectors generating more par than stated in the vid .
I do see that is what he is dealing with so take what I say with a grain of salt .I just don't see it as a fair comparison of a 250 halide vs radion.

Any who good luck with ur new purchase and have fun . Being able to control the color of a led unit is a no brainer . I loved playing with the color of my PacSun unit and even the SB unit I still have . Keep in mind when doing so u lose par .

 

[rtparty]

PLus 1 to the above statement . Ur really not using all the 118 watts of the unit . 24 are green and hyper red .
I can see the better color factor over the Ai's but those halide numbers kinda suck .
Using an antiquated halide fixture or agro light with an unknown bulb age or color . This was not stated in the vid .
Imho , most users of halides are using way more efficient reflectors generating more par than stated in the vid .
I do see that is what he is dealing with so take what I say with a grain of salt .I just don't see it as a fair comparison of a 250 halide vs radion.

Any who good luck with ur new purchase and have fun . Being able to control the color of a led unit is a no brainer . I loved playing with the color of my PacSun unit and even the SB unit I still have . Keep in mind when doing so u lose par .

Sometimes A LOT of PAR. I read that if you run the Radion at 20k, it is only 58.8% as bright as the 12k setting at 100%. Does that make sense? I can't figure out a better way to word it.

In other words for the 12k setting you get 100% intensity/brightness, but with the 20k you can only go up to 58.8% or round about there.

 

[mordibv]

Sometimes A LOT of PAR. I read that if you run the Radion at 20k, it is only 58.8% as bright as the 12k setting at 100%. Does that make sense? I can't figure out a better way to word it.

In other words for the 12k setting you get 100% intensity/brightness, but with the 20k you can only go up to 58.8% or round about there.

Ditto RT
Which is why I edited my post so many times . LOL . U can easily take a kilo watt meter as a cheap test and watch the power consumption go up annd down as you change the colors on a controllable led unit. I did it with my pac sun unit .

 

[Darth Chingas]

Sometimes A LOT of PAR. I read that if you run the Radion at 20k, it is only 58.8% as bright as the 12k setting at 100%. Does that make sense? I can't figure out a better way to word it.

In other words for the 12k setting you get 100% intensity/brightness, but with the 20k you can only go up to 58.8% or round about there.

Even at those numbers, do you think it is still better light for corals than my current 4x54 teklight?

 

[mordibv]

I wish I could answer that question for you. Some have posted a tek is the same as a 250 halide but do not state if 1 or 2 halides were being used .
The advantage to the Radion is the steady light over 1 year + as compared to swapping t5's out . I know leds degrade but they do it at a much slower rate.


Sent from my Moto Atrix using Tapatalk

 

[Darth Chingas]

I wish I could answer that question for you. Some have posted a tek is the same as a 250 halide but do not state if 1 or 2 halides were being used .
The advantage to the Radion is the steady light over 1 year + as compared to swapping t5's out . I know leds degrade but they do it at a much slower rate.


Sent from my Moto Atrix using Tapatalk

I really liked my Tek for the first few months. I tried a few acros with it and they lost their color and died shortly thereafter (one was a $65 Red Planet frag). I know there are other factors that influence that but I stayed on top of my water parameters, have a skimmer, fuge and lots of LR so I figured it was not enough light. Bulbs are currently at 9 months so I figure use the money toward new lights.....

 

[96p993]

For the money you are spending I would wait to see what Ecoxotic and Apollo are going to bring to the table in the very near future. My tank is setup, ready for water except for lights...I have very high hopes for the Panorama fixture so that will keep my money at bay until Thanksgiving...

 

[Devaji108]

I also have a 75 gal that i need lighting for I too was thinking 2 AI SOL blue or 2-3 kessils
i thought long and hard on this one...after reading some DIY led threads I decided that's the way I am going. I am not all that "handy" but there is lots of vids threads ect. to help out. I just ordered a small set up for my fuge to see how it goes.

then I am going to get the 48 kit from rapidled, the total cost should be around/lower that $450 for a dimmable led light fixture.

i know you said that DIY was not an option but might want to read and watch a few vids and see what you think.

just my 2 cents.
good luck & happy reefing!