Deciding between Radion or AI

kalarr

New member
I have a 29gal biocube with stock PC lights. I'm looking to upgrade these lights and have decided to either get the gen 4 xr15 or an AI prime. The AI is a bit cheaper, but I only want to buy a light once which is what originally made me consider just going for the radion in the beginning. Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks
 
Go with the AI Hydra 26HD. It's a phenomenal light and it will be your "buy a light once" type deal. I run a single Hydra 26HD over my Reefer 170 with pretty impressive PAR readings. I run an SPS Dominant tank with a colony of Gobstopper Palythoa's in the bottom left corner of my tank. To my surprise, it was reaching 160 PAR. I'm also using a mock profile from the Ecotech Marine SPS AB+ Profile that a gentleman on this forum created. I'm noticing growth every 2-3 days on my Acropora along with great color and polyp extension. That aside, my parameters are also spot on and stable.

Going with the AI Prime will be fine, but you may regret the single puck source further down when your corals start to fill in.

The Radion XR15 Gen. 4 is also a great choice as I was originally considering the XR30w Pro Gen. 4 for my tank. Reason I went back to AI Hydra 26HD is because to me, its a great bang for your buck. Especially being able to control it from your phone/computer without any additional controllers via WIFI. Plus I've had awesome success with it previously!

Here are the par numbers I get. My settings at its peak are as follows:
Violet: 80%
UV: 80%
Royal Blue: 90%
Blue: 90%
Green: 25%
Deep Red: 25%
Cool White: 25%

ztEh5Ky.jpg
 
I just bought G4 xr30 pro. And can control wireless with my phone too. It has great spread as my tank is 36" x24"x18" I am running a slightly less blue sps ab+schedule. And it is amazing.
 
@Hentz- Thanks for the insight and picture! I'm going to have to give serious consideration to the Hydra 26.

One thing that may sway the decision is the differences in how each is programmed. From what I understand the radion is only controllable with a phone/tablet app with a reeflink?

Is the hydra a standalone wifi signal that connects to the app without need for other equipment?
 
Yes you are correct with that. I think Bryan maybe failed to add that he uses a Reeflink or it's hooked up to a controller like the Apex.

I would personally steer away from the AI Prime. Not that it's bad, however I just feel you may regret the decision when your corals really fill in.

From personal experience, I find the AI Hydra is much easier programmed than the Radion. I usually would get frustrated when I would program my Radions. When it came to the Hydras, it was extremely user friendly and easy to program.

Both are outstanding lights though and will grow whatever wherever. You will not go wrong with either light. Though if you're considering the XR15 vs Hydra 26, you're not going to really have a major difference in pricing. The only difference will be controllability. Like I mentioned, the AI comes WIFI ready right out of the box without spending an extra $100 on a controller. That's just my big thing. So yes, you can absolutely control your AI Hydra HD's with your phone/computer right out of the box. All you have to do is connect your phone to your AI Hydra HD, connect it to your wireless network, and it's ready to go.

In fact, I was going to go with the Radion XR30 Pro Gen. 4 on my Reefer 170. But I just couldn't justify the $900 price tag for the Light + Mount opposed to $350 for the Hydra.
 
How much space is needed to install the mount for the hydra 26? I have 4 inches or so of space between the back of the biocube and the wall and from the pictures I've looked at there are a few bolts that stick out.
 
How much space is needed to install the mount for the hydra 26? I have 4 inches or so of space between the back of the biocube and the wall and from the pictures I've looked at there are a few bolts that stick out.

That's perfect.

The tightening screw is about 2.25" from the back of the tank and the mount itself sticks about 1.75" away from the tank. So you have plenty of room for the mount.
 
Hentz, were those par readings with the tank mount? Curious about how far the light was above the water.

Yes, they were taken with the Hydra Mounting System, their newest one that attaches to the rim of the tank.

My Hydra is 10" off of the water line.
 
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