Ecotech Radion ~vs~ AquaIllumination SOL ~vs~ Vertex Illumina

[SkullV]

From my understanding just for viewing pleasure. I would have liked to see a uv/violet/orange led combo other than red and green. JMO

Just to clarify for anyone interested, this is incorrect. While red is mostly for viewing, there are many corals which will only fluoresce under green light.

Compare the extremely limited spectrum of an AI Sol fixture to a Radium metal halide bulb (arguably the most popular MH bulb on the market). The SOL grows coral, they just don't look good doing it.

To be honest as a Radion owner I wouldn't recommend the Radion for anything deeper than a 20" tank though. The SOL does win in that regard.

 

[socalmonty]

From my understanding just for viewing pleasure. I would have liked to see a uv/violet/orange led combo other than red and green. JMO

Take a look at the new Pacific Sun Metis Hyperion 8-channel LED fixture (2 UV spectrums, Cree XM cool whites, Cree XM neutral whites, XP royal blues, XP reds, XP greens and oranges). Seems to provide great spectrum flexibility as well as great viewing options. I just ordered the 49" fixture for my 140G.

 

[data_loss]

To be honest as a Radion owner I wouldn't recommend the Radion for anything deeper than a 20" tank though. The SOL does win in that regard.

When you say this are you thinking an sps dominate reef? I'm looking at putting these over about 24" deep water, but I'm planning on a mixed reef and wouldn't mind only being able to put lower light corals on the sand. The only reason I haven't ordered a pair is because I'm worried about the depth.

 

[SkullV]

When you say this are you thinking an sps dominate reef? I'm looking at putting these over about 24" deep water, but I'm planning on a mixed reef and wouldn't mind only being able to put lower light corals on the sand. The only reason I haven't ordered a pair is because I'm worried about the depth.

Yes, I'm talking about SPS/Maxima Clams on the sand.

 

[Creetin]

Take a look at the new Pacific Sun Metis Hyperion 8-channel LED fixture (2 UV spectrums, Cree XM cool whites, Cree XM neutral whites, XP royal blues, XP reds, XP greens and oranges). Seems to provide great spectrum flexibility as well as great viewing options. I just ordered the 49" fixture for my 140G.

That sounds like a good fixture. LEt us know how you like it and please show some pics when you get it fired up.
I would love to see what it does color wise.

 

[SPotter]

I was at a friends house yesterday and he has 6 AI's on his 350 96x30x28 and his tank is beautiful!!!! The fixtures are mounted 22" awl so thats almost 50" to the sand bed and he has three huge and awesome looking clams. He says everything is growing so much fast compared to when he had mh and t5. However, the one negative which we all know is the lake of red and purple. He is planning on supplementing t5's and fiji bulbs. I asked him if he ever measured par and he responded by showing me pictures of the tank 5 months and then compared to how it looks today. He said with growth like that and it was amazing...who needs to measure par.

I think we can all agree that par measurements on LED's dont have the same meaning as PAR readings on t5 and mh. I've been doing a lot of reading and while my professional back ground is far from being an engineer or scientist, my interpretation of what I have read so far is telling me that how evenly the led distributes the light is critical. I read an article on a plant growers site they said that measuring par on leds only creates more confusion about the effectiveness of the lights. They indicated that lumens are an important number to know and that to truely understand the effectiveness of led lights for plant growth one would need to purchase a spectroradiometer. Unfortunately they cost about $4k and you probably need to be a rocket scientist to work it.

This has been an awesome exercise by Jeremy and PA....just confirming why they are one of the top online retailers in our hobby. Thank you Jeremy!

 

[socalmonty]

That sounds like a good fixture. LEt us know how you like it and please show some pics when you get it fired up.
I would love to see what it does color wise.

Thanks, I will. Hopefully, it doesn't take too long to get here.

 

[qqlings]

Hi Jeremy B.I have a pico deep blue tank. which light is my choice? for Aqua Illumination how many Modular do i need. if just need one how can i hanging it? thx

 

[robbous]

Take a look at the new Pacific Sun Metis Hyperion 8-channel LED fixture (2 UV spectrums, Cree XM cool whites, Cree XM neutral whites, XP royal blues, XP reds, XP greens and oranges). Seems to provide great spectrum flexibility as well as great viewing options. I just ordered the 49" fixture for my 140G.

Just beware of the PS the company is based out of poland and if the usa distributor for some reason parts ways with this company you may not be able to get your lamp repaired or for that matter returned back to you, i know for a fact about this as it has happened to me :mad2:. any way great thread here i have 3 AI sols on there way to my house this week to replace my pacific sun LED lamps.

 

[lostdiver]

What are peoples thoughts on the following theory. I didnt know that PAR meters didnt record blue light accurately, as I read a page or so back.

Could it be that the lower PAR readings of the Radion to the AI are due to fewer White LED lights.

AI White = 16
AI Blue = 8

Radion White = 8
Radion Blue = 8
Radion Royal Blue = 10

I appreciate that they are run at a different wattage, but I think I still make the white LED wattage higher on the AI. Could it be that whilst the PAR readings are higher on the AI than the Radion, PUR readings may be higher on the Radion due to the higher number of blues?

Just a thought, I could be way off.

 

[fishcull]

LostDiver,

You post is incorrect in regards to AI.

In the Sol Blue. There is 8 plucks. Each pluck has 1 white, 1 blue, and 1 royal blue.

So total would be 8 whites and 16 blue.

 

[chadfarmer]

thr radion runs the whites at 5 watts and the Ai run at 3 watts


the same type of led

 

[lostdiver]

Ah, I must have been looking at the specs of the original Sol White. Apologies.

 

[Dustin1300]

Jeremy, any updates on the thread and where further testing taking place? The coloration pics would be great!

 

[Jeremy B.]

I'm trying to get there, but to be honest with the surge we've had this last week in business due to the holidays I just haven't had the time. It doesn't look good for the remainder of this week and first part of next week. Hopefully I'll get a few minutes next Wednesday or Thursday. This week and next week is our biggest shipping volume time of the year, but I'll try my best.

 

[Dustin1300]

If you'd just stop having sales maybe you could make it to it

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[thbrewst]

Just found this thread and been reading through. Fantastic to see someone doing this comparison.

One question I'm not sure that I saw answered. For the purposes of price comparison it was stated that you likely need 2 AI units to equate to one Radion or Vertex, but for the actual light comparison you are only using one unit. To me this seems like you are penalizing AI without giving them the equalizing benefit. It seems you would either include in your comparison that AI is significantly cheaper than the other 2 or call them all about the same price but use 2 AI units for the test.

Just a note, I'm considering going LED but do not own any of these units so I am simply commenting on the fairness of the AI bit. I have no bias toward any of these products which is why I am so glad this comparison is being done.

Thanks again for taking the time...

 

[Luxo]

Just noticed the powerfactor on AI and Ecotech is very low!
what do they use for power supply?
Since these are all resistive loads they only reason for this will be cheap powersupplies that lack proper active PF correction in the PS !
Unless these are typos or...

 

[viggen]

would it be possible to throw a 175w MH in there with a luminarc or similar reflector to give those of us who own MH's a idea of how they compare? Comparing these 3 LED's is awesome.... but if possible it would be hugely helpful to compare it to some of the old school lighting some of us still use!

 

[92reefer]

Great comparison. Wish they could have added the new Apollo Solarblast dimmable unit to the mix.

I've narrowed down to the AI SOL Blue (399) or the Apollo (399) for my 60G cube. Now trying to decide which one offers more versatility regarding wireless lan connection, controllers and programming as well as the cost