EcoTech Radion vs Aquaillumination Sol

[Amoore311]

bobby demay you can feel free to comment on my posts here, instead of leaving a visitor message on my profile. Especially since you seem to have taken my post personally.

It serves absolutely no purpose in comparing a fixture that has had very limited information leaked out to anything at all. AI has said the unit is targeted at $499, has a separate wireless controller, consumes 75 watts, and the clusters used are the same as the AI Nano. If you want to compare an existing fixture with par numbers, graphs, etc.... to that paltry amount of info go ahead, but don't be surprised when someone calls you on it.

I just called AI myself and they refused to divulge any information about the new fixture at all. All they would share is that there is in fact a new fixture in the works that will be seen as an upgrade to the current line they offer.... THAT'S IT.

 

[Creetin]

This is THE #1 issue with AI products thus far. We know they grow coral, they just don't look good doing it.

Thats debatable, I happen to like the look. I do agree some colors get washed out, But i feel the green and red spectrum won't solve that. I THINK violet and orange would have been a better choice. JMO

 

[Amoore311]

But i feel the green and red spectrum won't solve that.

Have you seen the radion over a tank in person yet? I don't personally own one, but a local guy bought 2 modules for his 75 gallon tank. It's honestly a completely different look comparing to your standard Blue/White LED lit tank.

If you have seen it in person and still honestly think red/green make no difference..... there's no sense in me arguing so ignore my post lol.

(After seeing Blue/White and RGB Spectrum LED Fixtures over tanks in person, I honestly don't understand how anyone could say they can't tell a difference.)

I'm in the market myself, so I really have no bias here lol. My problem, as I've stated previously, is the fact that none of these fixtures on the market have been tested and proven to hold spectrum over a prolonged period of time. Lamp life is one thing, LEDS actually holding the proper spectrum is a whole other story.

If Ecotech or any other manufacturer had a warranty that said our fixture will hold it's spectrum for "x" years, if not your replacement LED Clusters are free...... I would have bought whatever fixture that might have been already lol.

 

[Amoore311]

But i feel the green and red spectrum won't solve that.

Have you seen the radion over a tank in person yet? I don't personally own one, but a local guy bought 2 modules for his 75 gallon tank. It's honestly a completely different look comparing to your standard Blue/White LED lit tank.

If you have seen it in person and still honestly think red/green make no difference..... there's no sense in me arguing so ignore my post lol.

(After seeing Blue/White and RGB Spectrum LED Fixtures over tanks in person, I honestly don't understand how anyone could say they can't tell a difference.)

I'm in the market myself, so I really have no bias here lol. My problem, as I've stated previously, is the fact that none of these fixtures on the market have been tested and proven to hold spectrum over a prolonged period of time. Lamp life is one thing, LEDS actually holding the proper spectrum is a whole other story.

If Ecotech or any other manufacturer had a warranty that said our fixture will hold it's spectrum for "x" years, if not your replacement LED Clusters are free...... I would have bought whatever fixture that might have been already lol.

 

[SkullV]

If Ecotech or any other manufacturer had a warranty that said our fixture will hold it's spectrum for "x" years, if not your replacement LED Clusters are free...... I would have bought whatever fixture that might have been already lol.

I would be willing to bet that if my LEDs PAR was DRASTICALLY reduced 2 years from now EcoTech would stand behind their product and replace the clusters. There is NO factual basis behind this post, but it would be something I would be willing to put my hard earned cash on.

 

[Amoore311]

I wouldn't doubt it either. But if they were confident enough to offer that... I think they would be doing it.

Unfortunately my $1500 (I'd need 2 fixtures from what I've read) is worth a bit more to me than a bet on company reputation. Business is business. I don't mean to sound condescending in any way, it's just the way it is. (I personally own Ecotech Vortech Pumps, they do always treat me right when I need them.)

I don't think Ecotech could afford to replace the 1000's of Clusters if they didn't end up holding spectrum tbh, even if they wanted to.

 

[Amoore311]

Servers must be running a bit slow.

Sorry for the Double Post >_<;;

 

[rtparty]

Thats debatable, I happen to like the look. I do agree some colors get washed out, But i feel the green and red spectrum won't solve that. I THINK violet and orange would have been a better choice. JMO

Orange doesn't do squat but make the tank look weird. How do I know? I have an RGB system and can select orange. NOTHING benefits from orange LEDs. Literally the tank has no color to it.

Violet, or UV, is a whole other ballgame! I got one UV stunner from Ecoxotic and put it over my tank. WOW! The colors I got out of some of my corals is unreal!

ALL of the mentioned fixtures in this thread miss the spectrum below ~440nm and that is a BIG disadvantage. Yes, the UV chips cost more but are well worth every penny.

Every system we have run in the past has 420nm light but not LEDs. Why?

 

[Creetin]

Orange doesn't do squat but make the tank look weird. How do I know? I have an RGB system and can select orange. NOTHING benefits from orange LEDs. Literally the tank has no color to it.

Violet, or UV, is a whole other ballgame! I got one UV stunner from Ecoxotic and put it over my tank. WOW! The colors I got out of some of my corals is unreal!

ALL of the mentioned fixtures in this thread miss the spectrum below ~440nm and that is a BIG disadvantage. Yes, the UV chips cost more but are well worth every penny.

Every system we have run in the past has 420nm light but not LEDs. Why?

Now i could be wrong but I read that corals use orange. As for uv/violet i don't get why no one uses them hardly.
I am looking for a powerbar that includes uv/violet to add in. There is a sps poewrbar i been looking at, But think the led's are not a true UV/violet.

 

[rtparty]

Now i could be wrong but I read that corals use orange. As for uv/violet i don't get why no one uses them hardly.
I am looking for a powerbar that includes uv/violet to add in. There is a sps poewrbar i been looking at, But think the led's are not a true UV/violet.

Corals use light in the 400-500 range and then again around 660nm which is red, not orange. I just see orange as a terrible idea. The color banding would drive me insane.

 

[Creetin]

Corals use light in the 400-500 range and then again around 660nm which is red, not orange. I just see orange as a terrible idea. The color banding would drive me insane.

Yes i seen that, But i read somewhere that a small spike in orange is present in light corals get. And causes some to radiance. Dunno i would like to see more on it though.

 

[SkullV]

Thats debatable, I happen to like the look. I do agree some colors get washed out, But i feel the green and red spectrum won't solve that. I THINK violet and orange would have been a better choice. JMO

Now i could be wrong but I read that corals use orange. As for uv/violet i don't get why no one uses them hardly.
I am looking for a powerbar that includes uv/violet to add in. There is a sps poewrbar i been looking at, But think the led's are not a true UV/violet.

Yes i seen that, But i read somewhere that a small spike in orange is present in light corals get. And causes some to radiance. Dunno i would like to see more on it though.

Just wanted to clarify your original response with the reasoning.

 

[Creetin]

No reason just rambling. I meant debate able from a color opinion. I like the blue look, You probably like a more warm look. I did not mean that the reds and greens were not nec for some. They are not for me.
Now add more blue or better yet, violet and a am for that.

 

[SkullV]

No reason just rambling. I meant debate able from a color opinion. I like the blue look, You probably like a more warm look. I did not mean that the reds and greens were not nec for some. They are not for me.
Now add more blue or better yet, violet and a am for that.

I will be adding a UV stunner strip to the bottom of each of my Radions in the next month or so. I'll keep you posted.

 

[rtparty]

No reason just rambling. I meant debate able from a color opinion. I like the blue look, You probably like a more warm look. I did not mean that the reds and greens were not nec for some. They are not for me.
Now add more blue or better yet, violet and a am for that.

I love the blue look for a tank. I don't like a cold, icy blue look that AI gives off. The Cool White LED is the thing I can't stand. A Neutral White LED would completely change the game for them.

You can have a warm-blue look if that makes sense. I did it with T5s by running 4 Blue Plus and 2 Purple Plus. The tank was definitely blue but you didn't lose the pinks because there was just enough warm spectrum to fill them in.

I am playing with magenta LEDs from Ecoxotic right now and they are just a little too powerful. The manual dimmer will help with that though. I don't want a purple tank :lolspin:

 

[rtparty]

I will be adding a UV stunner strip to the bottom of each of my Radions in the next month or so. I'll keep you posted.

I would plan on 2 for each fixture and even then you will have a tough time really seeing them with the Radions on.

If you make your room totally dark and then turn on the UV strips, BAM! Things start to fluoresce like the old VHO Super Actinic bulbs. The tank is super dim but certain colors shine.

Right now I have the UV strip and a 445nm stunner on my tank for dusk/dawn. The UV has very minimal effect but you can see it if you look for it. I am sure the corals see the UV light better than our eyes do though.

 

[SkullV]

The UV has very minimal effect but you can see it if you look for it. I am sure the corals see the UV light better than our eyes do though.

Ryan have you come across any studies showing the effects or usage by coral of UV light?

 

[rtparty]

Ryan have you come across any studies showing the effects or usage by coral of UV light?

No. I just look at all of our success with MH and T5 and they all have readings down to the 400nm area. With LEDs we have totally neglected this spectrum.

Does any "UV" (410nm or below) even reach corals in the wild? I have no idea but they have been receiving it in our tanks for decades now. I don't see why LED technology would be any different.

 

[Creetin]

I love the blue look for a tank. I don't like a cold, icy blue look that AI gives off. The Cool White LED is the thing I can't stand. A Neutral White LED would completely change the game for them.

You can have a warm-blue look if that makes sense. I did it with T5s by running 4 Blue Plus and 2 Purple Plus. The tank was definitely blue but you didn't lose the pinks because there was just enough warm spectrum to fill them in.

I am playing with magenta LEDs from Ecoxotic right now and they are just a little too powerful. The manual dimmer will help with that though. I don't want a purple tank :lolspin:

I looked at the stunner uv locally in a lfs. They are not bright enough for me. I do see some 5 watt uv in the 385 to 405 range i want to try out. Just a strip say maybe 10-12 along the 6 ft width of my tank.

 

[rtparty]

Ryan have you come across any studies showing the effects or usage by coral of UV light?

Here is an interesting observation I will relay. It is too early to really come to any conclusions but yesterday my wife told me my tank looked really good. It about floored me and my jaw hit the ground.

She HATES anything that has to do with my tanks. Anyways, I checked on the tank and asked her what changed in her eyes. She said the corals just looked "happier" and bigger than normal and she was right!

A couple of my lobo brains were more inflated than they have ever been since I switched to LED. I was actually really impressed with their coloration as well. I am not saying that the UV strip was the cause but these corals have been under LED for 8 months now and never looked like this.

Could it be the UV strip? I think so but have no real "proof" that it is.

Just my observations.