EcoTech Radion vs Aquaillumination Sol

[125mph]

Storms are a joke.. I don't see why everyone likes them. Corals don't care!

 

[scarface70706]

Flashing lights are terrible for fish and should never be used. Lightning storms are nothing more than a gimmick and not beneficial to our reefs in any way.

and keeping fish captive in our tanks compared to the ocean isnt? i think the real reason why so many people like the storm mode is because its something new to the hobby. personally i like the idea of storm mode. will i use it if i had it? yes i paid for it so why not. i wont keep it on storm mode all the time but im sure it will be cool to show it off to friends and family when they come over.

 

[A.G]

I think one point here is that AI proved to be upgradable since you could upgarde to the new "phoinex" even though its thinner.

 

[rtparty]

and keeping fish captive in our tanks compared to the ocean isnt? i think the real reason why so many people like the storm mode is because its something new to the hobby. personally i like the idea of storm mode. will i use it if i had it? yes i paid for it so why not. i wont keep it on storm mode all the time but im sure it will be cool to show it off to friends and family when they come over.

I said nothing about whether this hobby is ethical or not. That is an entirely different topic.

Fish don't have iris' and therfore flashing lights are very bad for their health. So if you enjoy flashing lights and scaring your fish, be my guest. I just said it is terrible for them and shouldn't be used.

 

[LouZ]

I think how powerful each system is irrelevant because no one will run either fixture at 100% on all channels. If the AI puts out more PAR it is because of the optics used. (That can be good or bad depending on your own feelings. Personally, I hate optics because they create hot spots.)

Can you explain why ?

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Flashing lights are terrible for fish and should never be used. Lightning storms are nothing more than a gimmick and not beneficial to our reefs in any way.

I agree that it's gimmicky and useless but as far as it being "terrible" for fish, what do you base that on? Last I checked there are storms over the ocean and fish have continued to live. The only terrible part about it is the go hide like it's nighttime and the feature adds no value to your tank.

 

[geaux xman]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/the-definitive-ecotech-radion-preview

 

[rtparty]

Can you explain why ?

Just based on what I see 99% of people do when they all use 3w LEDs. All of them talk about all this power but then have to turn their units so they don't fry their corals.

I am sure some will run them at 100% depending on tank size and what not but I am just making an observation from everything I have seen.

 

[rtparty]

I agree that it's gimmicky and useless but as far as it being "terrible" for fish, what do you base that on? Last I checked there are storms over the ocean and fish have continued to live. The only terrible part about it is the go hide like it's nighttime and the feature adds no value to your tank.

To compare some LEDs flashing over our tanks to storms over the ocean is a little out there in my opinion.

I don't have the link right now but I read a nice article about how flashing lights are bad for fish. Just like I stated above.

Why do all the major public aquariums not allow flash photography? Because it is annoying or because it poses a health risk to fish?

I will let you search that one out.

 

[pmrossetti]

back to the fixtures please

 

[BonsaiNut]

Greg C - since you are an LED guy, what do you think the impact will be from overdriving the white LED's on the Radion? Is it just a question of heat management? I know it makes the LED less efficient, but will it impact lumen deterioration and emitter life?

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

If two Radion units can equal three AI Phoenix units - the wattage suggests they could - then I would definitely go with the Radion for the ability to adjust the full spectrum.

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

However, one thing I think could be a big miss for the Radion is the fact that the fan sucks in air from the bottom and blows it over the heat sinks. Seems to me that taking in salty air from the tank would destroy the fan eventually. Even if the fan can withstand that, you would likely get salt buildup on the heat sinks, which could severely hamper the cooling of the LEDs.

 

[Bobbofin]

might need to have the fans blow down into the tank to create some wind effects...

Hell, put an industrial fan and fake palm trees in the room along with the Vortech and Radion in lightning and storm mode to make it more realistic! If you really want to personally enjoy the effect more you spray mist into the fan, sit on the couch and enjoy! It's a bit overkill to link the Vortech to the Radion wirelessly. Do we really think the lightning and waves together affect our corals in a positive way? IMO, it just for our enjoyment and to say we got a new toy.

 

[tegee]

back to the fixtures please

+1 and some more info as it is made available to the comparison of the newer AI unit (Phoenix).

 

[CinciReefer]

What's wrong with new toys? People keep referring to the storm sims and such as needless toys. Isn't this whole hobby sort of like that. We do it for entertainment and lots of us do it so we can tinker with all the new "toys" that come out! Dosing pumps, skimmers, bio-pellet reactors, lights that make thunderstorms, etc. Just my opinion.

 

[evsalty]

However, one thing I think could be a big miss for the Radion is the fact that the fan sucks in air from the bottom and blows it over the heat sinks. Seems to me that taking in salty air from the tank would destroy the fan eventually. Even if the fan can withstand that, you would likely get salt buildup on the heat sinks, which could severely hamper the cooling of the LEDs.

That is an interesting point. I would hope that with all the research that Ecotech is known for and is said to have been put into this new fixture, that they would have already taken that into consideration.

 

[Eurobeaner]

However, one thing I think could be a big miss for the Radion is the fact that the fan sucks in air from the bottom and blows it over the heat sinks. Seems to me that taking in salty air from the tank would destroy the fan eventually. Even if the fan can withstand that, you would likely get salt buildup on the heat sinks, which could severely hamper the cooling of the LEDs.

salt does not evaporate.... ever wonder why you topoff with RODI and not saltwater? ever wonder why you get salt creep? ever thought about the salt flats? all of this is because when the water evaporates, the salt is left behind.

 

[rtparty]

salt does not evaporate.... ever wonder why you topoff with RODI and not saltwater? ever wonder why you get salt creep? ever thought about the salt flats? all of this is because when the water evaporates, the salt is left behind.

I don't understand the whole "sucking humid air" in thing either. Ecotech is way to brilliant to overlook such a crucial thing. Trust me if you have that humid of air right over your tank, it will get in any fixture regardless of a fan or not. I would much rather have a fan moving air then a fixture with no fan that let's that humidity sit in the fixture undisturbed.

 

[The Lance]

The Ecotech reps explained that there is as much humidity in the air above as in the air below, so that is not a concern. This design does however avoid dust settling on/in the fan.