EcoTech Radion vs Aquaillumination Sol
- Thread starter alrha
- Start date
alrha
Premium Member
redhanded77
New member
I have a couple of buddies with the AI SOL BLUE, and their tanks are doing amazing. Their sps have awesome growth and great color. I asked them what they thought about this spectrum race in leds. They didn't seem to concerned with it, and said if anything, they would just a add a t5 bulb or two to cover the rest of the spectrum......rather than ditching their AI's and getting something new.
For me, Im in the market and Im kinda stuck on what to buy. The pricing on the SOL's look very good at the moment, and there are some awesome tanks out there that are running these leds.
For me, Im in the market and Im kinda stuck on what to buy. The pricing on the SOL's look very good at the moment, and there are some awesome tanks out there that are running these leds.
I can't add anything scientific to this debate, but I moved to AI SOL Blues in January.
My stats:
125g tank 72x18x24.
OLD Light: Current Outer Orbit Pro 3 x 250w 14k Phoenix MH 8 x 39w Actinic and Super Actinic UVL bulbs.
NEW Light: 6 AI SOL Blue running about 9 inches off the water at the following percentages: white: 45, blue: 54, Royal Blue 54
My coral never looked better and my growth was amazing.
In April, I tore down the whole set-up and moved everything into a 75g at a friend's house because we were moving. He has since moved that stuff into a 72" 90g frag tank. The corals continue to grow amazingly (fragging has commenced twice) and the colors are the best I have ever seen. He was able to raise the lights higher and is covering the same 72" with just 3 lights.
I went with 6 lights because I knew I was moving and my plan is to have multiple tanks and I bought ahead. Should have waited, but my wife gave permission at that point so I wanted to take advantage of it! Now, when I tell her I am adding more tanks I can say its just the tank (already have the lights!)
The bottom line is that I love my AI SOL Blue lights. I will be purchasing the wireless upgrade probably in the future once the new house is built. I will not be switching to the Radions. Not that they aren't nice. But, I like my AI lights.
My stats:
125g tank 72x18x24.
OLD Light: Current Outer Orbit Pro 3 x 250w 14k Phoenix MH 8 x 39w Actinic and Super Actinic UVL bulbs.
NEW Light: 6 AI SOL Blue running about 9 inches off the water at the following percentages: white: 45, blue: 54, Royal Blue 54
My coral never looked better and my growth was amazing.
In April, I tore down the whole set-up and moved everything into a 75g at a friend's house because we were moving. He has since moved that stuff into a 72" 90g frag tank. The corals continue to grow amazingly (fragging has commenced twice) and the colors are the best I have ever seen. He was able to raise the lights higher and is covering the same 72" with just 3 lights.
I went with 6 lights because I knew I was moving and my plan is to have multiple tanks and I bought ahead. Should have waited, but my wife gave permission at that point so I wanted to take advantage of it! Now, when I tell her I am adding more tanks I can say its just the tank (already have the lights!)
The bottom line is that I love my AI SOL Blue lights. I will be purchasing the wireless upgrade probably in the future once the new house is built. I will not be switching to the Radions. Not that they aren't nice. But, I like my AI lights.
I have 3 SOLs over mounted 14" over a 72" tank, with all 40 degree optics. I don't have any area in the tank that is not lit well, or can't grow (or scorch)sps, except under the areas underneath a rock or coral. This was best/worst exemplified soon after I switched from Metal halides, all of my sps colonies had die back on their undersides, where apparently the metal halides were able to somehow reflect upon the colony to sustain it, the leds cause shadowing. I guess its just the nature of leds.
strittmatter
New member
Go to reef builder. Coralvue has one.
CinciReefer
New member
I have a 210 Gallon 6 foot tank and have been researching the AI's for a while now and it seems to me most people would recommend 6 AI sol's for a 6 foot tank including AI themselves. And now that I am researching the Radion's it seems I may be able to just get 3 of them for my tank. The difference in price is considerable even after the AI price drop.
Roughly $700 difference in price plus all the upside of the Radions: Wireless technology is really sweet, who doesn't want less wires? RGB color spectrum sounds good to me, I thought the white and blue only wasn't so great and figured that was just a matter of time till that was improved (glad it was sooner rather than later). Wider light spread is a good thing because it was one of the biggest complaints from AI Sol owners was limited spread/shadowing. And I don't want to hang the lights a foot off the tank to compensate for that lack of spread from the optics.
Until I see or find another fixture that does this better I'm on the Radion bandwagon. I will be buying new lights soon. BTW I did really like the Vertex light systems too and if they weren't so outrageously priced I probably would have already bought one or at least they would have been up there with the SOL's on my list of possibles.
pmrossetti
Active member
Cinci, how do you plan to hang them? i like them too.
Can anybody answer to my questions - I cant find that informations:
This PAR reading was made:
- in the air
- in the water
- what about distance between PAR meter and ligth unit?
I think that is VERY important when you compare this two brands.
Thanks!!
Belagio
This PAR reading was made:
- in the air
- in the water
- what about distance between PAR meter and ligth unit?
I think that is VERY important when you compare this two brands.
Thanks!!
Belagio
Last edited:
EcoTech Marine
.Registered Member
Can anybody answer to my questions - I can find that informations:
This PAR reading was made:
- in the air
- in the water
- what about distance between PAR meter and ligth unit?
I think that is VERY important when you compare this two brands.
Thanks!!
Belagio
RC tends to prefer the vendors stay in our designated forums. To anyone posting on this thread with questions, I invite you to join our forum and ask away. I'd be happy to answer any question that I am able to.
pmrossetti
Active member
terrible graph.
Dear Tim,
Thank you very much for your quick response.
I was sure that if this kind of marketing materials(I think that they are - but maybe Im wrong) are publicly showed(not only on RC - but also on a houndred of sites) - it shoudnt be a secret. It is very important information - a specially when we are comparing two leading brands(I have yours MP40 - and they are great)
Of course - I can join to your forum(thank for invitation
- but only for asking the same? Im really interested - because I know PAR readings of AI(distance, method) - ut I dont know anything about this one(and it is not terribly - its not true - dont hear pmrosetti - he is jealous ).
It is incomplete only - thats all. So this why I asked for that.
Thank you again for your reply here.
Belagio
Thank you very much for your quick response.
I was sure that if this kind of marketing materials(I think that they are - but maybe Im wrong) are publicly showed(not only on RC - but also on a houndred of sites) - it shoudnt be a secret. It is very important information - a specially when we are comparing two leading brands(I have yours MP40 - and they are great)
Of course - I can join to your forum(thank for invitation
- but only for asking the same? Im really interested - because I know PAR readings of AI(distance, method) - ut I dont know anything about this one(and it is not terribly - its not true - dont hear pmrosetti - he is jealous ).It is incomplete only - thats all. So this why I asked for that.
Thank you again for your reply here.
Belagio
Yes, I noticed that also.
There are two diffrent spectral graphs - one on AA(for example) - second - on RB. Which one is right?
R.
Bellagio
SkullV
They Got My Number
Dear Tim,
Thank you very much for your quick response.
I was sure that if this kind of marketing materials(I think that they are - but maybe Im wrong) are publicly showed(not only on RC - but also on a houndred of sites) - it shoudnt be a secret. It is very important information - a specially when we are comparing two leading brands(I have yours MP40 - and they are great)
Of course - I can join to your forum(thank for invitation
It is incomplete only - thats all. So this why I asked for that.
Thank you again for your reply here.
Belagio
I copied your question into their sponsor forum. Tim should be answering questions tonight.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2064787&page=6
pmrossetti
Active member
i didn't mean bad, i meant unclear.
