EcoTech Radion vs Aquaillumination Sol

WEll I can say after seeing the radions at MACNA they are nice fixtures. Kind of cool. But I can also say they had 3 on a 6ft tank just like most would do with AI fixtures. I dont think they really cover much better than a AI fixture from what I saw. Both are really nice units for sure. I can say either way you go you will be happy. I am still feeling that the AI is still the better bang for your buck.

Just my two cents after playing with them both and the new AI fixture as well.


agree with you Mojo. but the Radions look cool.
 
Am I mistaken?
I read that 1 radion light is = to a 250 watt MH.
and
1 AI pheonix is = to a 400 watt MH.

The information I read on each was found in the info section of each of the company's website.

correct, the Sol is also much stronger than 250w mh.

this is important as it gives leeway to fixture height and tank coverage and color adjustng.
 
i believe it is = to a 250w mh. mrsaltwatertank showed that. and it is a good product. i was just concerned that a splash could damage this 800dollar fixture.

i have had mh burst from a splash at about 9" awl. so of course i know it happens. if ecotech says a splash is no prob ok. do they?

my concern is the fixture, not the fan.

In that case, a splash would affect the Radion the same as it would another fixture.

WEll I can say after seeing the radions at MACNA they are nice fixtures. Kind of cool. But I can also say they had 3 on a 6ft tank just like most would do with AI fixtures. I dont think they really cover much better than a AI fixture from what I saw. Both are really nice units for sure. I can say either way you go you will be happy. I am still feeling that the AI is still the better bang for your buck.

Just my two cents after playing with them both and the new AI fixture as well.

Ecotech says the coverage is the same as what AI claims (24x24). I have 2 AI's over my tank and just ordered 2 Radions. The advantages for me will be the full RBG spectrum. I'll agree that the AI's are a better bang for the buck, but the Radions offer the premium of a full spectrum and ultimately more capability.

Am I mistaken?
I read that 1 radion light is = to a 250 watt MH.
and
1 AI pheonix is = to a 400 watt MH.

The information I read on each was found in the info section of each of the company's website.

AI disclaims the 400 watt MH claim and also says that overall the fixture is more comparable to a 250 watt fixture

We don't claim to replace a 400W metal halide with a single module System - we can compare peak intensity at water depth, however when looking at intensity over an area, the 400W MH will produce a much higher average value. For this application, two modules per halide is recommended. When comparing to a 150W-250W MH the spread and intensity are more comparable. Note that in all of these applications, the power consumption of the AI System is significantly less than its replacement.
 
AI disclaims the 400 watt MH claim and also says that overall the fixture is more comparable to a 250 watt fixture

i know what they say, but look at any par measurements and they're more powerful than 250s


In that case, a splash would affect the Radion the same as it would another fixture.

correct, but other fixtures are powerful enough to mount higher or punch thru a glass tank cover.

also, if you adjust the color on a Radion you must turn it down which then is less than a 250w

AI could just release more colors for an increased spectrum.
 
WEll I can say after seeing the radions at MACNA they are nice fixtures. Kind of cool. But I can also say they had 3 on a 6ft tank just like most would do with AI fixtures. I dont think they really cover much better than a AI fixture from what I saw. Both are really nice units for sure. I can say either way you go you will be happy. I am still feeling that the AI is still the better bang for your buck.

Just my two cents after playing with them both and the new AI fixture as well.

If you work on dollars per watt and plus functionality Radion wins the game.
 
All I will say is that I am glad to see threads like this. Active, positive competition benefits everyone in the marine industry. Better products, happier consumers, lower operating costs... what's not to like?
 
I looked at the radions at macna between my shifts there and i was impressed at first but after watching their coraless demos of the system I became less impressed. the red and greens seem like a waste of leds to me. I do not feel my coral will benefit from those colors in growth or color in fact it almost seems like it may wash out some of the color. with the AI being half the cost, having wireless access and with them changing how the light is focused, no more hot spots in the middle of the tank, I feel AI comes out on top once again.
 
AI disclaims the 400 watt MH claim and also says that overall the fixture is more comparable to a 250 watt fixture

i know what they say, but look at any par measurements and they're more powerful than 250s

That is also misleading as the light spread is not adequate with the stock optics IMO. After raising my lights, I switched back to the stock 40º optics. I had many areas that were completely in shadow that were under good light when it was 70º optics. I was also able to see my tank being lit with one stock optic fixture and then with one all 70º. Visually, I didn't find either as a suitable replacement for a single metal halide fixture.

Using all 70º optics makes a huge difference in the spread but also dramatically curtails par readings. Considering the Radion has exactly every LED that the AI Sol has down to the brand... plus the whites are overdriven, plus 2 more whites, plus 2 more blues, plus 4 more royal blues, plus almost double the wattage... it all comes down to the optics. I have to think that the Radions are going for better light spread versus punching holes thru the glass cover.

In that case, a splash would affect the Radion the same as it would another fixture.

correct, but other fixtures are powerful enough to mount higher or punch thru a glass tank cover.

also, if you adjust the color on a Radion you must turn it down which then is less than a 250w

AI could just release more colors for an increased spectrum.

We don't know anything about how these measurements were conducted. The Radions may be achieving 250 watts with spread and par whereas the AI's are just doing it on par. I suspect we'll see some third party tests soon to answer these questions.
 
the new AI they took into consideration how water and the glass on our tanks affect the light. They will now have more focus towards the outer areas of our tanks with the glass helping to redirect light back to the center. At least that is how i understood it from the reps at macna.
 
I looked at the radions at macna between my shifts there and i was impressed at first but after watching their coraless demos of the system I became less impressed. the red and greens seem like a waste of leds to me. I do not feel my coral will benefit from those colors in growth or color in fact it almost seems like it may wash out some of the color. with the AI being half the cost, having wireless access and with them changing how the light is focused, no more hot spots in the middle of the tank, I feel AI comes out on top once again.

have a full spectrum light with a spectral graph closer to metal halide will probably mean your corals will look less washed out. The red and green offer a slight benefit to your corals but will provide more benefit for your viewing pleasure. I wouldn't be swapping AI's out (that I paid full MSRP for mind you) for a more expensive fixture if I didn't see something there that's missing in the AI's. AI's are great quality and will get the job done. I Feel that the Radions will get the job done better, but there is a price premium.
 
the new AI they took into consideration how water and the glass on our tanks affect the light. They will now have more focus towards the outer areas of our tanks with the glass helping to redirect light back to the center. At least that is how i understood it from the reps at macna.


you mean the Phoenix?
 
yes,i'm not sure about this full spectrum thing yet.doesn't the ocean filter out the reds anyway?

but i love the moon cycles on the AI.:)

and they come in black now

The deep ocean does, but corals also live in very shallow water such as shown in "How rare is this" thread. Also, we don't look at our corals in the ocean. We try to create lighting that aesthetically appeals to us as well as benefit the corals.
 
the Radion has better spread, but the cost means its too close to the water, bottom line. imo unless Ecotech says splashes won't harm your 800dollars.
 
The deep ocean does, but corals also live in very shallow water such as shown in "How rare is this" thread. Also, we don't look at our corals in the ocean. We try to create lighting that aesthetically appeals to us as well as benefit the corals.


point accepted. can't AI add colors?
 
the Radion has better spread, but the cost means its too close to the water, bottom line. imo unless Ecotech says splashes won't harm your 800dollars.

What? my AI's were 6" over my water before I moved them up for better spread less than a month ago. They are still alive and kicking. We have no idea how far up or down we need to hang the Radion to get acceptable par. That will take someone actually reviewing their units.
 
the Radion has better spread, but the cost means its too close to the water, bottom line. imo unless Ecotech says splashes won't harm your 800dollars.

Get off this splash thing man. The Diode optics will not burst if splashed and all other electronics are sealed. Did you not see the photo of the internals in one of the many other radion threads you are posting in?
 
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