Looking at switching to Radions from Hydra 26hd

[PNW Reefer]

I have a 54 corner tank, mixed reef, and am looking to switch to a Radion XR30w G4 Pro from my current Hydra 26HD. Who else has made that move? Is it worth the extra money? I am hoping to upgrade the tank at some point in the future to a Reefer 350 or 425xl and would carry the new lighting onto that tank. Any thoughts, especially from those who have made the move would be appreciated, or even the other way around going from Radion to Hydra.

Stock:
Acropora (all from wwc)
Red Montipora cap
Red and blue branching digitada
Acans
Various other crusting montis (wwc rainbow, wwc mystic sunset, wwc grafted sunfire)
Frogspawn
Hammer
Torch
Zoas
Trumpet
Gsp

Fish - 2 clowns, small yellow tang, sleeper goby, six line wrasse
Equipment - sump, skimz calcium reactor, bubble magus skimmer, vortech pumps
Parameters- Ammonia/nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm, phosphate~0, alkalinity 8.8, calcium 440, magnesium 1400, salinity 1.024, temp 77

 

[wrxreefer823]

I've used Radions in the past and have loved them. I also just bought a Prime HD and love that as well, however I think the Radions are going to be better for a deeper, larger tank as the usable coverage is better. What are the measurements of your tank?


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[slief]

If you want even better coverage and what I feel is a better overall light, look at the GHL Mitras LX7206. It will save you a small amount of money but the 6 clusters on the LX7 vs the 2 on the Radions will produce a bit better coverage, less shadowing, no disco effect and an additional LED channel that is useful. I recently did a major upgrade to my LED lighting and gave strong consideration to the Radion G4 Pro’s but after comparing both lights here over my tank, the Mitras were the clear winner for all of the reasons I mentioned above. Plus, I needed several and there was a bit of a cost savings there too though price ultimately had nothing to do with my decision. The Mitras make the Radions feel cheap and GHL control center is a great means of setting them up assuming you have a Windows system handy. And they are far better than the AI’s in my opinion for the same reasons. That said, the AI’s compare well to the Radions though I’d probably choose Radion over AI Hydra HD but I’d choose the Mitras over any of the above since I have played with all 3 here.

 

[PNW Reefer]

I've used Radions in the past and have loved them. I also just bought a Prime HD and love that as well, however I think the Radions are going to be better for a deeper, larger tank as the usable coverage is better. What are the measurements of your tank?


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Tank dimensions are roughly 30" sides, maybe 36" across the bowfront, and about 22" deep.

 

[wrxreefer823]

Yeah, it sounds like to adequately light that size of a tank, you'd have to do two Radions bare minimum, you're looking at a pretty good price hike over the AI there. If you were stuck between AI and EcoTech, and cost wasn't huge factor (you can always find good used deals on RC), I'd go with the Radion(s). In my opinion, though, I have to agree with the above poster. It might pay to look at better options. Heck, a hydra 26 doesn't cover a 20x20x20 without shadowing. I watched a video BRS did about that, and 8 Prime HD's were better than two Hydra 56's, simply because you're spreading out all the LED pucks that are so close together on Hydra (and yes the Radion). Something of an Achilles heal when it comes to LED lighting.


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[Cheapreef]

Personally I would add a few T5's to your Hydra and call it a day. The T5's will give you better coloring than any of the LED options IMO and better spread. You have nothing on your list of corals that would need any more light penitration than the Hydra is giving.

 

[duraace9sp]

I will comment based solely on my opinion. I tend to be quiet on the forums as the attacks are not worth fighting about.

As a brief commentary I recently pulled my 8 bulb ATI T5 w XHO off of a system and replaced with the Orphek V4 Atlantic Now Seen on you tube below.

My other tank evolved from another top brand into Radion G4 Pros.

I will qualify I believe these are the two best LEDs I have used by a long margin, and likely the best on the market today. I would give the edge to the Orphek for a lot of small reasons, spread, bandwidth, intensity hot spots, etc. if I was setting another tank up. (I have 2 now which have been up 4-6 years and have had as many as 5) I would go Orphek. Your 54 is small enough that 1 of the V4 or 1 XR30 would cover it. I ran 1 V4 a long time on a120 and it was so good I added a 2nd which was not needed but I did anyway just to cover shadow at the very edges/ends. Color growth are great with either. The Orphek is as good as my T5 was and the G4 has so much input that you can't go wrong there. In closing Orphek is about $100 more but comes with hanging kit etc and will cover better, this based on a single XR30 rather than two 15s. I have zero concern recommending the V4 over the 15s but again this is a personal opinion based on using these products....

Happy reefing......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-TvQQYAkSOo

 

[slief]

I will comment based solely on my opinion. I tend to be quiet on the forums as the attacks are not worth fighting about.

As a brief commentary I recently pulled my 8 bulb ATI T5 w XHO off of a system and replaced with the Orphek V4 Atlantic Now Seen on you tube below.

My other tank evolved from another top brand into Radion G4 Pros.

I will qualify I believe these are the two best LEDs I have used by a long margin, and likely the best on the market today. I would give the edge to the Orphek for a lot of small reasons, spread, bandwidth, intensity hot spots, etc. if I was setting another tank up. (I have 2 now which have been up 4-6 years and have had as many as 5) I would go Orphek. Your 54 is small enough that 1 of the V4 or 1 XR30 would cover it. I ran 1 V4 a long time on a120 and it was so good I added a 2nd which was not needed but I did anyway just to cover shadow at the very edges/ends. Color growth are great with either. The Orphek is as good as my T5 was and the G4 has so much input that you can't go wrong there. In closing Orphek is about $100 more but comes with hanging kit etc and will cover better, this based on a single XR30 rather than two 15s. I have zero concern recommending the V4 over the 15s but again this is a personal opinion based on using these products....

Happy reefing......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-TvQQYAkSOo

Holy cow!!! I had a local friend from the RC Heli hobby (Doran) that had the same username as you on RunRyder... Is this just a coincidence or is it a small world? After a bit of digging elsewhere, I think this is a REALLY small world and if so, we need to catch up!!!!! Check Facebook!

On topic, I really like the Orphek’s as well.

 

[PNW Reefer]

I will comment based solely on my opinion. I tend to be quiet on the forums as the attacks are not worth fighting about.

As a brief commentary I recently pulled my 8 bulb ATI T5 w XHO off of a system and replaced with the Orphek V4 Atlantic Now Seen on you tube below.

My other tank evolved from another top brand into Radion G4 Pros.

I will qualify I believe these are the two best LEDs I have used by a long margin, and likely the best on the market today. I would give the edge to the Orphek for a lot of small reasons, spread, bandwidth, intensity hot spots, etc. if I was setting another tank up. (I have 2 now which have been up 4-6 years and have had as many as 5) I would go Orphek. Your 54 is small enough that 1 of the V4 or 1 XR30 would cover it. I ran 1 V4 a long time on a120 and it was so good I added a 2nd which was not needed but I did anyway just to cover shadow at the very edges/ends. Color growth are great with either. The Orphek is as good as my T5 was and the G4 has so much input that you can't go wrong there. In closing Orphek is about $100 more but comes with hanging kit etc and will cover better, this based on a single XR30 rather than two 15s. I have zero concern recommending the V4 over the 15s but again this is a personal opinion based on using these products....

Happy reefing......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-TvQQYAkSOo

I'm looking at upgrading to a Reefer 350 or 425 xl at some point too, do you think that 1 Orphek would cover?

 

[duraace9sp]

Small world

Small world

Holy cow!!! I had a local friend from the RC Heli hobby (Doran) that had the same username as you on RunRyder... Is this just a coincidence or is it a small world? After a bit of digging elsewhere, I think this is a REALLY small world and if so, we need to catch up!!!!! Check Facebook!

On topic, I really like the Orphek's as well.

Hey Scott, nearly 15 years......wow. I remember when you started building the space for that tank......pm'd ya. I just saw your reply!

.....sorry about off topic ... my opinion is simply that.....an opinion!

Thanks