So anyone have any input on AI Sol vs Maxspect Mazarra vs Radion? I'm going to be buying one soon so trying to figure out what one I'm going to get. Tank size is 30x30x24 93 cube. I know on the mazarra it's 24x24 with 100* optics. I am not sure on the others other then AI sol is 1 per foot of distance I think.
Moving to led
- Thread starter Amdeus
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rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Ecoxotic Panorama PRO fixture gets my vote. I have seen the AIs and Radions in person but never the Maxspect. I would take the Radion out of your three listed. It looked better over corals then AI did and I like to support US based companies when I can. Since Maxspect is built in China, I personally wouldn't consider them.
I thought about it but the guy on their tech support said you could not support a clam on a 24" high tank. he pointed me to a coral rough guide on their website. Only reason I did not list them.
Broncos
New member
I'm with RT party. The Mazarras are really good, and I like that AI's are from Iowa, but the Ecoxotics have expandability, uniform coverage and modularity that is EASILY upgraded. Most bang for the buck IMO. I just pulled the trigger and bought three for my 180. I'll let you know soon if they live up to my expectation.
Radions are REALLY nice fixtures, but they have about half as many LEDs that actually emit PUR (reds and greens look pretty but don't help photosynthesis) so you're paying twice as much for half the light. The pricepoint is out of control! You can buy two AIs and a DIY green/red LED for that price. They have the best digital interface tho. Sweet.
Radions are REALLY nice fixtures, but they have about half as many LEDs that actually emit PUR (reds and greens look pretty but don't help photosynthesis) so you're paying twice as much for half the light. The pricepoint is out of control! You can buy two AIs and a DIY green/red LED for that price. They have the best digital interface tho. Sweet.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
According to the data I have, you should be hitting roughly 200 PAR at 24". That is enough for most clams IMO. One really nice thing is that you can get another module and put it right over the clam. That way you bump the PAR in that specific section of the tank.
I bought 4x Mazarr P series for my 48x28x20 a month ago and I love them. The store I got them from had 500g display with Mazarra's side by side to Radions, and I really liked the light spread, mounting options and general appearance of the Mazarra.
Also the LED's that the Mazarra uses include the new XML, as well as UV.
They are very flexible, include 3 different optic choices in the box, and very modular if you upgrade or downsize. You can even swap out the LED's easily if you want to change the spectrum.
I like the way I can angel the fixtures, and easily adjust them.
Any of them would be a great choice, I don't think you would be disappointed regardless.
Also the LED's that the Mazarra uses include the new XML, as well as UV.
They are very flexible, include 3 different optic choices in the box, and very modular if you upgrade or downsize. You can even swap out the LED's easily if you want to change the spectrum.
I like the way I can angel the fixtures, and easily adjust them.
Any of them would be a great choice, I don't think you would be disappointed regardless.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Do they contain actual UV LEDs or Violet LEDs? There is a big difference between the two.
According to the spec sheets, the Mazarra has 420nm LEDs which would fall into the Violet section. I believe UV technically starts below the 400nm range.
I know a lot of people get them confused or just don't know that there is a difference between UV and Violet light. Hope that helps.
After many months of research over the same fixtures, also DIY, I ordered 2 radions for my 75 gallon yesterday. They are expensive but I can get away with 2 according to the forums and ecotech. I needed 3-4 of the others which puts them at the same price or higher. These numbers were given by the actual manufacturers. I like the idea of full spectrum lighting and the flexibility of the radions. My problem was that I was placing the lights inside a canopy and could not get the distance to use 2 AI's. At the end of the day I had to make a decision and I hope I made the right one.
2 Mazarra = 1 Radion if your doing a comparison, as far as wattage, coverage.
They have 400-410nm according to the user manual, your correct UV is 400 and below.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
So to cover a 4 foot tank we are talking $2000 in Mazarra compared to $1500 in Radions?
Not much of a choice there if money is a deciding factor.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
I know you can buy the other LEDs like that but I just wondered if they came stock with them. On Marine Depot it says each unit comes with 2 Bridgelux 420nm LEDs.
Mine came with them, not sure why Marine Depot doesn't have them in the specs, it looks like other sites do.
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
I would contemplate 2x maxspect units for the punch and coverage abilities. you might be stretching the capabilities for coverage with 1x unit. I have 3x units over a 36" tank and could have easily gotten away with 2x units, but am really happy with 3x units after running them for the last few months. I put 40 degree optics on the end rows to contain the light, lights are 12" above the waterline. light spill was a big factor in my decision to change over, whereas my tank is in the same room as my TV. I can tilt and move the panels for optimal coverage and point to coral formations in the tank. I think this feature would be important to you since your covering a cube, and not a rectangular tank, i.e. one light all the way forward, one all the way backwards.
I can't comment on the radions or the AI sols (have heard positives), never used or seen them, but tickled pink with the robustness and flexibility of the maxpsects. not a big fan of the controller, but it does what I want, ramp up, ramp down.
there's a lot of marketing and hype amongst the manufactures, some do a better job than others...keep that in mind when you post questions like this.
you'll have fan bois of certain products...even without any actual experience using the product.
good luck!!
C
I can't comment on the radions or the AI sols (have heard positives), never used or seen them, but tickled pink with the robustness and flexibility of the maxpsects. not a big fan of the controller, but it does what I want, ramp up, ramp down.
there's a lot of marketing and hype amongst the manufactures, some do a better job than others...keep that in mind when you post questions like this.
you'll have fan bois of certain products...even without any actual experience using the product.
good luck!!
C
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