Radion Gen 4 Pro

[Wazzel]

From what I am seeing as a Hydra user and having seen many Radion tanks the only real issue left to over come is spread. Break those 2 large pucks into many smaller puck and spread them out. Some other manufacturers are taking that approach with stand alone diodes, but IMO clusters do a better job of blending the colors together.

Making a suggestion based on what I use, busting the Hydra 52 - 4 pucks into 9 "half pucks" and spreading them out in a square fixture would be great from a coverage standing. ETM could do something similar with the 2 giant pucks and make 9 small pucks of equivalent or greater output.

I suspect there is some manufacturing cost for retooling the form factor that might make a shape change cost prohibitive for both ETM and AI at this time.

 

[Wazzel]

Like someone said before, intensity is good, spectrum could possibly benefit from improvement, but what I am looking for is something that's in dire need of improving.... SPREAD! If EcoTech could pioneer a new lens that somehow cuts down on the universal issue of shadowing and poor spread, they could pioneer the industry, again.

A lens will not cut it. The light still originates from a point and travels in a line.

The answers is to either change the geometry of the fixture to spread the diodes or fire them up into a reflector. Just a guess, but I think just spreading them would do the job in the most straightforward manner.

 

[zachogden]

it will be interesting to see what they update on the units for sure. currently holding out on upgrading my gen2's until the 4's are eventually announced. as others have said, i'm wondering if they'll shift from the current "puck" style to something else, or if they'll pack in some more LEDs of varying spectra and call it a day.

 

[maxxII]

A lens will not cut it.The light still originates from a point and travels in a line.

The answers is to either change the geometry of the fixture to spread the diodes or fire them up into a reflector. Just a guess, but I think just spreading them would do the job in the most straightforward manner.

What is a MH lamp?
A single point source of light.

Ever seen a Kessil?
I had one. The Kessil I had was the closest I've ever seen an LED light appear to be a metal halide lamp. Because all of the LED's were under a single lens, it became in effect, a single point source of light.

I prefer my Gen 1 Radions to the Kessil which is why I still have them and not the Kessil. But if EcoTech could make each Radion puck into what is essentially a mini MH lamp with a lens, I would do whatever it took to get 3 of them.

 

[Wazzel]

What is a MH lamp?
A single point source of light.

Ever seen a Kessil?
I had one. The Kessil I had was the closest I've ever seen an LED light appear to be a metal halide lamp. Because all of the LED's were under a single lens, it became in effect, a single point source of light.

I prefer my Gen 1 Radions to the Kessil which is why I still have them and not the Kessil. But if EcoTech could make each Radion puck into what is essentially a mini MH lamp with a lens, I would do whatever it took to get 3 of them.

Mh radiated light in 360 degrees the upper half if redirected with the reflector to make coverage. LED units like the Hydra, Radion and Kessil are like mh with out a reflector.

I have not seen a Kessil in person, not sure how they would be better, I actually thing they would be worse since the light is all from one point.

I don't think making a lens like you suggest would solve the coverage issues.

 

[Pny]

The coverage/spread issue can be solved using a DIY diffuser plate close to the water under the LED. You lose some light but get a lot more diffuse light from any angle also reducing the self shadowing that is the problem with direct lightning.

 

[maxxII]

Mh radiated light in 360 degrees the upper half if redirected with the reflector to make coverage. LED units like the Hydra, Radion and Kessil are like mh with out a reflector.

I have not seen a Kessil in person, not sure how they would be better, I actually thing they would be worse since the light is all from one point.

I don't think making a lens like you suggest would solve the coverage issues.

I think you missed my point.

MH bulbs are a single point source of light. Just like an LED.
Where LED's are different is that they are smaller and require multiple LED's to light up a reef tank. So instead of one single point source of light, you have multiple point sources of light. This results in the disco ball effect that is seen over many LED lit tanks. You'd get the same sort of thing if you had very narrow angle reflectors covering multiple MH's bulbs of different kelvin ratings.

What the Kessil lights do is place all of the LED's under a single large lens which does a very effective job of making all of the single point sources of light, (the LED's themselves) act as one single point source of light, like a MH bulb.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Wazzel]

I think you missed my point.

MH bulbs are a single point source of light. Just like an LED.
Where LED's are different is that they are smaller and require multiple LED's to light up a reef tank. So instead of one single point source of light, you have multiple point sources of light. This results in the disco ball effect that is seen over many LED lit tanks. You'd get the same sort of thing if you had very narrow angle reflectors covering multiple MH's bulbs of different kelvin ratings.

What the Kessil lights do is place all of the LED's under a single large lens which does a very effective job of making all of the single point sources of light, (the LED's themselves) act as one single point source of light, like a MH bulb.

Hope that makes sense.

I understand that all just fine. Bringing the diode together like the Kessil unit will make coverage worse, not better. Unlike Mh you do not have the reflectors catching and redirecting the light from the 360 degree point source. LED is a 180 degree point sources. With out reflectors Mh would preform similar to LED from a coverage standpoint. To make up for not being able to utilize the extra light via reflector you need more spread from the sources, not less.

 

[maxxII]

My experience with the Kessil A350 Tuna Blue was that it replaced an SE 250 watt Phoenix 14K bulb in a Sunlight Supply Lumen Max 2 reflector over a 40 breeder.

Growth was about the same, coverage was about the same with a slight edge going to the Kessil.

 

[rovster]

Wait till I buy a 3 pro and 3 weeks later it will be out.
It's clockwork happen with my G1 G2 .....lol

I will one up you. I bought my 3 Radions when they were it. G1. My build got delayed and the new gens came out. Before hanging them I upgraded to Pros. By the time my tank was wet the G3's were out:deadhorse1:

I'm super happy with my G2 Pros however, not even remotely tempted to upgrade, LOL!

 

[carlos danger]

Wow! Gen 4's already! It seems like yesterday they released the gen 3's. I need one more light. Maybe I'll wait it out and wait for the newest greatest version.

 

[LiquidCache]

Wow! Gen 4's already! It seems like yesterday they released the gen 3's. I need one more light. Maybe I'll wait it out and wait for the newest greatest version.

I think you missed the point of this thread..

 

[Chris155hp]

Hopefully at Macna this year we'll see a new generation

 

[Piranha_Owns]

Bump, any news ?

 

[carlos danger]

I think you missed the point of this thread..

Thanks Professor Liquid Cache. I'll try to do my homework next time so I can get a better grade. Reading the whole thread with no feedback and comment on mine. Thats deep. Good work. I'l:thumbsup:

 

[emedock]

Now with the 10% off everywhere online it's really tempting to get a gen 3 radion pro. But are they 10% off because the gen 4s are just around the corner?

 

[Pny]

Now with the 10% off everywhere online it's really tempting to get a gen 3 radion pro. But are they 10% off because the gen 4s are just around the corner?

If you want the latest and greatest its probably a good idea to wait another month (week?) to see if a new Radion gen 4 is realeased...

 

[maxxII]

I sent 2 of my Gen 1 Radions back to Eco-Tech to be upgraded to Gen 3's, (not the Gen 3 Pro's). Hopefully, I'll be able to send my last Gen 1 Radion to them to upgrade as well.

After reading here on the boards and speaking with Eco-Tech customer service, I couldnt see the benefit to upgrading to Gen 3 Pro's for my 120 (48x24x24).

I'm curious about the possible release of a Gen 4 light and whether or not it will bring a significant increase in capability to the table for the money. Much like computers, keeping up on the cutting edge of technology will cost a significant amount of money.

However, the increase in performance from the previous versions are usually not necessary for the vast majority of users, and the roll out of the newest version usually lowers the price on the previous versions. This allows people to spend less money and purchase a quality product that will most likely suit their needs.

Just my thoughts on this.....and I'm no rocket surgeon.

 

[emedock]

Thats what i was thinking... I almost pulled the trigger on the Gen 3 at 10% off but then i was thinking the 4 might be coming out in September

 

[emedock]

fingers crossed!