Which setup is best (Hydra vs Radion G2)

[All Seas]

Hey guys,

Just finished setting up my 90 standard (24 deep) and I am looking for a lighting and controller setup. I am using an mp40, tunze ato, and a marineland return pump.

I am looking to keep a mixed reef. I originally wasnt looking at either of these two lighting setups since I wanted a stand alone controller. But now I see that both will be elligible in the short future with the apex or reeflink. Right now I only have a a frogspawn and some zoas in my 30 gallon but want to get more in the new tank. Here are the options I was thinking:

Two Radion G2s and use Reef Link to control everything

Two AI Hydras and use Apex as my controller

Or Two G2s with Apex


My lfs is pushing the new Razors but like I said, I like the idea of a centralized controller for everything. I am new to LEDs as well as controllers so what would be the best way for me to go?

Thanks

 

[HurricaneSystem]

Two G2's with Apex, Reef link when it comes out and is available. The Hydra will not compete with the Radions, trust me.

 

[All Seas]

Two G2's with Apex, Reef link when it comes out and is available. The Hydra will not compete with the Radions, trust me.

So your saying reef link will be better than apex when it's available? If that's the case I will just hold off.

The radion g2s are now 550 each so the lights will cost me 300 more over the hydras. Is it worth it?

 

[HurricaneSystem]

Yes, it is definitely worth it. I don't know about the reef link being better, it is not released yet.

However, the software that you program the Radions with, is free and you will not need an Apex to do that. You can turn them off, ramp down, etc. by programming them with your computer. Again, free with the lights.

The Hydras you can program with buttons, but that is not a good way to do it. You need an extra AI Controller or their new AI Director, each about 100 dollars. So you aren't saving any money by going with the Hydra's.

They are not half the light that the Radion is.

 

[Tron_954]

Ecotech Modules > AI Modules.

I can say this as I sold my AI LEDs for a Radion. Controllability and color rendering (as good as it gets for LEDs) is no comparison

 

[liquidfunk]

Hurricane you swore you needed UV here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=21899157&postcount=1

You also say this in another thread
"If you are going with the AI's, I suggest you go with the Hydra or wait for the new fixture. UV is an absolute MUST in my opinion. The one deciding factor between all of these lights and my corals was the presence of UV. Without it, it was catastrophic, with it, the corals are coming back nicely and flourishing. "


Yet you recommend a G2 which does not have UV?

 

[Tron_954]

LED UV, is not the same as Natural UV, emitted by the likes of T5 or MH

 

[sanababit]

Lol, busted ^, btw i have 2 mp40wes, 2 radions g2, apex with wxm, i am anxiously waiting for the software update, before commiting to led be adviced that you may loose corals, so patience is the key, good luck

Sana

 

[HurricaneSystem]

Oh do the G2's not have UV??? I thought all of the Radions did?

Nope, not busted, I just assumed they did since I have the pro version. YES, you need UV.

In that case, buy the Radion Pro's (With UV) or if you can't afford those, get the Hydras (With UV).

Thanks for catching that. I really had no idea the G2's didn't have UV.

 

[D-Nak]

Or get a pair of Kessils (all have UV) and hook them up to an Apex to control them. You'll get a lot of use out of the Apex and this combination is cheaper than Radion Pros.

I have a pair of Radion G1s and supplement them with a pair of T5s -- I like this combination a lot, but I know it's not for everyone. I have a canopy on my tank that house the Radion's at the recommended 8" height -- if I didn't, I'd go with Kessils.

 

[AJReefs]

The new Maxspect 200 would be a great size for your tank and it has UV

 

[All Seas]

So all these Radion Gen 2 owners have insufficient lighting to grow corals since it lacks UV?

 

[HurricaneSystem]

They did upgrade to the PRO, so it is better.

You can sustain corals without UV. You might even grow some, but it will never, ever, be the same without UV.

 

[All Seas]

how do the hydras compare to the maxspect razors?

 

[mikeatjac]

Hurricane you swore you needed UV here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=21899157&postcount=1

You also say this in another thread
"If you are going with the AI's, I suggest you go with the Hydra or wait for the new fixture. UV is an absolute MUST in my opinion. The one deciding factor between all of these lights and my corals was the presence of UV. Without it, it was catastrophic, with it, the corals are coming back nicely and flourishing. "


Yet you recommend a G2 which does not have UV?

You need to read the whole thread, before you "bust" someone. He went back to radions.

The G2 has a lot more par than the hydra. That is about all I know about hydra.

 

[Stomatopod1701]

Unless you want the controllablility or you like the aesthetics of the fixtures better (which admittedly they are) a reefbreeder photon 48 would allow you to grow anything in a 90.

 

[BAETech2004]

They did upgrade to the PRO, so it is better.

You can sustain corals without UV. You might even grow some, but it will never, ever, be the same without UV.

People,including myself, have been growing the everliving s#@t out of coral(
sps included) using non-UV lighting fixtures....sustain my donkey. I run G2 Radion and it grows everything I have juuuuuuust fine. Sure, UV gives an advantage, but UV isn't a replacement for the entire formula of water quality and PAR in general.:hmm5:

Unless you want the controllablility or you like the aesthetics of the fixtures better (which admittedly they are) a reefbreeder photon 48 would allow you to grow anything in a 90.

+1
I know some people who have Photon series lights from Reefbreeders, whos tanks make my tank thier perverbial beach.

 

[BAETech2004]

Lights, even with UV are no replacement for husbandry

 

[FlyPenFly]

In this thread:

A lot of people who have no idea what they're talking about.

All of those lights will healthily and rapidly grow coral if you're doing everything else right. The only differences are pricing, controllability, and in the case of the Hydra, weakness at depth.

 

[nanoreefer1000]

I'm a kid yet I know that UV is under 400nm, not 400+nm leds found in reef led fixtures lol
IMO go for a Razor, or maybe a Pacific Sun, if your willing to, a simple DIY fixture using either Luxeon M's or the Lumia multichip from ledgroupbuy would be your best bang for the buck.