whose excited about these lights!
- Thread starter marlin_dory
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110galreef
New member
interesting. Quite a few different color LED's for various wavelengths. Wonder if they will be all separtaly dimmable/ on/off? Each unit is 118w. Wonder if each one is supposed to replace a 400w MH. Also wonder what the footprint is. shows 30x30. So 2 of these would suffice over my 66 x 36" tanks?? not really concerned with growth good par near the edges. COST?? Wonder why the 2 tight clusters? wide optics??
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Every channel is dimmable and there is a 6th channel that isn't used as of yet. It will be for future upgrades.
It replaces a 250w MH. Ecotech has claimed this.
It covers a 24x24 area. You would need three for your tank and maybe even a 4th.
They use a reflector/optic hybrid with this system. You don't get the color banding nearly as much as other RGB systems.
Cost is $749 per unit.
110galreef
New member
how are the channels controlled? are there 6 plugs? Can the APEX control it via a contoller like they have for their vortech's? How much extra is this bad boy??
Dang...that rules these bad boys out.... $2300-$2996
I'll just stick with my 2 250w MH's, nice lumenbright reflectors and 2 140w VHO's build for $1200
I am sure this will have a nice color spectrum. Wonder how it will compare to the maxspecs. Those the chips can be chnaged and are a bit cheaper.
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d2mini
Premium Member
Via software via mini usb.
The lights will also be able to work in tandem with the vortech ecosmart drivers (wirelessly) to simulate storm patterns, sunrise/sunset patterns, etc.
110galreef
New member
110galreef
New member
I get that, but do I need to buy this 'thing" to control it? Can i use my apex to do it.
What if I want the RB's on at 50% at 9am and 100% by 10am-9:30p. and back down 5% by 11:00pm
then the Blues on 100% at 10:30-9:00p
then the CW's on 50% at 11:30 and then 100% by 12:00-8p
then the Hyper Reds from 90% at 12:00-7p
then the greens at 75% at 12:00-7p...
Do i have to mannually do that every day or can my apex do it?? Apex only has 0-10v outputs. So will there be a Radion APEX module to buy? Is there one power cords for the entire light?
110galreef
New member
d2mini
Premium Member
Neither.
I don't have final software yet, but my understanding is the pc software will let you customize the color temp and intensity (or you can choose one of the half dozen included settings that you can cycle through with the capacitive touch buttons) and the vortechs will run pre-programmed programs. I haven't heard of controller capabilities between Radions and third party controllers. Right now, my RKL is controlling on/off functions of the Radions just like with my old lighting until final software is released.
110galreef
New member
So how is your RK handling it. SImply All On or ALL Off? Or 6 plugs for the six colors. so any of the 6 on or off at independent times?
I agree, but am somewhat skeptical that 108 watts of LED's is going to match 250watt Halides. Hopefully I am wrong, and the price will come down.
110galreef
New member
Well Duh, its 118w!:blown: Just messing!
But plenty on here have proven this. 118w easily will output a 250w MH. Shot AI is on 72W unit. and claims 250w MH like PAR. Many have bleached their corals with those bad boys.
The 2 BIG concerns are the cost, can you justify the extra cost given the saving in electricity. Some can other can't. I pay .07c/kWh. So it is very hard for me to justify. Plus the heat from MH's helps heat my tank. Less heater usage. Tank in basement.
Other is what will the light output and color shift be in a few yrs. If your expecting 8-10 years as part of your cost saving, and don't get it, rather 3-4 yrs only. Not good!
d2mini
Premium Member
One plug per Radion. The Radion controls the power to individual channels internally.
So right now, using very limited preproduction software/firmware, all channels come on (or go off) at one time.
Cloudburst2000
Active member
For me, LEDs make sense. Yes, they are initially more expensive, but save money in the long run. The lights last a very long time as opposed to having to replace metal halide lights every 9mos or so. My brother-in-law switched to LEDs a few months back and is already noticing the savings building up. It costs him about $75-$80 to replace his one halide bulb. So he is saving drastically on energy usage from both metal halides and his chiller (which he doesn't need anymore without the halides), and in a bit over two years, he will have save close to $240 in bulbs alone. This does not include the savings of energy usage of LEDs over halides or being able to take his chiller off-line. He spent a bit over $600 for the 12" AI unit and it's controller. His metal halide light cost close to $300. In two years, he will have basically paid for the LED light with the savings he is having based on energy usage and not having to constantly replace bulbs. He is also seeing very nice coloration and growth with the AI light. Don't look at the initial cost of the LED. You have to look at the long term savings.
The saving on bulbs is more of a factor than electricity if they really work. Heck two of these units could in theory replace 2 halides and two t5/actinic lights. Just the halides are going to cost at least 100 a year and the t5's probably 30-50 a year on average. So that could be a savings of 1500 dollars over a 10 year time span.
Cloudburst2000
Active member
That's what I said too. People don't seem to understand that you can save tons of money by not having to replace bulbs every 9mos or so. So many people just look at the initial out-of-pocket expense, not at the long-term savings.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
That is assuming bulb prices don't go up as well! Very few things are getting cheaper these days. ATI just announced they are raising their prices come October. (So I am told at least)
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