Radions or Chinese LEDs?
 

OK guys, so here is the situation... I am migrating to a 150 gallon tank (60x24x24) and am upgrading lighting. I am currently running 2x MP40w es pumps, and am looking at two options...... Bear in mind, money isn't really a big deal... I say that because the upgrade has been a nice chunk of change, but let me explain my thought...

So local reefers are doing a group buy of the Evergrow LED fixtures which I hear have some great par readings, but, yea they're Chinese, and support, etc down the line can become an issue. Granted, I more fixtures for the buck, but I really have been treated well by the Ecotech staff. They do a GREAT job if something goes wrong. If any of you own these, or have seen them chime in.... it's the i2040s. I would get three of them.

On the other hand, I can get a good price (decent chunk below MSRP) from a local reefer on the Radion XR30w Gen2s..... i would get two initially, (don't tell the wife) with plans on getting a third this coming year. I would hang a fixture above each half of the tank and nothing right in teh middle over the brace. I plan on keeping mainly LPS on the sand (Torch, Hammer, Frogspawn) some SPS, and a Mag\Gig Anemone in the future once the tank is settled. By that time, I'll probably get a third fixture...

I like the control of the Radion, not to mention the integration into the existing MP40s. That is a huge bonus to me, not to mention being able to program it via their app and control it. Also a great bonus.

So now the question of the hour... What would you do???

Radion! It would be sweet to connect them to your vortechs. Plus then you have full controllability.

Well if you like the integration and control of the Radio and Vortechs, then you would be happiest with them....plus you seem to be able to get a decent price on them.

IMO.....aside from the above....I would almost opt for the Chinese LEDs if the control and integration were not wanted. They are essentially the same in terms of what they do as far as having a good mix of spectrum. The Evergrows have been taken apart and are actually decent quality and support not half bad from what I have read. Any LED fixture on the market right now will plummet pretty quickly in resale value and will be "obsolete" in terms of performance and spectrum in no time. LEDs are still being figured out in terms of getting the optimum performance out of them.

Spending $650 on 3 Radions- $1950- is painful and may not be the best LED has to offer come 1 year or 2 years from now. For $400, one could get 3 of the Evergrow LEDs and ditch them in 2 years and take less of a hit. Yes, less control and whatnot, but how many people are constantly futzing with their spectrum?

I do have a set of the Evergrows.....so far, not bad! The color appearance is better than I have seen on other commercial fixtures to date, I have not seen a Radion in person. The Evergrows are bright, good coverage and still lower wattage though not as efficient as Crees LEDs. But I did not buy these to last 6 years, they are to lower some electric use and wait and see what is out there in a year or two :)

Radions won't be sorry

Radions for sure I had a Chinese led fixture in the past and I was less than impressed. Upset me so much I sold the full system and started over.

Razor, Mitras, Reef breeders controllable fixture customized, Hyperion are some nice fixtures, probably the only pre made fixtures I would get. If you can make a DIY fixture.

Which Chinese fixture did you have?

To be honest, I have convinced myself with the Radions... I'm picking them up tomorrow and can't wait to get my new tank started with them.....

Thanks for the input.

Well.....enjoy them then :beer:

Agreed... Already having Red Stripe! Enjoy folks thanks for the input.

One of my friends has the same size tank, and he runs 3 radions with 3 175w metal hallides. The metal hallides are a good deal on 1000bulbs.com. you can buy the bulbs of like $13 per bulb, the ballast for around $50 and the fixture for about $5. Basiclly you have a diy with the metal hallides. but his setup is great, and he grows anything he wants.

I would actually wait a bit on the Radions, unless you are getting a stellar deal on the Gen2's. I think the Radion Pro is a better fixture, and if money is no object, that is the way to go. (and I really like the chinese lights)

Actually, get the Gen2's, and then have Ecotech upgrade them to the Pros when available. You'll probably save money that way, and have the better fixture. I believe the extra spectrum bump the Pro model has is vital.

Radion

Are they expensive, Yep
Are they the best , Probably not (yet)
Are they high Quality, OMG yes
Are they able to deliver incredible amounts of settings, Oh Yeah
Are they able to integrate to your vortechs, Yes (I have not even done that yet, no storm flashing for me)
Are there other options, MANY

Will you be happy? Be assured , you will be so so happy.
Will your corals be happy? probably most, I have none , so input there.

Is the EcoSMART Live Intuitive. Yes , Still getting better.

My favorite setting mod is the late night dim red only

no I know, I wasn't completely convinced but yea Wife was egging me on kinda so what the heck...

Not to mention, I'm sure she will pull this card out at some point and say, remember when you got your radions? I know how this works... lol

well with evergrow you can customize every led on the fixture of a d120 to provide magnificent spectrum! Thats why these do so well is when you buy the DIY fixture and you send them your layout you want. true the bridgelux leds run about 30 lumens less but you have 55 compared to 35 ish on the radion?
All in all you will love the radions, hey i want em, we all want em!

Less efficient, go with a Razor, Hyperion, or Mitras if you can't diy.

Do you have any pictures of these on your system or any experiences with them? Would like to see them all over the same system.

I got the Razor at the moment, I've seen tanks with all three on them. I usually recommend them because of their spectrum, and they use good leds.

I had the chance to try the Vegas, Razor and Radion. I liked the Radion better plus I get option to upgrade in the future, a huge plus. My par at the sand bed, 24 in deep, is 330 with the TIR lens. 3 over a SPS dominate 120 tank. I have had them 2 months now and I am getting great growth and color.

This picture is at 12k.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...ov24at12K2.jpg

This question is like asking if I should buy a Kia or a Audi.

They both get you from a to b so basically what you can afford. Never had radios but I got the contrable unit from reefbreeders, I like it so far but it's been only 2 months.

this is a silly question but why did you go to led to just upgrade every year how is that saving money

The question is far from silly, with the Radion I know that I can upgrade if I want to. I did not go to LEDs because I could upgrade but rather it was part of the decision over which LED system to buy.

I never said anything about saving money. I do not think you save money by going to LEDs, I went with LEDs because they made my tank come a live.

It seems like a plus I suppose. I wanted to go Led because I basically had nothing invested yet (an old T5 double bulb). I see see why Chad was asking as far as a reason.
I have the Gen1 Radion I bought used. Love it.I can go to a Gen2 by buying some lenses for 30.00 and get 50% more penetration or so. That is a LOT easier than selling a unit and buying again. I can wait and go to a Pro later next spring while having the benefit of an improvement now over what I had.

As with other LED (benefit of a doubt) It is quite astonishing to change light spectrum within seconds and see in a flash a look amazingly different with just a teeny tiny change.

The human enjoyment of what I see is a huge plus while also giving the tank what it needs. I do not have a load tank of corals or any for that mater yet. so for now I have the versatility to have a system that auto starts the day very dimmly and goes through the dawn to dusk all by it self. I would think that living things in a tank have a harmony to an effect as such. I have no halide experience and presume they snap on or snap off with a timer. I like walking up to the tank and changing the mood slightly .

I may feel differently with coral reaction, but the corals I can buy local all have radions too. they are acclimated in a way. Upgrading I would think as a bonus and a side plus for many. This gives reason to buy sooner or you might wait for ever for the latest greatest... and never feel ready to jump in. Upgrade ability is a unique niche, Right?

good point as many corals are being introduced to leds in their display tanks for sale. Its a much eiser transition for them to go to another led tank!