Aqua Illumination, Maxspect, Radion

[Hunterfreeman1]

Ok so which lights out of these (Aqua Illumination Sol blue or white, Maxspect Radion) do i use over a tank that is 93"L x 24"W x 30"H housing SPS and LPS and why. Led gurus please chime in i can handle the in depth and detailed explanations.

[pmrossetti]

from what i've read the AIs would have no trouble with 30" depth. not sure about the others. fwiw

[rtparty]

Unless someone has owned all three, it is a crapshoot. Thought of using Ecoxotic Cannons? Might be a bit cheaper in the long run and they have a nice track record.

Out of your three I would only use the Radion but that is speculation. I haven't seen the Radion or Maxspect in person but I have dealt with the AI's. I wouldn't put them over my tank as I don't like their look. Until they get rid of the Cool White LEDs, they will be too cold for me.

[power boat jim]

I have the AI blues over my 180. The color on those has alot of adjustment on it with the three different color LEDS. Im sure they could do 30 " depth. I run my lights at no more then 70% at 24" of depth. I have no experience with the other two light sysytems.

[jameshongth]

How about Orphek 156? It's really look cool although I have pre-ordered Radion..lol !

[reefsurfing]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Unless someone has owned all three, it is a crapshoot. Thought of using Ecoxotic Cannons? Might be a bit cheaper in the long run and they have a nice track record.

Out of your three I would only use the Radion but that is speculation. I haven't seen the Radion or Maxspect in person but I have dealt with the AI's. I wouldn't put them over my tank as I don't like their look. Until they get rid of the Cool White LEDs, they will be too cold for me.

Ryan, I have owned the AI and maxspect, Maxspect showed more promise in the way of corals color and growth but AI had better build quality. I am hoping the radion to be a combination of AI's quality and service while providing the broader spectrum that my corals reacted so well too under the maxspect mazarra system.

[olemiss reb]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Unless someone has owned all three, it is a crapshoot.

^ This.

I had AIs over a SPS/clam tank until recently. I hung a vertex illumina over a matching tank and promptly replaced the AIs with the vertex. The 260 model will penetrate 30" with ease.

[reefsurfing]

Honestly, its the center brace on my 90 that messes everything up and then when I change my tank size I would need a different size vertex . For those two reasons and full RGB I chose the radion. Vertex was my second and definietly should be considered in a light purchase.

[Hunterfreeman1]

im definitely not using orpheck and i have put two ai's over a 90gal with excellent results but i just dont know what to use in this tank. i was hopeing someone would tell me why one would be better than the others based on specs, par, spread, spectrum and stuff like that. ok so ill add vertex to the list for consideration

[96p993]

Keep this in mind when you start looking at the more expensive LED fixtures...

Honestly when do you think you will be replacing them? In 2-3 years time how much change will we see in LED lighting?
LED's are in their infancy when it comes to the aquarium world, we really have no idea what is on the horizon and how much will change in the next couple years. Im not saying spend as little as possible but you need to look a bit down the road and realize what you see now will be nothing like what you will see soon...could be much sooner than we think

[Hunterfreeman1]

Bttt

[JohnnyRI]

Radions appear to be designed for upgrading later on down the road. Lenses appear to be able to be changed, leds appear as they can be changed, they gave an additional open channel, seems like they are prepared for future as they are modular....

I have seen one sight with par readings in 24" deep tank about 6-8" above water and it was getting 180 par on the sand.

I like the radions for the full spectrum..

Just my two cents.....

[96p993]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRI

Radions appear to be designed for upgrading later on down the road. Lenses appear to be able to be changed, leds appear as they can be changed, they gave an additional open channel, seems like they are prepared for future as they are modular....

I have seen one sight with par readings in 24" deep tank about 6-8" above water and it was getting 180 par on the sand.

I like the radions for the full spectrum..

Just my two cents.....

All three are modular...

[SkullV]

Originally Posted by 96p993

All three are modular...

Modular is one thing, expandability is another. The AI Sol's expandability is extremely limited. For example it will never be able to run an XM-L at 10w while the Radion will have that feature. The AI uses all of its available channels, the Radion has two open dimmable channels for future color additions (UV, etc.).

I personally thing that both the AI and the Radion are priced properly now while the AI was GROSSLY overpriced in the past. They are priced in different brackets because they are targeted at two completely separate markets. The Radion being targeted as a top of the line fixture, and the AI being now properly marketed as king of the budget LED fixtures.

It will be interesting to see what the production version of the AI Phoenix will bring to the table. Hopefully RGB, expandable channels, internal control, and maybe even a casing that doesn't look so "DIY".

[chadfarmer]

the nano SOL has XML, already

the phoenix is going to be a bigger version

FYI the SOLs are upgradeable if you so chose


I am still waiting to see the radion on a tank with corals (seen it at Macna and would have bought them if i could see them with corals)

The AI lights a lot of vendors were using that helped in selling me on them

[SkullV]

Originally Posted by chadfarmer

the nano SOL has XML, already

the phoenix is going to be a bigger version

FYI the SOLs are upgradeable if you so chose

They are limited by their driver. Unless you are going to replace the driver you can not upgrade the diodes past what is already there.

[chadfarmer]

Originally Posted by SkullV

They are limited by their driver. Unless you are going to replace the driver you can not upgrade the diodes past what is already there.

the last upgrade from version 1 came with new drivers, too

[SkullV]

Originally Posted by chadfarmer

the last upgrade from version 1 came with new drivers, too

I get that, but if you have to upgrade the drivers to upgrade the LEDs then what is the point being modular? Great, you get to keep your factory heat sink, everything else has to get changed over.

Hopefully they thought this through on the new Phoenix as I'm sure it is going to be AIs competition for the Radion. AI is in a pretty good position being that they haven't released them yet, they can still change things. All of these Sol v. Radion threads are almost pointless now. They aren't even in the same bracket when you compare the entire package. Just in light alone without taking anything else at all into consideration its like 1.5 AI SOL v. 1 Ecotech Radion.

[chadfarmer]

man this is starting to sound like a tunze VS vortech thread

just so u know i dont have a radion just seen 1 at macna , but i own AIs


let me ask

what is the watts that the leds are run at?

i know the AIs max is 3 watts at 100%

[pmrossetti]

when you take the "whole" package they are in comp imo. that includes price. 800 is a lot for red and green leds, just sayin'.

and I think you mean 1 radion to 1.5 sols watt wise.

[Addiction2SPS]

I agree. You can't compare the radion just yet as it hasnt been out as long as AI has. I love AI, hear there customer service is exceptional, and fixtures are proven to give great results. On a 30" tank I don't think it should be a problem just keep SPS mid to high in the tank.

[SkullV]

But that's what I'm trying to say, its NOT a Vortech v. Tunze thread because they aren't even comparable products. The Pheonix will presumably be the comparable AI product line to the EcoTech Radion. I'm also assuming that it will be priced accordingly at $650-$750 but that is all speculation.

I don't like the AI for their spectrum, but it is a completely solid light as long as you compare it to things like the Apollo, Evolution, etc. products that fit within it's market segment.

[96p993]

I just see a lot of speculation in these threads...when it comes down to it the AI has proven itself as a viable option, the radion has not. Time will tell but some people sure are quick to jump and say everything they "hope" will be the case.

The fact of the matter is that neither of these units will be worthwhile options in 3 plus years, the technology is just too new

[chadfarmer]

The Pheonix will be 499.00 from what i was told at macna

skullv I know you will be happy with your new lights next week, If I learn to like them I would buy them but time will tell.

what leds does the Radion use because they were the same as the AI when i talked to the guys from ecotech

[SkullV]

Originally Posted by pmrossetti

when you take the "whole" package they are in comp imo. that includes price. 800 is a lot for red and green leds, just sayin'.

and I think you mean 1 radion to 1.5 sols watt wise.

This coming from the guy who has NEVER seen an LED lit aquarium. You are kidding right? The difference is SO much more than the RGB functionality.

• 130w v. 70w
• RGB v. Extremely Limited Spectrum
• 1 Open Fully Controllable Driver Channels v. 0 Open Channels
• Built In Full Control and Programming v. Additional Controller Needed
• Wireless Link To Other Ecotech Products v. Wireless Upgrade MAYBE Available At Additional Cost
• Fully Modular LED Cluster w/2y Warranty v. Multiple LED Pucks Limited to 3 Colors and 3w LEDs
• Looks Sleek v. Looks DIY

Originally Posted by chadfarmer

The Pheonix will be 499.00 from what i was told at macna

skullv I know you will be happy with your new lights next week, If I learn to like them I would buy them but time will tell.

what leds does the Radion use because they were the same as the AI when i talked to the guys from ecotech

If the AI guys can get that out for $499 then they are going to pull a huge piece of the market, but I doubt that price will be accurate. The Radion uses CREE and Osram LEDs. I believe AI uses CREE but don't quote me on that.