T5 or ecotech radion

[tankmates]

Apart from shimmer effect, are LED from ecotech really worth the price or should I go with t5 (lower upfront cost, but longer recurring cost). I am looking to buy today..so any help will be appreciated

[Meanmike]

I've been debating the same thing. The more I read i'm not sure led is proven itself enough.

[tankmates]

Well, there are segment who have had great success with LED< but everyone I talk to had great thing with t5, however, I do not want to spend for t5 right now (I surely want to take MH out) and than in another 4 months looking for LED's . the price is what is putting me off right now and if that is really justified

[Meanmike]

I've been looking real hard at the radions and it seems to be a hit our miss with burning the corals. However it does sound like some of it might be user error.

[tankmates]

Originally Posted by Meanmike

I've been looking real hard at the radions and it seems to be a hit our miss with burning the corals. However it does sound like some of it might be user error.

What are you running now? I think for my tank size - 72 x 24 x 29, i need atleast 12 , 36" bulbs for t5..I know ..but when i think of running very low electricity bill and not having to change these ever....makes me go for LED< but as you know price is really high to justify it, if it was same price, i would have picked up radion. Really need someone to tell who has actually moved from t5 to radion to tell us the difference and experience

[Meanmike]

I just replaced a old aqua light t5 unit that went to heck with a friends mh setup for now. Not a fan of it either. I would choose the ati sunpower over the radion but I like the options the radion offers.

[scarface70706]

i recommend the radions. they are great and they have been proven many times that they can grow all types of corals. when comparing leds to t5's its like comparing a ZR1 Corvette to a standard corvette. both nice cars but the ZR1 has much nicer features. if i was you id go radions and never look back lol ive seen plenty of t5 tanks and im amazed but then i look at a led tank and im just blown away. the colors, the cost (in the long run), the features, and the customer service are all top of the line. these 4 things is what made me make my discussion. good luck with your choice.

PS: heres a experimental video of the radions. its pretty cool. even though its a mh vs. led its still a cool video on them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgkPx...ature=g-user-u

[ghostman]

I switched from T5 to radions and then back again. There are pros and cons to both. I am happy with my T5 setup, and don't mind replacing bulbs every year. The cost of bulbs is less than the cost of lost corals. There are some nice deals on used T5 fixtures in the sales forum as everyone rushes to LEDs too.

[tankmates]

Originally Posted by scarface70706

i recommend the radions. they are great and they have been proven many times that they can grow all types of corals. when comparing leds to t5's its like comparing a ZR1 Corvette to a standard corvette. both nice cars but the ZR1 has much nicer features. if i was you id go radions and never look back lol ive seen plenty of t5 tanks and im amazed but then i look at a led tank and im just blown away. the colors, the cost (in the long run), the features, and the customer service are all top of the line. these 4 things is what made me make my discussion. good luck with your choice.

PS: heres a experimental video of the radions. its pretty cool. even though its a mh vs. led its still a cool video on them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgkPx...ature=g-user-u

YOU ARE THE MAN!! I think I needed that little extra bit of assurance,being a technology person, I like to go with latest and something that will help in long run...ORDER placed for 3 radions..can;t wait to have these hooked up over my tank

[Meanmike]

You know on a road coarse the Z06 would dominate right?

If ecotech doesn't give me the option to use my iPad soon I won't even consider them any longer.

[tankmates]

well, I like their products, I have 2 Mp40's and those work great!! user errors can be problem all the time, I am right now running chiller all the time, my bill has gone up by 100$/month with MH lighting of 7 hours and chiller...will try and see how these perform. They say live version will be on shortly. I love GHL products, but mitras LED is priced at 1199 , which will take it to 3600 $, so I went with radions at this stage

[stevedola]

Buy ATI, you wont be disappointed.

[grizzlyguy]

Originally Posted by Meanmike

You know on a road coarse the Z06 would dominate right?

If ecotech doesn't give me the option to use my iPad soon I won't even consider them any longer.

You can also buy combo fixture (t5 with leds) which can be contolled by ipad :-)
You will get perfect CRI and multichannel led panels... :-)

[tankmates]

Ok.. I made the purchase today and selected Radions. The way I see it is - if these do not work..I can always get rid of these (everyone wants led's ..LOL) and go t5, but if I buy t5, knowing me, I will be again looking at new technoligy in 6 months and those t5 will never get sold as everyone would still want LED....LOL

[Alex T.]

Originally Posted by tankmates

Ok.. I made the purchase today and selected Radions. The way I see it is - if these do not work..I can always get rid of these (everyone wants led's ..LOL) and go t5, but if I buy t5, knowing me, I will be again looking at new technoligy in 6 months and those t5 will never get sold as everyone would still want LED....LOL

In the long run, there aren't many of us that can't talk ourselves into a new reef toy purchase.

[scarface70706]

Originally Posted by tankmates

YOU ARE THE MAN!! I think I needed that little extra bit of assurance,being a technology person, I like to go with latest and something that will help in long run...ORDER placed for 3 radions..can;t wait to have these hooked up over my tank

yea no problem. just wait till you get your units. you will be blown away. i still cant get over the fact that my tank looks 10X better then before. its amazing what thes leds can do. good choice. you wont regret if set up properly.

[scarface70706]

Originally Posted by Meanmike

You know on a road coarse the Z06 would dominate right?

If ecotech doesn't give me the option to use my iPad soon I won't even consider them any longer.

Well put but on the contrary my highly modified GTO beats Z06 all day at the track... the look on their faces..... priceless you can always upgrade the radions with newer stuff when ecotech comes out with them. but T5's not so much unfortunately.

PS: if you can wait it out im sure ecotech is in the makings for their radions to work with the ipad. it will just be a matter of time. dont discourage yourself too much. and then when they do you will be happy you stuck it out to the end. i too am waiting for this feature and when it comes out ill be buying what ever new ipad is out at the time... how cool would that be hu? ipad right next to my tank. that would look sweeeeeeet

[scarface70706]

oh yea i almost forgot to OP.... how are you planing on hooking them up? if your going to hang them you will need their ridiculously over priced hanging kit lol you can buy their kits online at their website or others. or you can buy one hanging kit and make a DIY it save some money...but imo the DIY with one hanging kit looks a little tacky on a nice looking unit. here another video of a DIY for the radions to give you a better understanding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wq_2...ature=g-user-u

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wq_2...ature=g-user-u

[tankmates]

Originally Posted by scarface70706

oh yea i almost forgot to OP.... how are you planing on hooking them up? if your going to hang them you will need their ridiculously over priced hanging kit lol you can buy their kits online at their website or others. or you can buy one hanging kit and make a DIY it save some money...but imo the DIY with one hanging kit looks a little tacky on a nice looking unit. here another video of a DIY for the radions to give you a better understanding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wq_2...ature=g-user-u

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wq_2...ature=g-user-u

I will be hanging those in my canopy with aluminium rails I have seen with so many people. I made a nice DIY hanging kit using chains from Home depot for my MH fixture and looks great!! I don want to spend for their hanging kits