*HELP* Radion Pro or Hydra 52

[sandy7263]

I am going to give myself an aneurysm over trying to decide what the best light would be.

I have a new DSA 105 which is 48x24x21 with 2 mp40's. I would like to keep sps to fish.

If this was your tank, would you get Radion pros, hydra 52's or something else?

[Benz912]

I have g2 radions and would definitely go radion pro or G2 radions. I have however never used hydra's

[tylersarah]

I'm very happy with my Radion Pros, I can't imagine more improvement in my sps

[ghostman]

If you want to get the "best" led lights, that would probably be the GHL Mitras or Pacific Sun hyperions. You'll get full spectrum wireless control, and high quality. Having owned radions, I would vote for the hydra52. It's only been out a short time, so a real review is not possible, but the specs look good. The radion pros are nice lights, but you still have the unreliable ESL to deal with, and if you want wireless control, you have to drop another $200 for ReefLink, which is still a beta box like ESL.

[mpjones]

With an apex module you get wireless control for the radions and pro model! (According to a few forums, including apex).

[rtparty]

ATI LED PowerModule. The 4x54w with 3x75w LED clusters would rock that tank!

Best light I've ever used or seen.

[echoreef]

Also take a look at the Pacific Sun Pandora S2 hybrid. It's LED with T5 supplement where as the ATI LED PM is T5 with LED supplement.

[mguimaraesm]

If I were you I would choose the hydra therefore have bad ^ ^ experi ences with the Radion because of the fault of the Ecotech Design, design defect, because the fans were placed in the worst place, and so the large accumulation of salt spray, moisture and dust which makes the fixtures inoperable due to obstruction of the ventilation system.
Respectful of AI that have a radiator on top of the lamp which makes the hot air to dissipate naturally without the need to keep the fan on all the time, as occurs in radion.
I know many who face the same problem in the Radion. Have the AI do not know anyone who has had experience Poor.

[EcoTech Service]

Originally Posted by ghostman

If you want to get the "best" led lights, that would probably be the GHL Mitras or Pacific Sun hyperions. You'll get full spectrum wireless control, and high quality. Having owned radions, I would vote for the hydra52. It's only been out a short time, so a real review is not possible, but the specs look good. The radion pros are nice lights, but you still have the unreliable ESL to deal with, and if you want wireless control, you have to drop another $200 for ReefLink, which is still a beta box like ESL.

When was the last time you had any direct interaction with the Radion and EcoSmart Live? We've dedicated a tremendous amount of research and development into ESL and the ReefLink. I definitely wouldn't classify the RL as a "beta box" as you say. In fact, we have hundreds of users who have received the ReefLink and the overwhelming majority have described the entire experience as absolutely painless and thoroughly enjoyable!

[reefbroke]

I'm also going through this dilemma. Tagging along

[125mph]

I would go with Hydra FiftyTwo but I have no experience with the Radions.. I have been running the FiftyTwos for about a week and so far they are awesome.

The reason I choose those over the Radion:

- More LEDs in the Hydra52s
- Hydra52 has built-in wireless
- AI known for exclusively an LED lighting company and terrific customer support (I know Ecotech is great with CS too)
- Price, by far the biggest factor

[ghostman]

Originally Posted by EcoTech Service

When was the last time you had any direct interaction with the Radion and EcoSmart Live? We've dedicated a tremendous amount of research and development into ESL and the ReefLink. I definitely wouldn't classify the RL as a "beta box" as you say. In fact, we have hundreds of users who have received the ReefLink and the overwhelming majority have described the entire experience as absolutely painless and thoroughly enjoyable!

Ecotech,
Please refer to your own forum on RC with the thread called "Reeflink". There you will find several user posts from less than 10 days ago described the Reeflink unit marked as "Beta", along with their associated issues with the unit. In particular, one user "chosen" as a beta tester was annoyed to pay for the unit to beta test for your company. I wholeheartedly agree.
I myself have no experience with Reeflink. Wireless control has been missing from radions since day 1. There are other manufacturers that have had wireless control, and do not charge for an external box to "fix" the issue. IME, I control my radion and vortechs with an Apex and WXM. It would be interesting to see how Apex Fusion (a free upgrade to the Apex) compares to Reeflink.
Hopefully, this hasn't derailed the thread. The OP asked for opinions and I submitted my experience.

[sandy7263]

Wow! Thanks for all of the great input. I think I am leaning towards the Hydra 52's. Any more information please post. Otherwise I will let you know how it goes......

[EcoTech Marine]

Originally Posted by ghostman

Ecotech,
Please refer to your own forum on RC with the thread called "Reeflink". There you will find several user posts from less than 10 days ago described the Reeflink unit marked as "Beta", along with their associated issues with the unit.

I just reviewed the post that you are referring to and here's what I found:

Originally Posted by Beach Bum 70

Got picked it is great .

Originally Posted by Duality

I've had my RL for about a month now. It's really nice to have the ability to connect to my radions with dragging out the USB cord and starting up connection manager.

Originally Posted by GusDiaz

Super easy to connect. It took me less that 10 min to get it going and connect wireless.

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

Very easy to connect and has nice features.

Did I see some questions or customer issues? Sure, but that's what a support forum like our RC sponsor page is there for.

Originally Posted by Ghostman

In particular, one user "chosen" as a beta tester was annoyed to pay for the unit to beta test for your company.
I wholeheartedly agree.
I myself have no experience with Reeflink.

You've admited you don't have a reeflink. You also haven't used our Radions for some time. I think it's time to put down the hatchet and let it go. You're no longer up-to-date on our technology and your posts always reflect this fact and a bias against us.

Wireless control has been missing from radions since day 1. There are other manufacturers that have had wireless control, and do not charge for an external box to "fix" the issue. IME, I control my radion and vortechs with an Apex and WXM. It would be interesting to see how Apex Fusion (a free upgrade to the Apex) compares to Reeflink.
Hopefully, this hasn't derailed the thread. The OP asked for opinions and I submitted my experience.

We share this market with some other great companies, but please tell me another light out there that enables cloud based control over it? AI- buy a director. Neptune? Buy the WXM then sign up for their beta Fusion. GHL? No. It seems as if you're not fully familiar with the technology behind the ESL cloud based control platform and the Reeflink. Once this technology hits the VorTech pumps you'll have even more possibilities by being able to control your lights and your pumps direct from your iPhone or any other device. And pumps/lights are just the beginning.

One of the most advanced features of the Reeflink: in terms of the control architecture, the Reeflink is assigning your pumps/lights a schedule based on what you created using ESL. Once the pumps and lights have been programmed your pumps/light then run on their own. If the wifi is lost, this doesn't change anything as the pumps and lights already know what to do and when to do it. With other solutions out there the products are being told what to do at each moment, this means if you lose the "controller" connection then the products will be forced to revert to a fall back. Not ideal.

More importantly, you don't need to have a degree in IT to install and use a Reeflink. The purpose is that most people don't know how to use port forwarding or how to navigate around a firewall and the reeflink doesn't require that you do. Create an ESL account, plug in the Reeflink, download the iPhone ap, and you're done: mobile control of your devices.

T

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by ghostman

I myself have no experience with Reeflink.

Perhaps you should leave feedback on it to those who have.

[ihigh]

Originally Posted by sandy7263

I am going to give myself an aneurysm over trying to decide what the best light would be.

I have a new DSA 105 which is 48x24x21 with 2 mp40's. I would like to keep sps to fish.

If this was your tank, would you get Radion pros, hydra 52's or something else?

back to your topic sandy...

I've had the pleasure of trying GHL mitras, radion pros (and gen2), and AI's sol hydra, vega, and will be trying the hydra 52 soon.

GHL Mitras are by far the best LED-only unit of the three, hands down. The color is spectacular, the par ratings and spread is the best, but it is the priciest. Mounting and setting it up is a breeze

Radion pros are also great, they're good penetration and spread. their color spectrum is 2nd to none, and they have great customer service. The issue I run into (is imo a major one) is that the fan at the bottom of the fixture is going to get salt creep. No and, if, or buts about it...it is going to happen one way or another. A fellow reefer on the local forums of mine has had a repeated issue with his fixture and salt creep for the past year, but ecotech has fixed it every single time. Great that they fix it, horrible for headaches and the time in between to get it fixed. He had to run his old t5s a few times because of this. The other big issue I personally dislike is that radion pros make the corals visually 'fake' in color. everything pops like its not...real, if you get what I mean? Fish such as fairy and flasher wrasse look extraordinary as well.

AI is the cheapest of the 3, but very simple clean, cheaper and easy to use. 1.5 hydra 52s = 1 radion pro in price. The director takes a bit to work with, but once it sets up it is good to go. the wireless controller works well also, so either way its good controls. The vegas were lacking the uv/violets, but the hydra fixes that. hydra/vega have good coverage (reported 24x24, but 2 over a dsa 105 would work perfectly - i'm running 2 over a 120 right now). The hydra 52 is stronger and has more spread due to more LEDs. This one compared to the radion has a more natural look.

It all comes to your preference. money saving + good coverage/par - hydra 52

you really like the colors popping a lot more and the 'fake' look (not in a negative sense) then radion pro

if you're ballin and can afford it (or find it cheap used) I'd get the GHL mitras every day.

[ghostman]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Perhaps you should leave feedback on it to those who have.

Thank you BrianD. I did not leave feedback, only an opinion. I invite anyone looking into buying expensive equipment to read all opinions, not just a few selected quotes. I do own radions, kessils, Vegas, and hyperions. I feel fairly qualified to discuss the pros and cons of each system. I didn't realize that in order to discuss a topic that I had to own it. I would never own a cloud based system to run my lights and pumps. There are too many inherent flaws, and this has been acknowledged in other threads. I guess I am not qualified to have this thought.

The OP has an expensive choice to make, and it should be an educated one. Read the forums, hear opinions, and then decide on the best choice.

[Timber77]

I would go 2 radium 250s in good reflectors on m80 ballasts for your tank size.
the led tech changes almost daily, some day they will be good.
The MH is proven. Ive tried 2 brands (both top tier of led)
as far as wireless etc, thats more for the user than the corals, simple on-off has worked for decades, add some t5 or vho for dusk dawn if you must.

[lazytaper]

I had the radions and the fan sucked and was unreliable. The spread is also too wide and not focused enough.

I would without question get the Hydra 52s.

[liquidfunk]

Originally Posted by mpjones

With an apex module you get wireless control for the radions and pro model! (According to a few forums, including apex).

They have the AWM now for AI products also, so you can control either with an Apex

[mpjones]

I can't speak for the hydras, but sure can for the radion. I have (3) of the gen 2's and haven't regretted it once since I got them back in March or April this year.

[maddhugan]

Originally Posted by sandy7263

I am going to give myself an aneurysm over trying to decide what the best light would be.

I have a new DSA 105 which is 48x24x21 with 2 mp40's. I would like to keep sps to fish.

If this was your tank, would you get Radion pros, hydra 52's or something else?

I was about to buy 3 Radion Pros but when I looked at the power factor for it, I changed my mind. The power factor for radion pro is 0.54? That's bad.

Thinking about Hydra 52 now. any suggestions or thoughts?

[maddhugan]

Originally Posted by ihigh

back to your topic sandy...

I've had the pleasure of trying GHL mitras, radion pros (and gen2), and AI's sol hydra, vega, and will be trying the hydra 52 soon.

GHL Mitras are by far the best LED-only unit of the three, hands down. The color is spectacular, the par ratings and spread is the best, but it is the priciest. Mounting and setting it up is a breeze

Radion pros are also great, they're good penetration and spread. their color spectrum is 2nd to none, and they have great customer service. The issue I run into (is imo a major one) is that the fan at the bottom of the fixture is going to get salt creep. No and, if, or buts about it...it is going to happen one way or another. A fellow reefer on the local forums of mine has had a repeated issue with his fixture and salt creep for the past year, but ecotech has fixed it every single time. Great that they fix it, horrible for headaches and the time in between to get it fixed. He had to run his old t5s a few times because of this. The other big issue I personally dislike is that radion pros make the corals visually 'fake' in color. everything pops like its not...real, if you get what I mean? Fish such as fairy and flasher wrasse look extraordinary as well.

AI is the cheapest of the 3, but very simple clean, cheaper and easy to use. 1.5 hydra 52s = 1 radion pro in price. The director takes a bit to work with, but once it sets up it is good to go. the wireless controller works well also, so either way its good controls. The vegas were lacking the uv/violets, but the hydra fixes that. hydra/vega have good coverage (reported 24x24, but 2 over a dsa 105 would work perfectly - i'm running 2 over a 120 right now). The hydra 52 is stronger and has more spread due to more LEDs. This one compared to the radion has a more natural look.

It all comes to your preference. money saving + good coverage/par - hydra 52

you really like the colors popping a lot more and the 'fake' look (not in a negative sense) then radion pro

if you're ballin and can afford it (or find it cheap used) I'd get the GHL mitras every day.

I sure do value and appreciate your analysis, and you have owned all top units except for Hydra 52. But I think Power factor is very important if you are thinking of saving energy. Radion Pros have a power factor of 0.54? That is significantly lower than that of hydra 52, and GHL Mitras which have 0.99 power factor.

what is your thoughts on that?

Since I'm planning on buying 6 units for two tanks, I would appreciate your input on this.

very tempted to buy 6 of the hydra 52 but worried about the disco ball effect

[maddhugan]

Originally Posted by sandy7263

Wow! Thanks for all of the great input. I think I am leaning towards the Hydra 52's. Any more information please post. Otherwise I will let you know how it goes......

Seems like Radion Pro is using high current to drive the LEDS and it has a power factor of 0.54 which means, It will suck more energy than what is utilized by LEDS. I would like to buy a unit which has a power factor of 0.99 and it seems like GHL Mitras and AI HYDRA have a power factor of 0.99.

Does anyone knows the power factor of AI HYDRA 52? Too bad not mentioned in the AI website Spec.

IMHO I will stay away from Radion Pro. I read good reviews about radion pros but those reviews failed to look at power factor. One of the main reason people who want to switch to LED is to reduce the power consumption and Radion Pros has a power factor of 0.54? that's unacceptable.

PLEASE POST IF YOU KNOW ANY DETAILS ABOUT THE POWER FACTOR FOR AI HYDRA 52.
See the power factor for Radion Pro here: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2013/8/review

[125mph]

What is power factor mean? Is it the usefulness of the consumed power relative to the product?

Originally Posted by maddhugan

I was about to buy 3 Radion Pros but when I looked at the power factor for it, I changed my mind. The power factor for radion pro is 0.54? That's bad.

Thinking about Hydra 52 now. any suggestions or thoughts?