EcoTech Radion LED Light question.

[FocusFin]

I saw a demo of these yesterday and have started to rethink my plan of purchasing two of the AI Sol units. The color combos and programmability make them pretty attractive as well as the light spread per unit.

My question to those who have purchased them or to those who purchased the AIs is, would you do it differently. In other words, for those who bought the Radions, was the difference in price worth it and for those who purchased the AI units, in hindsight, would you have purchased the Radions for the difference.

I realize there will be some built-in bias and I'm not trying to start a Vortech vs Tunze style battle here lol, I'm just trying to decide whether the difference in cost is warranted and whether the "gimmicks" will quickly wane.

I was looking at buying two AIs which is almost below the minimum I need for my size of tank (110g tall) or two Radions which is ample for my footprint.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

[NanoSF]

For the old price of the AI I wish I bought the Radion, but for the new price I would stick to AI. Three AI is cheaper than two Radion. I think you get better spread with 3 AI than 2 Radion. The AI pucks are spaced out more and yet give less spread it seems. My guess is that means they penetrate better on the AI. I have heard this has been proven, but that is just rumour. Therefore on a 110 gallon tall I would want the penetration factor and go for 3 AI. My 2 cents.

[FocusFin]

For the old price of the AI I wish I bought the Radion, but for the new price I would stick to AI. Three AI is cheaper than two Radion. I think you get better spread with 3 AI than 2 Radion. The AI pucks are spaced out more and yet give less spread it seems. My guess is that means they penetrate better on the AI. I have heard this has been proven, but that is just rumour. Therefore on a 110 gallon tall I would want the penetration factor and go for 3 AI. My 2 cents.

Thanks,

The brace in the middle will obstruct a third unit unless I line them up lengthwise and split the third in half over the brace, which might possibly work, however the cost saving of three AIs vs two Radions is only $150.00 when you factor in the controller so I'd opt for the Radion in that instance.

I know that directly beneath the AIs the par reading is much higher than the Radions so I'm going to read up a little more on that.

[JetJumper]

I know that directly beneath the AIs the par reading is much higher than the Radions so I'm going to read up a little more on that.

Thats mostly because the AI uses 40 and 70 degree optics where as the Radion has no optics at all on the LEDs.  Just the base lens on the LED itself which is usually around 130 degree.  Hence the reason for greater spread on the tank as a whole, but less PAR at the bottom do to no focused light like the AI.

[ray]

Hi your prices appera to be of a bit.MAP for radion is $825 C plus HS,AI MAP is $399 US and controller approx $85 plus HST.

Ray

[FocusFin]

Hi your prices appera to be of a bit.MAP for radion is $825 C plus HS,AI MAP is $399 US and controller approx $85 plus HST.Ray

I was quoted $1050 for two AI units plus the controller therefore:

$465 X 3 + $120 = $1515   vs  $825 X 2 = $1650

[FocusFin]

Thats mostly because the AI uses 40 and 70 degree optics where as the Radion has no optics at all on the LEDs.  Just the base lens on the LED itself which is usually around 130 degree.  Hence the reason for greater spread on the tank as a whole, but less PAR at the bottom do to no focused light like the AI.

Yeah that's what I figured. I dug this up which shows the comparison at 6 inches above the waterline which is where I'd hope to have them.

The par on the AI directly below is substantially higher but drops off significantly as you move a few inches away from the unit which is why three of them would be ideal, just not very practical given the center brace.

AquaIllumination
Center: 640
6" Left: 240
12" Forward: 103


Ecotech Radion
Center: 395
6" Left: 226
12" Forward: 158

These numbers were at 18 inches deep.

[redbelly]

I read this review for the Par numbers and there were a few problems with the results imo that some people I am sure picked up on and others did not.
First off, the AI were mounted in the direction they were intended to me mounted at, the radion are mounted 90 degrees from the direction intended.
Second a quick glance at the numbers makes you think its the readings at center then 6 inches out, then 12" out. But thats not the case. Its 6" to the left/right then 12" in the opposite direction. The PAR readings at 12" left to right on the AI were so low they were included in the results posted on the forum. This is noted in the text provided of course!
IMO a proper test for the PAR requires a full out graph of the readings at different positions. But a decent quick test like the one doen should have included 6" left/right, 12" left right and 6" front/back and 12" front back.

I am not bashing or promoting one light over the other here at all!
They are both great units.
But I have read those test results when they were first published and found the test to be a bit lacking in a few areas to provide reasonable results for the three lights tested.

[FocusFin]

I read this review for the Par numbers and there were a few problems with the results imo that some people I am sure picked up on and others did not.
First off, the AI were mounted in the direction they were intended to me mounted at, the radion are mounted 90 degrees from the direction intended.
Second a quick glance at the numbers makes you think its the readings at center then 6 inches out, then 12" out. But thats not the case. Its 6" to the left/right then 12" in the opposite direction. The PAR readings at 12" left to right on the AI were so low they were included in the results posted on the forum. This is noted in the text provided of course!
IMO a proper test for the PAR requires a full out graph of the readings at different positions. But a decent quick test like the one doen should have included 6" left/right, 12" left right and 6" front/back and 12" front back.

For my purposes this is indeed relevant because two AIs should provide comparable PAR at 6 inches out (240 vs 226) which is the edge of my tank. In other words, nowhere on a 90gallon footprint would you be able to measure beyond 6 inches anyway - if two units are placed lengthwise - so two AIs should be sufficient.

[Malyon18]

I purchased my AI's back in Feb/March and have been very pleased with them so far. I have 2 mounted on a 90g (48x18) lengthwise and everything is very happy in my tank. Yes the controller is kinda finicky to setup but once you have it dialled in there is no more touching it. I do agree the Radion's are sexier looking then the AI's but in my case I never really see them unless I am standing above my tank and I never really find myself looking at the lights, prefer to look inside the tank. I did swap out the stock 40 optics for 70 degree optics and have them mounted about 7'' above the waterline and have no noticeable spotlighting. Anyways if I could do it all over again I would and I would by the AI's at the new price hahaha