LED lighting

[Nano]

the sol has thunderstorm programs as well and can be pared up with lots of different controllers, if your going for led, imo I'm on the SOL's team. I just bought one and I love it so far, there is no red or green leds, but thats an easy cheap retrofit if its really necessary. a couple of people have done threads on here comparing the sol and radion side by side, and its a very close race, in fact lots of people vote the sol the winner in some threads. I agree with shelps, the reds and green eat up a lot of power in terms of wattage comparison. theres a lot of debates on which is really the better fixture, but I still feel the sol is the winner, if you could do 3 solls compared to 2 radions and save half a thousand dollars, and get the same if not better results, why not? and like I said if the reds and greens are a must, its an easy retrofit, and probably pretty cheap, and Martin at modularled.ca could hook you up no problems.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by nanomano

, if you could do 3 solls compared to 2 radions and save half a thousand dollars, and get the same if not better results, why not?

for me, the extra pays for the styling (because that's all you're really paying extra for )

[Nano]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

for me, the extra pays for the styling (because that's all you're really paying extra for )

I hear ya, they are nice units. personal preference in that case I suppose

[Reef Pilot]

Not sure how you want to mount your LEDs over your new tank. But if you have a tight space like inside a canopy, the Radions might be better. As I understand it, the AI SOLs need 12 inches height above the water, while the Radions work fine at 6 - 8 inches above the water.

In my case, mine are mounted 7 inches above the water surface, and still plenty of room for rails and cooling. I made my own mounting (cheap and easy) from Home Depot parts, and allows for quick removal for cleaning, as well as adjustment fore and aft.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...t=81535&page=2

[sphelps]

In terms of styling alone both the sol and radion fail. They look best within some kind of canopy, and when simply just hang above a tank they look pretty ridiculous. They do however look pretty decent with the L type mounts a few people are making now that extend from behind the tank but the stock mounts on the Radions in particular with the four points of cable per fixture is nothing close to something that would be considered style. Even the fact they are modular meaning multiple fixtures per tank is typically a negative style point.

Also comparing the two I don't see much difference is style anyway, the sol is only 3/4" thicker but is narrower and comes in both black or white.





AI is also releasing a new hanging kit for their new vega model, not 100% sure it will work with the sols though. If you can get away with only two modules this looks pretty good.

[cordeiro]

Well the tank we are going with is a cube and is only 24x24x24 I believe so I think I would only be needing one unless I am incorrect there, and we are going to be having a canopy but that doesn't matter as my husband will be building it so its not too much abut the appearance I'm just torn cause the more I read about then sol the more i think that one however my husband needs more conveincing
Does the sol have a sunset sunrise option? If I do go with the sol do I need a whole myher controller separate?

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by cordeiro

Well the tank we are going with is a cube and is only 24x24x24 I believe so I think I would only be needing one unless I am incorrect there, and we are going to be having a canopy but that doesn't matter as my husband will be building it so its not too much abut the appearance I'm just torn cause the more I read about then sol the more i think that one however my husband needs more conveincing
Does the sol have a sunset sunrise option? If I do go with the sol do I need a whole myher controller separate?

You'll have to look into how a single sol would do on a tank that size, if you need 2 sols for then it's kind of a no brainer vote for the Radion. The AI will do dimming for sunrise and sunset, the radions will probably be able to shoot a little more red in at these times for a little effect. The sols will need an external controller, either the simple one made by AI which will likely do everything you want or you can use an aquarium controller like profilux which can control the rest of your tank to.

If you can use a single sol that extra $400 will make a good chunk on a starter profilux kit.

[cordeiro]

Hmmm so in the end my hubby may just win and get his radion! If I would need 2 sols I would definitely go with one radion that's a no brainer to me

[sphelps]

hows the hubby in the DIY area?

[Nano]

I would for sure talk to martin at modular he can make sure you dont buy too much or too little light for what you need.