Ecotech Radion

[martinmcnally]

Originally Posted by lastlight

The Phoenix will blow the sol out of the water but will of course cost more. What's the Canadian msrp on the sol here? I see 399 but looks to be the US price since I've seen sig higher figures from vendors here?

MSRP is $545.50

However they do not have minimum price requirements like EcoTech so you will find them less than that price as they are often on various specials.

[martinmcnally]

When it comes to comparing AI Sol and Radion here are the big factors in my opinion from testing both of the units here.

Color Choice:
Radion has complete control over the color output with full RGB spectrium. That means for instance when its sunrise the radion can put out a nice early morning yellowish color and slowly bring that up to mid day as you would experience on an actual reef. AI Sol can do some manipulation of the color but only with the limitations of which units you purchased (White and Super Blue). Radion definitely has more control on the light effects however their first version of their software is pretty poor however should improve soon.

Light Coverage:
Here I think the AI Sol wins, its LEDs are more spread out giving better spread throughout the tank. Radions light output is concentrated mostly underneath the relatively small LED pods.

Added Extras:
Radion can put your EcoTech pumps into night mode and feedling mode etc. For people that do that. Also compatible with the EcoTech battery backup.

Wireless Control:
Contrary to popular believe NEITHER of these units can currently be controlled wirelessly from your computer. The wireless control in the Radion is between the Radion and other EcoTech products such as the pumps. Not to a computer. AI Sol is working on a wireless control module for the AI Sol but its not available yet. Some Info On that Here. AI Sol does have an optional wireless controller. As for wireless between Radions and AI Sols. The Radion wins. It can talk to its neighbours where as the AI Sols are wired together (however hardly a major disadvantage)

Looks:
Radion is following the Apple look with their polished black glass. AI Sol is just a little further behind but still looking pretty stylish. AI Sol is about twice as thick as a radion. AI Sol is coming out with a new black model right away.

Mounting:
Radion is only a hanging style, where as AI Sol is hanging and also available with some pretty inexpensive rails and legs.

LEDs:
While they are both CREE, the Radion has 11 more than AI Sol. Plus the Radion has Cool White, Blue, Royal Blue, Red and Green where as AI Sol is just Cool White and Blue.

Well thats about all I can think of right now They are both excellent LED fixtures.

[Aqua-Digital]

just add my comment as a hobbyist who has tried both

On my 24 inch cube I needed 2 Ai Sols and even then there was no light overspill. If you want to see back up of this please look at my tank build thread

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...t=60988&page=8

Things move on fast in lighting in 18 months!

On the same tank I am running 1 Radion with slight light overspill.

When you take into account the need for 2 Ai for one Radion the price no longer becomes a bargaining factor between the two

Yes i have seen one SOL on a 24 inch cube but the lamp was high and there was no real value at sand level.

Just my 2 cents.

[MarkoD]

Did you have more par with 2 sol over one radion

Originally Posted by Aqua-Digital

just add my comment as a hobbyist who has tried both

On my 24 inch cube I needed 2 Ai Sols and even then there was no light overspill. If you want to see back up of this please look at my tank build thread

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...t=60988&page=8

Things move on fast in lighting in 18 months!

On the same tank I am running 1 Radion with slight light overspill.

When you take into account the need for 2 Ai for one Radion the price no longer becomes a bargaining factor between the two

Yes i have seen one SOL on a 24 inch cube but the lamp was high and there was no real value at sand level.

Just my 2 cents.

[Aqua-Digital]

I never measured it but visually there is a difference, the radion puts out more depth of light into the tank.

My green slimer that is at least 18" down now has full polyp extension where as before it was very half hearted.

The other noticeable point is that I always got a disco ball effect with the Ai's on the sand bed, and with the Radion this is non existant even with the different colour LED's

I went from Ai to pac sun and then onto Radion, in less than a week there is a massive improvement in my SPS colouration.

Ai served me well, but times move on and I do believe radion now has the leading edge here. But as with all products head to head, beauty is in the eye of the beholder

[Bill@IA]

Michael,

I look forward to your progress report. As I have been following along for awhile, there is a noticeable difference in your aquarium on YouTube.
Under the Aqua Illuminations, your tank looked amazing right up to the point you switched to the Pacific Sun. Your posted pictures, the day you switched, really showed what the AI SOL Whites had done up to this point, so I was looking forward to the PacSun taking it further.....but the most recent pics don't confirm any progress was made here. The tank doesn't look as good now as it did before the switch, IMHO.
I hope your Ecotech Radion can restore your tank to its former glory.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Aqua-Digital

I never measured it but visually there is a difference, the radion puts out more depth of light into the tank.

My green slimer that is at least 18" down now has full polyp extension where as before it was very half hearted.

The other noticeable point is that I always got a disco ball effect with the Ai's on the sand bed, and with the Radion this is non existant even with the different colour LED's

I went from Ai to pac sun and then onto Radion, in less than a week there is a massive improvement in my SPS colouration.

Ai served me well, but times move on and I do believe radion now has the leading edge here. But as with all products head to head, beauty is in the eye of the beholder

[Aqua-Digital]

The biggest change has been colour, under both Ai and PS all I could get was green, but now my hairy acro under Radion has gone a turquoise blue and my birds nest is going from brown to green with pink tips. My other colonies are also showing signs of blues and purples, the colours I could not get out of either the last two fixtures.

Every tank is different and every tank will show different results but for me the radion is showing the most in terms of coral colour and I can only think this is down to having full spectrum now.

[Bill@IA]

You are right every tank is different. After 2 months, the Pink on my Birdsnest, the Orange/Purple on my Pavona maldivensis, and the Blues on my Acropora tenuis, are superb. But then again I am using the Aqua Illumination SOL BLUE, you were using the AI SOL White.
Looking forward to seeing more from your aquarium. Whatever it is, your results after only one week, sound encouraging....and your fish look terrific.

Originally Posted by Aqua-Digital

The biggest change has been colour, under both Ai and PS all I could get was green, but now my hairy acro under Radion has gone a turquoise blue and my birds nest is going from brown to green with pink tips. My other colonies are also showing signs of blues and purples, the colours I could not get out of either the last two fixtures.

Every tank is different and every tank will show different results but for me the radion is showing the most in terms of coral colour and I can only think this is down to having full spectrum now.