AI Prime 16HD or Red Sea ReefLED 50

[RSF]

I have a 55 gallon tank. Right now it's fish only, but I want to start looking into corals. I am torn between getting 2 AI Prime 16HD or 2 Red Sea ReefLED 50.

I have heard there are issues with the AI fan noise and with the Red Sea power supply getting very hot.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Fishko]

I have a 55 gallon tank. Right now it's fish only, but I want to start looking into corals. I am torn between getting 2 AI Prime 16HD or 2 Red Sea ReefLED 50.

I have heard there are issues with the AI fan noise and with the Red Sea power supply getting very hot.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I have two ai primes they are the older kind and they are dead silent. They ai primes also have really good control. You can mimic the abs plus program that mimics. the ecotech radion lights

 

[RSF]

I have two ai primes they are the older kind and they are dead silent. They ai primes also have really good control. You can mimic the abs plus program that mimics. the ecotech radion lights

Thank you, Fishko!

 

[Mikeht11]

I don’t have experience with the new ai primes but the old ones rock. Only experience with the red sea is setting some up at the lfs....3 times. Long story, but not impressed with the app and the fact that they have batteries that need replaced sooner than one would hope. Batteries you say? Yep, batteries. Poor design if you ask me. Especially for something that was “tested for years”

 

[Mattt]

I recently upgraded from a last Gen Prime to a new 32HD and both of them are dead quiet most of the time. If the fans kick on full you can hear the faintest hum.

 

[SDK]

I would go with the Primes. If for no other reason, just for the proven track record. I shy away from being an early adopter with life support equipment.

I have an AI Prime that is well over a year old. It works flawlessly and is silent....

 

[RSF]

Wow! Heavily on the AI Prime side. Looks like I'll be going that way. Thank you all! (I love this forum)

 

[Waynerock]

Got 3 16’s on a reefer 250 love em my buddy had the 99w Red Sea and they are super nice but a little too purple for me

I have a 55 gallon tank. Right now it's fish only, but I want to start looking into corals. I am torn between getting 2 AI Prime 16HD or 2 Red Sea ReefLED 50.

I have heard there are issues with the AI fan noise and with the Red Sea power supply getting very hot.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Jesterrace]

I would go with the Primes. If for no other reason, just for the proven track record. I shy away from being an early adopter with life support equipment.

I have an AI Prime that is well over a year old. It works flawlessly and is silent....

That is exactly my reason for giving the nod to AI over Red Sea as well. AI has had years and several generations of lights to build it's reputation. Red Sea is a total newbie at this stage and we haven't seen what potential longevity issues they might have. Not saying AI is perfect or that Red Sea is terrible, it's just that Red Sea doesn't offer any real advantage over AI at this point (roughly the same price and similar specs).

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I would consider kessil 160 if you can swing it, other wise I still like the primes. I’ve had both and like kessil better, but ends up being more costly because of the controller.
The primes are nice but have poor WiFi reception. I can’t get mine to connect when far from the router.

 

[mbmartin06]

FWW, I bought a new prime and installed it the 3 days ago. I do not notice any noise from the fan although my kids say I’m deaf. I call it selective hearing but anyhow...I have no experience with the Red Sea.

 

[Lerequin]

I have a 55 gallon tank. Right now it's fish only, but I want to start looking into corals. I am torn between getting 2 AI Prime 16HD or 2 Red Sea ReefLED 50.

I have heard there are issues with the AI fan noise and with the Red Sea power supply getting very hot.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi, I found your post as I have exactly the same question.
I found this very interesting long term test video from Reef Belon (French) comparing the Reefled 90 to the Hydra 32.
His conclusion is:
- the Red Sea app is not as good as AI’s but offers some sort of power-down alert
- the ReefLed has a purple render (more UV)
- the hydra has a blue render
- The reef led produced slightly more SPS growth

Another interesting video from Nathan Willard about the Prime HD 16 and his settings recommendations. What I noticed is the “disco-ball” effect.
Look in the comments as he compares the AI Prime HD to the ReefLed 50.