AI vs Ecotec vs kessil

[okaqua]

Ecotec radions
Aquaillumination Hydra/primes
Or Kessil tuna blues
Which one do you all prefer and can you tell me why?

 

[okaqua]

Any info on Maxspect and Gesmenn leds is also appreciated

 

[jsker]

Ecotech and AI are the same company. I like and have the hydra 26 hd's and like them very much. I looked at the Kessils and again went with the hydra 's for the reason that the hydras have there own app and I can control them with out buying an extra module. Also the penetration of the hydras are great.

the Gesmenn LEDs are the bomb but cost is a bit high.

 

[EriksOasis]

I went with the aqua illumination prime hd which is more than enough light for my jbj 45. Reason I went with it was cheap price. No need for extra wireless accessories. And the look sleek design great light spectrum.

 

[Caliguy1983]

If you want to set it and forget it go with the kessils. If you like more fine tuning look into the AI. I went back to T5 with reef brites after 7 months with pure kessils. I got great color but SLOW growth.

 

[Whyteboy]

I have heard of issues with AI's losing connection to wifi. Anyone have these issues?

 

[EriksOasis]

I have never had issues with the light not running it’s schedule as of now and that I know of. The one issue I ha move faced was opening the app and it times out a time or two before I can view my settings control. More annoying than and issue to me and should be able to be fixed with a software update.

 

[theMeat]

...

 

[EriksOasis]

That very well could be the issue as my router is upstairs which is like at least 50 feet away and it’s only the router the cable company provides.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I'm getting some decent sps growth and the coraline is taking off under my A160 in the 14g nano. Only light I've had so I can't compare but I'm happy with it. Putting twin 160s over my new 35 cube.

 

[theMeat]

I have heard of issues with AI's losing connection to wifi. Anyone have these issues?

Their ability to capture signal is not strong. If you have a wooden canopy it can be a problem. A simple cheap wifi extender in the canopy is an easy fix. Would suspect people with random unknown issues with one or more of their lights it's for this very reason.

Kesills are nice and look really cool. The other two choices are better, and offer more even spread. If I had an open top rimless with no canopy I'd probably want kessils, but the corals would want either of the other 2 because they don't care what your room looks like

 

[atticus]

I run the eco tech xr30 on both my tanks and have had great growth. Two reasons I purchased them was one got them in a deal and two the controllability.

 

[okaqua]

What about t-5 and AI combo???

 

[Fishfinder]

Look into reef breeders, they are good lights too

 

[Radman73]

What size tank?

 

[okaqua]

Just a 29 looking to make it sps softie tank.

 

[Fishfinder]

I don't want to deter you but people usually don't have SPS and softy tanks. They usually have different requirements

 

[Radman73]

Just a 29 looking to make it sps softie tank.

My only experience with aquarium lighting is DIY LED's and Kessil. I highly recommend you see each fixture you're considering in person. Each light will grow and support corals just fine so much will come down to personal taste.

I absolutely love the Kessil shimmer, it reminds me almost exactly of what the ocean floor can look like at shallow depths scuba diving. It also most closely reflects the shimmer of metal halide lighting. My A360 was, and still is, hanging over my rimless 60 cube. Aesthetically, it can't be beat IMO. It provided plenty of light and I was able to successfully grow softies, LPS, and SPS just fine. Because Kessil is a single point light source I did experience shading on SPS. It didn't seem to affect health or growth. I also have 2 AP700's over a 220 but it just got fish in it this past weekend and corals won't be in for at least another few months. With the AP's the dual pucks should make the shading a moot point. Kessil also is great as it's largely a set and forget type of light. They don't really give you too much control over spectrum, and that's a good thing. You can adjust color temp and brightness(The AP700's let you control red and green channels too, but not sure to what point.) Kessil says that they deliver the proper spectrum for coral growth regardless of color temp chosen and, honestly, the results of real world hobbyist aquariums seem to bear that out. In your case, I'd start with one A160 and plan on adding a second if you start to experience shading concerns with SPS. Or, if you think you'll upgrade at some point, start with an A360 and upgrade when you have shading lol!

I can't speak to AI as I don't recall seeing those in person, but I was turned off of the ecotech lights due to the lack of shimmer and the disco ball effect where I could see individual colors reflected on rocks. Perhaps they've fixed that with the latest generation. This is personal taste though. They're great lights proven to grow coral. The bonus is they don't have nearly the shading concerns as the Kessil lights. It's a trade off and why I can't stress enough to do some leg work of driving to multiple stores if necessary to see the lights in person. Perhaps there are hobbyists around you willing to show you their lights as well.

You can't go wrong with any of your choices unless you end up unhappy with any of the aforementioned drawbacks. See them in person first and go from there. Good luck!

 

[Jamie7907]

I have each and each has its good points. Kessils are one of my least favorites for a number of reasons namely spectrum and lack of controllability. Kessils are great for a lot of lps, soft corals and good as supplemental lighting for blue light loving sps but never as a standalone light. AI I really like because they are made by Ecotech so if there ever are any issues you will get great customer support. AIs have a great price point and controllability however the wireless loss of connectivity is a real issue and I've had all of my lights do it at one point or another. It's an easy fix usually just switch over to the apex and shut power off for a bit and then it signs right back in. Also I've noticed that the way it works for me at least only one or two of the lights will lose connectivity and when they do they don't lose their programming they just don't accept new inputs. Say you want to turn your blues up to show off a new coral or turn all your lights down but your UV so you can find your new coral that got lost, you open the app make the changes and 4/6 lights change the other 2 just stay on the schedule as programmed. Geisseman are my least favorite. If this generation of leds was the best they could do they need to go back to the drawing board because all you are buying is the name. The rainbows an the sand bed, lack of color mixing and mediocre UI poor build quality make these lights more on par with the maxspect razor. Sure you may grow a few corals with it but at the price point you could do much better. Ecotech radions are probably the best mass manufactured led out right now. The price point is high though, I can get two AI Hydra 26 hd's for the price of one xr30. Where the radions excel is spread, controllability and mounting options. The need for a reeflink is kind of a downer but makes things so easy. Like many wireless electronics the reeflink can lose connectivity from time to time though I've never seen this happen unless you are close to 40 devices connected to one reeflink. The color spectrum, ease of use lack of shadowing found with other leds makes the radion the best light for the money imo.

 

[Jamie7907]

One other thing, personally I'd get 2 of the xr15s instead of one xr30. It's the same price for lights alone needing extra mounting hardware drives it up a bit but worth it imo.