Can anyone compare the Radion and SOL?

AliciaP · May 28, 2012

I want to purchase the cheaper of the two of course, but do I miss out on anything? It seems like they are both awesome... but the price tag of the Radion scares me a little bit to be honest. And conning my husband into the idea that we "need" it just isn't working, so I'm leaning towards the Sol with a controller and it really sounds like they are close to the same thing. Has anyone seen better growth with one rather than the other? Is one really not as functional/controllable as the other? And how many would I need? I think I would be fine with only 2, my tank is only 4ft long (4x2x2). Am I right?

Thanks for the help!

dsmhero · May 28, 2012

What are your plans for the tank? What kind of coral?

jtgordon20 · May 28, 2012

I'm no expert but maybe this will help, along with people chiming in and clarifying more.
I believe AI gets the higher par but the Radion has more spectrum.
Bump for more help for this guy.

Alkamist · May 28, 2012

jtgordon20 said:
I'm no expert but maybe this will help, along with people chiming in and clarifying more.
I believe AI gets the higher par but the Radion has more spectrum.
Bump for more help for this guy.

Yup that is what i have heard as well, AIs will give you crazy growth, while radion will give you crazy color.

Bandomo · May 28, 2012

I actually run both LED fixtures. In my honest opinion, I would recommend the Radions strictly because I'm able to achieve much better colors in comparison to the AI's. My favias and SPS were really struggling under AI's, total opposite of what I'm experiencing with the Radions. The "full spectrum" makes a world of a difference, in my honest opinion. If you're tight on cash, I would hold off for the new AI Verga, which should be released in the next couple months. The next level of importance is UV, which will be included in the AI Verga. At that point, the Verga will have "full spectrum" + "UV", just another step in the continuous improvement of this very new but effective technology. HTH's

cparka23 · May 28, 2012

I'm pretty sure the folks at AI call it the Vega. You're naming another market altogether. LOL

roryb24 · May 28, 2012

Bandomo said:
I actually run both LED fixtures. In my honest opinion, I would recommend the Radions strictly because I'm able to achieve much better colors in comparison to the AI's. My favias and SPS were really struggling under AI's, total opposite of what I'm experiencing with the Radions. The "full spectrum" makes a world of a difference, in my honest opinion. If you're tight on cash, I would hold off for the new AI Verga, which should be released in the next couple months. The next level of importance is UV, which will be included in the AI Verga. At that point, the Verga will have "full spectrum" + "UV", just another step in the continuous improvement of this very new but effective technology. HTH's

you said you run both of them?! can u plz post pics of your tanks with them like a pic with the ais and then a diffrent one with the radions??????

ghostman · May 28, 2012

I've had both, and agree with much of the above. I had great growth with AIs, but poor color to my eye. The radions had better color, but less growth. The controller with the AIs is super easy to use, the radions require a PC interface which needs some better software. IMO, you would need at least 2 radions, and at least 3 sols. It won't be long till the Vega appears, and the new lenses from Ecotech. It may be smart to be patient and wait a month or so to get the improved products, or buy used from someone else looking to upgrade.

Poseidon · May 28, 2012

I'll be keeping an eye on this one, as I am facing the same dilemma. I keep going back and forth...my tank is 36x24 footprint, and I think one Radion, or 2 AI's? (My plans include areas of lesser light for Chalice/Acans and areas of greater light for SPS.)

AliciaP · May 28, 2012

I am only keeping softies and a very few LPS (at least I think that's what my hammer coral is) If I can buy the cheaper ones, get good coral growth and sell frags to my LFS (or friends near by) I can hopefully save the money for the radions. My corals don't have much color as it is right now anyway AND my ballast just broke for one of my MH, so I was hoping to switch to one LED fixture now, and maybe a month later switch the other MH (or wait until it's new bulb time and just not buy a bulb, and buy LED fixture instead).

I only started looking into the Sol because at the LFS that I visit often, they have them over their tanks, and everything looks great.

Thank you for everyone's input, care to share photos?

drtrash · May 28, 2012

I think if you are going to be light on LPS I would do radion. I have 2 AI over a 36" with more than enough coverage. I think the Vega will be the light to have if radion does not step up. Radion is incredible color, control not so much at least from a non geek. if you can get a deal on sol blue and then upgrade when vega comes out diff story. I added a supplemental color LED to make up for color hole (Violet, red , cyan) big difference

AliciaP · Jun 5, 2012

If I do go with the AI lights, my husband is going to try his hand at DIY LEDs to supplement the reds and greens. He has set them up in his computer case, so he thinks he would enjoy making it. I might be able to get a deal on used AI sol, two of them and mounting rails and controller for $600. Good deal? I would look them over and see them on and working controls first, but sounds like a decent deal.

thewackyreefer · Jun 5, 2012

Poseidon said:
I'll be keeping an eye on this one, as I am facing the same dilemma. I keep going back and forth...my tank is 36x24 footprint, and I think one Radion, or 2 AI's? (My plans include areas of lesser light for Chalice/Acans and areas of greater light for SPS.)

You'll need 2 Radion's. I have the same size tank.