Ecotech Radion Gen 3

[DSP]

It's just seems like a lot for one fixture. Ecotech said one gen 3 could cover a 93 gallon cube with the dimensions of 30x30x24, do you think it could?

If one Gen 3 pro covers my 36x24x18 tank really good then it should definately cover a 90 cube with no problems, My radion is right at 70 percent now and idk if I can go any higher lol there very powerful fixtures and the only led I would ever consider buying.

 

[DSP]

And like the others mentioned the programming is what really separates them from all the other leds on the market, There customer service is the best in the game to, Couldn't ask for anything more.

 

[DSP]

Cool that sounds very nice. Is the program to control the lights easy to operate?

Pretty easy to operate and very very easy and quick to operate using the reeflink, You can change any settings on the radion from anywhere using a smartphone it's amazing!

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I will not be able to afford the reef link for a while.

 

[Zachary.gingell]

You can still do all the programming on a laptop though they include a USB cord with the fixture to do just that and it is a quite long USB cord so if you can't afford the reef link right now its no biggy

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Ok cool. I think I might pull the trigger and order this light sometime this week.

 

[mfinn]

You can still do all the programming on a laptop though they include a USB cord with the fixture to do just that and it is a quite long USB cord

This is a pretty important fact. You do need to hook up a computer/laptop to your lights. Having them mounted over the tank at the time is a good idea.


The first usb cord I got with my first Radions had a cord that was only about 6-1/2'.
I ended up ordering a longer cord from them that was 15' long.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Is there any USB cords that are about 45 feet long? I only have a PC at my house and it is not close to my room

 

[mfinn]

Is there any USB cords that are about 45 feet long? I only have a PC at my house and it is not close to my room

OK, this might be a deal killer for you, unless you are willing to move your pc closer to set up the light and do changes to the schedule. But that sounds like a huge pita.
Unless you have a laptop.
I am so happy with my Radions, I have no problem recommending them to you, but if they aren't going to work for you, you may want to look at another fixture.
You really need to have the computer within 15' of the light. Even if you were planning on getting the reeflink unit, I would still say you need to be close, at least at first.
I haven't heard of a 45' cable. You could contact EcoTech and see if they can make one for you or have somewhere you can buy one.

Sorry about that.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Ok. Would a decent laptop be as to handle the programming? I could borrow my cousins because he doesn't use it.

 

[mfinn]

a good laptop for work fine I use a 5 year old MacBook

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

The laptop that I will be able to use is a decent one, not to great though. I hope it will be able to handle it

 

[mfinn]

The laptop that I will be able to use is a decent one, not to great though. I hope it will be able to handle it

The computer itself doesn't have to be much, just be able to run Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
The software is cloud based, so it's not like you need a new processor or a ton of ram.

Like I said I'm using a older MacBook and it works great.

You might want to see if you could buy/trade something for permanent use of the laptop.

 

[mfinn]

The laptop that I will be able to use is a decent one, not to great though. I hope it will be able to handle it

Put it this way, using reeflink as a router/gateway ( hope that's the right tech term) you can use a smart phone to run the ESL which is the app to control the lights.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

What if I'm not able to afford the reef link immediately? Hopefully i can find a job over summer and get some extra cash to buy it.

 

[mfinn]

What if I'm not able to afford the reef link immediately? Hopefully i can find a job over summer and get some extra cash to buy it.

reeflink is only for using the wireless feature. You don't need it to control the lights. The only reason I brought up reeflink again was to show you that a powerful new computer isn't needed for the Radion. That, with reeflink it only takes something as wimpy as a smart phone ( compared to a pc) to control it.

 

[rockinzebra457]

I have a regular laptop which is nothing special and like 4 years old and it works fine to program my radion. You should be golden!

 

[Mike O'Brien]

You can also program the light at your PC before mounting it. Though you will certainly want to play with it more than that, so the laptop will be the way to go. But just wanted to clarify that the light does hold it's program when it gets unplugged so bringing it to the PC is probably easier than bring the PC to the light.

 

[mfinn]

You can also program the light at your PC before mounting it. Though you will certainly want to play with it more than that, so the laptop will be the way to go. But just wanted to clarify that the light does hold it's program when it gets unplugged so bringing it to the PC is probably easier than bring the PC to the light.

Yes, I suppose that would be easier. lol

Just not something to have to depend on.
If the OP can get his cousins laptop, The Radion would be a good match.

Not so if he only has a desktop 45' away.

 

[Mike O'Brien]

You can also just buy a USB cable of appropriate length. Doesn't have to be from ecotech. eBay has plenty of them.