First Tank...Radion? Kessil? Hydra?

[Slayvoff]

What is the best bang for your buck? I really want top quality but I also need two and I don't really know if I want to spend $1600 just on two Radions. I mean, are they worth it when you could get 2 Kessil 170E's for $500?

Assume the tank is a Red Sea Reefer 250

 

[CoralReefer1019]

what LED you go with I would also supplement with T5

 

[Slayvoff]

what LED you go with I would also supplement with T5

Why is that? Even with 2 LEDs you'd need a supplement?

 

[OREGONIC]

I like my hydra 26 hd on my 170. Mostly have lps but have had good luck with a few sps.

 

[WesleyC]

what LED you go with I would also supplement with T5

What CoralReefer1019 said. Point light source create shadow. Coral is going to have weird growth. You need some non-point source to supplement the point source LEDs.

I use Kessil myself because I don't like the other LED that have multi-color LED spreading out. They create what people call the disco ball effect. Some people don't care about it, some don't even see it. lol.

 

[WesleyC]

Why is that? Even with 2 LEDs you'd need a supplement?

Yea, the problem is not the brightness. It's the coverage. Point light source have strong shadow. Let me show you my tank with T5 turned off. Give me a minute to upload.

 

[WesleyC]

I shot this video earlier today with just Kessil A360W-E. You can see the light can't even reach behind certain ridges.


The video was actually chasing a tiny pod that was crawling on the coral. I wanted to see if I could identify what it was. You'll have to watch it in HD and full screen to see it.

 

[Slayvoff]

I shot this video earlier today with just Kessil A360W-E. You can see the light can't even reach behind certain ridges.


The video was actually chasing a tiny pod that was crawling on the coral. I wanted to see if I could identify what it was. You'll have to watch it in HD and full screen to see it.

interesting. so a T5 would get the light on the underside of objects in the tank? Can you put them on the same cycle/power level etc as like the Radion which has the sunrise/sunset features etc?

So then I wonder if on a 250 a single Radion xr30w would work with 1-2 T5s?

 

[WesleyC]

Because T5 is a very long light source, it is much easier to have the light bounced around everything in the tank and light everything up.

I put mine in the same cycle with my LED with sunrise/sunset timing, but they are controlled by a Apex controller. I'm not sure if Radion would have some similar feature to control other lights.

Regarding on how much light, that's always a tough question. If you want to keep very dense SPS, you would need a lot more light. If you just keeping soft coral or just fish, almost any light will do.

Another factor you have to consider is that how you are going to mount all the lights together. They will look quite ugly if you just put certain light clipping on and certain light hanging together. Think about that first.

 

[Slayvoff]

Because T5 is a very long light source, it is much easier to have the light bounced around everything in the tank and light everything up.

I put mine in the same cycle with my LED with sunrise/sunset timing, but they are controlled by a Apex controller. I'm not sure if Radion would have some similar feature to control other lights.

Regarding on how much light, that's always a tough question. If you want to keep very dense SPS, you would need a lot more light. If you just keeping soft coral or just fish, almost any light will do.

Another factor you have to consider is that how you are going to mount all the lights together. They will look quite ugly if you just put certain light clipping on and certain light hanging together. Think about that first.

Good point. No idea how I would integrate the T5s on like an arm with a Radion or something...

 

[WesleyC]

hehe. right?!

My suggestion for a clean and neat fish tank like the Red Sea Reefer 250, is to use a couple or a few of the Radion. The reason I choose Radion is that it is not a pinpoint light source. Each unit is 2 patches of light. It can have pretty good coverage in 1 dimension. If you get 2 of them, having the 4 patches of lights in a square pattern, it should eliminate quite a bit of shadow. Never be as good as T5, but good enough in most cases.

The only draw back is just the disco ball effect, if you don't mind about it.

 

[WesleyC]

By the way, did you watch the BRS TV about the Radion? BRS TV have a lot of good video covering lot of frequently asked topics. Here is the one for Radion LED:

 

[Slayvoff]

By the way, did you watch the BRS TV about the Radion? BRS TV have a lot of good video covering lot of frequently asked topics. Here is the one for Radion LED:

Yeah I was watching this. Interesting stuff, that's what sold me on the light because of the user interface functionality. Just so expensive to get 2 and for my first tank. Guess I'd need to see Radions in person to really see how the disco ball effect looks in real life.

 

[WesleyC]

The guy who make the BRS tv can't stand the disco ball effect neither. That's why their BRS 160 uses Kessil with T5 combo.

 

[Slayvoff]

aside from disco ball effect, what would you say the difference, if any, in quality is between radion, hydra, and kessil?

 

[WesleyC]

I've never looked at Hydra. Can't give you any opinion on it.

Overall, they all have more than enough power.
Major pro on radion is non-point light source and give you a bit less shadow.
Major pro on Kessil is point light source. Very clean and natural looking light. It's stunning looking!

Kessil only give you how much blue/white on your light while Radion let me adjust many more color spectrum. Frankly, how many different light spectrum you need. Either good for coral, or good to look at. That's why the Kessil blue/white settings are target for.

 

[gcarroll]

The guy who make the BRS tv can't stand the disco ball effect neither. That's why their BRS 160 uses Kessil with T5 combo.

You never know, opinions can change over there at BRS. I suggest you watch tomorrows video.

 

[WesleyC]

I sure will.

Either way, I don't like the disco ball effect/random color casting on the sand neither. That's why I chose Kessil myself.

 

[Orm Embar]

I like my hydra 26 hd on my 170. Mostly have lps but have had good luck with a few sps.

I would second this - I went with the Red Sea 170 Deluxe, which includes not only the AI Hydra HD 26, but also a mounting arm which attaches very securely. A nice, clean look.

I remember, decades ago, that people wanted metal halide for that "point source" as it created more shimmer. It's interesting to me to read about how fluorescents are still in use (although back then your options were HO or VHO, which I think are quite rare these days compared to T5's).

I went with the Hydra HD as it seemed like I could grow anything for a reasonable price with built-in WiFi for control. I have seen nicer coral pictures with more fluorescence with supplemental T5 (actinics, I think), but I'm content with my Hydra HD.

 

[mcarroll]

What is the best bang for your buck?

I'm not sure any of those options you named qualify on this basis, but all are fine lights in their own right.

They are also all spotlights.

While I would not put T5's (or halides) on a new reef these days, the idea that you should consider whether you want spotlights or not is legitimate. Some folks like one look over the other.

Most of the issues of one vs the other are overblown IMO....it's aesthetics when you get down to it. Corals are going to be equally happy and healthy either way.

If shadows are a concern, consider LED strips instead of spotlights. Current USA, Hamilton Technology, GHL Lighting, etc all make nice LED strips. Current and GHL probably make systems that are the most comparable with the ones you named.