For those who doubt LEDs
- Thread starter gmoney243
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Its not just the LEDs that make his tank this nice. There are a lot of other factors involved. I am not a "100%" LED advocate and on my new setup will be going back to mainly T5's with LED supplementation. The thing is with LEDs there are so many varriables. Especially with DIY stuff out there, they do not compare with the commercial LEDs like Ecotech. Ecotech is one of the few I would say are capable of keeping up with T5s or metal halides when it comes to consistency. The problem is they also cost a lot of $$$$$$.... LEDs are great, but I don't think the ROI is there quite yet for most people. I have seen thousands of tanks over the years, Halides, T5's and now LEDs, and I can personally tell the difference in growth and coloration in all three lights. That being said everyone has their reasons for what they have and I am switching back for now 
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KJAG
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Its not just the LEDs that make his tank this nice. There are a lot of other factors involved. I am not a "100%" LED advocate and on my new setup will be going back to mainly T5's with LED supplementation. The thing is with LEDs there are so many varriables. Especially with DIY stuff out there, they do not compare with the commercial LEDs like Ecotech. Ecotech is one of the few I would say are capable of keeping up with T5s or metal halides when it comes to consistency. The problem is they also cost a lot of $$$$$$.... LEDs are great, but I don't think the ROI is there quite yet for most people. I have seen thousands of tanks over the years, Halides, T5's and now LEDs, and I can personally tell the difference in growth and coloration in all three lights. That being said everyone has their reasons for what they have and I am switching back for now
Love my T5's personally, but when you really break down the components of a Radion, there's nothing that can't be acquired in the DIY market. Aesthetically, the fixture itself may or may not be as attractive, but the diodes, controllability, etc are not features that are difficult to source or put together.
The testing that they do to get the combination of LEDs correct and the controller they build is what makes the difference. This is not street knowledge. Sure anyone can find the same LEDs they are using, but thats the varraiable I talk about, everyone builds them differently. You and I with T5s can say, I use ATI Blue Plus. So I go and get a ATI Blue Plus and as long as our ballasts are similar we will get the same PAR and pretty clost to the same output. Not really to many other varriables that can make that big of a differnce. I Built many LED fixtures and ran them on my SPS tank for almost 2 yrs. I can say I am sure my fixture was totally different that anyone else in our club that has DIY LEDs.
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KJAG
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Yeah I have no doubt that theyve run extensive testing on spectral choices relating to diode selection,tank aesthetics,PAR etc, and Ive heard good things about the software, but there really is nothing required further by the DIYer than to pick up some CREE XTE's and wire up a similar(same?) array run by multiple quality drivers respective to each color and using an Apex for ramping up and down, effects, etc.As long as one possesses the know-how. Not knocking the Radion. Its a killer light. The tech isnt exclusive though
OP
OP
gmoney243
2500 Club Member
well i posted because some people do doubt that LEDs of any type can grow and color up sps just as well. but i also prefer the way my tank looks with T5+LED combo. hardly any shadows and much brighter look to the tank. IMO LED+T5 is the best lighting you can have when all factors are considered. a DIY unit is much cheaper all around and i dont think other lights can grow enough extra frags to make up the extra costs to make it worth using MH or just T5. when all said and done my lighting costs me $400 with a $60/year in bulb replacements for a 180 is about as cheap as you could expect and still get great lighting thats close to or equal to MH. MH+T5(4 36" bulb) would run like $320+ roughly a year in bulbs alone. not to mention electrical cost of MH that adds what at least $50-$100/month for 3 250w MH?
Dowtish
5000 Club Member
Exactly. These are the kind of questions I have. I want to see a tank that has radions on it for the life of the tank since they hit the market, and they started with all frags.
pickupman66
5000 Club Member
I can only show a years worth here but:
June1, 2011
Jan5, 2012
Dec 23,12
Jan 5, 12
Dec 23, 12
June 1 2011
Feb15, 2012
Dec23, 12
Jan5, 12
Dec23, 12
June1, 2011
Jan5, 2012
Dec 23,12
Jan 5, 12
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June 1 2011
Feb15, 2012
Dec23, 12
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occ_motorcycles
Active Member
Like the photos. What type of LEDs are you running?
pickupman66
5000 Club Member
They are a custom built LED system over my 180. all 3 watt ones. mostly Cree. 126 of them. Check out my build thread to see more details.
pelagic
Well-Known Member
