Hello to all...here's what I got there than permission to buy leds rather than replace 15 bulbs. I have 72" 180gallon mostly softies and lps with few sps I am undecided one the radions or hydras..the features that are a must.. Apex controllable, storm with lightning and cloud sunrise and set and linkable cause I'll have 3 units its sounding. Any input out there on this? What do y'all run? Pro's and Con's? Thanks happy monday
Hydra vs radions which do I get?
- Thread starter tony...kokomo
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jservedio
Active Member
I run G2 Radion Pros and while I would suggest them to anyone (especially the new G3 Radions) as great lights, especially with the price drop, you really need to see both of them in person and actually play around with them before deciding. Both lights meet all of your requirements easily.
Most people are going to tell you to buy whatever LED light they own because they like it and everyone else is going to tell you not to buy LEDs because they suck. What works for their tank isn't definitely going to be true with yours.
I will say this: you need to compare the Radion/Radion Pro to the Hydra 52 - not the regular hydras. For a big tank like yours, the regular hydras probably don't have the power you need.
Most people are going to tell you to buy whatever LED light they own because they like it and everyone else is going to tell you not to buy LEDs because they suck. What works for their tank isn't definitely going to be true with yours.
I will say this: you need to compare the Radion/Radion Pro to the Hydra 52 - not the regular hydras. For a big tank like yours, the regular hydras probably don't have the power you need.
reefingnoob
Active Member
Hey there, let see if I can be of any assistance. First of, both of the light you mentioned cannot be controlled with apex but that's a good thing rather, as apex can only control two channel and both of the light has 6 channels or more. After that I am not that well versed with AI product but for Radion if you only buy the light you will have to hook your laptop to it in order to change anything, its compatible with windows and Mac just in case. All the lights are wirelessly linked so you only have to hook up with one light and what ever changes you make to that light will automatically be applied to the rest. If you invest in reeflink then you don't need to hook up anymore and you can control all the lights from anywhere in the house. Both of the light can do the rest of the things you mentioned and some without any problem.
reeffirstaid
Active Member
As I've said many times, the Eco Tech Radion is the best LED aquarium light on the market IMHO. It's not that the specific LEDs are of greater quality then competitors, it's that the Radion combines powerful software with LED technology to create a great lighting platform.
tony...kokomo
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Hate to say it bigfoot but that's the single most imoortant features as my ATO will be 'rain' from above display. Kinda look dumb with rain and no clouds. Lol. Thanks for the help and input. I should have added that to top post
reeffirstaid
Active Member
In reality the clouds, storms effect has some realistic benefits. The thunderstorm effect is mainly for ohhs and ahhs, although the cloud, storm a depth effects have value. The Radion has pre-set templates that allow you to choose natural shallow reef and natural deep water reef. If you select one of the those modes you can set a percentage for cloud cover and a percentage for storms. On real world reefs, cloud cover and storms are a reality, and cause variable disturbances in light reaching corals. These modes simulate what happens on a reef in times of cloud cover or storm. The natural modes themselves were developed using light measurements taken over time on reefs off the island of Sipaden, and as a long time diver, both modes look very authentic.
jservedio
Active Member
Another big advantage for the Radion since you have a soft/LPS reef is that they have 120 degree optics upgrade. I just went and put these on my Pro for my SPS nano (to remove hotspots) and it massively increases the coverage while slightly reducing the overall PAR - which is just fine on a LPS reef. Considering they are only $35/light to upgrade, it is something to think about.
