Im done with ecotech who makes a reliable led?

[Frey]

Humidity is at 50% in the house today stove not on. It goes lower when burning. What the humidity is within 14-15 inches above the tank i am unsure. I would assume humidity in this range would be normal for someone with a large reef tank in their house, but not 100% on that statement

 

[45ZoaGarden]

I don’t know. It is kinda suspicious. I live in south Florida where humidity is always 100%. I’ve had two hydra 26’s 8 inches above the water in my fish only 150 for 8 years now. The tank does have a canopy which is ventilated. I’m guessing you have little ventilation in that canopy which is causing condensation. When condensation builds up, it is like the light is always underwater. It probably killed the fan which caused the light to overheat. If I took apart the light, I would also say it was water damage.

Humidity is at 50% in the house today stove not on. It goes lower when burning. What the humidity is within 14-15 inches above the tank i am unsure. I would assume humidity in this range would be normal for someone with a large reef tank in their house, but not 100% on that statement

 

[MnFish1]

Another way a fixture can 'get wet' without being dropped in the tank - or even near the tank - Is if you ever have bubbles that form under the fixture. Thats why/how im sure they 'know it happens'. To those who had AI or Hydra say there was water damage - did you send your units in? or did they just tell you over the phone.

PS I owned some AI lights BEFORE they were taken over by echotech - and though the staff was always helpful - I found them very unreliable as compared to the Radions that I switched to. I think there are thousands of lights out there - Radion and AI - happen to be very popular - and thus - seem to have more 'complaints' perhaps? In any case - My GUESS is that any light manufacturer has had problems with this type of thing.

 

[Frey]

I do not have a canopy. The first floor is above the tank another 18-20 inches above the lights.

There are no bubbles forming i have mp40s in the tank and low enough they disturb the surface but do not cause spray or sucking of air.

The units are around 3 years old give or take a couple of months . I also have 2 ecotech gen3 pros over a 90 cube which are just slightly older and no issues with them and they are 2 feet away. The hydras were purchased prior to the ecotech merg. I believe.

 

[Frey]

I sent the first unit in and that's what they told me. This unit just started today right before my post so it will probably be going in as soon as they get back to me but of course something always goes wrong on a holiday week.

As far as if the board is sealed or not i am not knowledgeable on the circuitry for led's. I am handy with electric around the house but have never gotten into or played with led chips and boards. Everything was saudered on top of the board. I had it in my hand and inspected it with my own eyes to put the new fan in. It didnt appear to be wet to me anywhere.... so i am just at a loss and feel this is what they tell you either they fix for a couple hundred or give you the option to buy a new one slightly discounted.

 

[alton]

I have been following this thread since day one trying to figure it out and I can not see why some fixtures in a canopy are not affected and others are. When I had MH in a canopy I ran into the same humid issues so I ran one of the two fans non-stop. I had a friend who used a Gen 1 in a canopy for 5+ years before upgrading to a newer generation. And last week I bought 6 Ai Hydras that where run for up to six years in a canopy and they all work great. It's almost like cars, there are great cars for the most part, but yet there are plenty of lemons.

 

[roberthu526]

You need powerful lights with a good spectrum in order to grow freshwater plants.

I have spent a few years playing with planted tank myself. I believe freshwater plants need mostly white lights and don't have a lot of specific requires on spectrum. Using Radion seems like an over kill.

 

[MnFish1]

I have spent a few years playing with planted tank myself. I believe freshwater plants need mostly white lights and don't have a lot of specific requires on spectrum. Using Radion seems like an over kill.

Perhaps - but they look good

 

[oreo54]

I had/have a total of 18 radions. One fell in the water (these things can’t handle ANY water) in warranty, one got a bad wire over time, and one just stopped working. I had to pay to get them fixed. I have mixed feelings. I’m not sure I would buy them again but I’d also be very upset if I had to make that decision within the next 8-10 years. We moved to LED for cost savings but if the light doesn’t even last long enough to recoup that difference in cost we’re better off using older tech.

10% failure (1.8 lights) isn't unheard of.. Obviously ignoring the one dropped in water as user error of course..

As usual that poses a question that's o/t here though..
How many MH's or ballasts die err "prematurely"...
Granted there is a cost difference..but if repairs average about $100-ish well pretty similar.

Food for thought later..

 

[oreo54]

I have spent a few years playing with planted tank myself. I believe freshwater plants need mostly white lights and don't have a lot of specific requires on spectrum. Using Radion seems like an over kill.

Radion xr15 gen 4's are a "if cost is no object" approach..

Corals have less of a specific spectrum requirement than most think..
Lot of it is preferred look..

One only needs to compare 6500K Iwasakies and "20000k" Radiums to realize that..

Now between fw and sw #'s of photons needed is usually quite different..though the high side fw approaches the low side sw..

 

[roberthu526]

Radion xr15 gen 4's are a "if cost is no object" approach..

Corals have less of a specific spectrum requirement than most think..
Lot of it is preferred look..

One only needs to compare 6500K Iwasakies and "20000k" Radiums to realize that..

Now between fw and sw #'s of photons needed is usually quite different..though the high side fw approaches the low side sw..

Yeah I remember feeling ripped off spending $100 on a finnex LED fixture for my freshwater tank back in the days....

 

[DCR]

I don’t know. It is kinda suspicious. I live in south Florida where humidity is always 100%. I’ve had two hydra 26’s 8 inches above the water in my fish only 150 for 8 years now. The tank does have a canopy which is ventilated. I’m guessing you have little ventilation in that canopy which is causing condensation. When condensation builds up, it is like the light is always underwater. It probably killed the fan which caused the light to overheat. If I took apart the light, I would also say it was water damage.

But I doubt it is anywhere near 100% humidity in your house (unless you never use AC). Air conditioning units remove water from the air and lower the humidity. In reality, a lot of houses in the deep south probably run at lower humidity due to the extensive use of air conditioning when compared to houses in cooler climates that are not using AC.

 

[oreo54]

I sent the first unit in and that's what they told me. This unit just started today right before my post so it will probably be going in as soon as they get back to me but of course something always goes wrong on a holiday week.

As far as if the board is sealed or not i am not knowledgeable on the circuitry for led's. I am handy with electric around the house but have never gotten into or played with led chips and boards. Everything was saudered on top of the board. I had it in my hand and inspected it with my own eyes to put the new fan in. It didnt appear to be wet to me anywhere.... so i am just at a loss and feel this is what they tell you either they fix for a couple hundred or give you the option to buy a new one slightly discounted.

Board would look shiny like a coating of polyurethane was on it..
doubt if it is. There is even a question if Kessil coats their reef lights. They do coat the hydroponic ones..

 

[Shooter6]

Since you currently have radion, may want to lookk at rapidled.com corona lights look similar but much better price. Contact the company and see what they have to say about water issues

 

[Why-Me]

I love these threads...ecotech is trash get a dollar store led bulb for the ceiling and use that, my bffs brothers nieces cousin said they're junk so that means something!!

 

[Frey]

It was not shiny.

 

[Frey]

Ectotech/ AI replied to my email:

It would be best that you send the other light in for service so we can get that inspected as well.

So i guess its gonna cost me another 400+ and then whenever the 3rd light goes yet another.....

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Actually, most air conditioning units do not “remove” humidity. I’m not sure how a fan blowing air over freon decreases humidity. The humidity in my house is always high. I don’t use a dehumidifier.

But I doubt it is anywhere near 100% humidity in your house (unless you never use AC). Air conditioning units remove water from the air and lower the humidity. In reality, a lot of houses in the deep south probably run at lower humidity due to the extensive use of air conditioning when compared to houses in cooler climates that are not using AC.

 

[MyTankSux]

ac most def removes humidty

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

condensation created on the evaporator is how AC removes humidity. Air conditioners are inherently dehumidifiers based on how they work.