kessil vs hydra vs radion

[Alwmh4]

ok I know this has been a very covered topic but I haven't read anything recent that addresses all my questions. My tank is 6' long and just shy of 2' deep. Its going to be mostly lps though I will try an sps or two. Looking at kessil 360w, hydra 26, and loosely considering radions though price is redic.

I had decided 100% on kessils until I read all the horrible things that this model has had problems with. The overwhelming complaint being flickering resulting in having to get replacements sent etc. Of course this is a huge concern and the warranty is 2 yrs so after that you are stuck. And who wants to always being dealing with faulty lights. I haven't found anything that's recent mentioning if kessil has addressed solving this problem.

The hydra is appealing where drawback is "disco" effect. Im not into seeing a bunch of colors bouncing around tank. But how often and under what applications is this effect noticed?

Radions of course look like an option but I want user friendly and im not techy. and the price is out of this world. Unless I'm missing something tremendous about these,...if so please enlighten me

Any opinions from those who have used or seen these models being used please help me narrow down which to choose. thank you

 

[zwulfke]

I have both the kessil and the Hydra 26 in my possession. IMHO trading the hydra for the kessil was a bad idea . The hydra has more par and better output. the colors should not look dico if it is set right they will blend together my tank looked nicer under the hydra too. I hope to win one on another place I want it back.

 

[rlman41299]

If I have to rate them from the most I would use to the least one I would say radion will be my first choice then the hydra and kessil will be the last. I have used the kessil before and it just doesn't work for me. I have a 6 foot tank and the spread is really bad compared to my current radions. I will have to use 4 kessil to get the coverage I am having with only 3 radions right now. My complaint about the kessil is that the light is so concentrated to one spot even the wide model. Think of it as a car headlight, projector headlight project light at a narrow angle no matter what, just like how the kessils are made with the led diodes too close to each other. Now with reflector headlights the lights are spread evenly (not quite) just like the radions or the hydra since the led diodes are spread apart quite a bit. It's just me but there are reefers out there that kessil lights work for them.

 

[Alwmh4]

Bump

 

[Alwmh4]

Ok if kessils are out, why are the radions better than hydryas in your opinion? Is it really worth over twice the cost?

 

[Alwmh4]

And do the Radions have a disco effect? is this just a fact of life with a light that doesn't have a close cluster?

 

[BottomCoastReefs]

And do the Radions have a disco effect? is this just a fact of life with a light that doesn't have a close cluster?

Disco effect never bothered me, your mind gets used to it and blocks it out after a while... kinda like a strong smell becomes odorless to your nose after a while even though it is still there...

Radion is KING to me!
The fact that it is %100 usable and customizable out of the package with out needing to buy a separate controller like you do with AI products.
Secondly it communicates with other Ecotech products wirelessly out the package as well... ie.Vortec pumps and other Raions
The unit is modular meaning you can upgrade light pucs to the newest generations when they are released
Finally i think the light puts out more wattage than the other two.

A close second would be Kessil but simply because my zoas and LPS love the 2 kessil A150s' over my 20Gallon long.
Not sure if the light is great because it is a great light to start with or because it just works on a small system with similar results not replaceable in larger setups...

 

[hart24601]

I really like using hydra 26s - have a bunch in my build thread, but I have never noticed a single hint of disco using them fwiw. Maybe it's because I have several units, or that they are raised higher, but I absolutely hated the disco on my buocube retrofit, but it's one thing I have not noticed here.

I would pick hydra 26 again - I prefer them to ecotech right now.

 

[WetWhistle]

I have three hydra 52 on my 180 and I have not seen the disco effect. I have been able to grow anything I put in the tank. SPS, LPS soft corals ETC. When i was first looking at LED I originally compared between the Radions and the Hydra. I think the price of Radions is to high so I went with the Hydra 52. I think you would be very happy with the Radions or Hydra. I love my lights and am glad I went with them.

 

[jollygreen]

I have 3 hydra 26s on my 6ft 180 and I love them! The radions are too expensive especially when you can buy the hydra 26s for $300 a piece brand new and they give full spectrum, great coverage, amazing control, and they can grow anything you want.

 

[hybridazn]

Having/had owning all 3 of these lights I will tell you the radion is by far superior to the other 3. I still have my kessil but it is used strictly for frag swaps. I had it over my 40 breeder for just the blue with my metal halide and the coverage wasn't great and it was very dim looking to the eye. The hydra is a good light and for the money you can't go wrong. I know the radion is double the price but it's def worth it if you want to eventually try Sps. I don't think you will regret it.

1-radion(best of the best)
2- hydra(best bang for your buck)
3- kessil(you'll need a lot to get good coverage on a 6' tank)

 

[that Reef Guy]

Disco effect never bothered me, your mind gets used to it and blocks it out after a while... kinda like a strong smell becomes odorless to your nose after a while even though it is still there...

Radion is KING to me!
The fact that it is %100 usable and customizable out of the package with out needing to buy a separate controller like you do with AI products.
Secondly it communicates with other Ecotech products wirelessly out the package as well... ie.Vortec pumps and other Raions
The unit is modular meaning you can upgrade light pucs to the newest generations when they are released
Finally i think the light puts out more wattage than the other two.

A close second would be Kessil but simply because my zoas and LPS love the 2 kessil A150s' over my 20Gallon long.
Not sure if the light is great because it is a great light to start with or because it just works on a small system with similar results not replaceable in larger setups...

I am glad you posted this as I have a couple 20 longs with a single Kessil A150 and was thinking about adding another but was worried that it would be too much light.

I keep mostly all Zoanthids in those tanks.

Do you notice any problems using 2 Kessils on a 20 Long or is everything always happy?

 

[Robert_ellis]

ok I know this has been a very covered topic but I haven't read anything recent that addresses all my questions. My tank is 6' long and just shy of 2' deep. Its going to be mostly lps though I will try an sps or two. Looking at kessil 360w, hydra 26, and loosely considering radions though price is redic.

I had decided 100% on kessils until I read all the horrible things that this model has had problems with. The overwhelming complaint being flickering resulting in having to get replacements sent etc. Of course this is a huge concern and the warranty is 2 yrs so after that you are stuck. And who wants to always being dealing with faulty lights. I haven't found anything that's recent mentioning if kessil has addressed solving this problem.

The hydra is appealing where drawback is "disco" effect. Im not into seeing a bunch of colors bouncing around tank. But how often and under what applications is this effect noticed?

Radions of course look like an option but I want user friendly and im not techy. and the price is out of this world. Unless I'm missing something tremendous about these,...if so please enlighten me

Any opinions from those who have used or seen these models being used please help me narrow down which to choose. thank you

Have you looked at the aquaticlife halo? I have 1 being used over my sump which I use as a small grow out tank and the results are awesome. No disco effect, easy to use with built in timer, ramp up and down and easy to adjust the color spectrum. And adding another slave unit couldn't be easier. They have built in fans to cool the fixture also. I don't think you will be disappointed if you use the halo personally.

 

[Alwmh4]

Bump

 

[PapaDragon]

I'm not sure why everyone is putting down Kessils. I have four A360WE's over my 6ft tank and they grow everything. The shimmer they produce is hypnotic and the closes thing I've seen to reproducing what you see diving. I do agree that they do not have the control-ability of radions or hydras, but do most of us really understand enough about marine biology to know how to "dial" them in anyhow? I am an engineer so I love tinkering with my aquarium, but the best thing we can do for our tanks is to leave them alone. Consistency is the key to successful reef keeping.

 

[Alwmh4]

So it took four for you. I want thinking the recommended three wouldn't be enough if I went that route. Is your tank sps dom?

 

[PapaDragon]

So it took four for you. I want thinking the recommended three wouldn't be enough if I went that route. Is your tank sps dom?

Three actually gave me good coverage, but my tank is 29 inches deep and I thought even at 100% the sandbed wasn't getting enough light. With 4 I run them at 80%. Oh, my tank is a mixed reef with mostly LPS, but I have a nice collection of montipora too.

 

[Tippfish]

Love my kessils. 2x A160WE on the 46 gal. I have LPS and Zoas. They do great. I have the controller too. Offers all the controllability I need.

 

[Alwmh4]

Three actually gave me good coverage, but my tank is 29 inches deep and I thought even at 100% the sandbed wasn't getting enough light. With 4 I run them at 80%. Oh, my tank is a mixed reef with mostly LPS, but I have a nice collection of montipora too.

you think in hindsight that the 360N would have been better for your tank? my tank is just shy of 24" so if kessils are my choice after days of research, im thinking the 360w would be enough. Im not sure what the hanging height is recommended but im assuming if I want to hang higher that I would need the 360N?

I've been reading horrible things in regards to controlling the hydras. Im a year out from an apex so I can't rely on that for controllability. The controller for the hydra apparently must remained plugged in at all times or you lose all your settings and have to start over. Also reports of them not turning on or not turning off. Not cool. So are there any complaints about using kessils with its controller (not with apex). Are there any headaches?

 

[PapaDragon]

you think in hindsight that the 360N would have been better for your tank? my tank is just shy of 24" so if kessils are my choice after days of research, im thinking the 360w would be enough. Im not sure what the hanging height is recommended but im assuming if I want to hang higher that I would need the 360N?

I've been reading horrible things in regards to controlling the hydras. Im a year out from an apex so I can't rely on that for controllability. The controller for the hydra apparently must remained plugged in at all times or you lose all your settings and have to start over. Also reports of them not turning on or not turning off. Not cool. So are there any complaints about using kessils with its controller (not with apex). Are there any headaches?

I use an Apex so I'm not sure about the controller. As for the 360N being a better choice for my tank, I'm actually pretty happy how it turned out. I plan on upgrading to a bigger tank and you can find really good deals on the 360WE online.