New Radion Lights

[Tradewinds]

Do we really need the higher PAR values these lights deliver? In some ways wouldn't that be like pulling the sun closer to the earth and frying everything?

At this point in time I am more interested in providing my corals with the proper spectrum of light.

On a side note, in regards to Diesel's post, I have replaced 90% of the lights in my house with LED and couldn't be happier. The rest will be replaced as the old bulbs burn out.

 

[reef888]

Do we really need the higher PAR values these lights deliver? In some ways wouldn't that be like pulling the sun closer to the earth and frying everything?

At this point in time I am more interested in providing my corals with the proper spectrum of light.

On a side note, in regards to Diesel's post, I have replaced 90% of the lights in my house with LED and couldn't be happier. The rest will be replaced as the old bulbs burn out.

You may not need the higher PAR value, but the next guy might....thats what is great about these lights is being able to control the intensity.

 

[mfinn]

Worst part about purchasing LEDs. People tell me MH and TV are bad cause I gotta buy new bulbs every year. But the technology is so new that Radio and other manufacturers have it where u buy new fixtures every year. LEDs are the cell phones of the saltwater hobby. I'll keep buying my bulbs every year.

You don't have to buy a new set every year.
My 1st gen 1 Radion is still working fine and I have no intention of replacing it.

 

[carolinareefguy]

Wow, didn't know u guys would struggle to recognize such a basic concept/metaphor, but I forget what the LED blinders do. I just stated facts. The LED technology is still so new that the fixtures will be replaced on a yearly basis while more discoveries are found and improvements are made. This is a fact and it is expensive. Why would I buy $3,000 of fixtures for my new 180 when 6 months from now they may be outdated and another upgrade has been discovered. Seems pointless. Look where the LED market was 3 or 4 years ago and we can only imagine where it will be in 5 to 10. I absolutely buy a LED fixture setup but want to give a little more time.

 

[Diesel]

Fact is.............if 15 years ago nobody bought smartphones we would not be where we are today with smartphones.
Fact is.............if 10 years ago nobody bought flat screen/HDTV we would not be where we are today with smart TV's.
Fact is.............if 25 years ago nobody bought MH cause their were the new thing above the T5 than we would not be where we were 5 years ago or even today.
Fact is.............if we buy into the led industry as of today than hobbyist who don't and sit back can have the best LED fixtures over their tank in 2/3 years from now.

It's a evolution of the economy that can't be stopped.

Example.............electric cars..........prediction was that 5 years ago about 5% of the American PPL should have at least a hybrid car.
Well, that didn't happen (less than 1%) and now the industry is on his back with that, production of those cars are down and they cost even more than 5 years ago.
While the promissed the sticker price would go down.
And they need more money from government (that will be our tax $$$) to either save it or let it go bust.

I'm a happy camper that I CAN AND I WILL buy into the led industry, just for two facts.................1: it makes my tank look awesome with all the growth and color, 2: because in a few years from now we all can buy led's and have our tank look great.

It's all a matter of opinion but NOBODY tells me what I can and can't do!

Sorry this was my Sunday Morning Soapbox speech, now on to church.
Have a great Sunday Ya'll.

 

[backpack]

All I know is I trade in my old set at 150 a light. I get all new lights ballasts everything. To me that's a lot better than rebulbing. Get everything new every two or so years for what bulbs used to cost me. Plus I save immensely on electricity every year. My corals grow pretty well. What's not to love?

 

[Diesel]

I was offered the new Radions Pro3 as a retro-kit but after talking to P from E I declined.
Reason was that they are just a stronger light, for my system I probably will run only on a intensity from 35%.
Now I'm running at 68%.
The effect will be the same as appearance of the corals and growth they told me.
Better effect I get with just the WAL on the existing Pro's

 

[carolinareefguy]

Well keep buying these Leds fixtures. I enjoy seeing all the LED fixtures flood the dry goods for sale threads. MH and T5 are better and more proven IMO. When I and fellow reefer friends visit large vendors here in their stores like Bioreef in JAX, most are still using mh and t5. I owned a Kessil 350 and it was terrible. Corals looked great in the tank but when I took it and placed it in my show tank with mh, it was brown.

Fact is people bought flat screen called plasma TVs and people were disappointed and lost money. Then more improved LCD TVs hit market. People spent thousands and they become a huge flop. I waited a couple years and for the prices to drop and got a better TV for half the price.

 

[Tradewinds]

Well keep buying these Leds fixtures. I enjoy seeing all the LED fixtures flood the dry goods for sale threads. MH and T5 are better and more proven IMO. When I and fellow reefer friends visit large vendors here in their stores like Bioreef in JAX, most are still using mh and t5. I owned a Kessil 350 and it was terrible. Corals looked great in the tank but when I took it and placed it in my show tank with mh, it was brown.

Fact is people bought flat screen called plasma TVs and people were disappointed and lost money. Then more improved LCD TVs hit market. People spent thousands and they become a huge flop. I waited a couple years and for the prices to drop and got a better TV for half the price.

I'm still waiting for something better than my 8-Track Stereo to come out, I never did trust those new fangled cassette players. All joking aside, without customer support R&D for new technology stops. Granted not everyone will support every cause.

I do however get tired of the strawman fallacy that LEDs can't grow corals, too many people are having success with them.

 

[Diesel]

There's no reason here to quote a post from some fellow reefers cause he/they believe in something.
Everyone in his own value is a wonderful thing.
I have to say that MH are a proven evidence as T5 was, never said that were not.
Led's had some problems but improved for the best.
Yes, major corals growers are still holding on to MH and for the good because it's their business to have fast growth and colorful corals to stock their frag tanks.
Although I hear major coral farmers talking about switching into Led's.
Adam from Battle Corals made the switch on some of his tanks as I might know.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/le...-diodes-pros-help-me-emulate-iwasaki-65k.html
Led's is the new technology in this hobby for show tanks and the more research is be done the better the better they get.
I had AI super blue on a 120 3+ years ago but didn't like the washed out colors on some of my corals, made the move after long research to the Flagship of the Led's, Radions from Ecotech and can't be more happier.
What works for me don't have to work for a others, but I must say if the Radions were retail $150 a lot and I say a lot will make the switch.
Same as a lot of other stuff, example: if BMW/Audi dropped their prices to a Toyota or Honda (don't get me wrong all great cars) a lot more will drive BMW/Audi.
A lot has to do with the Price ticket that comes with some products.
Their will be always something better.
As now I'm happy I'm not the only one that has positive results with the Radions and on a site note I'm thinking to start a LED fan club thread here on R2R..............or better Radion fan club!

 

[Tradewinds]

There's no reason here to quote a post from some fellow reefers cause he/they believe in something.
Everyone in his own value is a wonderful thing.
I have to say that MH are a proven evidence as T5 was, never said that were not.
Led's had some problems but improved for the best.
Yes, major corals growers are still holding on to MH and for the good because it's their business to have fast growth and colorful corals to stock their frag tanks.
Although I hear major coral farmers talking about switching into Led's.
Adam from Battle Corals made the switch on some of his tanks as I might know.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/le...-diodes-pros-help-me-emulate-iwasaki-65k.html
Led's is the new technology in this hobby for show tanks and the more research is be done the better the better they get.
I had AI super blue on a 120 3+ years ago but didn't like the washed out colors on some of my corals, made the move after long research to the Flagship of the Led's, Radions from Ecotech and can't be more happier.
What works for me don't have to work for a others, but I must say if the Radions were retail $150 a lot and I say a lot will make the switch.
Same as a lot of other stuff, example: if BMW/Audi dropped their prices to a Toyota or Honda (don't get me wrong all great cars) a lot more will drive BMW/Audi.
A lot has to do with the Price ticket that comes with some products.
Their will be always something better.
As now I'm happy I'm not the only one that has positive results with the Radions and on a site note I'm thinking to start a LED fan club thread here on R2R..............or better Radion fan club!

Excuse me, but I'll quote who I like and also offer rebuttals when misinformation is being dispersed.

 

[Mallard]

Excuse me, but I'll quote who I like and also offer rebuttals when misinformation is being dispersed.

I'm pretty sure Diesel is on your side. Everyone sees value differently and no forum posts are likely to change that.

When it comes to technology it evolves so rapidly that you must come to expect something new often. Intel for example uses a "tick" and "tock" approach to releasing new CPUs. One year its a new architecture and the following is an advancement to it (usually shrinking the die size). Apple, Google and ever other technology company do the same thing.

MH and T5s are still relevant and some companies are still looking to improve to more. There is even kickstarter for plasma lighting.

Do what you're most comfortable with for your tank and listen to others experiences to inform your decision. But if you're mind is made up on what you like and what's best leave it to threads to discuss those methods. This thread was about new radions not about MH/T5 vs LEDs.

I have the Pros and I love them. Are their aspects that I wish were better. Absolutely.

As for why coral farms and a lot of vendors haven't switched is likely a few reasons. One being sunk costs. If it isn't broke don't fix it... No reason to invest in LEDs if what you have is working. Remember their motive is profit and sinking in a ton of new money into LEDs may not make sense. Also, a lot of hobbyists use to always question any picture for high actinic lighting and now the question is if they are taken under LEDs because of how they make corals pop.

/rant

 

[Diesel]

My post was directed in general, this thread is about the new Radions and we should keep it like that.
This is a friendly site and to keep it like that is onto the members them self.
What is best is so big and I don't want to go there.

In other news: from T5 to Radions..............awesome tank.
Just fill in the blanks but do it nice.

2 years Schwings Reef Tank 500l (130gal) / powered by Ecotech Radion xr30w Pro, Vortech mp40W & NYOS - YouTube

 

[MSD60178]

I have 2 gen 2s and I love em but it seams the eco tech is bringing out new lights and such every year and not but any effort into the ESL. I always seam to have problems getting it to recognize that mine are connected and have to shut down everything down then power everything up and maybe just maybe they will they be recognized. other then that I love the lights. My next big purchase will be an MP40 just right now with the way things have been I can't drop 500 bucks on a powerhead

 

[Diesel]

I have 2 gen 2s and I love em but it seams the eco tech is bringing out new lights and such every year and not but any effort into the ESL. I always seam to have problems getting it to recognize that mine are connected and have to shut down everything down then power everything up and maybe just maybe they will they be recognized. other then that I love the lights. My next big purchase will be an MP40 just right now with the way things have been I can't drop 500 bucks on a powerhead

Buy a used MP40, sometimes you see them for under $350.

On the lights, what operating system you using to upload ESL?
I use Google chrome, recommended by the Eco boys them self.
And what was the last time you updated you firmware from the lights?
If still have problems give them a call and ask for Ryan or Matt, the y will do a logmein process to see what's going on with your lights.

Good luck.
Ben.

 

[RogerWilco357]

I totally agree with you ..I too will keep buying bulbs till the price drops and they stop putting out the new and improved versions on what seems to be A bi-yearly event..
Roger

Worst part about purchasing LEDs. People tell me MH and TV are bad cause I gotta buy new bulbs every year. But the technology is so new that Radio and other manufacturers have it where u buy new fixtures every year. LEDs are the cell phones of the saltwater hobby. I'll keep buying my bulbs every year.

 

[mfinn]

Why can't you just buy one version and be happy with it for more than a year?