OP
OP
TK_KW
Valuable Member
Friend owns a coral shop. And has had numerous people go from G5s to try the Sky. Their all very pleased with how it looks and covers.
But finding a un biased view is hard considering the kick back etc
G5 or Sky?
- Thread starter TK_KW
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But finding a un biased view is hard considering the kick back etc
areefer01
2500 Club Member
There is a lot of misinformation in this thread about kick backs. There is also a lot of information that is biased and not objective as it relates to the SKY and other products. Since you noted these two manufactures you can also add Philips Coral Care Gen 2's and ATI Straton to the mix. I'm adding those because of the panel design and price point. I'm going to be honest here and tell you up front I've using a pair of SKY's over my 210 mixed reef. Here is my thought:
1. Make a list of your requirements
2. ATI straton - panel design, more expensive, more LED's, running lower power per LED, passive cooling, yucki mounting option, may be the best light out of all with the longest life cycle due to design. I like it.
3. Philips Coral Care Gen 2 - passive cooling, single cord, similar price to SKY and Radion, good spread, and amazing natural look. I like it. Heavy. Good mounting options.
4. G5 Radion. Fans, smaller, panel design, widely used, BRS (I think) rated it top of their part per dollar or whatever it was. Sorry I don't remember exactly what they call it.
5. SKY - new kid on the block. Apex integration. Bluetooth. Single light flexible spectrum (5 pre-set using phone app, 13 using apex), good par, good distribution
6. Consider the other options as well as noted here
I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Ignore the noise, look at your requirement, and pick the design that works for you. Of the list I provided they will all have similar PAR as they are all similar in wattage. Panel design, wider, will provide a spread. They will all grow coral(s). No one has put displays side by side, with each light noted above, connected to the same sump and support system, with the same coral frag(s), and did a side by side year long test. They are all controlled...
All the best, you have a good list. Take care.
1. Make a list of your requirements
2. ATI straton - panel design, more expensive, more LED's, running lower power per LED, passive cooling, yucki mounting option, may be the best light out of all with the longest life cycle due to design. I like it.
3. Philips Coral Care Gen 2 - passive cooling, single cord, similar price to SKY and Radion, good spread, and amazing natural look. I like it. Heavy. Good mounting options.
4. G5 Radion. Fans, smaller, panel design, widely used, BRS (I think) rated it top of their part per dollar or whatever it was. Sorry I don't remember exactly what they call it.
5. SKY - new kid on the block. Apex integration. Bluetooth. Single light flexible spectrum (5 pre-set using phone app, 13 using apex), good par, good distribution
6. Consider the other options as well as noted here
I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Ignore the noise, look at your requirement, and pick the design that works for you. Of the list I provided they will all have similar PAR as they are all similar in wattage. Panel design, wider, will provide a spread. They will all grow coral(s). No one has put displays side by side, with each light noted above, connected to the same sump and support system, with the same coral frag(s), and did a side by side year long test. They are all controlled...
All the best, you have a good list. Take care.
bcarl77
Well-Known Member
I’m not sure I’d consider a G5 a “panel” style. Step in the right direction but they kinda just dipped their toe in the water. From a panel size standpoint its not really the real deal, especially compared with the others and T5
Jon's Reef
Valuable Member
Unlike others slinging alot of mud here, I have actually owned G5 Pro, G5 Blue, Kessil and Sky.
The G5 and Sky have very similar build quality. They are both plastic cases, aluminum heatsinks, a few circuit boards and the led panel. Kessil build quality definitely feels on a higher level.
There are many comments about the soft touch coating found on the sky; it is the same as what is found on Vortech pump drysides and I had 5 yo units without issue.
The fan on the G5 is loud. My Kessils and the Sky fans barely run, or run at lower speeds. The G5 seemed to always be running at a fast speed.
The real difference in build quality in my real world experience. All of my G5's ended up with cracked lower cases and/or cracked lenses, so I had to disassemble my brand new lights and change the lower case. If you slightly overtighten those screws holding the case/ lens... bam cracks even with the new case (with added washers)
In terms of real world use of the lights...
If you go with G5 (or Kessil) and have a tank >18" front to back, you will either need XR30 mounted front to back or supplemental bars. The panel size of the G5 is a good step in the right direction, but not enough to properly cover tanks 24" front to back. Note that tests with no aquascape or coral will show great coverage.
Color wise there is quite a difference. Kessil and Sky has more of the royal blue/ violet color to it. G5 has more of the blue-green color to it.
The G5 and Sky have very similar build quality. They are both plastic cases, aluminum heatsinks, a few circuit boards and the led panel. Kessil build quality definitely feels on a higher level.
There are many comments about the soft touch coating found on the sky; it is the same as what is found on Vortech pump drysides and I had 5 yo units without issue.
The fan on the G5 is loud. My Kessils and the Sky fans barely run, or run at lower speeds. The G5 seemed to always be running at a fast speed.
The real difference in build quality in my real world experience. All of my G5's ended up with cracked lower cases and/or cracked lenses, so I had to disassemble my brand new lights and change the lower case. If you slightly overtighten those screws holding the case/ lens... bam cracks even with the new case (with added washers)
In terms of real world use of the lights...
If you go with G5 (or Kessil) and have a tank >18" front to back, you will either need XR30 mounted front to back or supplemental bars. The panel size of the G5 is a good step in the right direction, but not enough to properly cover tanks 24" front to back. Note that tests with no aquascape or coral will show great coverage.
Color wise there is quite a difference. Kessil and Sky has more of the royal blue/ violet color to it. G5 has more of the blue-green color to it.
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bcarl77
Well-Known Member
Since it's been roughly a month can someone share a before/after picture of how their corals have responded since adding the Sky? Majority of comparisons I have seen changed from a clearly inferior light. Still a toss up for me between the G5/Sky, each has their pro's and cons.
Jon's Reef
Valuable Member
PeterC99
Solarbenchmark.com
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Reef Tank 365
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My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
Great pics. What’s been your experience between the 2 lights?Aug 5 (Right before I changed the light)
Aug 31 (Today)
areefer01
2500 Club Member
Aug 5 (Right before I changed the light)
Aug 31 (Today)
Nice looking display. SPS frag in the back has some nice color.
While others won't appreciate this you may. I was previously running Kessil's and had a frag piece fall that I didn't catch. Xenia started to grow around it and over time the color changed from dark green to red. After swapping to the SKY's the coral changed back to green. Interesting how these lights penetrate previously shaded areas. I also have a sunset monitpora that must have grown from a chipped piece I missed.
Nice display - keep up the great work.
Ryan Avery
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The Sky is too boring and flat for my taste, too much like T5’s. I prefer the shimmer of the G5 but that’s personal preference
Jon's Reef
Valuable Member
PC Rainbow is a really nice piece. Great color, easy to take care of and inexpensive.
I like it. My primary goal was simplification. Before, I had to control the kessils via the app... the bars via apex... and a bunch of power supplies/ cords.
I really like the color that the light puts out. The color is probably my favorite thing.
I was surprised that 1 would cover the whole tank. When I first set it up, I was running it at 100% to match the par values, but I found that it was a bit too bright (Corals not looking as happy) so I turned it down to 75%. Since my auqascape covers from let to right in the top, I do get a little shadowing in the upper left and right zones. This has gotten worse as the Knicks torch has grown... so I had to move some LPS around. I think I may need to move the Raja soon.
Do I miss the shimmer of Kessil? Yes and no. I run Gyres right at the top of the tank, so there is super surface agitation... so no "long" shimmer lines, rather just a lot of little blips all over. I liked it when it was muted by the LED bars, But when the bars turned off, It was too much for me. I would rather concentrate on the movement of the fish and corals. That is not to say that the shimmer is gone... it is still there. I would say it is slightly more than the G5 Radion with the diffuser. I can see it on the rockwork, on the montis. But I do not see it on the Euphyllia where i saw it previously (This is a plus to me as I thought the shimmer distracted from the tentacle motion). Overall... this is the right kind/ amount of shimmer for me.
One tip... I would definitely recommend a 12" mounting height. 8-9" just did not do it for me.
cpllongjk
Active Member
Hi All,
I am in the same boat as the OP. However, I have decided on getting the Radion XR15 G5s. My main question though is pro vs blue.
My needs are coral growth and I have always like a more Radium (with no supplementation) tank. I have seen the videos that even the AB+ schedule looks way different from Blue vs Pro... I guess my main question is which light, pro or blue, grows all corals better under the unmodified AB+ straight out of the app?
Thanks, Jared
I am in the same boat as the OP. However, I have decided on getting the Radion XR15 G5s. My main question though is pro vs blue.
My needs are coral growth and I have always like a more Radium (with no supplementation) tank. I have seen the videos that even the AB+ schedule looks way different from Blue vs Pro... I guess my main question is which light, pro or blue, grows all corals better under the unmodified AB+ straight out of the app?
Thanks, Jared
blaxsun
10K Club member
Myself I have the Radion G5 blues. I wanted more blue and the option for the true AB+ down the road.
I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with any LED in that price range (or higher), and that includes the Radion and SKY.
I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with any LED in that price range (or higher), and that includes the Radion and SKY.
rtparty
2500 Club Member
Truth is that the AB+ for both is different. The G5 Blues look NOTHING like the original AB+ that we have had for years. Ecotech didn't even sniff the same look. I had a G5 Blue and G5 Pro right next to each other. Set both to AB+ and they were quite different. I personally didn't like the Blue at all. That is all you get. Blue. There is no true white setting to see the reflective colors of corals and fish. I ditched the Blue and went Pro for almost a year. Had good success overall.
I could make the Pro plenty blue for my dusk/dawn rave party look. But I also got the nice bright white for daytime viewing. The Pros were also 100x easier to film and get pictures with
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