Reefi 2.1 vs Radion vs Meridian 35

[Pennywise67]

I switched from XR15 G6 Blues to Reefi Uno 2.1 Pro awhile back. I I am on a 48" X 24" x24". I run the 120 deg refelctors. At peak day I am barely at 100w and my par top to bottom is great ( 400+ top, 100-120 sandbed). I did add a 3rd one few months back. Not that i really needed it but was addressing some shading issues with my landscape and SPS. Very happy with my Reefi lights.

Larry

 

[minus9]

I’m seeing some stuff on “sponsorships” for these lights. I was set on getting them but after I found out that the “sponsorship” ended for a micro influencer and they removed the lights it made me hesitant. Is a lot of hype that we’re seeing cause these vendors are getting paid to promote these or are they moving everything over because they truly believe these are better lights than what’s out in the market?

They're good lights, like most others out there, nothing special or game changing. They will certainly grow coral, like all the others, but when you see the difference you as a retail customer pays versus what the vendor pays, it's night and day. I'm talking about 1/3 (maybe 1/4) of what the retail customer pays. Manufacturers do this to promote the lights and show that (fill in vendor name) John Doe uses them, so they must be great lights and worth every penny. It's marketing. I'm for companies making money, but that margin shouldn't be ripping off customers. EcoTech, AI, etc.... they're all guilty of this. This is a niche hobby, so some manufacturers take advantage of that and you pay the price they set. I read somewhere that they (Reef Breeders) spent one million dollars developing the lenses on the meridian, which is utter nonsense. I look at lights in a simple way, they should have a nice full spectrum (just blue doesn't cut it), well made without cheap components that don't last and be simple to use. Beyond, I don't need bells and whistles to grow coral.

 

[Semper.Reefing]

No experience with the Reefi, but I’m impressed with the Meridians. I was running two 24’s on a 4’ tank and moved them over to my 6’ adding an 11”. Fantastic spectrum, nice shimmer, zero light blasting you from the sides (no shade needed) and pretty sure they have the power to grow SPS at the bottom. Very powerful and completely silent. The build quality is great as well. Lights are a tough decision to make as they are expensive. This is one of the areas you want to get the right one for your needs the first time around. Good luck on your choice. You probably won’t go wrong with any of these. Here’s a picture of mine on a WB 230.6.

So they won’t blind me while I sit at my desk? Radions are so dang brite from the side

 

[MegabiteOG]

So they won’t blind me while I sit at my desk? Radions are so dang brite from the side

Not even a little bit. I don't even have to squint around the light unless I'm under them lookin up. The tank is in my living area where I watch TV and no issues.

 

[Semper.Reefing]

Not even a little bit. I don't even have to squint around the light unless I'm under them lookin up. The tank is in my living area where I watch TV and no issues.

Killer! I talked to them on the phone and pulled the trigger on two 35s. Can’t wait to install on Friday!

 

[MegabiteOG]

Killer! I talked to them on the phone and pulled the trigger on two 35s. Can’t wait to install on Friday!

Early Christmas! Enjoy the lights and hope they perform very well for you as they have for me. Share a pic once you have them on.

 

[saabmike]

Early Christmas! Enjoy the lights and hope they perform very well for you as they have for me. Share a pic once you have them on.

I just pulled the trigger on the 35 my self. I got the shallow reef layout.

 

[MegabiteOG]

I just pulled the trigger on the 35 my self. I got the shallow reef layout.

Enjoy!

 

[saabmike]

Thank you! I hope i went with the right choice led layout. I guess we’ll see

 

[SFNanoReef]

How do you feel about the two Meridian 35’s?

 

[saabmike]

How do you feel about the two Meridian 35’s?

I haven’t installed them yet still waiting on my water box but I’m excited! I think 2 35’swill be awesome!

 

[Davileet]

Adam from @Battlecorals swapped out his photons for meridians IIRC. That's a pretty good endorsement.
I have a median 11 over a IM20 and am happy but the tank has only been up a few months but so far so good. I'm able to get 400 - par on the clams on the rocks and around 300 on the derasas on the sand. I have two photon 32s over my SPS tank. When or if the photons need to be replaced I'll be adding meridians.

Adam picking up Reef Breeders is a good endorsement, but my guess is that he got them for free or very cheap.

 

[Reef Jedi]

If you can get it, Radion G6 and you’ll never look back!

 

[minus9]

Adam picking up Reef Breeders is a good endorsement, but my guess is that he got them for free or very cheap.

He definitely didn’t pay retail regardless.

 

[minus9]

If you can get it, Radion G6 and you’ll never look back!

I would rather spend that extra money on coral and not the light fixtures, especially with so many cheaper options that grow coral perfectly fine. Quanta comes to mind, as does Nicrew, Noopsyche and Reefi. GHL would be better and I hate their software, but love their hardware. Unless Adam is going to make you his moving light rack, then maybe I could be persuaded.

 

[Davileet]

I would rather spend that extra money on coral and not the light fixtures, especially with so many cheaper options that grow coral perfectly fine. Quanta comes to mind, as does Nicrew, Noopsyche and Reefi. GHL would be better and I hate their software, but love their hardware. Unless Adam is going to make you his moving light rack, then maybe I could be persuaded.

I would argue that Reefi isn't really a cheaper option. I am considering purchasing some of the Uni 2.1, but needing 6 or 8 of them I might as well go with Straton X or something else.

 

[minus9]

I would argue that Reefi isn't really a cheaper option. I am considering purchasing some of the Uni 2.1, but needing 6 or 8 of them I might as well go with Straton X or something else.

That’s why I usually mention Quanta (helix). But I get that people want to move sliders around and set the spectrum they desire. If we’re talking aesthetics are king, then I would do Stratons with Kessil’s in between. That would make for a really great look and spectrum, but that’s far from the cheapest option. But I also love Quanta with Kessil’s, which I have on my son’s tank. But it really comes down to what each person prefers and there’s tons of options. The gen 2 Nicrew 200w fixtures come with a meanwell driver, which is better than what ecotech offers. I think @TelegrahamTested LLC just tested them?

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

That’s why I usually mention Quanta (helix). But I get that people want to move sliders around and set the spectrum they desire. If we’re talking aesthetics are king, then I would do Stratons with Kessil’s in between. That would make for a really great look and spectrum, but that’s far from the cheapest option. But I also love Quanta with Kessil’s, which I have on my son’s tank. But it really comes down to what each person prefers and there’s tons of options. The gen 2 Nicrew 200w fixtures come with a meanwell driver, which is better than what ecotech offers. I think @TelegrahamTested LLC just tested them?

Yep. The HyperReef 200W offers better spread, a smaller hotspot, a more complete spectrum, very similar average PAR, and no Mobius. You can control them with 0-10V or the Nicrew controller. Instead of the Radion, you can buy two Nicrew 200W lights with a single controller, and still have money left over for a nice dinner. And you can buy the 4-year extended warranty on the lights. 3-years on the controller.

You're buying from Amazon, so if you don't like them, you can return them for free.

 

[saabmike]

I set my meridian 35 a couple weeks ago and love them. No coral yet

 

[steveschuerger]

Meridian 11 over IM25. Had Photons so this was natural upgrade.