Why are Radions worth it?

[aus1230]

I’ve watched all of these YouTube videos but who’s actually gone from AI or other brands to Radion and noticed a difference?

 

[GSPClown94]

They most definitely aren't worth it unless you really enjoy lights randomly coming on at 3am. Also AI and Ecotech are basically the same company, its all owned by aperture pet and life...

 

[rtparty]

Ecotech fixed the time issue as far as I have been told by multiple people running them and none are having the time issues now. I don't have any Radions to test that.

Are they worth it? Depends on the person buying. They are great lights no matter what the haters claim. Their biggest issue is there are numerous great lights these days and most are half the cost.

 

[aus1230]

Ecotech fixed the time issue as far as I have been told by multiple people running them and none are having the time issues now. I don't have any Radions to test that.

Are they worth it? Depends on the person buying. They are great lights no matter what the haters claim. Their biggest issue is there are numerous great lights these days and most are half the cost.

I guess why are they worth it then?

 

[areefer01]

I guess why are they worth it then?

It is a vague question.

The onus is on the hobbyist to decide and each has their own reason for liking what we do. If you are looking for which is the best, save it for sports.

 

[ninjamyst]

Still rocking my Gen 4 XR30s that I got used for $400 each. Worth it absolutely at that price but not for $1000. Had mine for 3 years now.

 

[GSPClown94]

Ecotech fixed the time issue as far as I have been told by multiple people running them and none are having the time issues now. I don't have any Radions to test that.

Are they worth it? Depends on the person buying. They are great lights no matter what the haters claim. Their biggest issue is there are numerous great lights these days and most are half the cost.

Would you mind sharing what they claim is the final fix to this problem? Ecotech has told me about 10 different things were the issue and assured me each time yep this is absolutely the problem and will fix the time issue. Now they want me to pay for shipping to send in my lights for diagnostics and repair and they say I'll have to foot the repair bill too, even thought they should be covered under warranty. I'd stay away from any of these products, it is clear to me they don't care about their customers.

 

[X-37B]

If you can afford it they are worth it.
Get some used gen 5's if price is an issue. I bought all 4 gen 5's used. Around $350 average with mount.
I ran 4 on my old 80 growout.
They grow coral well that's why so many use them.
My current 15g running a xr15 gen 5 blue ab+ @ 100%.

 

[mcarroll]

I guess why are they worth it then?

Why is spending any of the money on this hobby "worth it"? The answer to that is not always clear cut.

An analogy...
Space shuttles and skateboards both move people from Point A to Point B. Is a space shuttle really "worth it"? ...are skateboards really "The Best"?

I drive a car. No re-entry flaps, no ollies, but it seems to do what I need. :)

 

[slingfox]

I’ve watched all of these YouTube videos but who’s actually gone from AI or other brands to Radion and noticed a difference?

If you want value per dollar there are many other options. Asking whether Radions are “worth it” suggests you are probably not the target audience for Radions other than buying used which is a great save to save money.

If you are into hardcore SPS, then going with Radions increases the chances of you being able to get the SPS to look similar to what the photos show. Radions are still the most widely used lights by the major coral sellers so it is hard to go wrong with Radions.

 

[Mike.]

I just picked up an XR15 G6...and just the color spectrum alone and color vibrance vs my old smatfarm was worth it.

 

[slingfox]

If you are comparing Radions to AI Blades, I can provide the comparison: Corals look nice under Radions than my two AI Blade Grow + one AI Balde Glow setup. The corals still look great under the AI Blades but there is more pop and colors under Radions. I plan to get some ATI Stratons when they release their new model in the US.

 

[rtparty]

Would you mind sharing what they claim is the final fix to this problem? Ecotech has told me about 10 different things were the issue and assured me each time yep this is absolutely the problem and will fix the time issue. Now they want me to pay for shipping to send in my lights for diagnostics and repair and they say I'll have to foot the repair bill too, even thought they should be covered under warranty. I'd stay away from any of these products, it is clear to me they don't care about their customers.

I’ve had amazing service with Ecotech over the last 20 years if I needed it but I don’t currently use anything from them. The Vortechs became a nightmare to maintain for me.

I believe they said the issue has to do with other items on Mobius? I think it was @Sisterlimonpot who posted about it recently? Maybe he can chime in more

 

[mfinn]

Those of us the jumped on the Radion bandwagon when the gen 1's first came out saw something new and exciting. ( at least with me, coming from MH and VHO lighting and chillers)
For me it was the software that came with them. ESL, IMO was game changing over what most of us had been using. On and off plug in timers with strip lights to mimics sunrise and sunset.
Gen 1 through gen 4 was great.
Now they have that crappy app called Mobius. It's usable, but to me a stripped down version of what it used to be.
I guess I'm lucky, I've never had issues that I see others having. But I just set it, and leave it be.
The light fixture to me is pretty much what has always been, with improvements in lens and internal circuitry. But the app has changed my opinion on them as a whole.
They are not my first choice any more on my 240. I went with the CoralCare gen 2 fixture. Love it.
I still use a pair of XR15's on my 66 gallon tank.
So now as the price has gone up and no upgrades or new fixtures, I'm not sure if they are worth it.
IMO they are still a great light, but,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[aus1230]

If you want value per dollar there are many other options. Asking whether Radions are “worth it” suggests you are probably not the target audience for Radions other than buying used which is a great save to save money.

If you are into hardcore SPS, then going with Radions increases the chances of you being able to get the SPS to look similar to what the photos show. Radions are still the most widely used lights by the major coral sellers so it is hard to go wrong with Radions.

I can assure you I have the money to buy new Radions. But I currently have AI because I started with a 20 gallon and built off of that. Everyone says they are “worth it” but I’ve yet to read why scientifically they are worth it. Like you for example said “ they increase your chances of SPS looking similar to what the photo shows”…… but why?

 

[mothergoose22]

Maybe some corals are brand snobs

 

[slingfox]

I can assure you I have the money to buy new Radions. But I currently have AI because I started with a 20 gallon and built off of that. Everyone says they are “worth it” but I’ve yet to read why scientifically they are worth it. Like you for example said “ they increase your chances of SPS looking similar to what the photo shows”…… but why?

The why is very simple: Most major coral sellers grow and take pictures of their coral under Radions. If you want to increase your chances of getting the same look then use the same lights.

I have seen this effect first hand on multiple occasions where I bought corals from coral shows and LFSs and then put them in my tank 20-45 minutes later. The corals looked better under the Radions than my AI lights! I have zero doubt their are other lights that also look great.

The Radions output a very pleasing spectrum. LED and lighting technology has advanced materially since the Gen6 were released so I wish Ecotech would refresh the Radions. Since Ecotech apparently doesn’t plan to release Gen7 lights anytime soon, however, I plan to switch to ATI Stratons once the new model comes out.

 

[X-37B]

I can assure you I have the money to buy new Radions. But I currently have AI because I started with a 20 gallon and built off of that. Everyone says they are “worth it” but I’ve yet to read why scientifically they are worth it. Like you for example said “ they increase your chances of SPS looking similar to what the photo shows”…… but why?

On my current new build I am running a halide because I like the look under halides, so to me it is worth it.

 

[exnisstech]

Sorry I didn't read all the posts. I started with radions and moved away from them. They were fine when I ran the G4s using a browser and reef link but I upgraded all my stuff to Mobius and the date time issue that some if us experience with mobius makes them unusable.

PS I'm running reefbreeders photons and a meridian over 3 tanks and noopsyche k7s over another now.

 

[aus1230]

The why is very simple: Most major coral sellers grow and take pictures of their coral under Radions. If you want to increase your chances of getting the same look then use the same lights.

I have seen this effect first hand on multiple occasions where I bought corals from coral shows and LFSs and then put them in my tank 20-45 minutes later. The corals looked better under the Radions than my AI lights! I have zero doubt their are other lights that also look great.

The Radions output a very pleasing spectrum. LED and lighting technology has advanced materially since the Gen6 were released so I wish Ecotech would refresh the Radions. Since Ecotech apparently doesn’t plan to release Gen7 lights anytime soon, however, I plan to switch to ATI Stratons once the new model comes out.

Thanks for that reply. I do agree that I've seen almost all coral dealers on YouTube etc. use Radion.