WMAS Discussion Forum : ai vega or radion? http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:30:55 +0000 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 20:14:35 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=62325 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : While the TV may be full spectrum,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=510099&title=ai-vega-or-radion#510099 Author: JohnnyHeavens
Subject: 62325
Posted: March 03 2013 at 8:14pm

While the TV may be full spectrum, you'd be paying a lot for a TV that you'd only able to watch the one channel on.]]> Sun, 03 Mar 2013 20:14:35 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=510099&title=ai-vega-or-radion#510099 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : Dexta wrote:I am currently...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=509817&title=ai-vega-or-radion#509817 Author: db7080
Subject: 62325
Posted: March 02 2013 at 3:08am

Originally posted by Dexta Dexta wrote:



I am currently setting up a 90 gallon aquarium and trying to decide on Lighting for the tank and cannot decide between LED and MH/T5. The LED's look really nice, but with the price I am thinking about buying a wide angle wireless internet webcam and pointing it straight up at the sun and then buying a 60" widescreen LED TV and turning the Brightness all the way up and just playing the web cam feed. lol. It just seems like a cheaper alternative. Big smile



Hahaha no doubt about that]]> Sat, 02 Mar 2013 03:08:32 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=509817&title=ai-vega-or-radion#509817 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : I am currently setting up...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=509435&title=ai-vega-or-radion#509435 Author: Dexta
Subject: 62325
Posted: February 28 2013 at 1:57am

I am currently setting up a 90 gallon aquarium and trying to decide on Lighting for the tank and cannot decide between LED and MH/T5. The LED's look really nice, but with the price I am thinking about buying a wide angle wireless internet webcam and pointing it straight up at the sun and then buying a 60" widescreen LED TV and turning the Brightness all the way up and just playing the web cam feed. lol. It just seems like a cheaper alternative. Big smile]]> Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:57:33 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=509435&title=ai-vega-or-radion#509435 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : Cons to both, too many red and...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508955&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508955 Author: Bryce
Subject: 62325
Posted: February 25 2013 at 9:01pm

[QUOTE=ReefOn]
Cons to both, too many red and green LEDs (radion we run them at 5% Max vega we run at 10%).
What are the cons to too many red and green LEDs? Just not needed or known bad effects to having lights in the red / green spectrum? If a 5 / 10% max is what you/your clients run what did you experience at the higher levels to lead you to determine 5 / 10% is a max you would run them for red & green?]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:01:38 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508955&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508955 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : db7080 wrote:So another observation!...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508900&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508900 Author: JohnnyHeavens
Subject: 62325
Posted: February 25 2013 at 4:57pm

Originally posted by db7080 db7080 wrote:

So another observation! I have read a lot about about people running vaga's at "no more than 50 and 60 percent" but other people running the radion say they run them at 100 percent. So wouldn't the Vega's get a better spread because you could just hang it higher and turn up the intensity?

Um, that's opposite of what I found. Of course, if nothing else, the internet is good for finding the reverse of any argument. I'm sure it's conditional on each situation so let me share some of what I found.

AI: Is designed to cover 24" x 24" with max par delivered 4" above the water. Max depth? Depends...
$1000-$1500 (for my solution)
AI Vega FAQ
When I called AI they were very helpful. The rep I talked to suggested that with my tank I should ideally plan on a fixture for every 12"-18" if I wanted to grow "anything".  As in anything I want. That would mean up to 3 fixtures for me and about 6" off the water.

Radions: 8" off the water is the minimum suggested hang height. 9" up gives a spread of 30". 11"-13" off the surface yields 42" coverage. Max depth? Depends...
$500-$1000 @ gen1 (for my solution) or $650-$1300 @ gen2 
Radion Setup Guide
This means that for me, 2 radion fixtures is borderline overkill. 

Here is my situation. After a 6 week long acclimation period, my radions will max out at 75% power. I don't have a lot of SPS yet but before I started using the built in acclimation feature, 90% power started to bleach and fade everything including stuff on the sand. I have 2 radions (gen1 at the time) about 16" off the water and the tank is ~28" deep. My tank is 36" x 36" and there is not a dim spot to be found save those in the cave or intentionally shadowed. 100% power might have melted my LR ;) There is much power in those little LEDs. I have since upgraded my Gen1 to the new Pros. As such I started my acclimation over. Starting at 50% and ramping to 75% (for now) over 6 weeks. I restarted because the Pro not only adds UV and other color but because the lens is more powerful and there are more LEDs overall. 

I would have needed or could have used, 3 Vega or 2 Radions. With the original Gen1 it was cheaper for me to go Radion. They were designed to be higher off the water and thus out of my way plus given that I could upgrade the fixtures later (and I have) it was a no brainer. 

A couple links I still had bookmarked.
Light spectrum of various LEDs
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/3/aafeature
A TRT thread asking your same question but for the Sol not Vega
http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/ai-sol-vs-ecotech-radion-xr30w-help-182604.html
Radion Gen1 vs Gen2
http://ecotechmarine.com/radion-xr30w-gen2-upgrade-path/




Edited by JohnnyHeavens - February 25 2013 at 4:59pm]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:57:31 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508900&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508900 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : So another observation! I have...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508458&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508458 Author: db7080
Subject: 62325
Posted: February 23 2013 at 2:27pm

So another observation! I have read a lot about about people running vaga's at "no more than 50 and 60 percent" but other people running the radion say they run them at 100 percent. So wouldn't the Vega's get a better spread because you could just hang it higher and turn up the intensity?]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:27:22 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508458&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508458 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : Not the throw a kink in it, but...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508396&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508396 Author: rfoote
Subject: 62325
Posted: February 23 2013 at 7:45am

Not the throw a kink in it, but you may want to consider looking at Vertex as well. Too be honest though, on my next system I'll likely be dumping LED and moving back to MH/T5.]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 07:45:00 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508396&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508396 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : ReefOn wrote:Now my rant:...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508395&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508395 Author: Jeffs_little_ocean
Subject: 62325
Posted: February 23 2013 at 7:24am

Originally posted by ReefOn ReefOn wrote:


 Now my rant: change the channel if you like, lol
Controlling, they are not apex ready: why not? You have to pay all this extra money for each fixture having its own controller built in, when you could apply this money to an apex and get the same effects.
 
Somehow I don't think AI or Neptune systems is about saving the customer money.


Edited by Jeffs_little_ocean - February 24 2013 at 7:39am]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 07:24:57 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508395&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508395 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : I only have experience with radions...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508382&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508382 Author: kellerexpress
Subject: 62325
Posted: February 22 2013 at 11:51pm

I only have experience with radions but I have heard that the Vegas can have the disco ball effect. The spread on the radions is actually very good for the size of the fixture. On my 57 gallon i started with 2 radions and ended up selling one because i found that if I hung one fixture about 12-13 inches over the water I could cover the whole tank(36" wide). I had lps growing on the edges on the sand bed no problem.


Edited by kellerexpress - February 22 2013 at 11:53pm]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:51:29 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508382&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508382 <![CDATA[ai vega or radion? : I ran 4 sol&#039;s on my 220 with...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508321&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508321 Author: Dion Richins
Subject: 62325
Posted: February 22 2013 at 5:01pm

I ran 4 sol's on my 220 with out any issues. Now I have 4 vegas over my 150 while I decide what my next tank will be.]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:01:49 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62325&PID=508321&title=ai-vega-or-radion#508321