Today on BRSTV we are going to do a quick product spotlight on the EcoTech line of Radion
LED lights.
We will hit on internal and external appeal, controllability, build quality, upgrade path
and warranty.
Hi I'm Ryan, host of BRSTV where each week we hit on a new topic related to reefing.
This week we are going to review the extremely popular Radion Gen 2 and Pro.
A while back we did a review of the Gen 1 which I personally used for over a year.
My experience with the light was extremely positive.
Corals responded well, nice color, the form factor is low profile and the programing software
was really easy to use.
But that was then and this is now, so let's see how the newer models hold up.
First off they both kept the same form factor and externally I think they look really sharp,
very low profile and sleek.
One change they did make is the ability to link them together with the rail kits which
is nice.
On the previous generation we had made our own bracket out of "C" shaped aluminum bar
which worked out nicely and hide cords but not everyone has the tools around to make
something like this.
Internally I think they have only improved upon the color options and intensity.
In fact they state that the average PAR has increased almost 50% with the new lenses and
more powerful XT-e Cree LEDs for the white and royal blue channels.
They still include the same popular channels of white, royal blue, blue, red and green.
I used the gen 1 for around a year, I can honestly say I was very happy with the color
combination and the tank was really stunning.
Something reiterated by many by many other people I know who have used them.
However they did elect to step it up a notch and offer a PRO version of the Radion which
adds some additional color options with four indigo, four UV and two yellow LED's.
This does come at a cost premium.
These additional color channels look pretty insane alone but used in conjunction with
the other colors the change is a bit more subtle, really just adds a bit of florescence
and pop.
It's also theorized that this fuller spectrum will help coral coloration and growth.
So which one should you get?
Well honestly I think this is somewhat like picking between a two and three thousand dollar
TV.
Side by side you can absolutely tell the difference but when viewed in your home both look exceptional.
My advice is if you have been good this year and your budget allows for it get the Pro
and be happy with your purchase.
If you have already spent a fortune on the tank and this just isn't going to fly with
your spouse, pitch the Pro then back off and buy the Gen 2's to show how flexible you can
be.
Either way you will have a light from manufacturer that is one of the few who has been doing
this long enough to have developed a pretty refined product they can stand behind.
Controllability is the next thing we are going to take a look at.
On the system itself there is pretty limited options with the use of these three buttons
and no display.
Some people will find this to be an irritation.
Personally I could care less, in fact I turn these buttons off so I don't accidentally
bump them.
In my opinion they have one of the most user-friendly programing software's available, I can't imagine
why anyone wouldn't want to use it.
The program opens and allows you to easily adjust the spectrum at any point in the day.
You can add as many new points as you want and then hit the demo mode to see what the
results look like.
Looking at this it is really hard to imagine going back to the on off function and lack
of color control most of us had with T5 and MH lighting.
Even cooler if you use their browser based version and what they call EcoSmart live.
It really walks you through the process of setting it up in a way anyone could understand.
Input when you want to turn them on and off.
Maximum intensity zero to one hundred, please resist the temptation to put these on 100%
because the par will likely be too much for most tanks.
50% is probably a good average starting point.
Next set whether or not you want to set a lunar moon cycle and acclimation cycle.
The acclimation cycle I think is one of the better ideas for LED's.
Most people don't own a PAR meter and the tendency is to try and turn the lights on
as bright as possible.
Result is most people start too high and bleach their corals.
This feature allows you to reduce the starting intensity and a period of time over which
it will gradually increase the intensity of the lights based on your programing.
There really isn't a better way to slowly acclimate the corals to the new light source
over many weeks.
Lastly it has some solid options for generating programing cycles.
Natural shallow reef, natural deep water reef, high growth, radiant color, traditional reef
and even a planted freshwater tank.
While half of us will end up doing a custom program the other half will really appreciate
these preprogramed settings.
Next thing to consider is build quality.
This type of thing is hard to evaluate completely but I always look for cheap plastic components,
cables fittings and other areas of concern.
The Radion feels really solid in the hand, well machined, the heat sink is solid and
cable connections secure.
The most important component of build quality to me is the ability to keep the LED's cool
because this is the number one factor in determining how long the LED's themselves will last.
Like most LED options out there, it uses a fan driven heat sink.
When the Radion's first came out there was a bit of discussion about the decision to
face the fans downward with the fear they may suck up salt mist, while this is understandable,
the fear turned out to be largely unfounded.
Mainly because the fan is sealed off from the internal components so there is little
risk of damaging anything and I know the units I used never had any other issue than typical
accumulation of dust.
I can tell you that I do prefer the ducted system they use which maximizes the airflow
over the entire surface of the heat sink.
Many of the less expensive models do have a fan but if you take a close look at the
design it is more for form than function.
I am confident that the Radion's cooling system is one of the better designs in our industry.
One of the nice things about the Radion is they also allow for an upgrade path after
new models have been released.
Even though LED lighting technology has caught up to the point that is has been widely adopted
in reefing, it is constantly evolving.
Providing the ability to upgrade makes it a lot easier to be confident about a purchase
and its long term viability.
Honestly LED lighting isn't cheap so most of us would like these lights outlast the
life of the tank we are putting them on.
Right now you can upgrade your Radion 1 to a Gen 2 or Pro for less than a third the cost
of buying it new.
They even do all the work for you; you just need to send the light in for the upgrade.
Honestly I think it's a pretty good deal as compared to having to by a brand new light
years from now when you're considering that upgrade.
Last thing I want to look at is support and warranty; the LED's pucks are two years and
everything else one year.
This is one year longer on the LED pucks verses most of the other major players.
However the biggest bonus is they are the manufacture rather than a distributor for
an imported product.
They located in the US and respond to support inquiries quickly.
Because they are assembled in the USA they also have parts on hand in case you need them
outside of the warranty period, something that's almost impossible on some of the cheaper
imported models.
That wraps todays episode if you have any questions about the Radion lights or LED lighting
in general check out the comments area below.
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See you all next week with another episode of BRSTV.