My surf 2 algae scrubber was $350 in 2013 and is $300 today
Radions - worst light fixtures in its class
- Thread starter SamsReef
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My surf 2 algae scrubber was $350 in 2013 and is $300 today
areefer01
2500 Club Member
This is true for the most part. However there are some sets that push the picture quality and raise the price point. Then there is of course the extreme but we'll just leave it to the above average and not 1 percenters.
Again true but at some point one has to factor in time is money and is it worth it. Not to mention safety. I'm sure we have both seen some posts shared that make us squint. Yes it is nice and great job for doing it but maybe leave it for those better skilled
I mean no disrespect by this btw - just sometimes it is nice to admit someone can do it better and paying for that is a better investment.
Exactly.
Point well made. $799 back then is actually equal to $1,038 in 2024 (Google search).
Aaaaanyway, I'm still using seven XR30 Gen3 Pros, along with two XR15 Gen6 Pros, over my 275. I get the full-sky LED effect and still had to dial them all way back while running only blue through UVs.
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Yeah, my scrubber is cross-stitch plastic and a plant LED overhead.
And led lights are led’s, boards, power supply, housing, lens, a fan. This isn’t anything groundbreaking
And that’s my point. As tech gets better the price drops in time. That 65” tv today is way better than the one 10 years ago. Better picture, thinner, “smart”. And it’s significantly cheaper.
Not the case here.
Other than an increase in wattage, and a slight difference in spectrum, the G6 Radions aren't that much of an improvement compared to my 11 year old G3s. The claim that they have a bigger spread is a little bit of hyperbole. The footprint is about the same. My G3 Radions are ALL still fully functional. I'm sure their output is somewhat lower with time, but my SPS are still rockin'. G3s are still available and cheap.
jackson6745
Valuable Member
FWIW you guys should check out the A8SE. I just got one for my qt tank and it looks dang close to the radion g6 pros over my frag tank. We’ll see how it does long term. Par and coverage appears the same. For $200 can’t go wrong.
Crashes notwithstanding
Cichlid Dad
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If anyone wants to see what goes into making LEDS, this video gives you an idea of what it took to make the first blue LED. And with that, what it takes to get different spectrum blues. Leds aren't easy to make and there's a but load of R&D involved. It's what separates the ok lights from the top of the line lights.
strich
Active Member
Whilst interesting (I love that video in general), let's make it clear that most if not all home reef light manufacturers aren't making LEDs. They're just buying them and having them put on to boards. That's not to diminish the design and software efforts required to make something good, but I personally doubt 95% of the marketing BS around most of these lights that tout cutting edge this and that.
Cichlid Dad
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Of course,
See "My Tank Thread". I raided my LED stash for my "new" 275G peninsula. I've set up six XR30 Gen 3 Pros (3 on each side), and five XR15 G6 Pros down the middle. G3s are about 10+ years old and still fully functional. I've got the entire array set for AB+ at just 40% intensity, meaning they all run a lot cooler (and quieter, because the fans aren't working harder), extending their lives almost indefinitely. The array setup also gives me coverage I woulldn't otherwise have. I also installed Mobius chips in all G3s.
So as far as "worst light fixtures in it's class", I haven't experienced an issue.
So as far as "worst light fixtures in it's class", I haven't experienced an issue.
It’s one the worse regarding cost
You already own the lights but for someone shopping new this sounds like over $8000 to light that reef with the current models
Compared to something new like the quanta atlas that could do it for less than half the price
Agreed but the post at some point brought up efficiency related to cost
Radions do great if you use the right models / amount but the cost adds up fast
I don’t think anyone would ever recommend 8 brand new XR30s for a 275. Especially when we already know 6 XR15s can cover a 72*36 250g. The 275 can’t be that much larger that it would require, in essence, 10 more XR15s over the 250
My estimate was based on the models in use in the array, 6xr30 and 5 xr15
But yes I do agree with you this wouldn’t be recommended for a new setup due to cost and better value can be found. But. Yea it would work great
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