Reefi Uno Pro 2.0 vs Ecotech Radion G4/G5 (Budget)

[erm0715]

I can't find a lot of specifics on schedule/intensities user recommendations for Reefi Uno's whereas there are plenty for Radions. I need to add fixtures over my 120g that currently has an Aquatic Life T5 hybrid (sans the LEDs) with 2x Coral Plus and 2x Blue Plus T5s. From a budget standpoint, I'd be looking at (2) used Radion G4 (mobius ready) / G5's or (2) new Uno Pro 2.0's. I figure it would be roughly 1000 or less to accomplish this.

Does anyone have any strong feelings towards used Radions vs New Reefi's? My only drawback on the Reefi's as I said was a lack of recommendations when looking online regarding intensity/schedules wheras all reviews I see are glowing.

Goal is mixed reef or maybe more SPS dominant. I specifically went with the T5 hybrid to help with shading in the event I went SPS heavy.

Sidenote - I have the Hybrid mounted ~8 inches above the water which is in-line with Radions. I think it's close on the reefi's.

Thanks

 

[oreo54]

I can't find a lot of specifics on schedule/intensities user recommendations for Reefi Uno's whereas there are plenty for Radions. I need to add fixtures over my 120g that currently has an Aquatic Life T5 hybrid (sans the LEDs) with 2x Coral Plus and 2x Blue Plus T5s. From a budget standpoint, I'd be looking at (2) used Radion G4 (mobius ready) / G5's or (2) new Uno Pro 2.0's. I figure it would be roughly 1000 or less to accomplish this.

Does anyone have any strong feelings towards used Radions vs New Reefi's? My only drawback on the Reefi's as I said was a lack of recommendations when looking online regarding intensity/schedules wheras all reviews I see are glowing.

Goal is mixed reef or maybe more SPS dominant. I specifically went with the T5 hybrid to help with shading in the event I went SPS heavy.

Sidenote - I have the Hybrid mounted ~8 inches above the water which is in-line with Radions. I think it's close on the reefi's.

Thanks

If the costs are about equal it is rarely advantageous to buy used over new.

 

[leepink23]

I love my reefi uno2. A lot of activity on his Facebook page. This is my setup which is a more white appearance. Using about 45% of its power getting 350-500 par on top rock and 150-250 on sandbed. I use 4 with the 90 degree reflector on a 180 gallon.

 

[leepink23]

At 8 inches you will definitely have to use 120 reflectors that come with it or you would cook your coral. They are powerful lights.

 

[mfinn]

I've always been a fan of Radions and the market for used gen 5's is pretty good for scoring a deal. I loved the gen 4 using ESL.
I picked up a Uno a while back and it struck me how solid the light was built. But my biggest problem was understanding how to program it. I am used to the simple way ESL worked and how easy it was.
I haven't heard anyone have issues with the build quality with them.

 

[erm0715]

Thanks for the input. Looks like it's hard to go wrong with either.

I guess I'll just look for the best deal and limit it to G5's or Uno Pro 2.0's. They should likely run about the same price. I do like the longer warranty and responsiveness of Reefi.

 

[xiaoxiy]

I’d go with the ReeFi. I’ve owned the Duo Extremes for a couple years now and just grabbed a UNO Pro for a frag tank. Best lights I’ve owned, and I’ve had a number of different previous lights.

 

[coral reeftank]

From my experience, the reefi uno 2 is a great light for the price, but the spread is no where near a radion g5. I bought an uno to temporarily replace a g5 blue and the colors of the corals just weren’t how I wanted them to be. Even without any reflectors on, I had bad shadowing on my acro colonies something that wasnt an issue with my radions.

My recommendation would to treat one radion xr30 as equal to 1.5~2 reefi unos, which make the uno seem like a solid bargain against the radion, but be prepared to have multiple fixtures.

 

[xiaoxiy]

From my experience, the reefi uno 2 is a great light for the price, but the spread is no where near a radion g5. I bought an uno to temporarily replace a g5 blue and the colors of the corals just weren’t how I wanted them to be. Even without any reflectors on, I had bad shadowing on my acro colonies something that wasnt an issue with my radions.

My recommendation would to treat one radion xr30 as equal to 1.5~2 reefi unos, which make the uno seem like a solid bargain against the radion, but be prepared to have multiple fixtures.

Was that an UNO or UNO pro you used? My Uno Pro 2.0 seems to have great spread. Here it is over my frag tank, flanked by radions.

 

[coral reeftank]

Was that an UNO or UNO pro you used? My Uno Pro 2.0 seems to have great spread. Here it is over my frag tank, flanked by radions.

It was the 2 pro, my main gripe is the tiny form factor leads to shadowing no matter what. From your pic it seems like you have earlier generation radions. Which I would say that the reefi is a direct competitor to in terms of spread but the newer g5/6 radions completely blitz the uno in creating a nice blanket of light.

I replaced the uno with the g6 blue radion and my spread issue was solved. At the same mounting height the radions perform better.

The reefi might have the radions beat on the spectrum, but the delivery of the spectrum is not there yet, where I think the radions have really mastered even spread with pendant form lights.

 

[leepink23]

The radions do have much better spread but also a lot of light spill, I personally didn’t want all that blue light in my house. Both are good lights just will come down to preference.

 

[coral reeftank]

The radions do have much better spread but also a lot of light spill, I personally didn’t want all that blue light in my house. Both are good lights just will come down to preference.

Yup, it all depends on the use case and the scenario.

 

[Kupo]

I have both the G5 and Reefi Uno 2.0. I replaced the G5 with the Reefi Uno. I couldn't stand the light spill from the G5. Hard to relax in the living room with a bright LED light shining in my eye.

 

[xiaoxiy]

It was the 2 pro, my main gripe is the tiny form factor leads to shadowing no matter what. From your pic it seems like you have earlier generation radions. Which I would say that the reefi is a direct competitor to in terms of spread but the newer g5/6 radions completely blitz the uno in creating a nice blanket of light.

I replaced the uno with the g6 blue radion and my spread issue was solved. At the same mounting height the radions perform better.

The reefi might have the radions beat on the spectrum, but the delivery of the spectrum is not there yet, where I think the radions have really mastered even spread with pendant form lights.

The Uno size was my major gripe too. I think it a panel light would have been a much better design rather than packing more power in a small body. I think Uno has great spread, but as somewhat of a point source design , shading is inevitable.

 

[X-37B]

You could look at the K7 V3.
I am running one now and like its look, performance, and price. You could get 3 for under $700.

The par is their and they are designed after the gen 4 Radions.
Current 20g is close to 4 months old.

 

[erm0715]

Thanks all, that gives a bit more perspective with regards to spread/shading/spillage.

I'm hoping shading will not be an issue with the T5 Hybrid mount. I'm not sure if spillage would be an issue either with the T5's on either side of the LED mounting positions but definitely good perspectives to have outside the normal parameters most people discuss like PAR, intensity, spectrum, ease of use etc.

 

[erm0715]

You could look at the K7 V3.
I am running one now and like its look, performance, and price. You could get 3 for under $700.

The par is their and they are designed after the gen 4 Radions.
Current 20g is close to 4 months old.

I'll check it out. I'd have to see how I could mount them on the hybrid mount. I know hte mounting hardware works for Ecotech and AI and has mount hardware you can purchase for Kessil. I've read on here someone mounted the Uno Pro 2.0's on it as well.

 

[iseethruyou2]

The reflectors on the reefi can be changed. It comes with the 90 degree installed. There’s also a 120 degree reflector in the box and if you remove the reflector it’s 160 degrees. So spread won’t be an issue.

 

[minus9]

I would buy multiple Uno’s over Radions, especially when you can get two Uno’s for about the same price as one XR30. Adding T5’s or some Quanta pro bars and you don’t have to worry about shading. One Uno is $50 cheaper than an XR15.

 

[RhinoNM]

From my experience, the reefi uno 2 is a great light for the price, but the spread is no where near a radion g5. I bought an uno to temporarily replace a g5 blue and the colors of the corals just weren’t how I wanted them to be. Even without any reflectors on, I had bad shadowing on my acro colonies something that wasnt an issue with my radions.

My recommendation would to treat one radion xr30 as equal to 1.5~2 reefi unos, which make the uno seem like a solid bargain against the radion, but be prepared to have multiple fixtures.

Buy 2 uno 2 pros and you can spread them out to your liking vs the xr30 which you can't and it's still cheaper than the radions. More power and more blues too. Btw I use 6 uno2 pros over a 48" x 34" tank.