Elite Eight narrowed down in 2011 Aquarium LED lighting showdown

By on Jan 05, 2012

The votes continue to roll in here for our 2011 Reader’s Choice LED showdown. The first two rounds are complete and we have it narrowed down to the Elite Eight in this fun way for our readers to chose the top LED lights we covered that were released this last year. A few surprises with Nano Box voters edging out the AquaIllumination Nano and Ecoxotic carrying three of the eight mentioned in round three. There are still some heavy hitters with Ecotech Marine’s Radion XR30, the Kessil A150W, Pacific Sun Metis Hypereon and Maxspect Mazzarra still in the hunt (click here for a full-size image of the bracket).

This next round will be open for voting until 4 p.m. PST on Friday, January 6.

Maxspect Mazzara vs. Ecoxotic Panorama Pro

There are some robust features of the Maxspect Mazarra making this one a top contender.  The Ecoxotic Panorama Pro is definitely more robust, has more colors than the previous generation and even has an RGB version.

Pacific Sun Metis Hypereon vs. Kessil A150W

The Kessil A150W is definitely one pendant to keep your eye on — different colors, proprietary chips and a great price! The Pacific Sun Metis Hyperion definitely is setting the bar high with Cree XM-L and UV LEDs in a sleek and stylish fixture. The Sunbrite Slimline S is a sleek looking fixture, tri-color LEDs, has a great price and oh yeah, a remote control!

Ecotech Radion XR30 vs. Ecoxotic Panorama Retro 2D

The Ecotech Radion XR30 hit the LED with plenty of buzz and so far the reviews have been pretty favorable for the XR30 as Ecotech Marine starts venturing out more.  The Ecoxotic Panorama Retro 2D is a great way to add LED lighting to your existing canopy or to use as a hanging light. The great feature now is the ability to dim these lamps.

Nano Box vs. Ecoxotic 120W Cannon

The NanoBox is one nice looking modular, entry-level fixture with four controllable channels of light plus active cooling. Taking heat management to a whole new level, the Ecoxotic 120W Cannon has more power and is lighter thanks to efficient use of heat pipes to aid in cooling.

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  • http://twitter.com/AwItsLinnikins Linny

    Seriously, what’s the point of this?  So we can all find the so called “best”?  It shouldn’t change what people buy because, chances are, NO ONE has bought all of these set ups.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/_3B67TIISX2ONPYZ5YC5VPXF2ME Phil

    lack of the orphek light even on the list makes this a popularity contest between Jakes friends

  • Anonymous

    Its just a popularity poll. The Radion is going to win even though it only puts out measly double digit par numbers at the sandbed for 700+ dollars. It seems like the entire debate on LEDs has shifted since it’s release, going from “More PAR than a metal halide at half the watts!” to “You dont need crazy PAR to grow SPS, you’ll over-saturate them! The ocean isnt as bright as you think!”

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1828803085 Gary Kelly Kuhn Soileau

    They are all nice lights….I think it’s personal preferance?

  • Anonymous

    What happened to the Vertex Illumina in this competition?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TLDCJZIPRVHBDDZEG524FPAASI Christine

    Was not covered in 2011, it came out prior to that.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TLDCJZIPRVHBDDZEG524FPAASI Christine

    Agreed 100% well said.

  • Anonymous

    I agree, the debate about LEDs has shifted over the years, but I feel it has shifted naturally as we have learned things about the technology.  

    True, when I built my light I was amazed to see I could get over 2000 PAR 14″ away and 600 PAR at the sand bed, 34″ from the light and only use 150w to do it, that was 2.5x more than my MH put out. That was running 48 Cree LEDs at full power. No one does that. 

    The reality for me is, at first I set the LEDs to match the PAR and look of the MH it was replacing (250w Radium). To replicate both the best I could meant turning the blues up all the way and running the whites at 35% which ends up using about 100w of power, for me the corals did not react favorably to this at all and after months of trial and error I have found 70% of max is about as high as I can go on my setups on the royal blues before corals start to react negatively. The bottom line for me is I have found it difficult to replicate a 20k look without harming corals using LEDs that are available today. I do think that will be one of the issues that will be resolved in time though… or if not OLED screens will replace LED lighting, hopefully sooner than later.

    Since every light and every tank is different and we are still learning about the technology no one can really say for sure how much is too much of a certain spectrum until we try. I do think with LEDs we are able to go over board in certain spectrums which was something that was not nearly as easy to do with any other technology.  

  • Anonymous

    Had 2 AI Sol Blues over my tank for a year. Switched to two Radions. I had a STRONG and IMMEDIATE SPS response to the Radions. Better colors and what can only be describe as an explosion of growth. The first week I was wondering if it was worth it. Within 3 weeks I couldn’t believe the results.

  • Anonymous

    I agree with you Calireefer, you always make intelligent posts. My comment was geared more towards the Radion fanboys that defend their purchases to the death, but I definitely understand what you mean. However, on a separate note, we are constantly saying that LEDs will improve exponentially by the day when in reality they aren’t improving for reefing’s particular use. Yes, Haitz’s law exists, but doesn’t answer for the lack of full spectrum white and blue. 

    What happened to plasma lights? Or quantum dot LEDs? Why are we so focused on the current LED trends that are regressing (Radion, Ecoxotic, MARINELAND, et cetera) as I type this? If the Radion was a plasma diode fixture, everything would be different right now.

  • Anonymous

    No need to defend to the death when you’re getting results.

  • Anonymous

    Good for you man! It’s always nice to add something to your system that shows good results. I hear if you use a gold plated oil filter on your next oil change, it makes your car faster! I swear I noticed results immediately!

    See my point?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Frode-Numan/659084887 Frode Numan

    I agree. It’s not very informative. And with al the LED-lights thrown at us, this does not realy help to make a sensible choice. I think I’ll go plasma. Easy picking ;-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Frode-Numan/659084887 Frode Numan

    Can you make us believe to. Any pic’s on the internet of your tank before and after the light change?

  • http://twitter.com/clownfishman Hubert CLOWNFISHMAN

    skewed comparisons when so many manufacturers and proucts are excluded due to bias reasons :P

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TLDCJZIPRVHBDDZEG524FPAASI Christine

    The Radion is a glorified RGB LED with a fan, this is not new technology at all. It’s nothing more than a fun toy to play with when you finished all the tinkering with your tank. Really, is this the best Ecotech could do? Where’s the science, and the studies that say anyone with no understanding of light spectrum can manipulate light and make there tank better than all others, make it healthier, and corals grow faster. We all want control or our domain, Ecotech gave the masses what they always wanted, kudos to Ecotech for passing off their technology (state of the art) to all for 10 times what it is worth! Well done Ecotech, can’t wait for your next revelation.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TLDCJZIPRVHBDDZEG524FPAASI Christine

    Agreed

  • Anonymous

    nope. I switched from AI’s to Radions and had tangible results. I was prepared to sell the Radions if they didn’t end up worth the switch. The Radions are more aesthetically pleasing for me, and seem to to do a better job growing my corals… SPS, LPS, and Softies.

  • Anonymous

    Yep:

    nanoreef: http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=248880

    Reef central: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1908402

    Pictures in both cases will be towards the end… nanoreef has more content and more of a breakdown on the radion switch. I’ll be taking new pictures this weekend.

  • Anonymous

    I suppose 200-250 par at the bottom of a 34″ deep tank is “measly double digit PAR numbers”?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001443324671 Patrick Jewell

    I feel the company who has the most popular name and the best marketing strategy ultimately wins this contest. 

    Kind of lame, but still interested who has the best marketing. lol

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Tibbits/8640355 Matthew Tibbits

    OK.  What’s your ideal out-of-the-box unit?  The mazzaras are about as expensive, the orphek units are more expensive and rely on high angle lens to get their par, the Vertex units are more expensive, and AI sols are a bit cheaper but lack some of the features of the Radion.  I have a DIY set up for a 40 breeder that cost about 500 dollars (big heat sink+46 crees+fully controllable drivers) to put together and doesn’t have the features of a radion.  The way I see it, a radion is 400+ dollars in total components.  The rest went to R and D, custom components, and a reasonable mark up.   I don’t own a radion, but I have played with them. What’s with the hatred?  You sound like Mike Maddox. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TLDCJZIPRVHBDDZEG524FPAASI Christine

    It’s not hatred, just clarification. There has been way too much hype on a product that allows you to make corals look amazing. If that’s a feature you need then the Radion is your fixture. The Radion (and others like it) redirects focus on aesthetics rather than coral and overall aquarium health. That to me is a backward step in the hobby, but it sells. We need more scientific methodologies for this industry to gain credibility. When the top aquariums in the world switch to Radions I’ll have another look at them.

  • Anonymous

    You have zero credibility with that Blue Spot Jawfish in a 1/2″ sand bed. Poor thing.

  • Anonymous

    Are you high? Jeremy from Premium Aquatics did a PAR test on the Radion and it was only gleaming 130 at 12″ of water. Guess what that number looks like above anything other than a ten gallon?

  • Anonymous

    I took the measurements yesterday with the Radion and an in house par meter

  • http://twitter.com/JerBrower Jeremy Brower

    Just FYI, my readings were from a single Radion running, no other light source to speak of, even through it was a 72″ long tank.  If you have multiple Radions running on a tank you’re bound to get higher par numbers than what I tested.  Just some info on how I came about with my numbers.

  • Anonymous

    Coincidentally I took the measurements just now and got 5. Who are you? Someone more credible than Jeremy from Premium Aquatics?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-TheHutt/100001836527412 Daniel TheHutt

    Cop out. Keeping a fish in less than ideal conditions has nothing to do with the ability to show results of one light over the other. Deal with the argument at hand before starting a new one.

  • Anonymous

    You’re crazy. He had a home made jawfish house which he used for several months before he decided he wanted to be an open water fish. He acts unlike any jawfish I’ve ever had. He’s very inquisitive, very healthy, and over a year old. He’s not afraid of me in the slightest and will actually come over and inspect anything I do in the tank. I can’t even shoo him away with my hand… he will stand his ground. He’s a happy fish. It’s not like he’s cowering in a corner somewhere stressed out (BSJs have a black face when stressed). There isn’t a single picture where he isn’t out and about

  • Anonymous

    I’m just a regular guy who has been working in marine aquatics for about 10 years. I also designed and built this place 
    http://reefbuilders.com/2010/09/02/phoenix-lfs-reef-culture-shows-ecoxotic-led-lighting/

    As far as credibility goes, well, that isnt up to me, but the vast majority of my customers would consider me to be very credible.

    To go back to the subject at hand, what kind of BS test were you running to get a par reading of 5?

    I have taken measurements over several different tanks at many heights and never seen a number as low as what you are claiming. At best you are being disingenuous, at worst you are trying to smear the Radion.

    Who are you? And what is your beef with the Radion?

  • Anonymous

    Jeremy, I’m not doubting the veracity of your tests, the numbers look about right from what I have seen.

    The way that some are characterizing those results is another thing entirely.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kyle-Hebert/1110420002 Kyle Hebert

    I have the Orphek on one of my aquariums,
    The corals do ok, and the sps grow, BTW this is one PR-156 on a 57, oceanic illuminata. 
    However I have to say I am not pleased with the light.The ratio of white to blue is horrible, and the ballast has two timers, one for a combo of all the whites a a few blues and the other for only 4 blue leds that barely light the aquarium, only good when the only thing lit in the room I would never recommend one now, and I would even feel guilty pawning it off to some other hobbiest. 

    And if you read this reefbuilders post im sure you can see why it might have been ‘forgotten’ http://reefbuilders.com/2011/09/14/mike-maddox/

  • http://twitter.com/JerBrower Jeremy Brower

    Oh no worries at all, I just wanted to clarify on here how my par numbers were reached that I took since there are so many variables.  :)