Radion vs DIY - Need Advice

I am in need of a light for my 45G SPS tank (new build, thread started here as well).

I was originally leaning towards a DIY LED from rapidled.com as I'd save a little bit of money and enjoy the DIY aspects of builds, but then kept reading everywhere that DIY never seems to be QUITE as impressive as a Radion.

If I were to go the DIY route, I would build with the following:

• 6 Cree XP-E Blue
• 6 Cree XT-E Royal Blue
• 6 Cree XP-G Cool White
• 6 Violet UV
• All 80* Lenses
• 6" x 10" Drilled/Tapped Heatsink
• 4 Meanwell Dimmable Drivers
• Apex JR Controller w/VDM Module

Am I going to lose anything to the Radion with this setup? More importantly...can any of you sway me in one direction vs the other?

 

I have never seen a radion tank that could compete with a DIY led tank... Radion isn't special in any way. The great thing about radion is customer service and a fancy computer program to dim the lights. The lights themselves are average at best.

 

Thank you!

DIY - 1
Radion - 0

This is the kind of advice I need! Keep them coming!

 

Yea I agree that DIY would be better than radion. If you DIY it gives you the control to pick any color you want and arrange them in any order to give you the light spectrum your looking for. Rapidled even has solderless LEDs for those who want to go the DIY route but don't have a solder iron or aren't the handiest. And not to mention it would be more than half the cost of a radion

 

Thanks! As far as cost, it's a bit over half if you want control over each color (like the Radion gives you), because then you need a separate dimmable driver for each. Then if you factor in the Apex controller and dimmer module - it's about the same but you are getting an apex controller that you can use for other things.

 

DIY BY FAR!
Go with a 1:2 ratio of NW:RB (No CW) with some OCW's and TV for full spectrum.

 

Thanks! Any reason not to go with the cool white? I was trying to mimic what the Radion has.

And it seems you are recommending Exotic LED's vs. Cree. Any reason for this? I was under the (uninformed) impression that Cree was the best, but would love to know if that isn't the case!

 

Ecoxotic the led company or exotic led colors? It's fine to have some Bridgelux, Luxeon (Which are better than Cree IIRC), Semileds, etc to geet full spectrum if you want it, NW has a wider spectrum an look better than CW. Also NO green, cyan is much better.

 

Thanks! I was referring to the company, not the color.

If I want to keep it to 4 drivers, how would you recommend I split up the colors? I'd like to be able to use one driver as my night time light (really like deep blue with crazy coral colors)

 

I'd get one of their nightlight kits instead of using one of the drivers. You don't really need those dimmable.

I went DIY personally (can't comment on how I like them yet... build of the aquarium is still underway... but the DIY was easy to put together!).

Plus, you are getting a controller with the DIY option, which has other uses!