Vertex Illumina 260 V Radion V Pheonix

Hey everyone,

I am saving all my pennies and cents up to replace the stock lights in my BioCube 29, I really want to keep the hood, which means that the light fixture will have to be capable of working within close range of the waterline.

I am doing all the research on the different lights out there. The 3 I'm interested in are the Vertex Illumina, EcoTech Radion, and AI's new Pheonix. I'm looking to get all your expert opinions and figure out which fixture stands out from the rest, and more importantly which fixture is worth the money and investment.

Radion, Maybe you can replace the 4 greens with more Red and Blue.

Pros: Looks great, lots of fancy features, can be upgraded easily
Cons: Apparently the color spectrum is not that great, lots of useless green not much red, not the latest XM-L LEDS, Very pricey considering components.

AI Pheonix, Question, will it be upgradable like the Nano, so maybe you can add red later?

Pros: Looks great, cheapest fixture in comparison to others, uses XML LEDS
Cons: Least amount of LEDS per Fixture out of the 3, No Red at all.

Vertex Illumina 260, Question will Vertex be releasing a new model soon? Is this fixture upgradable.
I honestly don't know enough about this fixture, it basically does the same as the others but is slightly more expensive, is it worth the extra expense, need your input.

Pros:
Cons:

Thanks guys, hopefully this thread can stay around and people can post there reviews and opinions on each fixture.

iReefer

 

Let me start by saying with all of those (almost any light in fact, unless you retrofit the hood) you will not be able to keep the hood.
Those are all overkill, all you would need is an AI nano or PAR38 or KESSIL 150. Its not even worth it, the light spill over will be huge and you probably will only run them at 20%.
If you want to keep the hood, putting 2 Ble/Violet Stunner Strips and 2 white panoramas from ecoxotic.

 

the Radion would be great.