AI Sol on a 180 reef

[apuhl20]

I am looking into running the AI Sols on my new 180. It is a standard 180 with dimensions of 6x2x2. I am hoping that I can get away with 3 of them about 12 inches off the water. Anyone have a setup similar to this or any input??

[evsalty]

You should be OK. you might have a bit of shading towards the front and back walls but on the long direction you should cover well at 24" wide coverage each.

[apuhl20]

Forgot to add this will be a mixed reef with alot of coral.

[murphreef]

build your own set up and get the coverage you want for your 180 and save some $$ you could probably build something using 72-84 Cree LED's for around $900-$1000

[apuhl20]

Originally Posted by evsalty

You should be OK. you might have a bit of shading towards the front and back walls but on the long direction you should cover well at 24" wide coverage each.

I want to avoid any shading if possible. Which direction would be the best way to hang them?

Originally Posted by murphreef

build your own set up and get the coverage you want for your 180 and save some $$ you could probably build something using 72-84 Cree LED's for around $900-$1000

I am not technically inclined to be building that kind of lighting system. I also want the controlability that manufactured ones have.

[murphreef]

im no electrical expert either but they make some easy to build DIY with helpful videos on the internet... you can make them fully controllable using a profilux II light bar which will simulate all types of dawn/dusk and cloud effects.

just something to think about

check out reefledlights.com

[cakemanPA]

I am running 2 AI SOLs over 3.5 foot of an 8 foot tank. I do have then closer to the tank at the moment. I am not sure that you would get very good coverage over a 180. 4 would do it. But that definitely adds significantly to the cost

[olemiss reb]

I have 2 AI sol super blues over a 24" cube, suspended 10". Started with one unit but there were some definite dark areas, second unit fixed that. Raising the single unit did not make much difference in dispersing the light to the dark areas. Reefgeek recommended two for my tank but I thought I could get away with one, I'd shoot an email to whoever you are ordering them from and see what they recommend.

[HorsePower]

Originally Posted by olemiss reb

I have 2 AI sol super blues over a 24" cube, suspended 10". Started with one unit but there were some definite dark areas, second unit fixed that. Raising the single unit did not make much difference in dispersing the light to the dark areas. Reefgeek recommended two for my tank but I thought I could get away with one, I'd shoot an email to whoever you are ordering them from and see what they recommend.

1 unit long ways should have been enough IMO.... Did you try it?

[ArmanS]

I think you will be fine. And the good thing is later you can upgrade if it is insufficient. I am doing a 144 diy led fixture for about 1300$. AI Sol 3 units is 72 leds for about 1600$ but If I had to choose a premade fixture, 100% the AI SOL BLUE would be 1st on my list.

[olemiss reb]

Originally Posted by HorsePower

1 unit long ways should have been enough IMO.... Did you try it?

Holy balls, I did not think to try that, I just spent cash wildly. All joking aside, each AI unit should cover 12".

[Shard]

I have 4 AI modules over my 90g reef. They are mounted about 14 inches over the water. I run my whites at 40%. I could probably get by with two placed properly, so three should be sufficient for your 180 setup.

Might I suggest mounting them in this configuration (- - -) across the top, instead of the usual (I I I) configuration. In other words, mount them sideways (horizontal), instead of the vertical mounting positions you usually see in pictures.

Mount them up high, and you should be able to avoid spotlighting. I think three modules will give you decent cover, but you may wish to add more in the future, depending on how your coral growth looks after a while. 4-6 modules may be a better option for a heavy SPS tank.

Hope this helps,
Landon

[oscar.millan]

Same tank as you, I was thinking about getting 3 to start off and mounting them side ways, as some have already suggested. 3 for now knowing that eventually a fourth would be ideal.

[lostanime]

Are you planning to order wider reflectors? May help with coverage with less fixtures . . .

[unbreakable]

Originally Posted by Shard

I have 4 AI modules over my 90g reef. They are mounted about 14 inches over the water. I run my whites at 40%. I could probably get by with two placed properly, so three should be sufficient for your 180 setup.

Might I suggest mounting them in this configuration (- - -) across the top, instead of the usual (I I I) configuration. In other words, mount them sideways (horizontal), instead of the vertical mounting positions you usually see in pictures.

Mount them up high, and you should be able to avoid spotlighting. I think three modules will give you decent cover, but you may wish to add more in the future, depending on how your coral growth looks after a while. 4-6 modules may be a better option for a heavy SPS tank.

Hope this helps,
Landon

Do the AI rails allow for left to right mounting or can you only do front to back?

[lazytaper]

You can do either.

[Shard]

Originally Posted by unbreakable

Do the AI rails allow for left to right mounting or can you only do front to back?

I have all four mounted on a single 48" set of rails running left to right across the tank. So they are mounted the proper way. You could mount them sideways with more sets of shorter rails mounted front to back. For example you could mount two modules sideways over a 90g by using two sets of rails, 18" each.

Originally Posted by lostanime

Are you planning to order wider reflectors? May help with coverage with less fixtures . . .

LED fixtures do not use reflectors. Most use optics, while some setups use nothing at all. Optics help focus the light. You can get 40-70 degree optics on the new AI modules, depending on what type of coverage you want.

Landon