LED woes!!!!!

lucidvtec · 01/31/2011, 12:31 AM

grrr...new to the hobby....i have been reading up on stuff for almost two weeks

i'm still confused as the first day

i have narrowed it down to either the AI or MaxSpect

my tank size is a 30long 12 front to back and 18 height ..water level is bout 2 lower cause of sand and water level

so do i try and get a AI Sol blue with all 70degree optics and mount it sideways

or the 110w or 160w MaxSpect???

I have a RKL with the ALC mod....so i could control the AI

i know the AI has some pretty good spec's....but i haven't come accross anyone with the size tank i have...or pix aswell

i really like the price of the maxspect...and from some pix i have seen the color range looks better visually than the AI's....but it not dimmable

i don't wanna invest that kind of money and not be happy...which i'm sure you can all understand

heat is a big issue to me...so i'm set on LED setup....just stuck

thx

Felixc395 · 01/31/2011, 08:29 AM

I think either will be fantastic options, but the AI's seem to be a slight bit better IMO.

jmchzn123 · 01/31/2011, 12:09 PM

I ordered the AI SOL BLUE for a 48x18x24 90 gal tech tank
and got 3 modules. Seems to be the general opinion that will be fine for anything I want to grow. I'm looking for the extendable legs I keep reading about as I want to keep the lights about 7-10" off the water. I will say I don't have the lights yet and wrote them "ticket" and they got back to me next day and gave me a direct line to someone for questions. That was nice. The Maxspect made in China (bad bad bad) the AI American made (good good good) I do see the tanks and they both look great. Plus the Max you can use 3 ranges of optics instead of 2 and you can easily change bulb color for custom lighting. Not sure that has anything to do with anything except color preference.

lucidvtec · 01/31/2011, 03:26 PM

i really like the controllable on the AI but the unit has a smaller footprint and optics compared to the maxspect ..

i don't wanna have to run 2 units for a 30gallon...thats way to pricey

i think the maxspect may be the way to go

so on the fence bout this

netboy · 01/31/2011, 04:54 PM

One AI will be fine. I have two on my 90 gallon and it is great.

lucidvtec · 02/08/2011, 02:55 PM

the AI is really nice.....but i will have to raise it high to get the right coverage

so it's down to the maxspect 110 or 160

Ronnie11 · 02/08/2011, 03:38 PM

try Orphek led lights

deangelr · 02/08/2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronnie11

try Orphek led lights

that is a strange first post..? haha

controllability is important IMO in lights..

Ronnie11 · 02/08/2011, 04:08 PM

they were designed for reef tanks
program them to turn on and off what else do you really need

deangelr · 02/08/2011, 04:26 PM

are you serious..? how about program moon cycles.. sunrise sunsets.. cloud covers.. lightning modes.. and endless others..

I understand that these features are probably not necessary for livestock health.. however they are awesome. being able to change the way your lightling looks at the touch of a button is priceless..

you obviously have an agenda..

Ronnie11 · 02/08/2011, 04:41 PM

no agenda. why spend all that money on on features you don't need
I have two on a 180 18"above water surface

coralreefdoc · 02/08/2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronnie11

try Orphek led lights

That opens up a whole other can of worms ... I think hes looking to narrow down the choices lol

RMR RaC3R · 02/08/2011, 11:15 PM

lok at evolution leds. i have one and its great. you can buy 2 for the price of on AI unit. yes, you loose some controlling options but for the price, you cant beat it..

cpasurfer · 02/08/2011, 11:24 PM

Spent hours researching lights and just received my 2 AI's (ReefGeek) for my 90 gallon. Currently working on custom made mount to hang them over the tank approx. 12 inch high since legs to short. Will post pics this weekend.

saleen2881 · 02/08/2011, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpasurfer

Spent hours researching lights and just received my 2 AI's (ReefGeek) for my 90 gallon. Currently working on custom made mount to hang them over the tank approx. 12 inch high since legs to short. Will post pics this weekend.

Cant wait to see the pics!

saleen2881 · 02/08/2011, 11:32 PM

double post

kgk · 02/08/2011, 11:59 PM

I own Maxspect 110's over a 16" tank (about 13" of water). I like the LED arrays, and they're easily customizable, which you can't say about AI. They don't dim, though, so really you get (up to) 3 LED channels & can control the on/off time for each of them. When all the channels are off, the moonlight LEDs are on. That's it.

The Maxspects are customizable. I am running custom LEDs to play with the color. That's a plus in the MaxSpect's favor.

I have had a bad time with MaxSpect drivers but they've been good about fixing it. Just a pain to have your lights down over & over.

Personally I would go AI Sol Blues w/ the controllers. I haven't read a single poor review on the Sol's yet.

b16drag · 02/09/2011, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronnie11

no agenda. why spend all that money on on features you don't need
I have two on a 180 18"above water surface

Another troll for the almighty Orphek!

AI will be great if you have the bling bling. If you need to feed your kids, there are other LED fixtures that will do the job just fine!

Saltwatercoral2 · 02/09/2011, 01:59 AM

I am also debating on the AI sols' or to just build my own, and save 500 dollars.

dalebSFO · 02/09/2011, 07:36 PM

I've ordered 2 AI Sol units with the rails and controller. I would love to give my feedback, but unfortunately they've been back-ordered for over 5 weeks now. Arrrg. My LFS keeps calling their distributor, but thus far, no movement. I called today and was told that the rails arrived. I guess that's something... :-)

01/31/2011, 12:31 AM	#1
lucidvtec avid Reefer Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chandler Posts: 828	LED woes!!!!! grrr...new to the hobby....i have been reading up on stuff for almost two weeks i'm still confused as the first day i have narrowed it down to either the AI or MaxSpect my tank size is a 30long 12 front to back and 18 height ..water level is bout 2 lower cause of sand and water level so do i try and get a AI Sol blue with all 70degree optics and mount it sideways or the 110w or 160w MaxSpect??? I have a RKL with the ALC mod....so i could control the AI i know the AI has some pretty good spec's....but i haven't come accross anyone with the size tank i have...or pix aswell i really like the price of the maxspect...and from some pix i have seen the color range looks better visually than the AI's....but it not dimmable i don't wanna invest that kind of money and not be happy...which i'm sure you can all understand heat is a big issue to me...so i'm set on LED setup....just stuck thx

02/08/2011, 04:26 PM	#10
deangelr Clown Whisperererer Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,262	are you serious..? how about program moon cycles.. sunrise sunsets.. cloud covers.. lightning modes.. and endless others.. I understand that these features are probably not necessary for livestock health.. however they are awesome. being able to change the way your lightling looks at the touch of a button is priceless.. you obviously have an agenda.. __________________ Many Tanks.... ACROS, CLOWNS AND ANEMONES...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
First Impressions of My New Aqua Illuminations LED	tidepool2	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	28	08/22/2012 12:37 PM
LED set up	The Pet Factory	Do It Yourself	14	12/07/2010 12:59 PM
Led lights	Impossible	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	11	08/19/2010 05:56 PM
Help choosing corals that would work with my LED light	alleny87	New to the Hobby	2	08/09/2010 07:35 PM

01/31/2011, 08:29 AM	#2
Felixc395 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,612	I think either will be fantastic options, but the AI's seem to be a slight bit better IMO.

01/31/2011, 12:09 PM	#3
jmchzn123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 240	I ordered the AI SOL BLUE for a 48x18x24 90 gal tech tank and got 3 modules. Seems to be the general opinion that will be fine for anything I want to grow. I'm looking for the extendable legs I keep reading about as I want to keep the lights about 7-10" off the water. I will say I don't have the lights yet and wrote them "ticket" and they got back to me next day and gave me a direct line to someone for questions. That was nice. The Maxspect made in China (bad bad bad) the AI American made (good good good) I do see the tanks and they both look great. Plus the Max you can use 3 ranges of optics instead of 2 and you can easily change bulb color for custom lighting. Not sure that has anything to do with anything except color preference.

01/31/2011, 03:26 PM	#4
lucidvtec avid Reefer Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chandler Posts: 828	i really like the controllable on the AI but the unit has a smaller footprint and optics compared to the maxspect .. i don't wanna have to run 2 units for a 30gallon...thats way to pricey i think the maxspect may be the way to go so on the fence bout this

01/31/2011, 04:54 PM	#5
netboy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 304	One AI will be fine. I have two on my 90 gallon and it is great.

02/08/2011, 02:55 PM	#6
lucidvtec avid Reefer Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chandler Posts: 828	the AI is really nice.....but i will have to raise it high to get the right coverage so it's down to the maxspect 110 or 160

02/08/2011, 03:38 PM	#7
Ronnie11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 7	try Orphek led lights

02/08/2011, 04:08 PM	#9
Ronnie11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 7	they were designed for reef tanks program them to turn on and off what else do you really need

02/08/2011, 04:41 PM	#11
Ronnie11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 7	no agenda. why spend all that money on on features you don't need I have two on a 180 18"above water surface

02/08/2011, 11:15 PM	#13
RMR RaC3R Biimmer \| Fanatiic {e60!} Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwick MA Posts: 943	lok at evolution leds. i have one and its great. you can buy 2 for the price of on AI unit. yes, you loose some controlling options but for the price, you cant beat it..

02/08/2011, 11:24 PM	#14
cpasurfer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Central CA Posts: 15	Spent hours researching lights and just received my 2 AI's (ReefGeek) for my 90 gallon. Currently working on custom made mount to hang them over the tank approx. 12 inch high since legs to short. Will post pics this weekend.

02/08/2011, 11:32 PM	#16
saleen2881 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Beverly Hills, CA Posts: 416	double post

02/08/2011, 11:59 PM	#17
kgk Purveyor of Cool Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: The Woodlands, TX Posts: 191	I own Maxspect 110's over a 16" tank (about 13" of water). I like the LED arrays, and they're easily customizable, which you can't say about AI. They don't dim, though, so really you get (up to) 3 LED channels & can control the on/off time for each of them. When all the channels are off, the moonlight LEDs are on. That's it. The Maxspects are customizable. I am running custom LEDs to play with the color. That's a plus in the MaxSpect's favor. I have had a bad time with MaxSpect drivers but they've been good about fixing it. Just a pain to have your lights down over & over. Personally I would go AI Sol Blues w/ the controllers. I haven't read a single poor review on the Sol's yet.

02/09/2011, 01:59 AM	#19
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	I am also debating on the AI sols' or to just build my own, and save 500 dollars.

02/09/2011, 07:36 PM	#20
dalebSFO Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 16	I've ordered 2 AI Sol units with the rails and controller. I would love to give my feedback, but unfortunately they've been back-ordered for over 5 weeks now. Arrrg. My LFS keeps calling their distributor, but thus far, no movement. I called today and was told that the rails arrived. I guess that's something... :-)