Who is getting growth with Vertex Illumina?

jayhawk69 · 01/30/2015, 02:15 AM

Long story short. I had two 28g nano's with MH. I wanted to get a bigger tank with a sump. I settled on a 65g w/27g sump. I did a lot of research on lighting as I wanted to get away from MH. Mainly to reduce the heat and cost to operate. I bought a Vertex Illumina 260. I added 2 aux pads that had 6 additional colors. I had the light suspended about 8" from the water. I have a LPS and softy dominated tank. I had an hour and a half ramp up and an hour and a half ramp down. It ran for about 7 hours of consistent light. I noticed the corals losing color. I didn't see growth. I ran the light for almost a year and never got it dialed in. I recently switched back to MH w/LED moons. It kills me to have my Vertex light boxed up in the garage. I started combing the reef sites for threads that provide lighting programs. I know this forum has a Vertex Illumina thread. My problem is that I see a lot of people still trying to fine tune the light. I see threads get lost in the T5, MH, and LED debate. My request is simple. If you have a Vertex Illumina and you are getting great growth and color, could you please share your light program. I want to use this light. It has so many great features but if it doesn't produce, I have no use for it.

jayhawk69 · 01/31/2015, 09:38 PM

98 views and no responses. Unfortunately what I feared. I would love to switch back to the Vertex Illumina but maybe it's not what it's cracked up to be.

naifman · 02/18/2015, 04:11 AM

Hi,

I am from Germany and I am using the Illumina SR 260 in 48" for 2,5 years.
I'm very happy with this fixture.

Here a little video of my tank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2A_...ature=youtu.be

If you are interested I can send you my light setup.

Best

Naif

Kolognekoral · 02/28/2015, 01:01 AM

Jay, it sounds like you have the Illumina set too high. Compared to halides, LEDs have a much complexer light spectrum and the corals need time to get used to it. Starting with lower percentages, especially the white, will give better results. Also, as the Illumina has a great deal of power, you will find the corals need more nutrition, this means aminos and trace, as well as higher calcium/alk/mag take-up.
In general, white over 40% can be problematic until the corals have built-up the required pigments.

ciao,

jmvaldes80 · 08/10/2015, 06:20 PM

So, I did some investigation on the Vertex Illumia and why BRS and Premiumaquatics doesn't carry the illumina.

I started by emailing a British vender to inquire if they ship international. However, they shut me down quick. No, they did not with no explaination. Try to figure out why they would not dare to ship internationally, I remembered the patent issues and how more importantly the fixture will not work on our grid. (UK 220/US 110).

I then searched for countries with the same grids as the US, turns out Canada has the same grid. I then emailed JL Aquatics in British Columbia. I got word from them that they do ship to the US, but that there is one US retailer left, Proline Aquatics in California.

Ecstatic that there possibly might still be a vendor in our great nation, I saught out Proline Aquatics' sales team.

There is **** news and good news... **** News: Vertex illumina is extinct... Went out of product last year. Good News: there is a new model coming out Spring 2016.

Let's see! Just around the time I'll be ready to fire my 40 build up.

01/30/2015, 02:15 AM	#1
jayhawk69 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 15	Who is getting growth with Vertex Illumina? Long story short. I had two 28g nano's with MH. I wanted to get a bigger tank with a sump. I settled on a 65g w/27g sump. I did a lot of research on lighting as I wanted to get away from MH. Mainly to reduce the heat and cost to operate. I bought a Vertex Illumina 260. I added 2 aux pads that had 6 additional colors. I had the light suspended about 8" from the water. I have a LPS and softy dominated tank. I had an hour and a half ramp up and an hour and a half ramp down. It ran for about 7 hours of consistent light. I noticed the corals losing color. I didn't see growth. I ran the light for almost a year and never got it dialed in. I recently switched back to MH w/LED moons. It kills me to have my Vertex light boxed up in the garage. I started combing the reef sites for threads that provide lighting programs. I know this forum has a Vertex Illumina thread. My problem is that I see a lot of people still trying to fine tune the light. I see threads get lost in the T5, MH, and LED debate. My request is simple. If you have a Vertex Illumina and you are getting great growth and color, could you please share your light program. I want to use this light. It has so many great features but if it doesn't produce, I have no use for it.

02/28/2015, 01:01 AM	#4
Kolognekoral Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cologne Posts: 1,201	Jay, it sounds like you have the Illumina set too high. Compared to halides, LEDs have a much complexer light spectrum and the corals need time to get used to it. Starting with lower percentages, especially the white, will give better results. Also, as the Illumina has a great deal of power, you will find the corals need more nutrition, this means aminos and trace, as well as higher calcium/alk/mag take-up. In general, white over 40% can be problematic until the corals have built-up the required pigments. ciao, __________________ Jamie V. Cologne Current Tank Info: 1000l dual-tank w/sump, Vertex Pro-Bio Pellets reef; VERTEX Illumina SR260 LED+Red light, Vertex Alpha 250 skimmer

01/31/2015, 09:38 PM	#2
jayhawk69 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 15	98 views and no responses. Unfortunately what I feared. I would love to switch back to the Vertex Illumina but maybe it's not what it's cracked up to be.

02/18/2015, 04:11 AM	#3
naifman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 10	Hi, I am from Germany and I am using the Illumina SR 260 in 48" for 2,5 years. I'm very happy with this fixture. Here a little video of my tank. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2A_...ature=youtu.be If you are interested I can send you my light setup. Best Naif

08/10/2015, 06:20 PM	#5
jmvaldes80 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 57	So, I did some investigation on the Vertex Illumia and why BRS and Premiumaquatics doesn't carry the illumina. I started by emailing a British vender to inquire if they ship international. However, they shut me down quick. No, they did not with no explaination. Try to figure out why they would not dare to ship internationally, I remembered the patent issues and how more importantly the fixture will not work on our grid. (UK 220/US 110). I then searched for countries with the same grids as the US, turns out Canada has the same grid. I then emailed JL Aquatics in British Columbia. I got word from them that they do ship to the US, but that there is one US retailer left, Proline Aquatics in California. Ecstatic that there possibly might still be a vendor in our great nation, I saught out Proline Aquatics' sales team. There is ** news and good news... ** News: Vertex illumina is extinct... Went out of product last year. Good News: there is a new model coming out Spring 2016. Let's see! Just around the time I'll be ready to fire my 40 build up.