Vertex Illumina Club

[Beenalongtime79]

Originally Posted by rodneyri

I think we need red and violet to bring out colors lost with LED like my birdsnest looks average under my light where previously it looked awesome

I've found the same thing w/ my very teal tipped/violet tipped corals... the loss of the red spectrum really makes these corals look subpar.

I'm using the new maxspect mazarra fixtures though, so glad that it isn't specifically attributed to the brand, but probably all across the board if all fixtures only include: White, Royal Blue and Blue LEDs.

Thanks for getting those par numbers, they are very impressive!

Cheers,
John

[Rxfoote]

I just ordered the 260 24". I am hopeful it will be worth the $! Has anyone swapped out Red LED's on these?

[Rocky_Mtn_Reef]

Ordered mine today from jlaquatics...they had them in stock and were really easy to work with on importing them. Cant wait till they get here. Went with the sr200 36" unit for my 120g standard tank. Also cant wait till the UV units come in for my first upgrade.

[jimrawr]

Hi everyone, I am joining the Illumina 260 club this Thursday when my fixture arrives I thought I would ask you guys where do you think I should starts the LEDs off to be comparable to my 400w radium 20k bulb? I am concerned about the corals getting too much light or not enough light. Any recommendations?

[Luxo]

Originally Posted by jimrawr

Hi everyone, I am joining the Illumina 260 club this Thursday when my fixture arrives I thought I would ask you guys where do you think I should starts the LEDs off to be comparable to my 400w radium 20k bulb? I am concerned about the corals getting too much light or not enough light. Any recommendations?

Jim,
is your set up 24" deep?
I have my 200 on a 24" and whites @ 55% blues @ 90%.
Tank is still new and going through algae cycle so not many corals in there except a couple of SPS colonies that I am sitting for a friend.
at 100% intensity of all the LEDs the tips were burned within a few hours.
I would start at 30%white and 40% blue depending to what type corals you keep or how deep the tank.
Cheers
Dave

[jimrawr]

Yes its 24" deep and I have a good amount of SPS from the center and upwards. Also how high do you hang the lights? Same as a halide? (6-12")

[Luxo]

I had mine 4" away from the surface for a few days like the look much better that way but now @ 6".
I think I would lower to 4" again some day.
Since you can adjust the intensity this is a non issue, although I would watch for the splashes!
Cheers
Dave

[Bucket Boy]

My tank dimensions are 60" x 30" x 24". I'm trying to decide which fixture to get -- 60" or 48" and 260 or 200. I plan on keeping mainly LPS with a few hardy SPS. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Calireef11]

Anyone have the RED LEDs in theirs?

[roadracn]

Bucket, it depends on how good of coverage you need. I am building a tank with near specs of yours, and i am going with the 60. I would rather over engineering it now and have to dial it down a bit rather than max it out and try to get light everywhere. I also believe that if I am running at a lower intensity the bulbs will last longer also. I am going with the 260 also. General consensus is that it works much better for deeper tanks

[studentdriver]

Bucket, I would definitely recommend you go with a 48" or you'll have light spill over the side of tank.

[jimrawr]

Where are the red led pods available? How many pods would you add, one per 12"?

[jimrawr]

So now that some of you have had these lights for some months, how do you think they perform as far as growth and coloration is concerned???

[bluebastion]

You can purchase red led modules from Premium Aquatics:

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-s...T-AC-AUXR.html

They fit in between the existing led boards... see install video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmLWH8z86AA

[jimrawr]

Two would be needed for the 24 inch fixture??

[AGYDAL]

Originally Posted by jimrawr

So now that some of you have had these lights for some months, how do you think they perform as far as growth and coloration is concerned???

I have a LPS dominant setup that's been under the light nine months now, colors are stable and amazing.*


*edit: except for one that was my mistake...see next post.

[AGYDAL]

Originally Posted by ken6217

I agree. I was just disputing the claim. I have the same issue in my tank.
Ken

Have you had the opportunity to see this light perform in person?

I don't need a PAR check to tell me what my corals can...the left side of the tank is dark because of my rockwork, the right side of my tank the rockwork slopes, at the edge of this I had a showpiece LPS and it bleached setting on the sand...it's now on the left slowly regaining it's color...according to my coral, the light is still intense at the edges.

[pk-sd]

Just joined the club. Placed an order for 36" illumina 260 fixture with premium

[jimrawr]

Guys I got my hands on an Apogee Meter and plan on doing some tests tomorrow at difference % for the LEDs. I did a quick run at it tonight just to get an idea and I wasnt impressed by the numbers at all. At the surface of the water was around 300, and down about 12-16 inches it was down in the 100's. I had turned the LEDs up 100% on all.

Will try to take some pics and different measurments tomorrow

[bluebastion]

Originally Posted by jimrawr

Guys I got my hands on an Apogee Meter and plan on doing some tests tomorrow at difference % for the LEDs. I did a quick run at it tonight just to get an idea and I wasnt impressed by the numbers at all. At the surface of the water was around 300, and down about 12-16 inches it was down in the 100's. I had turned the LEDs up 100% on all.

Will try to take some pics and different measurments tomorrow

... Interesting... Would like to to see the pics and results. This is much different than what I've seen posted for this fixture.

[jimrawr]

Yeah its a bit bizzaar.. I also tested my 400w halide fixture that was ranging from 1000 right near the bulb and down to 200 24" down. So I know the par meter isnt bad.

[Rocky_Mtn_Reef]

Got to be something wrong w/ your fixture then...cause videos i have seen showing people take their measurments real time had way way higher numbers. Are you sure it was at 100%. I just replaced 2 250w mhs with these and have the whites 40% and both blues around 60% power and about 10" off the water and its way brighter...havnt tested the par yet though...waiting to get my hands on the club meter.

[jimrawr]

I just retried it again. Went into expert mode, turned everything to 100% and uploaded via VLink. Unit restarted with the new settings, which are bright as hell. Right above the water level, and about 10 inches from the LEDs the reading was around 390, then about two inches under water and it drops to 250. Almost near the bottom it was down to 70.

I will try and take many pics tomorrow and possibly post a video. I am using an Apogee QMSS which puts out in PPDF not PAR, though my understand is that it shouldnt make a difference as far as the readings go.

Also, this is the 24" Illumina 260 model, not the 200.

[bluebastion]

Maybe Kolognekoral can chime in on this one. The only thing I can think of is that the light might be too high?

I have my fixture 6" above the water level... The highest I've installed a light fixture was 9" but that was a MH light and the only reason it was mounted so high was because of heat issues.

[jimrawr]

Dont think that matters. When I put the sensor 5 inches from the LED its reading 300ish. Thats out of water. Ive tried moving the height around of the light and results are the same. Will post some pictures and more definitive results soon. I am thinking there is definitely a problem with this meter reading LEDs, especially since it seems like an older model