AI Vega Color/Blue Owners Thread!

[bhazard451]

Dim? Cree leds are near retina burning at 100%. Maybe the AIs are dim, but when you start using 120+ watts of leds, they are easily as bright/brighter than T5/MH.

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by bhazard451

Dim? Cree leds are near retina burning at 100%. Maybe the AIs are dim, but when you start using 120+ watts of leds, they are easily as bright/brighter than T5/MH.

I'd like to put a stop to this right now - this really isn't an "LEDs are better than T5/MH's" thread. My apologies if you didn't intend it that way.

Obviously the Vegas are plenty bright if some of us are experiencing bleaching.

[kajung2k]

My apologies to anyone that may have thought that from my post earlier. I was simply trying to state that something doesn't have to appear bright to "burn" or bleach your corals. Obviously my opinion is the AI Vega at a low setting of 50 percent has bleached some of my coral. While 50 percent is half power to me my tank seems dim.

If anyone thought im trying to say my AI are no good or not as good compared to something else my apologies.

Kevin

Originally Posted by qfrisco

I'd like to put a stop to this right now - this really isn't an "LEDs are better than T5/MH's" thread. My apologies if you didn't intend it that way.

Obviously the Vegas are plenty bright if some of us are experiencing bleaching.

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by kajung2k

My apologies to anyone that may have thought that from my post earlier. I was simply trying to state that something doesn't have to appear bright to "burn" or bleach your corals. Obviously my opinion is the AI Vega at a low setting of 50 percent has bleached some of my coral. While 50 percent is half power to me my tank seems dim.

If anyone thought im trying to say my AI are no good or not as good compared to something else my apologies.

Kevin

Nah, no offense taken, by me at least. :-)

[Kerryman]

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Hi everyone, I`m new to marine although i had tropical for 12 years. I have a 375 litre tank, 5ft x 19" x 19" with approx 62 kilos of rock and have just set up the lighting. I have the A1 sol led 40/40 lighting system and would like to know from anyone what kind of system to use, ie: Timers, Lighting Percentages, Hours of light, anything that would help me. Also, i dont have any Coral or Fish yet as i`m waiting out the 5 to 6 week cycle i was advised to take by my Aquarium store. I`d like advice on what kind of Coral to get, ones that are easy to look after as i`m new to the hobby, the same applies to the fish. I should mention that i live in Ireland and my Aquarium store is 2 hours away and not all Corals are available here. Thanks for taking time to read this, i look forward to replies and advice, All the Best

Tim

[blajoie]

Originally Posted by Hooked4life

I noticed some bleaching when mine tipped over the 50% mark, so I turned it back to 45% and turned off the acclimation mode.

Mine tank is only 10" deep, so I probably will never need much higher intensity.

Just to add to this, I also noticed bleaching when i stepped beyond 50% intensity. My frogspawn coral started to bleach a bit, but other corals such as some zoas, seem to be very extended (reaching for more light).

Backed down to 60% max right now with 40% reduction (coral acclimation) over the next 2 months. Then once that is done, may manually begin to step beyond 60% if necessary.

Might lights are about 9" off the water surface of an elos midi.

old pic before corals were moved over.

will update with a newer pic soon.

[newenglandreef]

Anyone have thoughts about this:

I've been running LED's since about May and Vegas since September. I've adjusted height up and down and have varied intensities over my 90G from 100, down to about 50% (all lights at 50%). My colors still seem washed out. Will it make a difference to start varying the color intensities (higher red and green percentage) or is this an intensity (or water quality) issue. I appreciate any thoughts. I really love Vegas (and Led's in general), but I want to get good colors.

[DloG]

My acan kinda looks like it's spreading out. Color looks kinda washed out. Is it getting bleached or it just doesn't have enough light?
These are my Vega setting:
Lights are 6.5" AWL
I'm on coral acclimation and these are my current levels
22% white
29% blue
31% royal
31% deep blue
25% red
25% green

Final settings will be on 11/24 at these levels
35% white
45% blue
50% royal
50% deep blue
40% red
40% green

Any thoughts, should shorten the acclamation time, lower intensity??

[newenglandreef]

that's the same issue I'm having with mine-- I wouldn't even have the deep red like on your blastos in your pic. I've even got a blue hornet zoo that's barely blue.

anyone have thoughts on this?

[kajung2k]

If we look at basics:

Too much light causes bleaching
Not enough light causes them to turn brown

Coral growing, feeding, normal behavior other than "color" like changing colors or fading could be several things.

Parameters, nutrient levels, etc. it could also be those particular corals look different under Vegas LEDs vs another brands vs t5 vs MH.

Very hard to say what causes the color shifts IMO. I realize my post doesn't offer any real fix it solutions but these are living organisms. Too many variables.

K

[newenglandreef]

I would think the same thing--but the lack of color may also be spectrum (rather than intensity). I'm already down to 50% and checked with a PAR meter--so I don't think I'm too bright. I'm wondering if others varied proportional intensity and noticed some change.

Chemistry has been about the same from before I was using LED's--the washed out look started with LED's. So, while it of course could be attributed to chemistry, my guess is that it's LED related.

[kajung2k]

It's been told many a times that par meters do not really work on LEDs.

Though missing UV can definitely be a problem especially if your coral are use to it.

Hopefully soon the configurable vega pucks will come out so we can add in some uv.

K

Originally Posted by newenglandreef

I would think the same thing--but the lack of color may also be spectrum (rather than intensity). I'm already down to 50% and checked with a PAR meter--so I don't think I'm too bright. I'm wondering if others varied proportional intensity and noticed some change.

Chemistry has been about the same from before I was using LED's--the washed out look started with LED's. So, while it of course could be attributed to chemistry, my guess is that it's LED related.

[pwoller]

Originally Posted by newenglandreef

Anyone have thoughts about this:

I've been running LED's since about May and Vegas since September. I've adjusted height up and down and have varied intensities over my 90G from 100, down to about 50% (all lights at 50%). My colors still seem washed out. Will it make a difference to start varying the color intensities (higher red and green percentage) or is this an intensity (or water quality) issue. I appreciate any thoughts. I really love Vegas (and Led's in general), but I want to get good colors.

Are you talking sps? I had my sps lose color when I switched from MH to T5's. Increased my bioload and my colors come back.

[newenglandreef]

Originally Posted by kajung2k

It's been told many a times that par meters do not really work on LEDs.

Though missing UV can definitely be a problem especially if your coral are use to it.

Hopefully soon the configurable vega pucks will come out so we can add in some uv.

K

I was also thinking UV. I have a UV flashlight, I was thinking of putting it over the tank to see if it has any effect.

+1 the UV puck, hopefully that'll be out soon.

[newenglandreef]

Originally Posted by pwoller

Are you talking sps? I had my sps lose color when I switched from MH to T5's. Increased my bioload and my colors come back.

Definitely not just sps-- everything's washed out, especially zoas.

[kajung2k]

@newenglandreef -- can you post some pre LEDs (no washed out), and then pictures of the same coral washed out so we can compare?

Originally Posted by newenglandreef

Definitely not just sps-- everything's washed out, especially zoas.

[Nob35]

Finally have water and rocks in. Red Sea Max S 650, 4 AI Vega Colors, modified sump with 2. 4"x7" sock filters,refugium and GFO and carbon reactor. 2.5 hours after setup.

[kajung2k]

That's really nice!!! What types of corals do you plan on putting in there?

Originally Posted by Nob35

Finally have water and rocks in. Red Sea Max S 650, 4 AI Vega Colors, modified sump with 2. 4"x7" sock filters,refugium and GFO and carbon reactor. 2.5 hours after setup.

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by Nob35

Finally have water and rocks in. Red Sea Max S 650, 4 AI Vega Colors, modified sump with 2. 4"x7" sock filters,refugium and GFO and carbon reactor. 2.5 hours after setup.

I'm jealous of your sand - so clean! :-)

[qfrisco]

I'll be posting my 2-month pics soon (just took them last night), but on the topic of fading/shifting colors, I have to say that in general, all my colors are holding true, except for my Montipora Confusa which is losing its bright/vibrant green color and is now a very drab/light green. My husbandry has stayed the same and all parameters have been stable throughout that the only thing I can think of as causing this are the lights.

As I've posted previously, I started getting some bleaching when I passed the 75% intensity mark. I have now turned off coral acclimation mode with my lights maxed at 65% (blues). The whites are at 50%. Funny thing is, the Montipora Confusa itself started to bleach, which to me would indicate there's enough light, but perhaps not enough spectrum.

Another interesting thing is that I also have a Tyree LE Lime in the Sky - green just like the Confusa, but a brighter shade of green. It seems to be holding its color.

EDIT: Thought it would be help to list all my LED's intensities:

White: 50%
Deep Blue: 65%
Royal Blue: 65%
Blue: 65%
Green: 35%
Red: 35%

Could it be that I need to bump up the green intensity? But logically, since the coral is green, that means it is absorbing all colors except green, right? So shouldn't this mean green isn't what I need?

[reefsurfing]

If it is reflecting green and you reduce green output by switching lights you could see less green. I would bump green up a bit and see if that fixes the issue.

[duberz]

I've had two color vegas over my 80gal rimless(48x24x16) for a while now.I'm so frustrated with all the variables(height,intensities,etc).All the feedback from ai I read has a different answer for everyone.Ai should have included a researched "blueprint" for different setups.I have no idea if my height is sufficient or if my intensities are good.I hate playing the guessing game with this.I will try here.What are your current settings that you have ended up with after all is said and done?I'm at 8in awl with 50% on all except deep blue 65%.Also is anyone running the weather effects?Thanks in advance,this is a great forumn.

[Nob35]

It will be mostly LPS and zoos to start till I get a handle on the tank. Right now I have some green starburst, red mushrooms and some unknown polyps that hitched a ride in to my nano cube. Once things settle in the tank I will probably star with a couple zoos, hammer and torch coral. If I get those right plan on working my way up to some acan,brain,trumpet and flower pot corals. That will probably last me the next year or so, and if everything goes good then may try some sps. If you have any suggestions I am open to them, I have not had much experience with corals only a few pieces I had in my cube.

I had 4 weeks to prepare for this tank while my sump was being modified and I was putting in the lights, so I washed the sand really well with a water hose the let it dry then washed again with RO-DI water, now I can go and stir the sand in the tank and 5 mins. Later the tank is almost clear. My nano cube had very fine sand and any time you moved anything the tank would be cloudy for hours so I learned my lesson.

Right now my lights are set at max of 65% white, 75% blue, 75% R.blue, 80% D.blue, 55%green, 45% red. I'm still trying to get the right amount of each color but think I will not be able to do much until I get some color in the tank. It is hard to tell which I need more or less of with just rock in it. Any advice would be great.

[mcjlance]

I keep mine on all 100 % and all my corals are thriving. No bleaching issues.

[duberz]

Mcjlance how high of the water are you running your lights and how deep is your tank?