AI Vega Color/Blue Owners Thread!

[HaleMoana]

No longer private. Cool motorized canopy.

[Dseg]

Originally Posted by HaleMoana

With such little info at there, how are people making their decisions on which ones to get? Color vs Blue?
Also, is it safe to assume that the standard 1.5 to 1 ratio is still accurate when comparing the Vega to a Radion?
The Vega has 20 LED's to the Radion's 34.

Just trying to do my homework before jumping into such a large investment.

I thought the whole point of getting these was because they have more colors of the spectrum. Why did they even both making a blue version if they all ready have the AI SOL super blues out?

[zachfishman]

Can anyone elaborate on the "1.5/1 ratio" HaleMoana mentioned?

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by zachfishman

nanoreefbro, mind if I ask what you do for a living?

Wish I could get away with just 4....I'm jealous

[HaleMoana]

Originally Posted by zachfishman

Can anyone elaborate on the "1.5/1 ratio" HaleMoana mentioned?

The Radion has 34 LED's with 4 more on the way (speculated, but pretty certain) with their new TIR lens.
The Vega has 20 LED's. So, the Radion has at least 14 more LED's

So, pretty much for every Radion equals roughly 1.5+ Vega's. Unfortunately the price of the Radion is 1.5x higher, lol.

I'm really liking the wireless functionality of the Vega's, along with all the other features (coral acclimation, lunar cycle, etc...), but if I'm going to be putting 3 fixtures over my 72" tank, the Radion packs a far bigger punch.

Uuuggghhhhhh.... I hate these decisions. lol

[Nizz]

By the way. The Vegas are using 80 degree optics.

[HaleMoana]

So, I'm just learning about LED's over the past few weeks since I decided to make the jump... But doesn't 80% optics mean that there is more spread, but less intensity and par? So, the Vega has fewer LED's and less intensity?

Not knocking it by any means.... Just trying to understand.

[zerreissen]

Originally Posted by ejohnson

While we wait...(elevator music playing)...show pics of lights that are being replaced by the AI Vega.

I'm not an expert in aquarium photography by any means, so please excuse the sub-par pictures. Also, please excuse the red-slimed sand... Here is what I'm replacing with 2 Vegas:

Hamilton 36" fixture with 250w Phoenix 14K DE powered by an IceCap E-ballast, along with 2 VHO T12's, hammertone reflector.

[Dseg]

Originally Posted by HaleMoana

The Radion has 34 LED's with 4 more on the way (speculated, but pretty certain) with their new TIR lens.
The Vega has 20 LED's. So, the Radion has at least 14 more LED's

So, pretty much for every Radion equals roughly 1.5+ Vega's. Unfortunately the price of the Radion is 1.5x higher, lol.

I'm really liking the wireless functionality of the Vega's, along with all the other features (coral acclimation, lunar cycle, etc...), but if I'm going to be putting 3 fixtures over my 72" tank, the Radion packs a far bigger punch.

Uuuggghhhhhh.... I hate these decisions. lol

It is not about who has more LEDs, it is about how powerful the lights are and how it is designed. The number of LEDs means nothing without other variables about the LEDs.

[HaleMoana]

Well, they're using the same LED's. The Cree XP-E.

[blajoie]

Originally Posted by ejohnson

While we wait...(elevator music playing)...show pics of lights that are being replaced by the AI Vega.

Using natural light for now The vega will be here Thursday!

[qfrisco]

Ok - here's a bunch of pics. I got two Vega Colors and have them installed on my canopy (sitting on the top of the canopy, with holes cut out for the light to shine through). My tank is a 90g (48"x18"24").

I'm coming from T5s and the bulbs I ran were (front to back):

ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus

As they sit right now, the LEDs are approx 8" above the water. I'd like for them to be at least 10" above the water for better spread, but given the clamor for pics, I figured I'd put that off til later. :-)

All pics were taken in manual mode and RAW, with the same exact settings for each type of pic (FTS and macro). The FTSes were taken with a 35mm prime lens, and the macros were taken with a 105mm Micro. As far as I can tell, all pics of each type should be comparable.

My initial thoughts: They're bright! But to my eyes didn't seem as bright as the 6xT5HOs, but it can be deceiving as there are a lot more shadows with the Vegas than with the T5s. The pop is amazing, especially when only the blues are on.

So here are the pics:

FTS:

6xT5HOs:


Vega - All LEDs 100%:


Acropora Azurea Macro:

6xT5HOs:


Vega - All LEDs 100%:


Vega - All Blues 100%:



ORA Red Planet Macro:

6xT5HOs:


Vega - All LEDs 100%:


Vega - All Blues 100%:

[qfrisco]

More pics....

ORA Frogskin Macro:

6xT5HOs


Vega - All LEDs 100%:


Vega - All Blues 100%:


ORA MIMF Purple and Green Acro:

6xT5HOs


Vega - All LEDs 100%:


Vega - All Blues 100%:

[Nizz]

Shadowing is a problem for me. But raising the LEDS should solve that problem or another vega added to your set

[HaleMoana]

From the first two pics, it looks to me like your T5's were much brighter. Unmistakable.
I've read, however, that LED's are difficult to photograph and that the camera doesn't pick up all their light. Dunno.

Regardless, your macro's look great!

[Desert Fox]

It's hard to tell from the photos, but by the light columns on the 1st and 3rd thirds I assume you have these mounted perpendicular to the tank's front, yes? In your estimation do you think turning them parallel would accomplish a better coverage since your tank is only 18" front to back? I'm trying to get a good idea of spread, and I'm coming up with about 20"x18" for the footprint. Would you say that's accurate?

On a "kudos" note, beautiful tank! Best of luck with the Vegas.

[Saltwatercoral2]

So, whats your opinion on the Vega?

[theReefKing]

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

Agreed on the hard wire. I would not be surprised to see someone building an Android/iPhone app which would connect to the Vega. I'm not happy with the fact that AI did not make the controller for the wireless from the power source. Not sure why you can't unplug the remote but seems something basic that was overlooked.

Just reading thru the thread to soak up any info I can get my hands on before spending $3k for 5 of these puppies to go over my 180 gal...

Dustin, do you think you could rig a small rechargable battery power supply to allow the controler to be mobile?

[SteveWong]

If you look on the AI website (http://www.aquaillumination.com/) there's now a new entry from the CEO directly addressing many of the FAQs. One key item is the ability to upgrade Sol lights to Vega units for $250!

The fact you can upgrade a Sol to a Vega speaks to one of the reasons I went with an AI unit sight unseen: I like their philosophy of upgradability. I hope they continue this when the Vega's become the previous generation!

[cbonito]

Originally Posted by SteveWong

If you look on the AI website (http://www.aquaillumination.com/) there's now a new entry from the CEO directly addressing many of the FAQs. One key item is the ability to upgrade Sol lights to Vega units for $250!

The fact you can upgrade a Sol to a Vega speaks to one of the reasons I went with an AI unit sight unseen: I like their philosophy of upgradability. I hope they continue this when the Vega's become the previous generation!

That's good news. I like my Sol but Judging by the pics up above I would like the Vega much better. Plus 80 degree optics would be helpful to say the least. I hate the optics the Sol Came with.

Coolio!

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by theReefKing

Just reading thru the thread to soak up any info I can get my hands on before spending $3k for 5 of these puppies to go over my 180 gal...

Dustin, do you think you could rig a small rechargable battery power supply to allow the controler to be mobile?

I feel ya! I'm beating myself up on what fixtures I'm going to pull the trigger on once I get my 600 gallon downstairs. I thought by now I'd be ready but I'm scared to pull the trigger on anything I've been waiting on MACNA so I can check things out but we'll have to see if I get reassured or more options.

As far as the controller, I have no doubt that you could rig up a battery/case. Someone with the proper DIY skills, there's your idea to get it truly wireless. Just don't think that if your spending this much money on lights/controllers that something so simple and cheap to implement was overlooked.

[Hooked4life]

I received my Vega yesterday and hooked it up to check it out. (No FTS coming as this is a new build and there is no water in the tank yet.)

I am not happy with the controller - it will spontaneously open a menu item when I am not touching the face. It also is hypersensitive making it difficult to set up. Anyone else having this problem?

[Dseg]

Hmmm... I was ready to sell my Sols and get the new vegas but we can upgrade the old Sols to be identical to the vegas... 4 pucks vs 8....

Thank you qfrisco for uploading pictures. Your first two pictures are concerning and starting to make me reconsider the getting the vegas vs staying with my Sols. At 100% my Sols light up the tank rediciously.

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by Desert Fox

It's hard to tell from the photos, but by the light columns on the 1st and 3rd thirds I assume you have these mounted perpendicular to the tank's front, yes? In your estimation do you think turning them parallel would accomplish a better coverage since your tank is only 18" front to back? I'm trying to get a good idea of spread, and I'm coming up with about 20"x18" for the footprint. Would you say that's accurate?

On a "kudos" note, beautiful tank! Best of luck with the Vegas.

I actually have the lights oriented in parallel to the tank's front. I think the light columns in the picture come from a combination of the lights not being high enough to get adequate spread, and the fact that I have an 18" glass brace in the middle of the tank that's overdue for cleaning. :-)

I think the 20"x18" footprint you're estimating is accurate - remember that my lights are currently 8" above the water. This is also in line with ReefGeek's General Sizing Guideline (probably came from AI) of (paraphrasing):

2" above the tank can cover 12" tank length
6" above the tank can cover 18" tank length
12" above the tank can cover 24" tank length

This is why I'd like to raise the lights at least a couple more inches.

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by HaleMoana

From the first two pics, it looks to me like your T5's were much brighter. Unmistakable.
I've read, however, that LED's are difficult to photograph and that the camera doesn't pick up all their light. Dunno.

Regardless, your macro's look great!

Thanks!

I've read that thing, too, about cameras not capturing LED lights accurately, but in person with my own eyes, the Vegas don't appear to be as bright as the 6xT5s, but again, not sure how to quantify the effects of shadowing.

From a photography standpoint, I used a 1/80 second shutter speed to capture the FTSes, and depending on the PWM frequency used for the dimming, the camera is not capturing "all" of the light, which can partially explain why LEDs would appear less bright.