Help me decide which LED's to supplement AI SOL!!!!

Alex240 · 05/23/2013, 04:01 PM

Ok guys, so lets say I have a few Ai sols...

They have Blue, RB, and Cool White LEDs.

If I wanted to throw some Rapidled DIY strips around the SOL's, and had a total of 24-36 LEDs to use, which colors would you select?

Im thinking I want some neutral white for sure, maybe some warm white, or maybe both. Also thinking a couple UV strips. I know the UV may not be noticeable to the eye, but hey it still expands the sols spectrum.

No need for any reds or greens right? I dont like the look with reds or greens to be honest anyway. The warm or neutral whites hit some of that reddish color spectrum right, or at least make the yellows and oranges come out..

Its going to be 6 12 inch strips, so tell me what you would do!!!

Mark Bianco · 05/23/2013, 06:53 PM

You are correct warm whites will add some red. There is no true UV leds the closest is violet. I have a 210gl tank 6' I have 6 Ai sol super blues and for more spectrum I added these colors three of each.

Amber ◦585-595nm wavelength
Violet •410-420nm wavelength
Cyan •490-520nm wavelength
Warm Whites •2,600-3,700K color temperature.
and two t5 blue plus..

Hope that helps

Alex240 · 05/23/2013, 07:33 PM

thanks for reply.

Any improvements with cyan or amber?

Mark Bianco · 05/24/2013, 06:30 AM

For my taste the cyan did the most improvement then violets and ambers did about the same.

jg93 · 05/24/2013, 12:04 PM

I used 4 exotic (?) stunner strips, 2 UV, 2 Magenta, and it helped a ton. These don't penetrate very deep, but I noticed a difference in coral health and overall tank appearance. Mind you, I had 2 Sols running at about 40% max intensity.

For the money you should consider upgrading to vegas, IMO, rather than spending cash on the light supplements. YMMV.

bvoss · 05/27/2013, 01:00 PM

I tried Neutral White, Warm White, and some Green. Warm White was defiantly the way to go..

Adam13 · 06/03/2013, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bvoss

I tried Neutral White, Warm White, and some Green. Warm White was defiantly the way to go..

How long have you been running the sol blues on that tank? What % are you running the 3 colors at? Do you like/ dislike the growth under them?

SUPERSTOCKRACER · 06/03/2013, 03:37 PM

I need to add to my ai sol blue too.

bvoss · 06/03/2013, 04:08 PM

I ran my Sol Blues for a couple years and hated them. Supplemental LEDs helped, but I never got the color or growth I saw under MH or T5. I now use 3 Sol Blues built into a custom canopy with 4-T5s for a more balanced spectrum.

Steveb · 06/25/2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Bianco

You are correct warm whites will add some red. There is no true UV leds the closest is violet. I have a 210gl tank 6' I have 6 Ai sol super blues and for more spectrum I added these colors three of each.

Amber ◦585-595nm wavelength
Violet •410-420nm wavelength
Cyan •490-520nm wavelength
Warm Whites •2,600-3,700K color temperature.
and two t5 blue plus..

Hope that helps

@Mark Bianco -- Is that 3 of each for the whole fixture or 3 around each AI?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bvoss

I ran my Sol Blues for a couple years and hated them. Supplemental LEDs helped, but I never got the color or growth I saw under MH or T5. I now use 3 Sol Blues built into a custom canopy with 4-T5s for a more balanced spectrum.

@bvoss -- Would you mind sharing what T5's you are running?

05/23/2013, 04:01 PM	#1
Alex240 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 141	Help me decide which LED's to supplement AI SOL!!!! Ok guys, so lets say I have a few Ai sols... They have Blue, RB, and Cool White LEDs. If I wanted to throw some Rapidled DIY strips around the SOL's, and had a total of 24-36 LEDs to use, which colors would you select? Im thinking I want some neutral white for sure, maybe some warm white, or maybe both. Also thinking a couple UV strips. I know the UV may not be noticeable to the eye, but hey it still expands the sols spectrum. No need for any reds or greens right? I dont like the look with reds or greens to be honest anyway. The warm or neutral whites hit some of that reddish color spectrum right, or at least make the yellows and oranges come out.. Its going to be 6 12 inch strips, so tell me what you would do!!!

05/24/2013, 12:04 PM	#5
jg93 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rockville, MD, USA Posts: 194	I used 4 exotic (?) stunner strips, 2 UV, 2 Magenta, and it helped a ton. These don't penetrate very deep, but I noticed a difference in coral health and overall tank appearance. Mind you, I had 2 Sols running at about 40% max intensity. For the money you should consider upgrading to vegas, IMO, rather than spending cash on the light supplements. YMMV. __________________ JeffG Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Rimless mixed, 60 Gallon rimless cube Zoas & LPS

05/23/2013, 06:53 PM	#2
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	You are correct warm whites will add some red. There is no true UV leds the closest is violet. I have a 210gl tank 6' I have 6 Ai sol super blues and for more spectrum I added these colors three of each. Amber ◦585-595nm wavelength Violet •410-420nm wavelength Cyan •490-520nm wavelength Warm Whites •2,600-3,700K color temperature. and two t5 blue plus.. Hope that helps

05/23/2013, 07:33 PM	#3
Alex240 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 141	thanks for reply. Any improvements with cyan or amber?

05/24/2013, 06:30 AM	#4
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	For my taste the cyan did the most improvement then violets and ambers did about the same.

05/27/2013, 01:00 PM	#6
bvoss Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 795	I tried Neutral White, Warm White, and some Green. Warm White was defiantly the way to go..

06/03/2013, 03:37 PM	#8
SUPERSTOCKRACER Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 192	I need to add to my ai sol blue too.

06/03/2013, 04:08 PM	#9
bvoss Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 795	I ran my Sol Blues for a couple years and hated them. Supplemental LEDs helped, but I never got the color or growth I saw under MH or T5. I now use 3 Sol Blues built into a custom canopy with 4-T5s for a more balanced spectrum.