AI Vega Color/Blue Owners Thread!

[one clownfish]

Originally Posted by Yogre

I'm not sure that terrestrial plants and corals use the same spectrum for photosynthesis.

The red part of the spectrum is very quickly filtered out by water. Most of what corals "see" at any depth at all is in the blue range.

Just a thought here. How can we say that coral won't use the red spectrum if it isn't filtered out in a shallow fish tank? I have a few red LEDs leftover from a scrubber build. I'll put a frag of something under it to see if it grows like scrubber algae.

[reef bloke]

An old article but quite interesting

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/11/aafeature

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by one clownfish

Just a thought here. How can we say that coral won't use the red spectrum if it isn't filtered out in a shallow fish tank? I have a few red LEDs leftover from a scrubber build. I'll put a frag of something under it to see if it grows like scrubber algae.

Good point, and definitely worth looking into. Make sure and report back when you've got results!

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by Dseg

Based on the poor controller and setup reviews, not so great PAR results, disco effect complaints, and pictures of tanks before and after tanks with T5s, has anyone returned their Vegas?

That's pretty silly. :-) Not me, at least - it's entirely too early. It'll be several weeks before my corals are even properly acclimated. Maybe in several months, but certainly not this early.

[Saltwatercoral2]

Since putting these lights over my tank, my High end zoas have all sprouted off babies!

[Mcbeezus]

awesome! i think im about to pull the trigger on 3 vega colors. Im sure the kinks will be out or everyone will figure out how to work it soon and if anything is wrong...that why they made it upgradable! im sure they will be doing the same as ecotech with their pro version.

[Saltwatercoral2]

Ya without the price tag of the radion pro

[bnumair]

well guys even with all the negatives i read here and being a SOL owner for yrs i did take the plunge and ordered 5 vega colors and controller. due deliver thursday. will post pics and results as they come in.

[Runfrumu]

Originally Posted by Saltwatercoral2

Since putting these lights over my tank, my High end zoas have all sprouted off babies!

In 4 days your zoas have not only acclimated to the new lights but are thriving already?

You may have some new zoa's sprouted, but I doubt its anything to do with new lights.

[Dustin1300]

+1. Nothing to do with the lights and more than likely due to paying close attention to coral due to the new light.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2.

[TTU_Reefer]

I heard you have to keep the new Iphone 5 plugged into the wall to use it

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by RedJag

One complaint of the Vega is lack of the 420nm. Just checked Maxspect and they use a
Super-Actinic 410nm-420nm LED made by epileds. Many other led spectrums are also available. What we need is a completely modular fixture that lets you replace individual leds as you wish. I must say that German aquarium products have been at the leading edge for years and perhaps that is where I should be looking.

I don't know about replacing individual LEDs, but AI is supposed to be coming out "soon" with support for custom LED combinations. The Vegas already have the modular design to support interchangeable pucks and independently controllable LEDs. As it's been described, you go to AI and specify which LEDs you want on a puck, so if you want a super-actinic LED, you can do that.

I just hope the price isn't prohibitive and that they come out with a good selection of supported LEDs. We shall see.

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by Dseg

For the premium you pay, you should not be able to list problems like that in the first week of release.

I don't really see this as all too unusual for being on the bleeding edge. It would be nice to not have "first release issues", but it happens. Just ask Microsoft, Apple, Ford, Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Nokia, ....

The companies that shine aren't necessarily the ones that get it perfect the first time. It's how they handle support after the fact that really matters to most people.

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by MBSL55

Dissecting the Vega:

First, remove the 4 torx T15 screws from the bottom of the fixture.

Then carefully massage the cover off. If you've taken apart an AI Sol, it is similar in that you need to shift the cover a bit to clear the button, port port, and LED indicator on the side.

Then remove the power distribution and what I am guessing is the wireless receiver module.

For each puck that you want to remove or replace, first lift off the driver (the circuit board with the cut out.

Then remove the 4 torx T10 screws.

Assemble in reverse order. Attach and screw down the puck, attach the driver, attach the power distribution, ADDED STEP: install the lenses, then massage the cover back on and replace the four T15 screws.

Easy as pie. Completely modular and all the drivers appear to be the same. Shouldn't be too hard to install your own pucks when that option is available (and they are pucks, it even says so on the circuit board )

Thanks for posting this, Mike. Looks nice and clean inside, and definitely looks simple enough for most people to do!

I wonder, given that the drivers are modular themselves, if replacing the drivers could be a future option, driving future higher-wattage LEDs with more power, etc.

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by qfrisco

I don't really see this as all too unusual for being on the bleeding edge. It would be nice to not have "first release issues", but it happens. Just ask Microsoft, Apple, Ford, Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Nokia, ....

The companies that shine aren't necessarily the ones that get it perfect the first time. It's how they handle support after the fact that really matters to most people.

I work for a software company and some of the issues that AI is having reported is even unacceptable for a GA release of the "software". The complexities of the controller and code behind these lights are NOTHING close to rocket science. The important thing is they react quickly with bug fixes.

The fact that the lights act sporadic when the controller does not have a connection is a joke. That's a poor design if the light does not burn the configuration into some non-volatile RAM/Flash until it polls for an update or receives an update from the wireless controller. That also is a single point of failure....When your controller goes out that means your lights won't work until you manually intervene? What happens if I'm on vacation and the wireless signal goes down for days and I come home after no light for a week? All questions I'd seriously ask before pulling the trigger on a Vega.

***All statements are made based on observation of thread and what's been reviewed. I don't have a Vega but was considering it as an option.

[lordmbsa]

well i just ordered one today was gonna go get a maxpsect razor but too long of a waight time so im happy with the vega on my 60 cube got the green and red leds for for good color

[qfrisco]

Fortunately, I haven't encountered any of the wireless connectivity and lights freaking out issues, and I'm still on the release controller firmware. I've only tried it 2 or 3 times, but each time I've unplugged the controller to move it, the lights have always just stayed in their current states.

[Hooked4life]

Originally Posted by qfrisco

Fortunately, I haven't encountered any of the wireless connectivity and lights freaking out issues, and I'm still on the release controller firmware. I've only tried it 2 or 3 times, but each time I've unplugged the controller to move it, the lights have always just stayed in their current states.

Same here - the controller holds its programming. I also do not have any sensitivity issues when the controller is plugged into a computer, rather than the power supply provided by AI.

Looking forward to seeing what AI Director offers.

I need some saltwater and corals before I can opine further.....

[Mcbeezus]

i didnt know they were going to make interchangeable pucks and customize to your liking also! Shoot if they get these minor bugs out these lights have got great potential, and probably a better price tag then the radion pros $1000.

[blajoie]

Originally Posted by qfrisco

Fortunately, I haven't encountered any of the wireless connectivity and lights freaking out issues, and I'm still on the release controller firmware. I've only tried it 2 or 3 times, but each time I've unplugged the controller to move it, the lights have always just stayed in their current states.

Same here, no issues with the controller.
I also don't understand the fuss about the controller having to he plugged in. Did people seriously expect a built in fusion reactor to keep this thing going forever? Even if it had a battery it would still be plugged in every day/night to charge. Just plug it into a laptop if you want to mess with setting away from the tank. The plus here is that there is no additional cord to the light needed.

[qfrisco]

Originally Posted by Mcbeezus

i didnt know they were going to make interchangeable pucks and customize to your liking also! Shoot if they get these minor bugs out these lights have got great potential, and probably a better price tag then the radion pros $1000.

They're calling it their "PowerPuck" system, and has a short blurb here: http://www.aquaillumination.com/vega/#weather

Again, "coming soon", so hopefully this won't turn out to be vaporware. If it happens though, I can see a pretty good market for preowned pucks from folks who ordered a specific combo and didn't like how it looked.

[gbreynol]

Originally Posted by blajoie

Same here, no issues with the controller.
I also don't understand the fuss about the controller having to he plugged in. Did people seriously expect a built in fusion reactor to keep this thing going forever? Even if it had a battery it would still be plugged in every night for power...

Agreed. This controller is so much better than the old knob style. I love the easy timer mode. It beats having to setup all the different color channels. My controller shipped with 1.0.34 which is the same version on the AI support site. So it looks like there has not been a new version released yet.

[TTU_Reefer]

just got the Vega on, sorry for Iphone pics. I need a longer rail arm 18" to get it centered as I moved stuff around from previous measurements.

[gldnegle76]

Off topic question, but has anyone used the new ai controller in a "wired condition" with sol blues?
If so, is this the only connection that has to be made to the new controller?

[gbreynol]

Originally Posted by gldnegle76

Off topic question, but has anyone used the new ai controller in a "wired condition" with sol blues?
If so, is this the only connection that has to be made to the new controller?

Yes, I am using it on a Nano. Just one wire.