AI Vega Color/Blue Owners Thread! - Page 20

SteveWong · 09/28/2012, 11:51 AM

I'd love to hear how people will balance the perceived brightness and aesthetics vs the corals needs. My family for example is used to a brightly lit (3x250 MH + 4x25w actinic pc) display. Maybe I'll need to resort to a power puck change?

Also any updates from Macna with the new Director announcement? The website remains unchanged.

Tony@D-D · 09/28/2012, 12:37 PM

To be fair my SOL's are pretty bright, stick a couple of 6500k iwasaki 250's over the tank no doubt it will look brighter though. It will also look like someone has urinated in the tank lmao.

sirreal63 · 09/28/2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony@D-D

stick a couple of 6500k iwasaki 250's over the tank no doubt it will look brighter though. It will also look like someone has urinated in the tank lmao.

400 watt 6500k Iwasaki, doesn't look like urine to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=26EKPjZjFY0

Now if you tried to replicate a 6500k with LED's it may very well look urine colored, the difference in being able to hit the same peaks as the 6500K which hits high points at 420, 490, 550 and 580.

kajung2k · 09/28/2012, 04:27 PM

got my two vegas and controllers...

1) power supply for controller is bad (pointing out already). checked AI website and they instruct the user to use a different power source, and to contact them for replacement.

2) configured coral acclaimation mode. At first I could not get the darn thing to work properly (or so I thought). Lights at 90%, reduction at 90%, means it should reduce by 81%. Nope.. reduced it to 78% or by 12% reduction. Problem? The issue is The beginging date and end date. I programmed the end date to be like 9/30/2012. Therefore, as it gets closer to the end of acclimation, it ramps the lights up higher and higher.. NICE. To confirm it, I set the start date today, and end date in 2 weeks and reduction set at 90%. The output was 9% brightness, or 90% reduction, however you want to look at it.

3) Beautiful build quality, as you would expect for $499.00 each. They are bright, but like everyone says, not nearly as bright as T5 or MH, and I forgot who, but a few posts back explained why, so everything is as expected.

4) Directions... there are none, and not that this is an OVERLY complicated setup, it still should come with some docs. They need a tech writer, or somene docs that can explain each mode and setting.

Overall -- nicely made, rich features, disturbed about the power adapter, wish there was documentation.

My FAN is on even though the lights have been off for 20+ minutes. Is this normal?

Skipponator · 09/28/2012, 07:16 PM

Here's a quick vid. Vega Color left ATI right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxPH...e_gdata_player

vs118 · 09/28/2012, 07:39 PM

vid is coming up private.....

Skipponator · 09/28/2012, 08:33 PM

Fixed. Thanks

gsoler · 09/28/2012, 09:17 PM

Skipponator
In live which area is more pleasing to the eye? (it looks a little more red side of the Vega)
Excuse my English

Skipponator · 09/28/2012, 11:55 PM

I prefer the Vega view over the T5. The ability to ramp up and down through a desired set spectrum is great plus add the shimmer. The t5 side seems less crisp in appearance but much of the time it is hard to tell the difference as I have them set pretty close to the same during the day. Everything is doing well on both sides so far and it'll be tough to decide when do I purchase the 2nd Vega assuming things continue to succeed. I imagine I'll supplement with some t5 actinic unless Powerpuck options arise. As far as red I don't notice a lot and I really have not played with the lights a whole lot. Too busy.

SteveWong · 09/28/2012, 11:58 PM

Well, I just mounted my 3 Vega's over my 155 gal bowfront (72" long, 24" tall). The lights are about 5" above the water's surface.

I must say I'm quite disappointed. Here are my issues:

1. The disco effect is VERY noticeable. I find it quite distracting. I've posted a youtube video of it using my iPhone 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hntU...o&feature=plcp

2. Indeed the whole tank is quite dim to the naked eye compared to the prior lighting system (3x250W MH, 4x25W PC actinics). I did go in with this expectation as others have said that some of the spectrum the corals need/see isn't seen by us, but I can't help but feel the tank looks way too dim for my tastes.

I've attached a full tank shot with the exposure set to the tank itself (again iPhone 5, using the tap to focus/expose function) as well as a shot to show how I've just jury rigged this for now to see how the lights look (I've simply tied them with a string to my existing fixture).

The FTS with exposure set to the tank is fairly close to what it appears to be in a fully darkened room. The youtube video is a little bit exaggerated with the video processing, etc, but the strobing and multicolors are definitely very notable.

I accept that I might need a 4th unit to bring up the visual appearance, but the disco light effect bugs me a lot -- any suggestions? The lights are currently set to the factory 80% intensities, although the deep blues are off (factory default). I won't spend yet more money if they have this very noticeable disco effect.

I might be returning these...I feel really bummed as I had really high hopes. Maybe someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Skipponator · 09/29/2012, 12:06 AM

By picture I am assuming left is Vega and right is prior setup? I personally feel the left is much better. It highlights the reef rather than everything. The video shows a beautiful tank. Your disco is pretty bad. Perhaps move the lights higher? If that doesn't work adjust your surface agitation? I am 9" off of surface approx and don't have bad disco.

SteveWong · 09/29/2012, 12:13 AM

Thanks for the tank comment: actually I just redid everything since I let it go bad for a long time, and decided to go whole hog: upgrading the lights, adding an Apex controller, adding a Tunze wavebox and korallia circulation pumps, and a new sump.

Thus, the first attachment is the Vega's exposed for the tank.
The second attachment is exposed just to show the temporary vega setup, but still lit with the vegas -a very quick and dirty string mounting to my existing light fixture since I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to a hole in the ceiling.

I'll try moving the lights higher to see.

Edit: I moved the lights up to around 10" above the water and still I find the disco effect notable. The surface agitation is from the wavemaker and the return pumps -- with the MHs it gave a very nice shimmer, but seems to exaggerate disco's. I'm not sure I can reduce the surface agitation much more without sacrificing flow and oxygenation.

kajung2k · 09/29/2012, 01:54 AM

Have you tried turning off green and red and purple to see if it goes away? When I do just whites its fine and blues its okay but when I turn up the green and purple and red its disco time.

I think white sand makes disco even more noticeable.

I don't mind them. I think all LEDs have this issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveWong

Thanks for the tank comment: actually I just redid everything since I let it go bad for a long time, and decided to go whole hog: upgrading the lights, adding an Apex controller, adding a Tunze wavebox and korallia circulation pumps, and a new sump.

Thus, the first attachment is the Vega's exposed for the tank.
The second attachment is exposed just to show the temporary vega setup, but still lit with the vegas -a very quick and dirty string mounting to my existing light fixture since I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to a hole in the ceiling.

I'll try moving the lights higher to see.

Edit: I moved the lights up to around 10" above the water and still I find the disco effect notable. The surface agitation is from the wavemaker and the return pumps -- with the MHs it gave a very nice shimmer, but seems to exaggerate disco's. I'm not sure I can reduce the surface agitation much more without sacrificing flow and oxygenation.

SteveWong · 09/29/2012, 03:27 AM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've moved the lights up to 9 inches and set the intensities to:

White 100%
red 65%
green 65%
and the others to 80%

There seems to be less disco with these settings.

What is the downside of using less red and green? I know some have said too much red can cause coral damage.

Tomorrow I might try reducing red/green a bit more.

I'm a little happier now, but still a bit apprehensive.

I wonder if AI can make Powerpucks that are less prone to disco. I've seen DIY kits which have 3 LEDs on the same little soldering star-shaped PCB, which minimizes the risk of disco effects.

gsoler · 09/29/2012, 08:21 AM

Skipponator

thanks

Soggytoes · 09/30/2012, 08:47 AM

Any word on the Director app?

kajung2k · 09/30/2012, 10:10 AM

I read on a different forum that it might go into beta after macna and then you will need an advanced controller that will work with the software.

I do not have any direct knowledge I am just passing along the information that I read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soggytoes

Any word on the Director app?

gbreynol · 09/30/2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kajung2k

I read on a different forum that it might go into beta after macna and then you will need an advanced controller that will work with the software.

I do not have any direct knowledge I am just passing along the information that I read.

I know for a fact that it will require a new piece of hardware. I have been waiting all weekend to catch a demo of it in action at MACNA.

madean · 09/30/2012, 01:52 PM

advanced controller meaning an apex or profilux, or an andvanced controller that AI will manufacture?

gbreynol · 09/30/2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madean

advanced controller meaning an apex or profilux, or an andvanced controller that AI will manufacture?

AI hardware. The lights are getting too specialized for 3rd parties to control.

jtrim123 · 09/30/2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madean

advanced controller meaning an apex or profilux, or an andvanced controller that AI will manufacture?

From the way it looks on their site, you will need an interface and it will be controlled by a device. IE iPad, iPhone, droid etc

Dseg · 09/30/2012, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbreynol

I know for a fact that it will require a new piece of hardware. I have been waiting all weekend to catch a demo of it in action at MACNA.

Why wouldnt they incorporate that in the new vegas? I cant believe they are making us buy hardware already... I thought it was just going to be an app or something, that it was an included feature of the vegas... Guess not

mypepper · 09/30/2012, 04:19 PM

Since the Vega units have builted in wireless hardware, it should only require a wireless mobile device or your desktop computer that has a Ethernet card along with either a app for your mobile device or software program for your desktop computer.

I'm just hoping the nice folks at AI will charge a minimal fee for the Director app / software.

By the way, I installed my first Vega color unit on my 90 gallon reef on Friday and I just love overall build quality and the various control options of the new controller. My second Vega should arrive in about three weeks.

Even though my 250 w MH seemed much brighter, the led light is a totally different light source and I already see the difference with my corals, which I have all my led's set to the mid 30's for right now. My water is also 3 degrees cooler and I won!t have to run my air king fan except for extremely warm days.

All in all,I think the new Vega led's are worth every penny spent.

Thanks,
Randy

SteveWong · 09/30/2012, 09:28 PM

Update:

I'm now much happier with the Vega's. Although the tank is visibly dimmer than before, I've gotten used to it (and my family actually prefers it) -- I suppose it’s a bit like how it takes a bit of getting used to after your TV gets professionally calibrated (the showroom/default settings of a typical TV are tuned to be brighter with higher than optimal contrast settings to make the image "pop").

In my case, I now appreciate the corals are more deeply colored, as are the fish. So far, the corals also seem to like the light better: more polyps extended and today it looks like my bubble tip anenome is fully expanded for most of the day compared to before: it seemed to spend about 30% of the day deflated. The fish are also more deeply colored.

I still have the disco effect but it's less noticeable since I've set the green and red intensities to 50%, white to 100% and the others to 80%.

Right now, I have the unit on with the intensities as noted, and haven't turned on a coral acclimation mode: do you think this is OK? I'm replacing 3x250W Halides with 3x Vega color units, now mounted ~9" above the water surface, with a tank height of 24" (72" long, bowfront, 155 gal tank).

I'm still waiting for any word at all on the new AI Director: it seems oddly strange no one (not even AI's site) has any form of news from Macna aside from what we can glean from the teaser images.

To mypepper: although the Vegas have wireless communication, I suspect they aren't working with WiFi antennas or signals, so they won't likely connect to your network. Unless AI snuck that in. It should have been possible to incorporate a small 802.11b/g chipset in, and I'll bet that future hardware will have this. Just another reason to upgrade next year!

Anyhow, I'm considerably happier now -- I'm now considering a 4th unit to bring up the brightness a bit, but I'll wait for powerpucks, etc. An interface to my Neptune Apex would also be really integral for me.

DloG · 10/01/2012, 12:47 AM

I just got my Vega Color(blk) a couple of days ago and I'm happy with the pop the corals are getting.

I did notice with the new controller that if you try to operate it in low light or no light it tends to be really sensitive. You could even hover your finger over the button and it will register. So to avoid this operate it with some ambient light and it works much better.

Ai Vega Color
In person its not as red or purple as this iPhone 5 pic. Ill try to post a picture with my SLR.

This is my tank running the Ai Sol Blue that took with my SLR.

09/28/2012, 12:37 PM	#477
Tony@D-D Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 11	To be fair my SOL's are pretty bright, stick a couple of 6500k iwasaki 250's over the tank no doubt it will look brighter though. It will also look like someone has urinated in the tank lmao. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forum.php

09/28/2012, 04:27 PM	#479
kajung2k Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 1,002	got my two vegas and controllers... 1) power supply for controller is bad (pointing out already). checked AI website and they instruct the user to use a different power source, and to contact them for replacement. 2) configured coral acclaimation mode. At first I could not get the darn thing to work properly (or so I thought). Lights at 90%, reduction at 90%, means it should reduce by 81%. Nope.. reduced it to 78% or by 12% reduction. Problem? The issue is The beginging date and end date. I programmed the end date to be like 9/30/2012. Therefore, as it gets closer to the end of acclimation, it ramps the lights up higher and higher.. NICE. To confirm it, I set the start date today, and end date in 2 weeks and reduction set at 90%. The output was 9% brightness, or 90% reduction, however you want to look at it. 3) Beautiful build quality, as you would expect for $499.00 each. They are bright, but like everyone says, not nearly as bright as T5 or MH, and I forgot who, but a few posts back explained why, so everything is as expected. 4) Directions... there are none, and not that this is an OVERLY complicated setup, it still should come with some docs. They need a tech writer, or somene docs that can explain each mode and setting. Overall -- nicely made, rich features, disturbed about the power adapter, wish there was documentation. My FAN is on even though the lights have been off for 20+ minutes. Is this normal? Last edited by kajung2k; 09/28/2012 at 04:56 PM. Reason: cooling fan

09/28/2012, 07:16 PM	#480
Skipponator Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Apple Valley, MN Posts: 537	Here's a quick vid. Vega Color left ATI right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxPH...e_gdata_player __________________ Got crabs? Current Tank Info: Exiting hobby.

09/28/2012, 08:33 PM	#482
Skipponator Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Apple Valley, MN Posts: 537	Fixed. Thanks __________________ Got crabs? Current Tank Info: Exiting hobby.

09/28/2012, 11:55 PM	#484
Skipponator Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Apple Valley, MN Posts: 537	I prefer the Vega view over the T5. The ability to ramp up and down through a desired set spectrum is great plus add the shimmer. The t5 side seems less crisp in appearance but much of the time it is hard to tell the difference as I have them set pretty close to the same during the day. Everything is doing well on both sides so far and it'll be tough to decide when do I purchase the 2nd Vega assuming things continue to succeed. I imagine I'll supplement with some t5 actinic unless Powerpuck options arise. As far as red I don't notice a lot and I really have not played with the lights a whole lot. Too busy. __________________ Got crabs? Current Tank Info: Exiting hobby. Last edited by Skipponator; 09/29/2012 at 12:01 AM.

09/28/2012, 11:51 AM	#476
SteveWong Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 67	I'd love to hear how people will balance the perceived brightness and aesthetics vs the corals needs. My family for example is used to a brightly lit (3x250 MH + 4x25w actinic pc) display. Maybe I'll need to resort to a power puck change? Also any updates from Macna with the new Director announcement? The website remains unchanged.

09/28/2012, 07:39 PM	#481
vs118 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6	vid is coming up private.....

09/28/2012, 09:17 PM	#483
gsoler Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bogotá (Colombia) Posts: 5	Skipponator In live which area is more pleasing to the eye? (it looks a little more red side of the Vega) Excuse my English

09/29/2012, 12:06 AM	#486
Skipponator Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Apple Valley, MN Posts: 537	By picture I am assuming left is Vega and right is prior setup? I personally feel the left is much better. It highlights the reef rather than everything. The video shows a beautiful tank. Your disco is pretty bad. Perhaps move the lights higher? If that doesn't work adjust your surface agitation? I am 9" off of surface approx and don't have bad disco. __________________ Got crabs? Current Tank Info: Exiting hobby.

09/29/2012, 12:13 AM	#487
SteveWong Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 67	Thanks for the tank comment: actually I just redid everything since I let it go bad for a long time, and decided to go whole hog: upgrading the lights, adding an Apex controller, adding a Tunze wavebox and korallia circulation pumps, and a new sump. Thus, the first attachment is the Vega's exposed for the tank. The second attachment is exposed just to show the temporary vega setup, but still lit with the vegas -a very quick and dirty string mounting to my existing light fixture since I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to a hole in the ceiling. I'll try moving the lights higher to see. Edit: I moved the lights up to around 10" above the water and still I find the disco effect notable. The surface agitation is from the wavemaker and the return pumps -- with the MHs it gave a very nice shimmer, but seems to exaggerate disco's. I'm not sure I can reduce the surface agitation much more without sacrificing flow and oxygenation. Last edited by SteveWong; 09/29/2012 at 12:24 AM.

09/29/2012, 03:27 AM	#489
SteveWong Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 67	Thanks for the suggestions. I've moved the lights up to 9 inches and set the intensities to: White 100% red 65% green 65% and the others to 80% There seems to be less disco with these settings. What is the downside of using less red and green? I know some have said too much red can cause coral damage. Tomorrow I might try reducing red/green a bit more. I'm a little happier now, but still a bit apprehensive. I wonder if AI can make Powerpucks that are less prone to disco. I've seen DIY kits which have 3 LEDs on the same little soldering star-shaped PCB, which minimizes the risk of disco effects.

09/29/2012, 08:21 AM	#490
gsoler Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bogotá (Colombia) Posts: 5	Skipponator thanks

09/30/2012, 08:47 AM	#491
Soggytoes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 132	Any word on the Director app?

09/30/2012, 01:52 PM	#494
madean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 994	advanced controller meaning an apex or profilux, or an andvanced controller that AI will manufacture?

09/30/2012, 04:19 PM	#498
mypepper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Mateo, Ca Posts: 422	Since the Vega units have builted in wireless hardware, it should only require a wireless mobile device or your desktop computer that has a Ethernet card along with either a app for your mobile device or software program for your desktop computer. I'm just hoping the nice folks at AI will charge a minimal fee for the Director app / software. By the way, I installed my first Vega color unit on my 90 gallon reef on Friday and I just love overall build quality and the various control options of the new controller. My second Vega should arrive in about three weeks. Even though my 250 w MH seemed much brighter, the led light is a totally different light source and I already see the difference with my corals, which I have all my led's set to the mid 30's for right now. My water is also 3 degrees cooler and I won!t have to run my air king fan except for extremely warm days. All in all,I think the new Vega led's are worth every penny spent. Thanks, Randy

09/30/2012, 09:28 PM	#499
SteveWong Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 67	Update: I'm now much happier with the Vega's. Although the tank is visibly dimmer than before, I've gotten used to it (and my family actually prefers it) -- I suppose it’s a bit like how it takes a bit of getting used to after your TV gets professionally calibrated (the showroom/default settings of a typical TV are tuned to be brighter with higher than optimal contrast settings to make the image "pop"). In my case, I now appreciate the corals are more deeply colored, as are the fish. So far, the corals also seem to like the light better: more polyps extended and today it looks like my bubble tip anenome is fully expanded for most of the day compared to before: it seemed to spend about 30% of the day deflated. The fish are also more deeply colored. I still have the disco effect but it's less noticeable since I've set the green and red intensities to 50%, white to 100% and the others to 80%. Right now, I have the unit on with the intensities as noted, and haven't turned on a coral acclimation mode: do you think this is OK? I'm replacing 3x250W Halides with 3x Vega color units, now mounted ~9" above the water surface, with a tank height of 24" (72" long, bowfront, 155 gal tank). I'm still waiting for any word at all on the new AI Director: it seems oddly strange no one (not even AI's site) has any form of news from Macna aside from what we can glean from the teaser images. To mypepper: although the Vegas have wireless communication, I suspect they aren't working with WiFi antennas or signals, so they won't likely connect to your network. Unless AI snuck that in. It should have been possible to incorporate a small 802.11b/g chipset in, and I'll bet that future hardware will have this. Just another reason to upgrade next year! Anyhow, I'm considerably happier now -- I'm now considering a 4th unit to bring up the brightness a bit, but I'll wait for powerpucks, etc. An interface to my Neptune Apex would also be really integral for me.

10/01/2012, 12:47 AM	#500
DloG Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 226	I just got my Vega Color(blk) a couple of days ago and I'm happy with the pop the corals are getting. I did notice with the new controller that if you try to operate it in low light or no light it tends to be really sensitive. You could even hover your finger over the button and it will register. So to avoid this operate it with some ambient light and it works much better. Ai Vega Color In person its not as red or purple as this iPhone 5 pic. Ill try to post a picture with my SLR. This is my tank running the Ai Sol Blue that took with my SLR.