AquaIllumination PAR Measurements

[Rotknee]

reefkeeper2 thank you for the clarification. You may want to reach out to "lucasabao". He is the October 2010 TOTM winner and has a beautiful tank. While he is using Cree LED's I do not think he is using Aquaillumination fixtures? He successfully made the transition to LED's and could probably be a great resource to you.

Here is his thread for your review.

[gillies]

Originally Posted by reefkeeper2

can [AI LED] match the spread of the maristars? Led lighting is much more direct than metal halide or florescent and I'm concerned that some of my corals and inverts will end up in the dark.

Your question is specific to coverage, not PAR, so I'll try. I just gave my Maristar away after many successful years with it, so I'm pretty familiar with the Reef Optix reflectors and the light spread they provide. I've been running a single AI Sol Blue for about three weeks, so my experience with it is limited. I think AI is being somewhat optimistic to say that two units would do the job. Given that, I'd say you could replace the coverage of each Maristar with three AI units, based on the coverage I'm getting from a single unit over my 24x24 tank.

[reefkeeper2]

Thanks everyone. This is just the info I needed. I don't think the buy some now and add more later plan is going to work for me. If the tank was new and I could position corals appropriately, then ok. But since it's established, I think it will have to be all or nothing.

[Ram Jr]

I have a 185 build going and have a DIY LED set up. Please take a look at videos below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgeiI_umceM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztuWdOuF4D8

This is the most current video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr7tlmKtQ-w

I am currently thinking that I am blasting the corals and need to get a PAR Meter. What do you guys think.

[rostato]

Originally Posted by Ram Jr

I have a 185 build going and have a DIY LED set up. Please take a look at videos below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgeiI_umceM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztuWdOuF4D8

I am currently thinking that I am blasting the corals and need to get a PAR Meter. What do you guys think.

Yeah, your blasting them. You need to be able to dim that mammoth of a fixture you built. Awesome job!

[Ronnie73]

Originally Posted by reefkeeper2

Thanks everyone. This is just the info I needed. I don't think the buy some now and add more later plan is going to work for me. If the tank was new and I could position corals appropriately, then ok. But since it's established, I think it will have to be all or nothing.

Paul, I have the SOL AI 3 units over my 120. Next time you go to CRA stop buy and you can see the units. I think it will give you an idea on what your going to do plus coverage. I will PM you my number. Also you can stop by anytime.

Ronnie

[k.tran]

Hey guys I am still debating whether to go with the AI vs. Vertex LED's. Has anyone seen the Vertex? It has a good controller with it to do all the simulations that the AI doesn't have and seems like it also has very good PAR. Here is two videos. Let me know what you guys think.
-Kelvin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fS_U...layer_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHo7L...layer_embedded

[sefrayser]

Where can I look at prices of the Vertex? I found a few and thats alot of chedda.

[Ronnie73]

Here is a picture of the light hanging over my 120. I am running the light's at 35% whites and 55% blues moving it 5% every 10 days (start it at 20%white and 30% blues a little under par from my last light ATI Power Module). I'm glad this post was started hope this little information helps add interest to the people thinking of buying the SOL AI units or going in this direction.

[k.tran]

Originally Posted by sefrayser

Where can I look at prices of the Vertex? I found a few and thats alot of chedda.

Looks like you have to order them from Canada do to patent issues.

[Soymilk]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the new firmware out. Gonna do it when I get home. I hope there's 3 channel control.

[ducatimikep]

Originally Posted by Soymilk

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the new firmware out. Gonna do it when I get home. I hope there's 3 channel control.

CURSES!!

I have been looking only on the support page for it!!!

Updated users manual shows 3 channel support
W, B, RB

[Logzor]

I had to send my module back right after I received it. One of the data ports was sensitive and the single would repeatedly reset the light/controller.

I must say the service was impressive from AI. They e-mailed me a UPS shipping label the next day.

I doubt it's a common problem but on new modules check your data ports to make sure nothing is screwy.

[txbonds]

Originally Posted by ducatimikep

CURSES!!

I have been looking only on the support page for it!!!

Updated users manual shows 3 channel support
W, B, RB

What is the firmware version number and is it a support ticket item or on the website? Just curious.

Thanks.

[Dark_Reef]

The firmware is available directly from their homepage.

http://www.aquaillumination.com/

Here is an exerpt from their home page:

"What's New
Dec. 8, 2010

Happy Holidays! We've had a tremendous number of requests for our Feburary beta AI Controller firmware and appreciate all the interest and feedback. It's been a long time coming, but all good things come in time.

Our AI Controller version 3RC7 for the AI Sol White and Blue includes cloud cover, lightning storm simulation, independent LED channel control, and more!

Download the ZIP file containing the firmware and users manual.

The firmware isn't in release state, so be gentle. If you run into any bugs, please let us know.

Enjoy!"

[ieatchinese]

txbonds: The AI homepage has the download that includes both the firmware and the users manual.

[txbonds]

Awesome, thanks guys!

[MikeandNicole]

Is the new firmware for the controllers that AI has or is it for the other controllers out there?

[BriGuy31+]

Originally Posted by MikeandNicole

Is the new firmware for the controllers that AI has or is it for the other controllers out there?

Just for the AI controller. 14 set points for timers is very nice. Thunderstorms are super nice!! Is it possible to have a blue under tone in between the lightening?

Has anybody figured out how to set cloud cover? This is the only option that I am having difficulty with. Thanks.

[ducatimikep]

Couldcover is with the "Enable Storms" menu.
When you enable storms, you are enabling cloudcover.
You set the percentage chance & the number of storms per day.

[Ram Jr]

Originally Posted by rostato

Yeah, your blasting them. You need to be able to dim that mammoth of a fixture you built. Awesome job!

Is there any talk or a way I can control my fixture with a Apex or Proflux? Also what should I dim them down to?

[ieatchinese]

Ram Jr: Depends on what power supplies (drivers) you put on your lights. If they are the dimmable drivers, then yes, you can control them via Apex. I don't have any experiene with the Profilux, but I can't imagine that you wouldn't be able to do it with it either.

What kind of drivers did you buy with your DIY kit?

[drtrash]

New firmware is incredible, this is a controller now Thank you AI.
Question: If you are going to ramp up to a peak intensity for lets say an hour should it be 100%? Not sure if that is a scorcher, I was not sure so went with 75%. So many choices just had to throw in 7 points and probable could of used less. Would like to see some other programmers setpoints. Did not turn the thunderstorm on, not sure of its purpose, may have to test it. You can even set the % probability of a thunderstorm/cloud cover happening during the day, how cool. Glad I'm sick today

[AQD_ottawa]

ProfiLux controls LED drivers for DIY builds by the built in 1-10V interfaces that come included within the controller, each channel can control up to 3 drivers so as standard you have the option to control 12 drivers in triplicate 4 x 3 driver pairings.

If you require the option of zero volt switching then you cna use the EVG card that detects 0VDC and switches the AC compenent off.

I have two Ai's best purchase ever!

[VegasMike]

IS there a way to connect the controller to a data port so that it can go out and search for the weather at a given GPS coordinate and copy the weather at that time, adjusted for time zone differential, of course.

Just kidding, these things are getting incredible with simulating real life events/conditions.

One question I do have though. I just received my controller and hanging kit from Premium Aquatics. The actual modules won't be here for a couple weeks. I have not really looked at it in detail, but how do you load the firmware into the Controller?

Consider me IT challenged.