Vertex Illumina Club

[Uncko Macko]

Originally Posted by Uncko Macko

I need an extra opinion. I have a custom rimless 40 breeder being built. The plan is a mixed reef. nothing too hard to keep. Mostly "Nano" livestock. Not sure which light to get. I want to limit light shining outside of the tank so I may get the 24 inch. Will this be enough coverage? And which model? Is the 260 worth the extra money?

so....
24 or 36 inch?
200 or 260?

Ehh. I couldn't wait. Ordered the 24" 200 series. I can't wait to play with this thing!

[Giray GÜN]

200 series suitable for your aquarium.

[Giray GÜN]

We must share save log for vertex expire mod whatr do you think??

[Luxo]

I just joined the club, ordered from J&l, Jeff is great to deal with.
I probably will not see it for another couple of weeks, since I am away on business.
Can't wait, I be sure to post some pictures once my tank arrives.
I ordered a 1200, 260. He advised me to start at 30% white.
Are they really that hellish bright!?
I have seen the 200 model on a local reefer's tank and it was super bright, but to start at 30% seems a little too cautious!
What are your thoughts?
Dave

[AGYDAL]

Even your neighbors down the block will know you bought a new light...I have the 200 series and my whites are set at 50% at their highest point and its BRIGHT!

Anyone have full tank photos of their tanks at what they have as the highest settings or what they think their tank looks best at (the blues LED popping color effect etc...) or any before and after if you were running a different light before the Vertex?

GET THOSE CAMERAS OUT PLEASE! Great job on the videos everyone, but where are our stills?! We all spent how much per foot? Yep, i think its safe to assume we all love our systems enough to photograph The AI owners are posting their setups pictures...why not us? Huh...huh? We know we look good, show off a little...heck! I'm proud of mine and it's two corals and one fish that always hides...

[myfrostymember]

What's the coverage of a 12" illumina 200 at say 6-10 inchs off water? Looking for something that can cover 36x36 18" deep-- Los on the sand few throughout the rocks

[Kolognekoral]

frosty,

the Illumina are not spot lights. The fixture should cover the tank from end to end. The 200 series would be adequate for 18" depth, but a 12" lamp would be too weak for acros in a 36" width tank. Now, 4 12" may be a good option, set chequerboard over the tank.

[myfrostymember]

I have no problem going to a 24" model but hanging 4 12" models over my tank would look like *** I think- I'm not sure

[Kolognekoral]

Of course, aesthetics is another thing. Two 24" units would give you the same light, if not a bit more.

[deangelr]

love the tank Agydal.. ill try and get you a new photo later on

[AGYDAL]

Originally Posted by deangelr

love the tank Agydal.. ill try and get you a new photo later on

Thanks...not much to it yet, moved my rocks around so I could get better flow with the crescent rock design so I could crank back up the lights and put my stuff in the sandbed...I was hoping that someone would follow up with a "my tank is cooler than your tank" picture...still waiting

[Uncko Macko]

Got my Illumina fixture last week! I have it over my nano just to play with it until I'm finished with my new reef build. This thing is awesome. In the owners manual it says, "Please refer to the Vertex V-Link Owner’s Manual for more information". It didn't come with a manual and I don't see one on the Vertex site. Do any of you know where I can find the V-link manual? A manual for the software would be nice too. Thanks.

[Uncko Macko]

I started a Programming thread for sharing Light Studio Tips, Tricks, settings, ideas, Do's & Don'ts.

I'd like to keep it strictly regarding the Light Studio App. I don't want to hi-jack the awesome Illumina threads that helped me decide to make the Illumina investment in the first place.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1#post18483841

[alin2]

I'm really tempted by this light fixture for my new ELOS tank.

It will be 48"x31.5"x24"

Any recommendations on length of Illumina fixture?

Also, 200 vs 260?

It'll be a SPS predominant reef tank.

[Kolognekoral]

Originally Posted by alin2

I'm really tempted by this light fixture for my new ELOS tank.

It will be 48"x31.5"x24"

Any recommendations on length of Illumina fixture?

Also, 200 vs 260?

It'll be a SPS predominant reef tank.

I would take the 200, if the depth is 24". I am running a 260 over a 30"/70cm tall tank and about 6" over the water surface. Well lit with whites at 70%, blue-royals both at 100% and the colours are directly better (more fluorescence). Use the 1500, which is 48 " long. You really want is to go end to end for the best illumination.

You'll love this fixture. You can't hear anything; no fan noise, reverberation, rattling. Very fine workmanship. Looks great and highly programmable.

[alin2]

^^^Awesome, thanks for the info. Although, I assume you mean the 1200 mm fixture for a 48" tank?

[Kolognekoral]

Originally Posted by alin2

^^^Awesome, thanks for the info. Although, I assume you mean the 1200 mm fixture for a 48" tank?

Yeah! 1200mm is 48". Good you know your maths! :

[azulikit]

Hi I have a 260 and I'm having some problems connecting it up on a mac. I have downloaded the latest install from Vertex.

There are two files, one labeled install and the other vertexdestop.jar

I have clicked on both and tried to get the programming running with no success. Click on install and it prompts for a password in Terminal. Enter the password and it says no such file or directory. The .jar file takes me to the Vertex screen but I can't do anything on it. Basically just a web page, file and a ? I can click on file, there are some option but all do nothing. The V-stick also does nothing when I plug it in the to computer.

Does anyone know the install process for on a mac. Looks like I'm missing something here.

[Midnightsun]

Tagging along... Tried the Mac thing also but no go. Had another Windows laptop in the house so I used that no problem.

[deangelr]

I though it was the mac thing.. In the V-Link user manual it doesn't mention anything about Mac or being mac compatible.

[return11]

Back after 14 years out of the hobby, but have always been a "lurker" on RC. These lights seem too good to be true! Once they are programmed does a user have to keep a PC on as they work? Are the heat related issues that good when compared to MH? Thank you for your time!

[Kolognekoral]

Originally Posted by return11

Back after 14 years out of the hobby, but have always been a "lurker" on RC. These lights seem too good to be true! Once they are programmed does a user have to keep a PC on as they work? Are the heat related issues that good when compared to MH? Thank you for your time!

Welcome back into the hobby!

You do not need a PC to run them, however, with a PC one can do much more elaborate programming, but this is then transfered to the control module and the lamp runs with the new programm.

I'm impressed with the lightness of the lamp, compared to my HQI, about half the weight, although the heatsink is massive aluminium. Looks a lot better, too. It gets warm to the touch, but not so hot that you cannot touch it, as with HQI. I used to burn myself constantly with my old lamp, just reaching to arrange something.

After 10 years of HQI and tubes, this is really a revolutionary lamp. It will only get better.

[scram42]

I'm looking for something to replace the Solaris I5 on my 30 gal. 30" by 12' and 18" deep. I love being able to program sunrise and sunset and so I want something comparable. I'm finally at a stable place where I'm actually starting to get some colour from my acros but I need a little more punch from the lights. I've been looking around alot and the Vertex looks pretty amazing but the 24" is slightly out of my price range. Would the 12" work on a tank my size? Any thoughts anyone? Thanks in advance.

[deangelr]

It would work... But I do not think you would get a full 30" spread across with the 12" fixture. Spread the other direction (front to back) is very wide. I have my light over a tank that is roughly 30x23x20. If I don't put the fixture 2" away from the water there is a lot of spill over from front to back as you can see in the first picture in the thread.. My tank splashes a lot so I moved the fixture much higher up... As someone else in this thread said, "all your neighbors will know you got a new light"..

....Your tank dimensions may not be best suited for this light. It could easily light a tank 30" front to back.

[return11]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but can US residents order from Canada with the patent issues? If I am going to drop 3k on a fixture, 48 inch 260 Vertex, would it be reasonable to assume that I can grow/keep anything I want, proper placement programming etc., with an aquarium 48 inches long and 15-20 inches deep? Width would not be greater than 16 inches. Thanks again for your time!