AI Vega Color/Blue Owners Thread!

[DloG]

Originally Posted by bangbangkhan

my custom $15 hanging kit...pix is from a crappy cell phone camera

Originally Posted by BlakDuc

You spent $500+ on lights and cheaped out on the hanging kit. The proper one looks a whole lot better and is only $50.

Just my opinion.

http://www.rapidled.com/y-shaped-hanging-kit/
I'm using this one, its only $10 and it looks really clean

[bangbangkhan]

Originally Posted by DloG

http://www.rapidled.com/y-shaped-hanging-kit/
I'm using this one, its only $10 and it looks really clean

Thanks! Did they come with with the #10-32 screws

[mando2776]

Originally Posted by BlakDuc

You spent $500+ on lights and cheaped out on the hanging kit. The proper one looks a whole lot better and is only $50.

Just my opinion.

I agree on that, nothing better than an Ai EXT rail.

[DloG]

Originally Posted by bangbangkhan

Thanks! Did they come with with the #10-32 screws

Yes they did come with #10-32 screws. If you take off the u part of the y it's really similar to the ext hanging kit. I used with the 6"EXT rail and the cable grippers screwed right into it.

[dougdstecklein]

Here is a link to my $10 DIY mount.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2279881
I felt like all of the mounts that you can purchase are way too bulky.
I wanted something sleek, that was not highly visible.
I wish I could figure out how to attach more than one picture:

[reefervinny]

Originally Posted by bangbangkhan

my custom $15 hanging kit...pix is from a crappy cell phone camera

I am sorry but that looks horrible. Gold chains and a bracket that is not adjustable. Really doesn't help you our if you decide you want to adjust your height of the lights or if you just want to lift it out of the way to do some husbandry on the tank. Buy a real kit it is worth it for sure.

Originally Posted by dougdstecklein

Here is a link to my $10 DIY mount.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2279881
I felt like all of the mounts that you can purchase are way too bulky.
I wanted something sleek, that was not highly visible.
I wish I could figure out how to attach more than one picture:

Not bad but again it is stationary and doesn't allow you to adjust the light height. I have had my Vega's for 7 Months and it really pays off to be adjustable. It is just my opinion but it also is in my experience over the last few months. Also how could an ext rail be bulky? it is sleek and simple.


Not to sound contradicting but I made my own rail (i fabricate aluminum and steel) and I basically made the same thing that AI sends out and I used a small piece of 2" C-Channel. Drilled my holes and voila. Cost me $0. I used two hydroponic adjustable light lifters I found at my local garden shop. They are so sweet and only wish it was thinner wire/string. Its like a ratchet, lift and it clicks and then release and lower by a little button. Simple and works awesome. Anyone in the South FLA area that ever needs anything like a light rail, aluminum or steel custom stand, or anything you can think of out of metal let me know and come stop by my shop and check me out.

[bangbangkhan]

Originally Posted by reefervinny

I am sorry but that looks horrible. Gold chains and a bracket that is not adjustable. Really doesn't help you our if you decide you want to adjust your height of the lights or if you just want to lift it out of the way to do some husbandry on the tank. Buy a real kit it is worth it for sure.



Not bad but again it is stationary and doesn't allow you to adjust the light height. I have had my Vega's for 7 Months and it really pays off to be adjustable. It is just my opinion but it also is in my experience over the last few months. Also how could an ext rail be bulky? it is sleek and simple.


Not to sound contradicting but I made my own rail (i fabricate aluminum and steel) and I basically made the same thing that AI sends out and I used a small piece of 2" C-Channel. Drilled my holes and voila. Cost me $0. I used two hydroponic adjustable light lifters I found at my local garden shop. They are so sweet and only wish it was thinner wire/string. Its like a ratchet, lift and it clicks and then release and lower by a little button. Simple and works awesome. Anyone in the South FLA area that ever needs anything like a light rail, aluminum or steel custom stand, or anything you can think of out of metal let me know and come stop by my shop and check me out.

I haven't performed any finishing on it and as far as the height goes..they are adjustable as you only have to remove the chain links.

and most importantly i don't really care what the hanging kit looks like...i only care about the inside of the tank...just my personal choice.

[dougdstecklein]

The 3 holes which connect the bracket to the wall are evenly spaced, 2 inches apart. I am using the top two holes right now which brings the light 6 inches above the water line. I can raise it to 8 inches AWL by moving it to the two bottom holes. Not much play, but not sure why you would need more considering the intensity of this light can be decreased by 1% increments all the way down to zero.

[reefervinny]

Originally Posted by bangbangkhan

I haven't performed any finishing on it and as far as the height goes..they are adjustable as you only have to remove the chain links.

and most importantly i don't really care what the hanging kit looks like...i only care about the inside of the tank...just my personal choice.

I get what you are saying but still, would you buy a Ferrari and put regular unleaded? Nope....

[reefervinny]

Originally Posted by dougdstecklein

The 3 holes which connect the bracket to the wall are evenly spaced, 2 inches apart. I am using the top two holes right now which brings the light 6 inches above the water line. I can raise it to 8 inches AWL by moving it to the two bottom holes. Not much play, but not sure why you would need more considering the intensity of this light can be decreased by 1% increments all the way down to zero.

I understand your points but you are limited to lifting it up high enough to work over your tank and move stuff around, clean and adjust the interior of the tank without worries of splashing "saltwater" on your nice Vegas? Do the right thing and get yourself a real hanging kit.

[DloG]

This is what the Rapidled hanging kit looks like attached to 6" EXT rail. Waiting for my other light to get in so that will give me some time to paint the conduit pipe.

[Typlus5]

Originally Posted by reefervinny

I get what you are saying but still, would you buy a Ferrari and put regular unleaded? Nope....

And on your Ferrari your cover the grille so you don't get the proper air flow to the engine? In effect that's what you've done by covering he fans with 2" C channel. You're so proud, post pics and offer advice...if not, stop bashing these guys who are enjoying their lights.

[reefervinny]

Originally Posted by Typlus5

And on your Ferrari your cover the grille so you don't get the proper air flow to the engine? In effect that's what you've done by covering he fans with 2" C channel. You're so proud, post pics and offer advice...if not, stop bashing these guys who are enjoying their lights.

Who said anything about covering a grille? Who said that my fabricated "c-channel" is going end to end and covering my fans? Why would I fabricate anything different than what AI sells? Why is everything turned into bashing/bullying? It's called my opinion and I'm aloud to express it publicly in what you call a "public forum". People these days get the case of hurtfelioma (hurt feelings) to easy.

Ill take pictures and posted them when I get home to better explain. Better yet anyone that wants to pay the shipping ill fabricate and drill the holes accordingly for you for free. Sent directly to whomever in raw aluminum so you can paint it whatever color. Private message me if interested.
I'm not here to bash I am here to help.

[dougdstecklein]

Reefervinny,
You were being a little harsh, more so to bang bang. No sweat on my end. I agree with you that my lights are somewhat in the way if I need to do maintenance in my tank. I have them attached with a wing nut so that they can be removed if needed, but it would be somewhat of a pain.

[bangbangkhan]

Originally Posted by reefervinny

I get what you are saying but still, would you buy a Ferrari and put regular unleaded? Nope....

if i had a Ferrari i would have hired some one to maintain my tank.....

[duberz]

Ok so It's obvious we all have our lights hung like we want.Now lets do like the radion owners and post our settings that work.I say that because radion setting threads are quadruple vega threads.My current settings w25 all blues 85 red and green 10.Timer 11am to 6pm 3 hr ramp both ends.Purpose of this is I'm still trying to tweak to just right.

[pwfletcher]

OK ... I'm in ;-)

[dougdstecklein]

I can't freakin sleep so I'll give this a go.
White- 50
Red- 35
Green- 35
All blues-70
I have them on manual timers.
4 hour ramp up. 9:00-1:00 4 timers/1 hour each
9:00 white-3 red-5 green-5 blues-7
10:00 white-7 red-10 green-10 blues-15
11:00 white-20 red-20 green-20 blues-35
12:00 white-50 red-35 green-35 blues-70
4 hour ramp down. 6:00-10:00 4 timers/1hour each
6:00 white-50 red-35 green-35 blues-70
7:00 white-20 red-20 green-20 blues-35
8:00 white-7 red-10 green-10 blues-15
9:00 white-0 red-0 green-0 blues-1
I do not like the automatic timers. The sunrise/sunset turns dark blue immediately and doesn't look very natural. I wanted a normal daylight color with just increasing/decreasing intensities for most of the sunrise/sunset.
This allows for great viewing of the tank all day without frying your corals.
The lights are only at my max intensities for 5 hours of the day; 1:00-6:00.
At least if my controller ever loses it's programming I have it written down now.

[Typlus5]

When we all get the Director program it should be easier to post and screen shots.
W-60%
R-5%
G-3%
Bl-60%
D-bl-50%
Ryl-60%
1pm to 10 pm w/2hr ramp

[zerreissen]

Originally Posted by Typlus5

When we all get the Director program it should be easier to post and screen shots.

And easier to program! The controller isn't exactly the easiest to mess with when you're wanting to test out new settings...

[DloG]

This is what my lights ended up looking with the rapidled kit.

[duberz]

It's getting really old waiting on this director

[Typlus5]

Originally Posted by duberz

It's getting really old waiting on this director

I'm with you on this...signed up for the Beta version hoping I'd get it quicker...we'll see. The current controller is ok at best.

[NYCEnglish]

Yes, they're really dragging their heels even with releasing Beta.

[aquaregia]

I have two Sol Blues mounted lengthwise over my 75 gal 36" bowfront. They have been in operation for about 18 months less four months when I moved from Indiana to Florida. I had been running the lights with the original controller using 8 timers until about 3wks ago when that controller suddenly died. I've installed the new controller and updated it to firmware version 2.08. I didn't have the time or inclination to manually program my old settings so, just for grins, I set it to the new "Caribbean" mode from v. 2.08. Here in South Florida it almost identically mimics the natural daylight cycle. Its default seemed to be 80w;80blue;80 royal with 4 hr ramp. I turned the white down to 75 and just let it rip. I actually like this program very much and the tank looks good.