AI Vega Color/Blue Owners Thread! - Page 76

Wetline · 07/30/2013, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbraslins

My Vegas have clear optics. I know Hydras have frosted optics. Does anyone here have Vegas with frosted optics?

My vegas are only about a month old but they have the clear optics like yours. Earlier in the thread some people say their vegas have frosted optics but mine do not. I have read the custom pucks come with frosted optics.

Curious if the controller sees new non-default custom puck colors too.

mlott132 · 07/30/2013, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetline

My vegas are only about a month old but they have the clear optics like yours. Earlier in the thread some people say their vegas have frosted optics but mine do not. I have read the custom pucks come with frosted optics.

Curious if the controller sees new non-default custom puck colors too.

I too just purchased my Vega about a month ago, but mine has the frosted lenses. I do not notice any disco effect with mine.

Reefer94 · 07/30/2013, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbraslins

My Vegas have clear optics. I know Hydras have frosted optics. Does anyone here have Vegas with frosted optics?

Wonder if frosted optics are better (help reduce disco ball effect) and are worth swapping out.

I've got frosted optics. I don't notice any disco... it's actually alot better than that SOLs were. Not sure though, I haven't compared what I see to a clear-optic Vega. Lots of shimmer, very little color banding.

Wetline · 07/30/2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlott132

I too just purchased my Vega about a month ago, but mine has the frosted lenses. I do not notice any disco effect with mine.

With the clear lenses about 8" off the water I have some disco effect in the shadows under rocks or below ledges but it's only noticeable really in one spot of my tank. The rest of the tank looks pretty good but still wonder if the violet/UV might help balance things out and bring out that part of the spectrum that the vega seems to be missing.

Will846 · 07/30/2013, 03:51 PM

When you order the sol to vega upgrade kit it comes with 2 violet LEDs and frosted optics. AI told me in the future the vega will come with it but not at this moment.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

Seng · 07/31/2013, 01:36 PM

I found Hydra frosted optics do have disco effect especially in the shadows under rocks but not very clear on sand bed but lesser compare to Vega clear optics unless top view can see more clear disco effect ... and Vega clear optics have clearer/sharp shimmering effect compare to Hydra frosted optics ...

theReefKing · 07/31/2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCEnglish

What did you replace them with?

MH, VHO, and LED supplements. The growth for the soft corals, zoas, leathers, palys, mushrooms, and LPS were fine. But SPS was a no go.

Maybe it was the system failing the corals, and not the lights, but with 10 other tanks doing well, the only thing I could settle on was the Vega's.

I have followed the thread, and I know there are people getting growth out there, I just couldn't make it happen.

theReefKing · 07/31/2013, 09:50 PM

250w and 175w MH to be specific

ihigh · 08/03/2013, 03:22 PM

I was debating on altering my pucks on the vega and taking out the red/green. Is there a consensus of those of you that have changed it out on what gives the best growth/color?

I was thinking
violet (N), deep blue (E), UV (S), deep blue (W), cool white (center)

NYCEnglish · 08/03/2013, 03:25 PM

I spoke to AI about this - they recommend keeping Red and Green. I went with:

{"1":"Deep Blue","2":"Cool White","3":"Deep Blue","4":"Violet","5":"UV"}

on the north/south pucks.

mlott132 · 08/03/2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCEnglish

I spoke to AI about this - they recommend keeping Red and Green. I went with:

{"1":"Deep Blue","2":"Cool White","3":"Deep Blue","4":"Violet","5":"UV"}

on the north/south pucks.

Have you seen any improvement in coral growth after you installed the custom pucks?

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy SIII using Tapatalk 2

NYCEnglish · 08/03/2013, 05:37 PM

I haven't installed them yet, simply relaying what AI recommend.

pwfletcher · 08/03/2013, 11:40 PM

Definitely keep the red and green ... to make any color of light, you need red, green, and blue. Keep them so that you can dial in the color exactly to your liking.

duberz · 08/05/2013, 05:53 PM

Anyone know how to get a particular kelving rating on our vegas?What I mean is how to adjust each color to achieve this?

liquidfunk · 08/05/2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duberz

Anyone know how to get a particular kelving rating on our vegas?What I mean is how to adjust each color to achieve this?

Most kelvin ratings on metal halides are bogus an used for marketing anyway. I don't think this would do you any good. Ushio is the closest, but even if you ask them they will tell you their 20k is not even close to 20k... It's all marketing for the industry. Just ask ELOS who had to repackage everything from the real number to the fake one just so people got a color they were expecting. 14k is more like what you would call 10k. 20k radium is more like 30-35k...

Tomkun · 08/06/2013, 12:26 PM

I currently have a Ai sol and I wanted to upgrade my lighting soon. Im not sure which option would be best for me. I was thinking of upgrading the sol to a vega and buying the new wireless controller, or just get a 120w 16k razor. My tank is 24x24x12 consist of mostly rbta and lps.

Giovanni · 08/06/2013, 12:29 PM

Sol to Vega is a great option for your tank.

stpatrick · 08/12/2013, 09:54 AM

Following along

jonthany · 08/12/2013, 01:36 PM

Guess What Showed Up In The Mail Today!!!?????

Tinpanva · 08/13/2013, 11:37 AM

FWIW I have been running Vega Colors over my 29 gal BC for the last five months. After starting with a 35% white, 45% blue, 40% all other blues and colors for a month I started bumping them up 5% every other week until the white got to 50%. The colors of my corals have always looked faded, in fact it was the reason I moved up to LEDs to begin with. I'd buy these kick arse looking corals only to have them fad out two weeks later. Well here we are 5 months later and the corals are fading out even more. Despite a lot of advise to "pump em up" I've decided it's being light bleached. I've backed them down to 40% whites, 60% blues, & 20% on red and green. Been like this just over a week now and colors are improved but still a long way from what I'm looking for so my local club suggested turning them way down (colors and whites at 15%, and blues at 30-40%) I'm not sure thats the ratio I'll end up with, but I'll drop them down some more and see what happens. It's been suggested that I get my hands on a PAR meter, but I've read they really don't read LEDs that well. As I understand it, these LEDs put out insane PAR so maybe my smaller 29 gal tank needs minimal %'s to get the colorization I'm looking for. I'll keep ya posted.

arioch · 08/13/2013, 01:16 PM

You said vega colors, plural? I think on a BC29 you can get away with a single unit.

You can certainly do a 60gal cube with 2 units.

The thing about LED fixtures like these is that with the blue LEDs as high as they're generally potted to, they're VERY deceptive to our human eye, much less the par meter. By the time you see the bright light (that you're used to from, say, a MH bulb) in the tank it's already too bright for the corals.

Apogee recommends that you multiply the recorded PAR value by 1.1x, I would say empirically that you should multiply by 1.5x.

jbraslins · 08/13/2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinpanva

Well here we are 5 months later and the corals are fading out even more. Despite a lot of advise to "pump em up" I've decided it's being light bleached. I've backed them down to 40% whites, 60% blues, & 20% on red and green. Been like this just over a week now and colors are improved but still a long way from what I'm looking for so my local club suggested turning them way down (colors and whites at 15%, and blues at 30-40%) I'm not sure thats the ratio I'll end up with, but I'll drop them down some more and see what happens.

That's similar to my experience with SOL SuperBlues. The only question remaining, is it the light intensity? Or lack of broader spectrum. I know you have Vega Colors and those should help spectrum a bit, but they don't cover near UV good.

That is why I've upgraded my SOL SuperBlues to Hydras to get some near UV coverage. So far, I am about a month in, and I did not notice any difference in coloration. I'll give it more time, and I _HOPE_ they'll color up. Cause if they don't, I think it's gonna be MH time.

Tinpanva · 08/13/2013, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arioch

You said vega colors, plural? I think on a BC29 you can get away with a single unit.

Oh yeah, only one fixture over the cube.

duberz · 08/13/2013, 09:12 PM

I'm curious if anyone has dialed in the vega to get a deep blue look during main photo period without compromising the white led.I have mine at 20.20.20.80.80.80 but its still looks washed out.My Lfs is running radions and their dt is deep blue like I want.The colors are awesome.

Seng · 08/14/2013, 03:58 AM

Not sure why everybody dimming their led but I have no problem running with Vega Color all led at 100% since the beginning at about 8" AWL now ... I have just run Vega Color for not more than 3 months some sps very good grow and color up but some sps still brown and not growing ...

pic showing color improve about 4 weeks but not growing ...

grow in about 8 weeks ...

grow in 4 weeks time ...

top view ...

07/31/2013, 09:50 PM	#1883
theReefKing Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 334	250w and 175w MH to be specific __________________ "You know what would be fun? Setting up another tank!" In Progress (Check it out, Large Reef Tanks) - The Tank that REEF CENTRAL Built - 450 gal display, 800 gal volume Current Tank Info: Current Tanks - 210g, 180g, 110g, 65g FRAG, RedSea 250, RedSea 130, Solana 34g, 29 BioCube HQI (6 of them)

08/06/2013, 12:29 PM	#1892
Giovanni AKA Flippa Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: KY Posts: 2,207 Blog Entries: 8	Sol to Vega is a great option for your tank. __________________ Giovanni Most of My Money I Spent On Whiskey, Women and Reefing, The Rest I Just Waisted! Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

08/13/2013, 01:16 PM	#1896
arioch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: S. Elgin, IL Posts: 795	You said vega colors, plural? I think on a BC29 you can get away with a single unit. You can certainly do a 60gal cube with 2 units. The thing about LED fixtures like these is that with the blue LEDs as high as they're generally potted to, they're VERY deceptive to our human eye, much less the par meter. By the time you see the bright light (that you're used to from, say, a MH bulb) in the tank it's already too bright for the corals. Apogee recommends that you multiply the recorded PAR value by 1.1x, I would say empirically that you should multiply by 1.5x. __________________ Current Tank(s): 1) Custom 35gal shallow tank, mixed reef w/ acros 2) Custom 20gal AIO, anemone and softies 3) JBJ Nanocube 8RL tank, softies 4) Innovative Marine Fusion 10Gal, macroalgae Last edited by arioch; 08/13/2013 at 01:42 PM.

07/30/2013, 03:51 PM	#1880
Will846 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 184	When you order the sol to vega upgrade kit it comes with 2 violet LEDs and frosted optics. AI told me in the future the vega will come with it but not at this moment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

07/31/2013, 01:36 PM	#1881
Seng Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Malaysia Posts: 78	I found Hydra frosted optics do have disco effect especially in the shadows under rocks but not very clear on sand bed but lesser compare to Vega clear optics unless top view can see more clear disco effect ... and Vega clear optics have clearer/sharp shimmering effect compare to Hydra frosted optics ...

08/03/2013, 03:22 PM	#1884
ihigh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 118	I was debating on altering my pucks on the vega and taking out the red/green. Is there a consensus of those of you that have changed it out on what gives the best growth/color? I was thinking violet (N), deep blue (E), UV (S), deep blue (W), cool white (center)

08/03/2013, 03:25 PM	#1885
NYCEnglish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NYC Posts: 109	I spoke to AI about this - they recommend keeping Red and Green. I went with: {"1":"Deep Blue","2":"Cool White","3":"Deep Blue","4":"Violet","5":"UV"} on the north/south pucks.

08/03/2013, 05:37 PM	#1887
NYCEnglish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NYC Posts: 109	I haven't installed them yet, simply relaying what AI recommend.

08/03/2013, 11:40 PM	#1888
pwfletcher Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 50	Definitely keep the red and green ... to make any color of light, you need red, green, and blue. Keep them so that you can dial in the color exactly to your liking.

08/05/2013, 05:53 PM	#1889
duberz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: central Florida Posts: 296	Anyone know how to get a particular kelving rating on our vegas?What I mean is how to adjust each color to achieve this?

08/06/2013, 12:26 PM	#1891
Tomkun Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tampa Posts: 91	I currently have a Ai sol and I wanted to upgrade my lighting soon. Im not sure which option would be best for me. I was thinking of upgrading the sol to a vega and buying the new wireless controller, or just get a 120w 16k razor. My tank is 24x24x12 consist of mostly rbta and lps.

08/12/2013, 09:54 AM	#1893
stpatrick Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Encinitas , CA Posts: 234	Following along

08/12/2013, 01:36 PM	#1894
jonthany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Long Island Posts: 147	Guess What Showed Up In The Mail Today!!!?????

08/13/2013, 11:37 AM	#1895
Tinpanva Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 254	FWIW I have been running Vega Colors over my 29 gal BC for the last five months. After starting with a 35% white, 45% blue, 40% all other blues and colors for a month I started bumping them up 5% every other week until the white got to 50%. The colors of my corals have always looked faded, in fact it was the reason I moved up to LEDs to begin with. I'd buy these kick arse looking corals only to have them fad out two weeks later. Well here we are 5 months later and the corals are fading out even more. Despite a lot of advise to "pump em up" I've decided it's being light bleached. I've backed them down to 40% whites, 60% blues, & 20% on red and green. Been like this just over a week now and colors are improved but still a long way from what I'm looking for so my local club suggested turning them way down (colors and whites at 15%, and blues at 30-40%) I'm not sure thats the ratio I'll end up with, but I'll drop them down some more and see what happens. It's been suggested that I get my hands on a PAR meter, but I've read they really don't read LEDs that well. As I understand it, these LEDs put out insane PAR so maybe my smaller 29 gal tank needs minimal %'s to get the colorization I'm looking for. I'll keep ya posted.

08/13/2013, 09:12 PM	#1899
duberz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: central Florida Posts: 296	I'm curious if anyone has dialed in the vega to get a deep blue look during main photo period without compromising the white led.I have mine at 20.20.20.80.80.80 but its still looks washed out.My Lfs is running radions and their dt is deep blue like I want.The colors are awesome.

08/14/2013, 03:58 AM	#1900
Seng Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Malaysia Posts: 78	Not sure why everybody dimming their led but I have no problem running with Vega Color all led at 100% since the beginning at about 8" AWL now ... I have just run Vega Color for not more than 3 months some sps very good grow and color up but some sps still brown and not growing ... pic showing color improve about 4 weeks but not growing ... grow in about 8 weeks ... grow in 4 weeks time ... top view ...