AquaIllumination PAR Measurements

[gatorrx98]

Originally Posted by djkms

3 units work just fine over a 6ft tank. I have 3 SOL Blues over my 125 mounted sideways 14" from the water line with all 40 degree optics. Keeping LPS, SPS, softies, macros. No "special" placement of corals because of light limitations.

I have 3 over my 180 and so far things look great, but a little less par than my 250 Radiums (I found out that I was bleaching out my corals under the 250's anyway). Although they look great, my initial par readings were 300 8 inches below the surface and only 90-100 at the sandbed at 90%W/B/RB.
I think that your 40 all around optics may be perfect for me as well. Would you recommend that I do that? I have my lights about 12.5" over the waterline, but can raise them to 15" very easily.

I appreciate the response. I really love the lights.

Also, I am getting a little browning on one of my acros and one tort. Do you think that it is just the corals getting acclimated to the new lights? I've only had the up and running for a week. My other SPS (Montis, Acros, Red Planet, etc look great).

[gatorrx98]

Originally Posted by djkms

Not really sure how I eliminated the dark areas. In post 679 I had just setup my system so I didn't really livestock in there to judge. According to my picture in that post though there sure is some spotlighting. Now with my system there is still a bit of spotlighting but even the areas in between the units seems to get enough light. I do know with the all 40's there is WAY better light penetration and much higher PAR, even between the fixtures.

From my experience though with minimum fixtures and various optic combination's;
1 fixture every 24"

standard 40/70 will not give optimum results. You will have to raise your fixture at least 12" and at 12" the light spillage from the 70's is a waste.

All 70 optics still need to be about 12" from the water line and the PAR numbers are abysmal

All 40 optics is the way to go. Mount the lights about 14" and PAR is good.

Here is the PAR measurements I took:


I didn't do a jpeg of all 40's but in the middle add about 200 par to each measurement on the 40/70 fixture.

A friend took a recent picture as of last night - here it is to give you a idea of coverage:

What were your AI % settings when the top photo of the 70/40 setup and par readings taken. Were you at 100%? Just curious. The bottom photo looks much brighter, but much less blue, what were your settings there?

I appreciate your feedback. Your setup was the inspiration for my self fabricated bracket.

[Hagisan]

I've been following several different lighting posts in an effort to help me decide which direction to go with my tank.

Thanks to djkms, gatorrex98 and everyone for sharing photos and information. I'll be ordering 3 units and a fourth if needed later.

[luibove]

Originally Posted by stevedola

luibove sent me a few pics of his tank and it appeared to be well lit and very bright with just the 1 AI sol blue. Gonna take the plunge.

I am going to try an upload some pics to share with everyone, here I go, this is my 60 Gal Cube, 24x24x24 with 1 AI Sol Blue, suspended 12" above water line, using all 70 degree lenses. The first 3 pics, the Itensity is RB=82%, B=82%, W=59%, the last pic I set the W to 100%
I think this light is more than adequate for this type of tank, I can't confirm this as I don't have access to a par meter, but visually this light rocks

[gatorrx98]

Originally Posted by Hagisan

I've been following several different lighting posts in an effort to help me decide which direction to go with my tank.

Thanks to djkms, gatorrex98 and everyone for sharing photos and information. I'll be ordering 3 units and a fourth if needed later.

The nice thing about your tank in the photo is that you have no braces to worry about, it appears. It will be extremely easy to add additional modules if needed. I have 2 braces that I'm battling, so I'd have a hard time adding just one. I'd probably add a 4th to the middle section if needed, but I really think that I'll be fine with just 3.

Good luck! I'm actually thinking of going from a 180 to a 300. In that case, I'd place two modules in each 24x36 area mounted in the same configuration as I have it now, just with another identical set-up as I have now.

[djkms]

Originally Posted by gatorrx98

I think that your 40 all around optics may be perfect for me as well. Would you recommend that I do that? I have my lights about 12.5" over the waterline, but can raise them to 15" very easily..

With 15" to work with, yes, 40's all around.

Originally Posted by gatorrx98

What were your AI % settings when the top photo of the 70/40 setup and par readings taken. Were you at 100%? Just curious. The bottom photo looks much brighter, but much less blue, what were your settings there?

I appreciate your feedback. Your setup was the inspiration for my self fabricated bracket.

100% all channels all pictures. However 2 different cameras and all 40's in the bottom picture vs 70/40 on the top. The brightness inside the aquarium itself is noticeably brighter all 40's. If I had the recommended amount of units (1x12") then I would go the opposite, all 70's and closer to the waterline. With only 1 unit per 24" then all 40's and higher up is the only way to go IMO.

[ayckorea]

Originally Posted by luibove

I am going to try an upload some pics to share with everyone, here I go, this is my 60 Gal Cube, 24x24x24 with 1 AI Sol Blue, suspended 12" above water line, using all 70 degree lenses. The first 3 pics, the Itensity is RB=82%, B=82%, W=59%, the last pic I set the W to 100%
I think this light is more than adequate for this type of tank, I can't confirm this as I don't have access to a par meter, but visually this light rocks

what is the hanging arm u use your AI blue? thx

[gatorrx98]

Originally Posted by djkms

With 15" to work with, yes, 40's all around.


100% all channels all pictures. However 2 different cameras and all 40's in the bottom picture vs 70/40 on the top. The brightness inside the aquarium itself is noticeably brighter all 40's. If I had the recommended amount of units (1x12") then I would go the opposite, all 70's and closer to the waterline. With only 1 unit per 24" then all 40's and higher up is the only way to go IMO.

So the next question is, with most people changing from 40's to 70's, does anyone want to give me a good deal on their old 40's? Please PM me if so.

[mapleredta]

Originally Posted by gatorrx98

So the next question is, with most people changing from 40's to 70's, does anyone want to give me a good deal on their old 40's? Please PM me if so.

How many do you need? I upgraded mine, but I only run one module over my tech tank.

[gatorrx98]

Originally Posted by mapleredta

How many do you need? I upgraded mine, but I only run one module over my tech tank.

I have 3 modules. Would you mind if I PM you if I'm able to find 2 more sets? I'd really prefer to buy 3 sets from one person to save on shipping if possible.

[luibove]

Originally Posted by ayckorea

what is the hanging arm u use your AI blue? thx

Hello ayckorea, I just used 3/4" copper pipe to make a stand for my light.

[am944]

Ok, I'm sure that this topic has been addressed somewhere in this thread, sorry for asking again. Here it goes...I have a 125g, 72" X 20" X 20", tank. Previously, I had a 75g, 48" X 18" X 20", tank with 2 x 250W Metal Halide lights. When my tank cracked I upgraded to the 125g but kept the same lights. So, over a year has gone by, my coral has paled and died, and I decided to go LED after a guy I bowl with offered me his 4 X 250W MHs. Initially, I went with the blue but then changed my mind to white. Currently, my MHs are 12000k and soft corals do quite well in my tank. I want to go back to SPS and maybe even try some LPS and clams. I've heard that the color preference is just that, a preference and not a requirement, but I'm not convinced; haha. If anyone with AquaIlluminations, either white or blue, would post pics and their reasoning for going white vs blue that would be AWESOME. I've ordered the white ones from Premium but I think they'll let me flop once more if need be. Also, has anyone gone with a mix? I asked about going 2 blue modules and 2 white modules, but the guy didn't recommend it. Any help would be greatly appreciated and sorry again if I asked a Q that has already been asked!


Alan

[JBarnes]

A little help from you AI guys. I noticed that everyone talks about having blue, royal blue and white intensity settings. I don't have that on my controller. Someone mentioned that I have the AI white units and thats why I don't have the option. But, I do have AI Blue's. I have two blue led's in each three light pod. When I use the controller to set the mode the only option I have is "auto". Did I get the wrong controller with my units? Kind of confused! Thanks, Jerry.

[djkms]

Alan,
You want the AI SOL Blues - just trust me on that - Whites will be waaaay too white

Jerry,
You probably need to udpate the firmware on your controller.
http://support.aquaillumination.com/home

[JBarnes]

Kris, thanks a bunch, that really fixed me up. Light specktrum changed dramatically and its nice and bright now. Jerry.

[jtma508]

WooHoo! My 4 AI Sol Blues have *finally* shipped. They'll arrive Monday. They're going over a 48", 90gal bowfront in a canopy (which makes for some challenging mounting issues). I think I've worked out a somewhat elegant solution and will share some pics when I start the install.

[Dark_Reef]

Originally Posted by jtma508

WooHoo! My 4 AI Sol Blues have *finally* shipped. They'll arrive Monday. They're going over a 48", 90gal bowfront in a canopy (which makes for some challenging mounting issues). I think I've worked out a somewhat elegant solution and will share some pics when I start the install.

The easiest way to mount inside a canopy is to get the 90 mounts from 80/20. Here are some pics of one of my tank canopys:

[jtma508]

Thanks DR... But my tank is a bow front. Any rail system that forces the modules to remain parallel won't work. The two center modules need to shift toward the front. I believe I've come up with a solution and will post some pics next week.

[UtahGetMe2]

This was probably covered already, but when you guys have hung your light 12" or more over the water level, how much light spills out of the tank? The reason I ask is that the tank is close to a sofa in the living room and I don't want people sitting near it to get a sunburn or be blinded by stray light. No really I just don't want it to be glaring light all over that area of the room.

[djkms]

Originally Posted by UtahGetMe2

This was probably covered already, but when you guys have hung your light 12" or more over the water level, how much light spills out of the tank? The reason I ask is that the tank is close to a sofa in the living room and I don't want people sitting near it to get a sunburn or be blinded by stray light. No really I just don't want it to be glaring light all over that area of the room.

Its not as much of a annoyance (my couch is right next to my tank as well) as it is a waste of light. It does spill a lot but its not bothersome. However at 12"+ the 70 degree optics are a waste, producing very little PAR. If you are going to hang your fixture 12" above the water line I would suggest switching out your optics to 40 degree ones. Keep in mind though I am working with 3 units over a 6ft tank. If you have 1 unit per 12" then your mileage will very with regards to PAR.

[kmu]

I got my first power outage this week for several hours and the AI controller lost the time track, is this normal?

THX in advance

[lazytaper]

Mine have been out for several hours a few times and the AI controller has never lost the time. I assume there is a watch type battery in there. Maybe you need to replace it?

[AcroporAddict]

Hi Everyone,
I have a Marineland DD 300 gallon tank (L72" x W36" x H27.5") that is all SPS. I have a couple tabling colonies larger than dinner plates raised from frags. Past couple years my lighting has been 3x 400 watt Radium Metal halides in LB Large Pendants.

I just bought nine Sol Blue modules for this 300 gallon tank, which are 3x the 36" 3 unit packages. The tank has top bracing with the equivalent of three 36" x 24" sideways openings, and I have the 36" rails hung sideways (front to rear) over the three openings.

Six units just seemed insufficient for the tank footprint size, but if that is too many I have other reefs to use the other units on. I'm gonna start it with 9 units, then I can adjust down to 6 if 9 is too many.

Anyways, I have the modules hung from the ceiling 12" from the water surface. Tonight will be their first photoperiod. Can you give me some recommendations for:

1. Photoperiod length based on a simple "on for X hours then off". I'll use a 5 minute ramp up for now. Not concerned about ramp up times or multiple timers just yet. Just how long should the LEDs be on each day for? I had my halides on for 8 hours a day. I don't know how long AI users keep their lights on normally (daylight, not referring to night mode)?

2. Acclimation percentages. Not knowing any better, I have the AI controller set for 50% on all modules. Suggestions?

3. Is my hanging height OK or does it need to change?

Thanks for the help guys. Just don't want to bleach the corals on startup.

Dave

[yoccm]

Originally Posted by AcroporAddict

Hi Everyone,I have a Marineland DD 300 gallon tank (L72" x W36" x H27.5") that is all SPS. I have a couple tabling colonies larger than dinner plates raised from frags. Past couple years my lighting has been 3x 400 watt Radium Metal halides in LB Large Pendants.

I just bought nine Sol Blue modules for this 300 gallon tank, which are 3x the 36" 3 unit packages. The tank has top bracing with the equivalent of three 36" x 24" sideways openings, and I have the 36" rails hung sideways (front to rear) over the three openings.

Six units just seemed insufficient for the tank footprint size, but if that is too many I have other reefs to use the other units on. I'm gonna start it with 9 units, then I can adjust down to 6 if 9 is too many.

Anyways, I have the modules hung from the ceiling 12" from the water surface. Tonight will be their first photoperiod. Can you give me some recommendations for:

1. Photoperiod length based on a simple "on for X hours then off". I'll use a 5 minute ramp up for now. Not concerned about ramp up times or multiple timers just yet. Just how long should the LEDs be on each day for? I had my halides on for 8 hours a day. I don't know how long AI users keep their lights on normally (daylight, not referring to night mode)?

2. Acclimation percentages. Not knowing any better, I have the AI controller set for 50% on all modules. Suggestions?

3. Is my hanging height OK or does it need to change?

Thanks for the help guys. Just don't want to bleach the corals on startup.

Dave

Hey Dave - anxious to hear how you like the 9 units. I am setting up the same tank now and was planning only using 6 units and using the same setup but with 2 per rail vs. 3.

[AcroporAddict]

Originally Posted by yoccm

Hey Dave - anxious to hear how you like the 9 units. I am setting up the same tank now and was planning only using 6 units and using the same setup but with 2 per rail vs. 3.

AI actually recommended 6 units, but I have SPS literally everywhere in this tank. If you split the tank up into the three 24 x 36" sections defined by the top trim, you would want nine units at the AI recommended rate of one per 12" mounted front to back sideways. The other option is to get two sets of 72" rails and mount three modules per rail set the normal way, or one module per 24" x 18" area (half of one of the three 24" x 36" areas defined by the top trim).