AquaIllumination PAR Measurements

[Maivortex]

Acroaddict,
Im planning on setting up a 300 DD. Do you have a canopy on your tank. My concern is that with all the AI's needed that there will be too many wires everywhere if I have no canopy to hide them. Would love to see pics of your set up!

[pecan2phat]

I actually like the 3 per rail, 3 rails across.
I had mounted 4 units perpendicular as recommended for a 48"x24"x24" and found that I still had dark edges and corners. The 12" height is important to get the coverage and have good blending IMO.
As for the photoperiod, I have them on for 12 hours but 2 hours of ramping in the front and back so only 8 hours of full intensity. With your new units, I would try 60 minutes of ramping with a 10 hour photoperiod. You would still end up with your intended 8 hour of full intensity and is good acclimation for your corals. Try it, you might like it instead of almost full blast of lighting after 5 minutes.
Coming from 400 watt halides, 50% is a good start but keep the weekly increases to just 2% additional.

[AcroporAddict]

Originally Posted by Maivortex

Acroaddict,
Im planning on setting up a 300 DD. Do you have a canopy on your tank. My concern is that with all the AI's needed that there will be too many wires everywhere if I have no canopy to hide them. Would love to see pics of your set up!

Maivortex,
I don't have a canopy. Never liked them for accessibility. I've always used pendants. Here are two pics, one set of three modules just after hookup with the wires everywhere, and another after cable tie application. Not too bad. But my tanks are in a finished basement with a casual decor. Nothing formal, so I don't mind some wires.

[kmu]

Originally Posted by 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?

The lights and controller are less than a month old!!!

There should be something wrong with my controller then.

[gbreynol]

I ordered 7 of the AI Sol Blue units, but they have been on backorder for 4 weeks. I am trying to build a mounting system for them so I am ready when they arrive.

I know the mounting screws are size 10-32, but does anybody know the distance between them?

[NanoKeepr]

Just installed my Sol today and very happy with it. I've searched and read the posts on the Lunar cycle, but I'm not 100% clear on using it. I have my last timer (7) set to 4% RY, and lunar cycle on. Is that all that's necessary? I don't need to set a timer to turn off the lunar cycle?

(FYI - one Sol on a 24" tank - about 5-6" above the water line, all 70 degree optics, and getting nice coverage. Starting out with 30 WH, 40 BL, 40 RY and love the look!)

[NanoKeepr]

Went ahead and just set the last timer to 4% intensity, and lunar on, and it worked prefectly.

[Maivortex]

Acroporaddict- Thanks for the pics! i dont like the canopies for the the same reasons u stated. I plan on having the 300 DD as a room divider, so everyhting will be mainly in the center. Do you think I need 9 Ai sol's for LPS and SPs near the top? What do you think is the minimum amount of lights I need to get rolling?

[AcroporAddict]

Originally Posted by Maivortex

Acroporaddict- Thanks for the pics! i dont like the canopies for the the same reasons u stated. I plan on having the 300 DD as a room divider, so everyhting will be mainly in the center. Do you think I need 9 Ai sol's for LPS and SPs near the top? What do you think is the minimum amount of lights I need to get rolling?

I think you'd be OK with six modules for a mixed tank, especially with SPS near the top. I would have bought six with a mixed reef myself, but I have 95% SPS and feel I need the extra punch from 9 units.

I'd get six and add later if you need to. I have two other reef tanks I can use my extras on if nine modules is too much for my tank and I need to cut back to six.

[Maivortex]

Thanks, that sounds reasonable.

[AcroporAddict]

Well, I hooked my nine AIs up and started using them this past Saturday. I thought I'd run them at W50 BL55 RY55 for 8 hours, then off. I have them 12" from the water surface. I just noticed that I cooked an acro colony I had about 4 inches below the water surface that was right under one of the AI modules. I mean the tissue is gone. One branch that was under the tank trim (shaded) is OK. Colony is 3 large branches. The ones under the AI are gone.

I came from 3x 400 watt Radiums in LB Large pendants with an 8 hour photoperiod. I thought W50 BL55 RY55 would be a good starting point, but I have now readjusted to:
timer 1: W15 BL20 RY20 for 3 hours with a 1 hour ramp
timer 2: 30 35 35 for 3 hours with a 1 hour ramp
timer 3: 15 20 20 for 3 hours with a 1 hour ramp
timer 4: 0 3 3 with lunar cycle

I would like to not brown out my corals with insufficient light, but I don't want to cook any more acropora. What do you guys think of my revised lighting schedule, and do you think nine modules are too much for a 6' x 3' footprint tank?

Geez, these things are powerful!

[CalmSeasQuest]

Ouch - sorry to hear that AcroporAddict. It's very easy to underestimate the amount of PAR generated (I did it twice.)

For reference, here's a photo I posted earlier in the thread show PAR directly below each AI. Also remember these values are likely ~20%+ low due to PAR meter error in measuring very blue light.


Note: My AIs are fitted with all 40 degree optics, so your measurements will be less if using the 40/70 combination

Better to error on the side of caution. Corals recover very quickly from a low PAR brown-out whereas a bleaching event can be fatal - Or at least require many months to recover. In my experience, I've not been able to regain full coloration/intensities after a bleaching event.

I think you new schedule sounds safer, but I'd still keep a close eye on things - especially those corals located toward the top of tank or in areas where the AI units are close enough to overlap output.

Good luck!

[UtahGetMe2]

For the people who have switched their optics in the unit

1. Is this something AI will do when the unit is ordered?
or
2. Does AI sell specific optics for their units or can you just use any optics?

[djkms]

Originally Posted by UtahGetMe2

For the people who have switched their optics in the unit

1. Is this something AI will do when the unit is ordered?

No

Originally Posted by UtahGetMe2

2. Does AI sell specific optics for their units or can you just use any optics?

AFAIK the optics are specific to AI units

[James77]

Originally Posted by CalmSeasQuest

Yes, each module has it's own power cord. They are daisy chained together with a single controller cable.

How long are the power cords on these, is there a (large?) transformer inline?

[jtma508]

Each module has a 36v/2amp power supply that is very reminiscent of a laptop PS quite small and light weight). The A/C power cord is not that long (<2ft) but the DC cord is quite long.



The black acrylic squares on the left and right each have two PS velcro'd to them. Like Isaid, small.

[125mph]

So I've asked this before but no one seems to know. What color combination makes the ai sol blue closest to 20000K? Sonethinglike 30% white 45 % blue and 45 % royal seems very blue... Probably pass 20000K.

The next question. What color is achieved when all 3 white/blue/royal are set to the same? Is this around 14000K?

[AcroporAddict]

Originally Posted by 125mph

So I've asked this before but no one seems to know. What color combination makes the ai sol blue closest to 20000K? Sonethinglike 30% white 45 % blue and 45 % royal seems very blue... Probably pass 20000K.

The next question. What color is achieved when all 3 white/blue/royal are set to the same? Is this around 14000K?

I think you get a nice 14K at equal percentages, just by my eye-ometer!

[stevedola]

anyone know when the controllers will be in stock? supposedly the sol blues will be ready this week but my retailer wont have the controller available till a later date. kinda useless until I get a controller.

[Gomojoe]

Finally got through the entire thread! Definently some good info to be had here! I currently have an order in for 4x AI Sol Super Blues to cover my 120g Oceanic Tech tank. I also plan on putting some DIY NW LEDs in between the AIs just to get some more of the yellow/red/green spectrum(And also just to have a little project). I'll be basically using this build here http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2010592. Can't wait till they get here!

[ehren78]

Originally Posted by Gomojoe

Finally got through the entire thread! Definently some good info to be had here! I currently have an order in for 4x AI Sol Super Blues to cover my 120g Oceanic Tech tank. I also plan on putting some DIY NW LEDs in between the AIs just to get some more of the yellow/red/green spectrum(And also just to have a little project). I'll be basically using this build here http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2010592. Can't wait till they get here!

Yes I saw that too, that looks perfect with the Sol Blue's! I hope to add some to my setup as well!

Can you fit 2 AI modules onto the 12" rails they supply? To my calculation it seems it will fit both by maybe a 1/2" If not i'll have to order the 24" rails but i'm trying first.

Looks like were all waiting for AI to make our modules, I heard some were being dropshipped this week.

[moliken]

Originally Posted by NanoKeepr

Just installed my Sol today and very happy with it. I've searched and read the posts on the Lunar cycle, but I'm not 100% clear on using it. I have my last timer (7) set to 4% RY, and lunar cycle on. Is that all that's necessary? I don't need to set a timer to turn off the lunar cycle?

(FYI - one Sol on a 24" tank - about 5-6" above the water line, all 70 degree optics, and getting nice coverage. Starting out with 30 WH, 40 BL, 40 RY and love the look!)

if you set all your timers to lunar cycle OFF/NO. then the last one, which would be the lowest light anyway, to lunar cycle ON/YES, you will have it right, with max full moon whatever you have the final timer set at

[moliken]

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 did ya get an answer?
1 just for me i begin at 9:45 am and am off at 9pm, but i have 100% only 11:30-3:30.
2 sounds about right
3 i'd go a couple inches higher to start. i'm at 12 above the water, but my clams are all over the tank and they are sucking up the light like nuts. happy as a clam!
good luck. can't wait for pics!

[Gomojoe]

So is there a verdict on the uv stunner strips? Are they worth it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[125mph]

Originally Posted by jcolletteiii

I've been wondering if there is a way to estimate the PAR output under a single AI module for any given depth and at any combined output percentage of blue and white LEDs. I asked AI if there was a means of calculating this, and they responded that there was, as long as the 100% PAR value is known for the depth you are interested in calculating. The formula they use is quite simple: (PAR @ 100% * 0.65) * blue Percent (in decimal form) + (PAR @ 100% * 0.35) * W Percent (in decimal form) = scaled PAR (+/- 10%). They say that in their testing, this formula is fairly good at predicting PAR. So, for this formula to work, you must have a reference set of PAR measurements taken at all depths of interest. I just took teh measurements given on the first page for 6, 12, 16, 19, and 24" and extrapolated them by taking the difference and dividing by the number of bins between measurements. This gives the following estimated PAR measurements for every inch increment from 6" to 24" depth.

Par depth (in.)

1650 6
1603 7
1556 8
1510 9
1463 10
1416 11
1370 12
1256 13
1143 14
1029 15
915 16
840 17
765 18
690 19
664 20
638 21
612 22
586 23
560 24

So, if you want an estimate of the PAR at a given depth for a given percentage of white and blue, you just take the 100% par value for this depth, and multiply according to the given formula. So, for example, I want to know what the PAR is at 12" below one unit running at 20% white and 55% blue. So, I would use the 100% value for 12" depth, which is 1370, and plug the following into the formula:

estimated PAR at 12" = ((1370*0.65)*0.55)+((1370*0.35)*0.20) = 541

Of course, AI gives a +/- 10% margin of error, so the estimated PAR value should range from 486 to 595 at 12" depth with the settings mentioned. It would be great if someone with a PAR meter could confirm this estimate is valid. If so, this formula has the potential to help out quite a few people.

Nice formula. Do you know if this is for AI Sol White or AI Sol Blue? Is there a formula for the blues.