AquaIllumination PAR Measurements

[apexifd]

so.. I order 4 sol blue for my 75(48X18X20).. over kill??

I tried with just 2 at 12" awl but, there's some dark zone. it may just be my rock work.

Also, is the module set at 100% intensity when using without the controller??

I am still waiting for my controller to com in.

[rjthom1]

I also have a 75. Right now about 560 watts total with 2 150 MH's and 2 CF's. No PAR values. No meter...no budget for it. But corals are happy and growing. My reason for upgrading is to move into higher light requirement animals.

I am looking at these AI's also. Since these put out so much light, I am thinking I can start with 2 mounted horizontally. I will start with 2 blues and add 2 whites later as budget allows.

I hope that i can work something out as far as mounting goes. I don't like the hanging option. I have seen several innovative options though. I guess I will see what I can come up with.

I dont think it is overkill. These fixtures are very versatile. So, you can adjust down or up as required for light requirements.

[SoLiD]

Originally Posted by apexifd

so.. I order 4 sol blue for my 75(48X18X20).. over kill??

Nah, I have 4 on my 40 Gallon Breeder (36X18X16)...

I tried with just 2 at 12" awl but, there's some dark zone. it may just be my rock work.

Also, is the module set at 100% intensity when using without the controller??

IDK... When I unplug my controller and re-plug in the power, the lights come up at the last intensity that they were set to...

I am still waiting for my controller to com in.

[ricwilli]

I'm currently doing an upgrade to a 300 gallon tank. 96x30x25. I have 5 AI's on my 215 tank right now. 72x24x31. My problem is that I can not have the led's any higher than 5 inches away from the water line. Hanging from the ceiling or having a tall canopy is not an option. I also do not want to buy another AI unit. My question is, will changing the optics to all 70 degree help with the spread being that the leds are only 5 inches away from the water line?

[lucas73]

Originally Posted by apexifd

Also, is the module set at 100% intensity when using without the controller??

I am still waiting for my controller to com in.

Yes it is running at 100%,I just received my controller yesterday.

[JerseyClowns]

Anyone having an issue with their lights going off for a couple of seconds when the fixture is moved/raised/lowered? It's almost like there is a safety shutoff being activated.

[MedRed]

Originally Posted by JerseyClowns

Anyone having an issue with their lights going off for a couple of seconds when the fixture is moved/raised/lowered? It's almost like there is a safety shutoff being activated.

I do. It's actually my controller. I thought the cable had a short, but it happened with my controller hooked up to the computer via USB as well.

[parrotchute]

Mine does it too - I think it's similar to when you first plug them in and they go to 100%, then ramp to their set intensity.

[RtReef]

Originally Posted by JerseyClowns

Anyone having an issue with their lights going off for a couple of seconds when the fixture is moved/raised/lowered? It's almost like there is a safety shutoff being activated.

Yes it's the cord between the controller and the light moving. Mine did that and it was because the side of the cord plugged into the controller was slightly loose. Ensure the cord is fully plugged in and you should have no issues moving it.

Also I only have AI white model unit over my 65g, mounted long ways with the length of the tank. I am far from running it at max intensity at peak hours from 12pm-2pm I have blue @ 65% and whites @ 55%. I am supporting all types of LPS and softie corals as well as a clam. There is some shading in some areas but this is acceptable for me because I place corals requiring less light in those areas.

[parrotchute]

Here's a pic of my new 150 - the AI SOL BLUES are mounted at 8" above the tank and this data is for 100rb/100b/75w.


I'm thinking of running at this configuration for about 4 hours, with a brief ramp up to 85% for an hour. (total 5 hours)

Then, for about 4 hours on either side it will be at about 25%w and drop to sunset.

Think this is too much/too little/just right?

[MedRed]

Originally Posted by RtReef

Yes it's the cord between the controller and the light moving. Mine did that and it was because the side of the cord plugged into the controller was slightly loose. Ensure the cord is fully plugged in and you should have no issues moving it.

Also I only have AI white model unit over my 65g, mounted long ways with the length of the tank. I am far from running it at max intensity at peak hours from 12pm-2pm I have blue @ 65% and whites @ 55%. I am supporting all types of LPS and softie corals as well as a clam. There is some shading in some areas but this is acceptable for me because I place corals requiring less light in those areas.

Mine wasn't the cord. It does it with the USB cable plugged into the computer as well.

[Matty8251]

All this PAR talk is good, I think everybody can agree that the AIs are PAR monster but no one is talking about spectrum. All the measurement on the AI website are taken at 100% not a a lower low where it seems most people are keeping them. Not get me wrong I love my AI SOL's but I really think they are lacking some spectrum at less then 100 % setting. Just food for thought.

[JMalone81]

Will 2 AI SOL Blues be enough light for 75 gallon SPS tank?

[parrotchute]

Probably not the entire tank.

[[WDT]TardFarmer]

Originally Posted by JMalone81

Will 2 AI SOL Blues be enough light for 75 gallon SPS tank?

IMO yes, you just need to raise them up to get coverage.

[thegrun]

Originally Posted by Matty8251

All this PAR talk is good, I think everybody can agree that the AIs are PAR monster but no one is talking about spectrum. All the measurement on the AI website are taken at 100% not a a lower low where it seems most people are keeping them. Not get me wrong I love my AI SOL's but I really think they are lacking some spectrum at less then 100 % setting. Just food for thought.

The spectrum does not change on LED lighting at different power intensities. LED lighting does have a narrow band width however, but it is the same at 100% or 25% power. I have given some thought to adding a UV and red stunner strip to my AI lights to fill in some of the band widths.

[madean]

Alright ai gurus, I have a lighting question. I'm in the planning stages of a tank that is 30"l x 30"w x 20"t and I'm wondering if one or two ai's sols are needed. The main goal is to keep a large light loving anemone like haddoni or gigantea. I might put a few other corals in there but the main focus is the anemone. I know myself though and if I'm not successful with the nem then I'm sure i would like to try a mix of sps/lps and softies later on. I am really interested in the kessil A350 but who knows when that's coming out or if it's going to have all the features i want. So for me how many ai's and at what height should they be mounted? Thanks in advance for positive responses.

[djkms]

Originally Posted by thegrun

The spectrum does not change on LED lighting at different power intensities. LED lighting does have a narrow band width however, but it is the same at 100% or 25% power. I have given some thought to adding a UV and red stunner strip to my AI lights to fill in some of the band widths.

I also believe AI's spectrum to be limited. I have been running my AI's now for a year and a half almost and reds/pinks suffer the most as far as color in my tank. I purchased some heatsinks, drivers and LED's to help supplement my AI's which I will be building this weekend. I currently have 3 AI SOL Blues sideways over my 125. I will be adding 30 violets, 8 deep reds and 8 turquoise which will be split between 2 fixtures and each fixture will go in between my AI's. I will post pics here if anyone is interested. Personally I think the AI's are fantastic lights however the overall look of them is very "cold" IMO. I am hoping adding more colors will "warm" it up a bit.

Originally Posted by madean

Alright ai gurus, I have a lighting question. I'm in the planning stages of a tank that is 30"l x 30"w x 20"t and I'm wondering if one or two ai's sols are needed. The main goal is to keep a large light loving anemone like haddoni or gigantea. I might put a few other corals in there but the main focus is the anemone. I know myself though and if I'm not successful with the nem then I'm sure i would like to try a mix of sps/lps and softies later on. I am really interested in the kessil A350 but who knows when that's coming out or if it's going to have all the features i want. So for me how many ai's and at what height should they be mounted? Thanks in advance for positive responses.

1 fixture will not be enough to light a 30" area, especially if you plan to go SPS. If you do decide on only 1 fixture you will have to do some careful coral placement and everything will have to be placed right underneath the fixture. You wont be able to put much on the sides.

[pecan2phat]

Originally Posted by madean

Alright ai gurus, I have a lighting question. I'm in the planning stages of a tank that is 30"l x 30"w x 20"t and I'm wondering if one or two ai's sols are needed. The main goal is to keep a large light loving anemone like haddoni or gigantea. I might put a few other corals in there but the main focus is the anemone. I know myself though and if I'm not successful with the nem then I'm sure i would like to try a mix of sps/lps and softies later on. I am really interested in the kessil A350 but who knows when that's coming out or if it's going to have all the features i want. So for me how many ai's and at what height should they be mounted? Thanks in advance for positive responses.

I use 2 modules on a 30"x30"x17" cube tank. Even with 2 modules at 11" off the surface, the edges do not receive a whole lot of light.

[madean]

Pecan, which optics did you use with the two units? I was thinking of using the 40 degree optics on the outer row of the light and 70 degree optics on the inside of the light for two lights. Does anybody do this to discourage light spill over?

[stpatrick]

I thought I to would chime in. I love my AIs. I think they lack spectrum as well. My blues and reds suffer. I ordered Sdiligoi GENESIS T5/LED Module today. Does any have any experience with this one? I love the look and set up.

http://www.aquaticselite.com/Product...Code=GE-T5-336

[madean]

Stpatrick, what are you putting this light on. It looks like a crazy amount of light. Can you give a brief description of what you plan to use this for.

[mobyich]

I have a 50 gallon breeder 36"L-18"W-18"T would 1 AI sol be enough if I put all 70 degree optics on it?


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[stpatrick]

Originally Posted by madean

Stpatrick, what are you putting this light on. It looks like a crazy amount of light. Can you give a brief description of what you plan to use this for.

Is going over my SPS tank. 24" deep. To much light?

[pecan2phat]

Originally Posted by madean

Pecan, which optics did you use with the two units? I was thinking of using the 40 degree optics on the outer row of the light and 70 degree optics on the inside of the light for two lights. Does anybody do this to discourage light spill over?

My modules are the standard configuration, 40s in the center and 70s on the edges.
If you put the 40s on the outer row, won't you limit the coverage even more?