AI Sol LED"s

[phinfan1362]

Just curious to see what the general opinion of the Aqua Illumination Sol Led's. I currently run 8 T5's but, need to do some modifying. Before getting to involved with that I thought I might look into the Led side of things. Please pm me with your responses.

[Steved13]

I like mine. Tank looks good, good coral growth...I like 'em.

[meshwheel]

Steved13,
Are you growing SPS corals under them? I am thinking of purchasing them as well. phinfan1362.
I like the full adjustability of them. I also like the power/lenses they use! They seem to be one of if not the best out there.
Built in USA too!

[Steved13]

I have a few SPS frags they all are doing well.

Here are a couple of growth pics:

As of 7/10/11


As of 9/17/11


As of 10/25/11


The coral has very nice baby blue tips, the one thing about LEDs is trying to catch the color in pics.

[meshwheel]

Thanks Steved,
That frag looks happy and I can see the color coming out in it! How high are you running them intensity wise?

Thank you!

[A.G]

very nice growth indeed. Any more pics you got. I love to see AI growth shots. what are you settings and highet?

[Cipher43]

What size of tank and how many of those AIs are you using?

[happysak]

24x24x20, one AI unit. Mix reef(sps, Lps, zoas)

[ange062]

This tank is 100% lit under AI SOL, I don't think anyone can argue with the results...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...sps+led+brazil

[patm09]

I have a 34g Solana, 20x20x20 and I am running one AI Sol Blue. Got Lps, mushrooms. Just make sure that if you are switching over to AIs that you acclimate your current livestock to the new light. The LEDs are really intense. I can give you a light schedule if you would like. I got it from another person who has kept sps,lps,clams, under these lights.

Good luck!

[beachbreak]

Please post the schedule.

I just installed my module last night and am a little worried about roasting my stonies. I've got a single Sol over a 30 cube that was powered by a 4 bulb T5 light. The T5s worked out just fine on all my acros but wanted to try out LEDs before putting them over my 180.

Current lighting schedule is 25/25/25. Plan on running this for a month before bumping by 5% every other week.

[Cipher43]

Not to hijack your thread but if i have a 120 4'X2'X2' how many would i need?

[patm09]

Originally Posted by beachbreak

Please post the schedule.

I just installed my module last night and am a little worried about roasting my stonies. I've got a single Sol over a 30 cube that was powered by a 4 bulb T5 light. The T5s worked out just fine on all my acros but wanted to try out LEDs before putting them over my 180.

Current lighting schedule is 25/25/25. Plan on running this for a month before bumping by 5% every other week.

Here you go!

Time: 06:00 am | W:01% BL:05% RY:05% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 07:00 am | W:10% BL:20% RY:20% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 09:00 am | W:20% BL:30% RY:30% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 11:00 am | W:30% BL:40% RY:40% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 13:00 pm | W:20% BL:30% RY:30% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 16:00 pm | W:10% BL:20% RY:20% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 19:00 pm | W:01% BL:10% RY:10% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 22:00 pm | W:00% BL:04% RY:04% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: On

I was told to bump them up 5% every 2wks to acclimate.

Let me know how this works for you.

Patrick

[stevedola]

IMO if you compare the T5 color to AI blue color...T5 wins hands down everytime. Also, be ready to keep your tank very dimmly lit for a couple months until you can increase to maybe 60%...this is why many people get multiple units over their tanks because the light intensisty requires you to turn down the LEDs but to the naked eye the light is dim. Even at 60% the tank looks dim. This is just my opinion after running AI for 6mths and watching almost everything either melt or turn ugly. I was turned on by AIs after seeing a few tank locally that looked great but what I didnt realize at the time was the amount of bricks makes a dramatic difference to perception. I had 1 over my 2'cube, maybe should have had 2 to make it look nicer but honestly Im much happier with my ATI fixture than I ever was with the AI sol regardless.

[Steved13]

Originally Posted by meshwheel

Thanks Steved,
That frag looks happy and I can see the color coming out in it! How high are you running them intensity wise?

Thank you!

Thanks I think it's happy. See the tables below for the intensities

You're very welcome

Originally Posted by A.G

very nice growth indeed. Any more pics you got. I love to see AI growth shots. what are you settings and highet?

Thanks, I'll try to post a few more this evening. See the tables below for the intensities They are ~ 10" above the surface

Originally Posted by Cipher43

What size of tank and how many of those AIs are you using?

It's a 250 DD 60"L X 36"D X 27"H 4 modules



Here are my lighting programs, the ramp times are 30 minutes, except dawn and dusk are 100 minutes, The profiles are pretty self explanatory 50% - 60% is the intensity going from 50% to 60% for 30 minutes and then remaining at the 60% for the remainder of the time frame. DawnBl and Dusk go to and from 1%... DawnWh and DuskWh go to and from 0. I leave the blues on 1% so there is always a little bit of light in case I want a peak. I also have an Apex lunar module, which runs separately.

Royal blue:
If Time 09:00 to 11:00 Then DawnBl
If Time 11:00 to 12:30 Then 30%-40%
If Time 12:30 to 13:00 Then 40%-50%
If Time 13:00 to 15:30 Then 50%-70%
If Time 15:30 to 19:40 Then 70%-50%
If Time 19:40 to 20:40 Then 50%-40%
If Time 20:40 to 21:10 Then 40%-30%
If Time 21:10 to 22:20 Then DuskBl
If Time 22:20 to 09:00 Then 1%

Blue
If Time 09:10 to 11:10 Then DawnBl
If Time 11:10 to 12:40 Then 30%-40%
If Time 12:40 to 13:10 Then 40%-50%
If Time 13:10 to 15:30 Then 50%-70%
If Time 15:30 to 19:30 Then 70%-50%
If Time 19:30 to 20:30 Then 50%-40%
If Time 20:30 to 21:20 Then 40%-30%
If Time 21:20 to 22:20 Then DuskBl
If Time 22:20 to 09:10 Then 1%

White
If Time 09:20 to 11:10 Then DawnWh
If Time 11:10 to 12:40 Then 20%-30%
If Time 12:40 to 13:10 Then 30%-40%
If Time 13:10 to 15:30 Then 40%-60%
If Time 15:30 to 19:30 Then 60%-40%
If Time 19:30 to 20:20 Then 40%-30%
If Time 20:20 to 21:00 Then 30%-20%
If Time 21:00 to 22:00 Then DuskWh

Feel free to ask any ???

[Steved13]

Here is a different frag:

as of 7/10/11


And as of 9/17/11 it's pretty cool how it has started to encrust the rock it's on


As of 10/25/11 however I had a mishap with the wetside of an MP40 and fragged it by mistake LOL that's why it looks smaller...also a different angle, you can see the 2 white spots from the fragging.

[patm09]

Steved..... what intensities did you start out with? I have 1 AI Sol Blue over my 34g Solana which is 20x20x20. I am only doing lps and softies and would like to eventually have a clam. What would you suggest? My lights are about 5 inches above the water line and about 11 inches off the tip of the tallest rock in my scape. I posted my light schedule above.

Input would be great!

Thanks

[stevedola]

started at 32 35 35 for about 3wks and added 3 percent everyweek.

[Steved13]

Originally Posted by patm09

Steved..... what intensities did you start out with? I have 1 AI Sol Blue over my 34g Solana which is 20x20x20. I am only doing lps and softies and would like to eventually have a clam. What would you suggest? My lights are about 5 inches above the water line and about 11 inches off the tip of the tallest rock in my scape. I posted my light schedule above.

Input would be great!

Thanks

I'm not sure if you meant me or the other Steved?

If you meant me:

I started with 2 modules on a new tank, and then went to 4 modules. At 5" above the water, and 20" cubed, I would think you're schedule should be in the ball park. I started at what I thought "looked good and watched the corals. I started at 90% on the blues and 80% on the white (when at max), and the max period was longer. It seemed like everything was reacting like too much, so I dialed it back some and then shortened the max period.

My advice would be you have a good starting point, and let your livestock tell you what they need. With LPS and softies...If stuff is reaching for the light, they want more, if they're shrinking from the light...too much. My biggest problem is Zoas, I love them, but some wnat more some want less, and with my tank dimensions, reaching in and moving stuff is a PITA, I hate moving them around.

Also, I don't know how much experience you have, so if I'm stating the obvious for you I apologize, but in case it needs to be said...Give things time to adjust, don't expect it to say "thanks, that's just what I needed" immediately.

[Steved13]

Here is a pic of my clam from today...the white at the rim of the shell is new growth since I got it, around 8/10/11 Sorry for the pic quality