Sfiligoi, the absolute coolest light!!

dirtyreefer · 11/23/2006, 11:19 PM

Well I took the plunge and bought the Sfiligoi Infinity XR4 w/ACLS unit from Aquarium Obsessed and received it last night. I never would have guessed how cool this light could be until I got it hooked up but man, this light is the bomb. It has one 250W HQI MH with four T5 bulbs and 4 moonlights. What makes this light is the ACLS (being able to dim the MH to whatever intensity you want). I thought at first that this was sort of a gimmicky thing that sounded cool but wouldn't be as cool once you got it but I was wrong. THE ACLS IS WHAT MAKES THIS LIGHT!

Cool Features:

Dusk/Dawn Effects:
Upon going through the instructions I found that I can set the duration of the dusk and dawn effects as well as the full daylight option. So I set the light to come on at 6:30AM. It starts with the moonlights on (which are on all night), and then the MH comes on at say 5% intensity. I set the dusk duration for 3 1/2 hours. So between 6:30AM and 10AM, the MH gradually increases until it reaches 100% at 10AM. But before it reaches full intensity, the actinics click on. I don't know when they came on because I was at work, but witnessed the dawn effect tonight. Same goes for the evening. I set the dawn effect for 2 hours, so it starts at 8PM and gradually dims until 10PM. This is by far the coolest feature of any reef product I've ever bought. I thought at first that dimming T5 would be more beneficial but dimming MH is way more effective and worth it than just dimming T5s since the light is more intense and simulates natural sunlight alot more accurately.

Cloudy Days and New Bulb Function
There are also features such as cloudy days, so you can set a cloudy day to be every 5, 10 or 15 days. Basically on those days the ACLS will dim the bulb on and off for short durations (to say 70-80% not sure on exact percentages but around that) throughout the day.

There is also a new bulb function for when you replace your MH bulb, so you can switch this feature on so that the MH starts from say 80% and gradually reaches full intensity over 15 days instead of your old traditional method using eggcrate or reducing your photoperiod.

Simulating different locations
Since you enter in the exact time, day/month/year, and longitude and latitude, you can have the ACLS automatically calculate your durations of full intensity based on these settings. So if you enter in the coordinates for somewhere in the upper/lower Northern/Southern Hemisphere like Vancouver, the photoperiod will be drastically shortened during the winter months (like now) and could basically shorten your photoperiod to be like 5-6 hours. Pretty cool.

Lunar Cycle
Since you enter in the above information, you also can set when the lunar cycle begins etc so that your moonlights can be in synch.

I'll be posting pics of my light soon but I thought I would give a quick review now since I am finally able sit down and relax with nice cold beer in hand

Let me know if you have any questions.

drummereef · 11/23/2006, 11:46 PM

Looks pretty cool! Can you post some pics of your tank with the lighting on it? Would love to see it all lit up!

Waxxiemann · 11/24/2006, 02:32 AM

The fixture is a reasonable price, but the ballast(s) ... I can think of a lot I could do with that extra grand per ballast.

Waxxiemann · 11/24/2006, 02:36 AM

don't get me wrong though. If I had the money .... it would be a different story.

DaveWC · 11/24/2006, 06:46 AM

I just got a set of these lights and so far I love them.

Aquarium Obsessed · 11/27/2006, 07:34 PM

Glad you guys like them! Both your setups are looking sweet

Thanks again.

AO

ACBlinky · 11/28/2006, 12:02 AM

Sounds like a fun setup! Cloudy days, true dawn and dusk... and, I thought I had a fun feature with my new dimmable moonlights!

Nuuze · 11/28/2006, 12:26 AM

Are the ballasts actually in the ACLS units?

APrestwich · 11/28/2006, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nuuze
Are the ballasts actually in the ACLS units?

Yes, the ballasts are built into the ACLS.

crab0000 · 11/28/2006, 07:09 AM

Does the dimming decrease bulb life any? Can you use any MH bulb you want?

APrestwich · 11/28/2006, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by crab0000
Does the dimming decrease bulb life any? Can you use any MH bulb you want?

Sfiligoi has said that if you don't dim the bulb over more than a 30 minute period then there is little to no effect on bulb life. Longer than that could have a bit of effect on bulb life. To answer the next question that's coming, dimming does also not cause a long term colour shift on the bulb either.

Andrew

APrestwich · 11/28/2006, 08:14 AM

OH, and while you can use any bulb you like, they have tested many bulbs and found that the greatest light output so far is with the BLV bulbs that they include in the fixtures.

11/23/2006, 11:19 PM	#1
dirtyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,221	Sfiligoi, the absolute coolest light!! Well I took the plunge and bought the Sfiligoi Infinity XR4 w/ACLS unit from Aquarium Obsessed and received it last night. I never would have guessed how cool this light could be until I got it hooked up but man, this light is the bomb. It has one 250W HQI MH with four T5 bulbs and 4 moonlights. What makes this light is the ACLS (being able to dim the MH to whatever intensity you want). I thought at first that this was sort of a gimmicky thing that sounded cool but wouldn't be as cool once you got it but I was wrong. THE ACLS IS WHAT MAKES THIS LIGHT! Cool Features: Dusk/Dawn Effects: Upon going through the instructions I found that I can set the duration of the dusk and dawn effects as well as the full daylight option. So I set the light to come on at 6:30AM. It starts with the moonlights on (which are on all night), and then the MH comes on at say 5% intensity. I set the dusk duration for 3 1/2 hours. So between 6:30AM and 10AM, the MH gradually increases until it reaches 100% at 10AM. But before it reaches full intensity, the actinics click on. I don't know when they came on because I was at work, but witnessed the dawn effect tonight. Same goes for the evening. I set the dawn effect for 2 hours, so it starts at 8PM and gradually dims until 10PM. This is by far the coolest feature of any reef product I've ever bought. I thought at first that dimming T5 would be more beneficial but dimming MH is way more effective and worth it than just dimming T5s since the light is more intense and simulates natural sunlight alot more accurately. Cloudy Days and New Bulb Function There are also features such as cloudy days, so you can set a cloudy day to be every 5, 10 or 15 days. Basically on those days the ACLS will dim the bulb on and off for short durations (to say 70-80% not sure on exact percentages but around that) throughout the day. There is also a new bulb function for when you replace your MH bulb, so you can switch this feature on so that the MH starts from say 80% and gradually reaches full intensity over 15 days instead of your old traditional method using eggcrate or reducing your photoperiod. Simulating different locations Since you enter in the exact time, day/month/year, and longitude and latitude, you can have the ACLS automatically calculate your durations of full intensity based on these settings. So if you enter in the coordinates for somewhere in the upper/lower Northern/Southern Hemisphere like Vancouver, the photoperiod will be drastically shortened during the winter months (like now) and could basically shorten your photoperiod to be like 5-6 hours. Pretty cool. Lunar Cycle Since you enter in the above information, you also can set when the lunar cycle begins etc so that your moonlights can be in synch. I'll be posting pics of my light soon but I thought I would give a quick review now since I am finally able sit down and relax with nice cold beer in hand Let me know if you have any questions.

11/23/2006, 11:46 PM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Looks pretty cool! Can you post some pics of your tank with the lighting on it? Would love to see it all lit up! __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

11/24/2006, 02:32 AM	#3
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	The fixture is a reasonable price, but the ballast(s) ... I can think of a lot I could do with that extra grand per ballast. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

11/24/2006, 02:36 AM	#4
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	don't get me wrong though. If I had the money .... it would be a different story. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

11/28/2006, 12:02 AM	#7
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Sounds like a fun setup! Cloudy days, true dawn and dusk... and, I thought I had a fun feature with my new dimmable moonlights! __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

11/24/2006, 06:46 AM	#5
DaveWC Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 217	I just got a set of these lights and so far I love them.

11/27/2006, 07:34 PM	#6
Aquarium Obsessed Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Barrie Posts: 75	Glad you guys like them! Both your setups are looking sweet Thanks again. AO

11/28/2006, 12:26 AM	#8
Nuuze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NorCal, California Posts: 3,550	Are the ballasts actually in the ACLS units?

11/28/2006, 07:09 AM	#10
crab0000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jasper,GA Posts: 2,801	Does the dimming decrease bulb life any? Can you use any MH bulb you want?

11/28/2006, 08:14 AM	#12
APrestwich Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 18	OH, and while you can use any bulb you like, they have tested many bulbs and found that the greatest light output so far is with the BLV bulbs that they include in the fixtures.