AI Sol super blue modular

[reefoman]

I order them through Gotham Aquatics, hopefully will be getting them soon, will let you guys know and show pictures... By the way I only got two modules because each can cover 36"x36" very well.

One AI module can cover 36"x36" ?
Are you sure? Friend of mine using 4 AI modules above 180 gal and has dark corners and middle of the tank is also dark...
Maybe two modules together can cover 36"x36" well but not one, and what we understand saying "well"
I'm not saying those are not good cause this is great product but it has only 24 LEDs and they not run them at 3W... even if it's gonna be 72W but as I know that gonna be something about 60W (24x2.5W)
In my opinion one module can't coverage 36"x36" area with good quality light.

Regards,
mark




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[batt600]

One AI module can cover 36"x36" ?
Are you sure? Friend of mine using 4 AI modules above 180 gal and has dark corners and middle of the tank is also dark...
Maybe two modules together can cover 36"x36" well but not one, and what we understand saying "well"
I'm not saying those are not good cause this is great product but it has only 24 LEDs and they not run them at 3W... even if it's gonna be 72W but as I know that gonna be something about 60W (24x2.5W)
In my opinion one module can't coverage 36"x36" area with good quality light.

Regards,
mark




Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

You know your right this is why alot of people say led is still not there and dont really support SPS . The rule of thumb is 24 leds at 3w each = to 175 MH and the Ai is only 2w so thats less thats why they say you need 4 units for a 48inch tank not for coverage put for more par . AI says 2 units = to 250 mh but if you go with Cree 3w leds 2 24 led units will = 400w mh

 

[Alex]

here are the tech specs for the AI modules;
http://www.aquaillumination.com/sol/specs.html

if you read the info it states that each unit has 72watts of light, with a total of 24 leds at 3 watts each.

If you go to this page you'll see the par readings on a 36" x 36" area;
http://www.aquaillumination.com/sol/performance.html

How much par hits a certain area depends on your tank depth or how high you raise your units. In addition their are many threads that state that it is possible that a standard par meter may not interpret the light correctly because led light is intense.

 

[reefoman]

here are the tech specs for the AI modules;
http://www.aquaillumination.com/sol/specs.html

if you read the info it states that each unit has 72watts of light, with a total of 24 leds at 3 watts each.

If you go to this page you'll see the par readings on a 36" x 36" area;
http://www.aquaillumination.com/sol/performance.html

How much par hits a certain area depends on your tank depth or how high you raise your units. In addition their are many threads that state that it is possible that a standard par meter may not interpret the light correctly because led light is intense.

That's Info coming from AI... I'll prefer to read something neutral...
Let me find the info where module is parted out and meeter is hooked up, I should have it somewhere in favorites.
Tonight I just finishsed rebuilding my light, it had 8 rows, each row 12 3w luxeon leds with 60 degree lenses and on the edges 40 degree.
That was 288w of led light with lenses this setup was created for 93 gal cube tank 30"x30x24". The LEDs area was 24"x24", Light was tested over 3 months with no success, totally mistake and money wasting.
It was impossible to run LEDs at 100%, also at 80% even at 60% was too much light.
Now light is reduced to 6 rows, each row 10 3W luxeon leds (60 total x 3W = 180W) and NO LENSES cause if you running them on full 3W and tank is only 24" high you don't need them. Now the area where the LEDs are placed is reduced to 24"x16" and leds are about 2,5" between each other, blue and royal are at 80% and
white at 60% (will run them soon all at 100%)
I can't say anything yet cause is first day but so far I very like the light color and looks like corals too, it takes me month or so to say something but one thing can say today for tanks up to 24" high lenses = issues.
But that's only my opinion...

Regards,
mark



Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[jaa1456]

Lmao . I here you and the AI is a great unit but way to much money. When i do my DIY Leds ill Post pics . you will see im very neat when it comes to wiring

You are sticking up for DIY LEDS and saying how clean they are yet you didn't even build yours yet. I'm all for DIY if you are willing but don't come out blasting people and a product that you have nothing to compare it to yet.

 

[anen]

I have a sol blue on my solana and I can say it's definitely able to support SPS. I'm getting great growth.

Also you can't really say X number of LEDs equals XXX watts of metal halide because there are too many variables like hanging distance, optics, etc. From my understanding one AI unit can provide the same intensity at full power approximately equal to a 400w metal halide. Whatever the PAR ratings, it's enough to kill your corals

You know your right this is why alot of people say led is still not there and dont really support SPS . The rule of thumb is 24 leds at 3w each = to 175 MH and the Ai is only 2w so thats less thats why they say you need 4 units for a 48inch tank not for coverage put for more par . AI says 2 units = to 250 mh but if you go with Cree 3w leds 2 24 led units will = 400w mh

 

[Alex]

That's Info coming from AI... I'll prefer to read something neutral...
Let me find the info where module is parted out and meeter is hooked up, I should have it somewhere in favorites.
Tonight I just finishsed rebuilding my light, it had 8 rows, each row 12 3w luxeon leds with 60 degree lenses and on the edges 40 degree.
That was 288w of led light with lenses this setup was created for 93 gal cube tank 30"x30x24". The LEDs area was 24"x24", Light was tested over 3 months with no success, totally mistake and money wasting.
It was impossible to run LEDs at 100%, also at 80% even at 60% was too much light.
Now light is reduced to 6 rows, each row 10 3W luxeon leds (60 total x 3W = 180W) and NO LENSES cause if you running them on full 3W and tank is only 24" high you don't need them. Now the area where the LEDs are placed is reduced to 24"x16" and leds are about 2,5" between each other, blue and royal are at 80% and
white at 60% (will run them soon all at 100%)
I can't say anything yet cause is first day but so far I very like the light color and looks like corals too, it takes me month or so to say something but one thing can say today for tanks up to 24" high lenses = issues.
But that's only my opinion...

Regards,
mark



Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

Since you just built your own DIY LED system, your probably not in the market for an AI module. And you are correct when you say that a company can and sometimes does fudge the info a bit to get sales on their product. That is why the best thing to do is get opinions from informed sources and other reefers. The following is information by reefers and even a comparison article by Sanjay Joshi. I hope it gives you a better insight;

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/5/aafeature2

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841197

 

[E.intheC]

It's good to see some feedback on these. I'm actually thinking about the AI Nano for my new build.

 

[125reefer]

1700 for the 36 in beats acans 3 ft 3w leds.i believe thees is 600 per foot

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

How about this.....I have seen Diy that I love, some acan lighting that I love and some A/I lighting that I love and some Wingo lighting that I love.....:splitspin I can only comment on experience and so far even though I like my A/I unit and that was my personal choice which I outlined in an earlier post, I can assure you LED's will and can grow sps. I have an acan LED for almost a year now over my frag tank and indeed it does grow sps. Now did it grow as fast as when they were under my halides...no and I can say that with confidence. But they did grow and look very nice at least to my eyes....:splitspin. There are a lot of good points brought up here and at the end of the day there are many good choices out there...just like skimmers, reactors, and the like. Furthermore with the advancements in technology growing faster and faster it will ultimately help us the hobyist. Oh and by the way the A/i white led's run at 2.65 wats and the blues at 2.3......:splitspin

And to the gentleman who is trying to run one unit over a 36 x 36...well I can say this will definitely not work well. Get yourself 2 units you will not be disapointed. Or get the one play around with it and when you realize its not enough and budget allows get another.

 

[InfernoST]

You know your right this is why alot of people say led is still not there and dont really support SPS . The rule of thumb is 24 leds at 3w each = to 175 MH and the Ai is only 2w so thats less thats why they say you need 4 units for a 48inch tank not for coverage put for more par . AI says 2 units = to 250 mh but if you go with Cree 3w leds 2 24 led units will = 400w mh

AI uses 3 watt Cree's.

 

[kaOzGrUnT]

I've been running the lights for about a month now and my corals are growing and very healthy. The lights I have brought their intensity to %50 and its very bright, using two units on a 90 gal tank.
I'll take pictures soon.
I am very satisfied with these lights, I highly recommend them

 

[alrha]

I'll take pictures soon.

Is it soon yet? :scratchch

 

[rookie07]

Is it soon yet? :scratchch

Ha! I bet the pictures never come, bc you know it wont look good.

On another note, i had AI replace my sol white with a sol blue (for free) as one of my whites was bad (apparently from shipping to distributor). It works great and i like the bluw more than the white ( i have one of each now).

I dont have much sps, just my sunset and rainbow montis, bth of which grow great under the blue sol AI LED.
Everything is growong well, except for ricordia which died off shortly after the move.


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[alrha]

Why do the blues look so much better than the whites? Do they make the tank too blue? Do they give off less light than the whites?

 

[DREUTZ]

Oh and by the way the A/i white led's run at 2.65 wats and the blues at 2.3...

Does this make a big difference between the two units?

 

[garys reef]

the blue lights are just as powerfull as the whites if u shut the whites off and run the blues at a higher % u will bleach your corals

 

[alrha]

thinking of getting four Sol Blue's for my 60"x24"x30" display (currently have 3x400w MH 20k)

 

[akma]

There are 2 different blues I believe. I have the AI blue and so far tank is doing good. If you can afford it, go for it!

Why do the blues look so much better than the whites? Do they make the tank too blue? Do they give off less light than the whites?

 

[alrha]

I think there is one white, one blue, and one royal blue in each cluster.