1 AI LED over my 45G cube

[rostato]

I am attempting to light my 45G tech tank... dimensions 24X24X18deep with only one AI LED module.

I have mounted it sideways to maximize the light spread over the width of the tank, and have most of my SPS concentrated in the middle anyway.

I am going from a 250w halide (which I hated, I am a T5 guy at heart) to this, so hopefully it's just as powerful, it will help my energy bill, and I get actinic supplementation.

I am only using one because I think AI under rates their lights (I could be wrong), I am mounting it sideways, and it gets great spread in my tank since it's mounted 12" above the water.

Here are some rough shots of it mounted about 10 minutes after I got it.

The wires will be cleaned up once my profilux III gets here.

Opinions?

50% white, and 100% blue

 

[rostato]

This is day one, and I hope to log in more and show that my SPS are still growing as much as they did with the halide. Hopefully!

 

[maddog2002]

I have the same question for AI under rates their lights.
Not a lot of people's tank is deep than 30".
Wish AI can come some module good for shallow tank.

Tag the thread.

 

[rostato]

Yeah I did some talking with Scott over at Aquarium Specialty, and he was pretty convinced that one module would light my tank.

Again, it's only day one, but I am pretty satisfied with what one has done with my tank. I got great color, and polyp extension for the few hours I had them running.

Obviously, only time will tell, but I really like the way mine is set up. If I put the lights only 4 inches above the water like the mounting kit has them, I would not get the necessary spread needed.

If only I coul d get my hands on a PAR meter...

 

[skimmy]

A. that is gorgeous...

B. more than enough light for a 18" 24x24 DT.

C. god I want one!!!

 

[rostato]

A. that is gorgeous...

B. more than enough light for a 18" 24x24 DT.

C. god I want one!!!

Thanks! And, I'll be moving to Seattle by the ed of this year, so you'll have to come check it out!

I hope to get someone over here within the next few weeks to take some real pictures, since I SUCK!

 

[rostato]

Finally got my Profilux III in a couple days ago. This thing is amazing! It controls my AI LED's with cloud, lighning, and raniny day simulations. It also has unlimitied possibilities on the dimming controls. Now I have a nice sunrise, and sunset programed in.


This thing ROCKS!

Here are pics of it, and also some nice pics showing the color that can be had with this amazing controller, and lights.

 

[rostato]

One week update...

As far as growth, it's only been a little over a week, and I see about the same amount of growth (maybe more) as I did with the 250W halide. The kicker is that I am only at about 75% brightness on the whites for about an hour or so. With the Profilux, I am able to slowly ramp up the power of the light, and blast the corals for only an hour or two like the real sun. I see just as much growth, but I get WAY better color for the most part of the day, and I am consuming well less than have the amount of power as the halide. Oh, and did I mention ZERO heat! Seriously, LED is the way to go IMO. Let's just hope the growth continues, and maybe I'll see more once I get to full power...

Keep in mind, the only thing I have changed is the lights, and I do water changes with Salinity now instead of Seachem Reef. all I dose is saturated lime water for my top off controlled by the profilux...

Also fixed the ugly controller mount...

 

[rostato]

Well I think its safe to say this is enough light for the tank. My green slimer is starting to bleach out. It's directly under the lights, and about 6-8" under water. that puts is 18" away from the light itself.

AI LED's are insanely powerful!

 

[tkeracer619]

Yea they are really bright. I really like the modules. Nice tank!

 

[rostato]

Thanks! I think I will tone the whites down to about 50%. I started out at 75%, but that is only for about 2 hours... The rest of the time is a nice mix of blue and white.

 

[tkeracer619]

They will last longer that way too

 

[rostato]

I am not worried about life. By the time these are ready to die, the aquarium industry will have something cooler for me to try!

 

[jonnybravo22]

cool! i have 2 hanging 5 over my biocube. guess that's a bit of overkill. dont have a par meter so was never sure how much, nice to see yours are working in this way.

you have a nice mount -- the standard leaves a lot to be desired. i also control mine with a profilux and find the combination great.

dont know if you already do this - sounds like you might - but one huge benefit to the combo is the ability to set the intensity very high for a few hours a day for growth, then bring it back to what your visual preference is (more blue less white) when you're around.

 

[tmgrash]

I run mine at 100 white and 100 blue for about 8 hours a day. They ramp down to 60 white and 100 blue during my "peak" viewing time. I love the controlability of leds.

I have expereinced superb growth and color over MH. I have a friend that lives 3 miles down the road with the same size tank, same water, got LR from same place, some of the same corals and mine under the leds are expereincing much more growth and color than his under 250w mh. This same guy does have some of the first custom made plasma lights coming on monday though, so we will have a unique opportunity to compare the two.

 

[rostato]

cool! i have 2 hanging 5 over my biocube. guess that's a bit of overkill. dont have a par meter so was never sure how much, nice to see yours are working in this way.

you have a nice mount -- the standard leaves a lot to be desired. i also control mine with a profilux and find the combination great.

dont know if you already do this - sounds like you might - but one huge benefit to the combo is the ability to set the intensity very high for a few hours a day for growth, then bring it back to what your visual preference is (more blue less white) when you're around.

Yeah thats way overkill for a biocube!

Yeah right now, they are only at 75% intensity for abot 2 hours.

I am going to ramp them down to about 50% for a week, and hope my corals don't lose any more color.

Yesa, the best part of the profilux with AI LED is you can attemt to simulate the suns intensity instead of blasting corals with light for 8 hours...

Plus, now I can keep an eye on th etank from my iPhone anywhere in the world...

 

[skimmy]

amazing tank colors!

and the controlability the profilux offers is to drool for...

so what do you guys think?? is AI led overkill for a 24x16 20g that is only 12" tall

I've been tempted by some of the other chinese lights that are just 1 watt LED's because I only have the 12" to penetrate, or should I just save my dukkets for the AI?
so many new LED's at reef stock this year...:bounce3:

 

[AndyH5512]

I read somehwere that the AI simulates thunderstorms with lightning? Is that correct? If so, that must be really neat to see.

Nice looking setup, by the way.

 

[nanotank]

Nice setup.. I run 2 AI's over my 60 cube and they rock. I am housing Lps right now but have a few sps coming soon. I only hit 40% on white 1 hour a day as these r crazy powerful. I run 4-400 Watts on my 8 foot tank and these r brighter with better shimmer. I do miss a hint of the Fiji purple color you can get from the t5's. If they replaced a few whites for reds the AI's would be better yet. I run them off a profilux plus II ex and the options r endless. The lightening storms r so cool also. I like your mount were did u find it or get it from?

 

[rostato]

The mount is a Zero Edge Light Tree. Expensive, but WAY nice. It looks even better now because I have cleaned up the wires. All I have to do is paint the AI module Black, and it would look much better.

I don't really understand the white on the modules. Anyone know of a tank with white frames? I dont! lol When I paint it it should be much nicer!

Yes the thunderstorms are cool, but I need to get thunder and rain! I could do thunder, but rain is a bit much without the hood. The profilux III is insane!

I am going down to 45 percent for an hour and a half as of today to cut down on the power. I will get amazing color this way.