A Year SPS growth, AI Sol LED's

[NatureNerd]

Okay, not quite a year. On 3/30/2011, I put my VHO supplemented MH's into the garage and installed three Sol Blue's. In two weeks I will have had them running for a year. I know you have heard it all before but I thought I would show some growth shots. Now remember, some of the early shots were taken the first week after I mounted the corals so they are stressed a bit. Anyway...here we go...

Peach Digitata a year ago:

And today:

Unknown Green Acro in May of 2011:

Today:

Hoek Stag about a year ago, 1.5" tall:

Today at 11" wide (look for tailspot blenny for scale):

Bonsai a year ago:

Today:

 

[chet-tonja]

Very nice!

 

[pgr11]

Very nice. Ai are going on my new tank. Im hoping for similar success

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[NatureNerd]

One more?

I think this is A plana. Please correct me if I am wrong. First shot in May, 2011:

Today, only 10 months later:

 

[NatureNerd]

Results have been great for me but not great for everyone. Like any change, care must be taken to not shock the corals and one has to watch and adjust. I think that because I had mostly frags in a well established tank, I had an easier time transitioning the corals to new lighting. I have been thrilled with the results. Colors are different, but every bit as attractive.

 

[kellerexpress]

Not too shabby

 

[alsteezy1st]

Very nice, what settings/intensities do you have your AIs running on? I have 2 sol blues running parallel over my 75gal but my growth is very modest compared to yours.

 

[ErikS]

Very nice, what settings/intensities do you have your AIs running on?......

+1 I'm sure you've posted it here somewhere (& I've likely read it :lol2: ) but could you post it again? Setting mine up soon & I'd appreciate it.

 

[mykol reef]

For best result what is the setting for the lamp. I'm thinking to change to t5 or LED.

 

[goldenservices3]

Very nice. What is the depth of your tank?

 

[zzl630]

Very nice. Great to see some sps growth with AI.

 

[NatureNerd]

Very nice. What is the depth of your tank?

Thanks. Standard 75g - 48" long x 18" wide x 21" tall

Lights are mounted parallel to front glass.

 

[NatureNerd]

+1 I'm sure you've posted it here somewhere (& I've likely read it :lol2: ) but could you post it again? Setting mine up soon & I'd appreciate it.

I have three units over a 48" 75g tank. They are mounted parallel to the front glass and only 6" over the water. I would have them higher but I have an existing canopy.

I have them ramp to 70, 60, 60% (w,b,rb) slowly in the morning. That ramp is 2.5 hours long. They sit at peak power for 7 hours and then ramp down to deep blue 1,10,12% where they stay for an hour. Then they ramp to 0,0,0 in 20 minutes. This is just what I picked, there are many different ways that would be as good or better. I like a whiter look to my tank than most people.

When I first got them I started around 30% for a peak power and raised the peak power 5% per week.

 

[windyridge]

Nice! I have had my AI Sols on an upgraded tank (29G with T5's to 92G corner with one AI Sol Blue module) since December 22nd and am seeing excellent growth, much better than with the T5's. I am currently running at 76% and increasing slowly. Never had any bleaching issues as I started out at 20%. What % are you at and how deep is your tank?

 

[NatureNerd]

Nice! I have had my AI Sols on an upgraded tank (29G with T5's to 92G corner with one AI Sol Blue module) since December 22nd and am seeing excellent growth, much better than with the T5's. I am currently running at 76% and increasing slowly. Never had any bleaching issues as I started out at 20%. What % are you at and how deep is your tank?

Wow, I wouldn't have thought that a single Sol would cover a 90g. I have three over my 75g. I too am looking to upgrade to a custom 92g. One reason I took pictures now is that in a few weeks I am going to swap tanks and I know that things will suffer a bit and not look their best for awhile.

 

[ErikS]

I have three units over a 48" 75g tank. They are mounted parallel to the front glass and only 6" over the water. I would have them higher but I have an existing canopy.

I have them ramp to 70, 60, 60% (w,b,rb) slowly in the morning. That ramp is 2.5 hours long. They sit at peak power for 7 hours and then ramp down to deep blue 1,10,12% where they stay for an hour. Then they ramp to 0,0,0 in 20 minutes. This is just what I picked, there are many different ways that would be as good or better. I like a whiter look to my tank than most people.

When I first got them I started around 30% for a peak power and raised the peak power 5% per week.

Thanks, much appreciated. Just finished the 15 page AI settings thread - egad! Yours seems far simpler.

 

[RtReef]

Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing! I really like my AI SOL!!!

 

[windyridge]

Naturenerd, I just recently switched out the 4 center optics from 45 degrees to 70 degrees and it made a discernible difference to the spread. I also have my lights at 14 AWL. Build thread pics here so you can see coverage:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2102293

Interestingly, my RBTA moved up a few inches soon after the optics swap.

 

[reelfishy]

Awesome growth!! I can rest easy now, knowing LED's will grow SPS. Although mine is not AI.

 

[sirreal63]

Very good job, and is what I would expect, you used the right number of them to adequately cover the tank. Too often people use too few of them, thinking they somehow fold space and beam light from the fourth dimension, and when they do not get good results, it is the light they blame instead of themselves. I look forward to seeing more and kudos on a good job.