Apollo Reef LED SolarBlast Dimable Review
- Thread starter Dustin1300
- Start date
gcfiend
New member
I bought one from Apollo and the other from bhazard451. Love em so far.. Really bright. I have mine set at 100%blue and 70% White and its still on the white side. I'm battling GHA and new tank syndrome so lights aren't really a factor yet for me besides photoperiod to help the GHA issue.
Love em so far! Curious to see what others have their lights programmed to and at what percentage mix and what they are keeping (LPS, SPS, Mixed (what ratio) )
I'm on reeftronics in case you want to see my current programming.
Love em so far! Curious to see what others have their lights programmed to and at what percentage mix and what they are keeping (LPS, SPS, Mixed (what ratio) )
I'm on reeftronics in case you want to see my current programming.
bhazard451
New member
Set OFF
If Time 09:45 to 11:45 Then Ramp_Up
If Time 11:46 to 14:00 Then ON
If Time 14:01 to 18:05 Then Weather <- fun to try, I created a weather profile to dim the lights at random for clouds
If Time 18:06 to 22:45 Then Ramp_Dn
If Time 22:46 to 01:00 Then MoonLGT
You could try an oscillating pump profile and sync the clouds to go across fixtures if you get really creative.
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Tank2379
Active member
Artic-Red
Artic-Red
Ok Guys, today I received my New Artic-Red Fixture... Thanks to Joe at Apollo for helping me out...
Here it is open box
Fixture with the power cords hanging kit and Ethernet cable
Can't remember if these are 90 or 60 degree optics
Making sure it's leveled
Fired it up
Don't mind the take. I had a huge Algae opuitbreak so all my rock is cocking and being re-cycled as we speak sorry for the bare tank but my Frags are doing great
All in all I really like it. I have a fully Dimmable Fixture Via Apex. The photo of FTS was ok in color still looked a little on yellow side I guess cause it's at 20% whites, I am still playing around with the intensity of the leds to get the full Sunrise and Sunset effect..
Artic-Red
Ok Guys, today I received my New Artic-Red Fixture... Thanks to Joe at Apollo for helping me out...
Here it is open box
Fixture with the power cords hanging kit and Ethernet cable
Can't remember if these are 90 or 60 degree optics
Making sure it's leveled
Fired it up
Don't mind the take. I had a huge Algae opuitbreak so all my rock is cocking and being re-cycled as we speak sorry for the bare tank but my Frags are doing great
All in all I really like it. I have a fully Dimmable Fixture Via Apex. The photo of FTS was ok in color still looked a little on yellow side I guess cause it's at 20% whites, I am still playing around with the intensity of the leds to get the full Sunrise and Sunset effect..
Tank2379
Active member
Yes one for Whites, one for Blues and the other is for Moonlights only.
Tank2379
Active member
What percetage did you do your Midday at? Or how did you set your times?
gcfiend
New member
Mid Day was set at 70 Max/Min, but toned it down recently because of GHA.
[ LED-White ] ( base_Var3 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Light A
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 08:00 to 12:00 Then SunriseW
If Time 12:00 to 18:00 Then MidDayW
If Time 18:00 to 20:00 Then SunsetW
If Temp > 82.0 Then OFF
[ LED-Blue ] ( base_Var4 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Light B
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 06:00 to 12:00 Then SunriseB
If Time 12:00 to 18:00 Then MidDayB
If Time 18:00 to 22:00 Then SunsetB
If Temp > 82.0 Then OFF
[ SunriseW ] ( PF13 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 240
Start Intensity: 10
End Intensity: 60
[ SunsetW ] ( PF14 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 60
End Intensity: 0
[ MidDayW ] ( PF15 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 0
Start Intensity: 60
End Intensity: 60
[ SunsetB ] ( PF16 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 240
Start Intensity: 100
End Intensity: 20
[ SunriseB ] ( PF17 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 60
Start Intensity: 20
End Intensity: 100
[ MidDayB ] ( PF18 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 0
Start Intensity: 100
End Intensity: 100
[ LED-White ] ( base_Var3 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Light A
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 08:00 to 12:00 Then SunriseW
If Time 12:00 to 18:00 Then MidDayW
If Time 18:00 to 20:00 Then SunsetW
If Temp > 82.0 Then OFF
[ LED-Blue ] ( base_Var4 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Light B
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 06:00 to 12:00 Then SunriseB
If Time 12:00 to 18:00 Then MidDayB
If Time 18:00 to 22:00 Then SunsetB
If Temp > 82.0 Then OFF
[ SunriseW ] ( PF13 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 240
Start Intensity: 10
End Intensity: 60
[ SunsetW ] ( PF14 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 60
End Intensity: 0
[ MidDayW ] ( PF15 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 0
Start Intensity: 60
End Intensity: 60
[ SunsetB ] ( PF16 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 240
Start Intensity: 100
End Intensity: 20
[ SunriseB ] ( PF17 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 60
Start Intensity: 20
End Intensity: 100
[ MidDayB ] ( PF18 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 0
Start Intensity: 100
End Intensity: 100
saltyjarhead
New member
Yeah I had the same problem I was thinking about getting the haniging kit from rapid led.
bhazard451
New member
Would you be willing to anchor into your drywall/studs with rubbermaid twin-track shelf brackets? I posted a how-to on this that worked well for me.
Someone else used a pipe bender to make something nice too. There are a few options out there.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Sorry for the delay in responses but have been busy lately. Thanks so much for sharing the acti-red fixture and the unboxing. As far as my apex program, mine is as follows. You can check it out on http://www.reeftronics.net/dustin1300/apex-program.
Here's just snippets of what I currently use.
Blue and White Profiles to control the built-in VDM:
[ Apollo_Blues ] ( base_Var1 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Set OFF
If Time 11:30 to 21:00 Then RampUB
If Time 21:00 to 23:00 Then RampDB
[ Apollo_White ] ( base_Var2 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Set OFF
If Time 12:00 to 20:00 Then RampUW
If Time 20:00 to 22:00 Then RampDW
Power Outlet to turn power on to the three cords. If you have constant power then you will have fan going full time:
[ ApolloWs ] ( 4_2 )
Program Type: Light
Display Icon: Light B
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:00 to 22:00 Then ON
If TempDT > 82.0 Then OFF
Min Time 000:01 Then OFF
[ ApolloBs ] ( 4_3 )
Program Type: Light
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 11:30 to 23:00 Then ON
If TempDT > 82.0 Then OFF
Min Time 000:01 Then OFF
[ ApolloMoons ] ( 4_4 )
Program Type: Light
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 21:00 to 13:00 Then ON
If TempDT > 82.0 Then OFF
Min Time 000:01 Then OFF
Profiles. You can see my intensity for white is 85 and my intensity for blue is 100. I like a bit more blue in the fixture so this is what works for me
[ RampUW ] ( PF1 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 85
[ RampDW ] ( PF2 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 85
End Intensity: 0
[ RampUB ] ( PF3 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 100
[ RampDB ] ( PF4 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 100
End Intensity: 0
Right half of this tank is lit by Apollo unit I reviewed at top. I've got things in better control and nutrients were too low due to low fish bioload. I've since starting dosing AquaVitro Fuel to help make the water dirtier twice a week and colors are nice. Right now my phosphates are .0245 ppm and nitrate always stays at 0.
Here's just snippets of what I currently use.
Blue and White Profiles to control the built-in VDM:
[ Apollo_Blues ] ( base_Var1 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Set OFF
If Time 11:30 to 21:00 Then RampUB
If Time 21:00 to 23:00 Then RampDB
[ Apollo_White ] ( base_Var2 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Set OFF
If Time 12:00 to 20:00 Then RampUW
If Time 20:00 to 22:00 Then RampDW
Power Outlet to turn power on to the three cords. If you have constant power then you will have fan going full time:
[ ApolloWs ] ( 4_2 )
Program Type: Light
Display Icon: Light B
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:00 to 22:00 Then ON
If TempDT > 82.0 Then OFF
Min Time 000:01 Then OFF
[ ApolloBs ] ( 4_3 )
Program Type: Light
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 11:30 to 23:00 Then ON
If TempDT > 82.0 Then OFF
Min Time 000:01 Then OFF
[ ApolloMoons ] ( 4_4 )
Program Type: Light
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 21:00 to 13:00 Then ON
If TempDT > 82.0 Then OFF
Min Time 000:01 Then OFF
Profiles. You can see my intensity for white is 85 and my intensity for blue is 100. I like a bit more blue in the fixture so this is what works for me
[ RampUW ] ( PF1 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 85
[ RampDW ] ( PF2 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 85
End Intensity: 0
[ RampUB ] ( PF3 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 100
[ RampDB ] ( PF4 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 100
End Intensity: 0
Right half of this tank is lit by Apollo unit I reviewed at top. I've got things in better control and nutrients were too low due to low fish bioload. I've since starting dosing AquaVitro Fuel to help make the water dirtier twice a week and colors are nice. Right now my phosphates are .0245 ppm and nitrate always stays at 0.
mrbncal
New member
Well I didnt want to hang them if possible . . . so I been lookin around and found these ideas:
Got this idea
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002R9HQLI/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
from this guys thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2120959
and then I saw this which is more like what I wanted
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=20553624&postcount=3
then build a light weight floating canopy(that lifts off) around that frame.
Tank2379
Active member
This was at 70% Blue and 40% White yesterday at around 12:00 noon
Really loven this fixture and the color spectrum it's providing...
BTW Sorry about the tank it's not in it glory just yet, I am currently re-cycling the rocks I have a hugh Byropsis outbreak and it took over my whole rock work and it started to over run everything in my tank.... So I decided to cook it and re-cycle it, which is currently cycling at the moment.
Really loven this fixture and the color spectrum it's providing...
BTW Sorry about the tank it's not in it glory just yet, I am currently re-cycling the rocks I have a hugh Byropsis outbreak and it took over my whole rock work and it started to over run everything in my tank.... So I decided to cook it and re-cycle it, which is currently cycling at the moment.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Many different options on mounting and like the one as pictured above. 80/20 aluminum and EZ-Tube are both common light rack components. When I get my big tank up and going I'd like to use 80/20 and make the lights so I can angle them how I want and use pivots as listed below:
80/20 Pivots
I like the idea of being able to angle the fixtures as I don't want light bleeding out of the aquarium glass/acrylic. I want it to catch the sand bed and shed the rest of the light on coral, rock, and back wall which will be foam back wall. This helps to discourage algae growth on the front glass/acrylic and is the nice thing about optics on LEDs:thumbsup: Also would like an electronic lift so I can lift the light rack up and out of the way when not in use.
***Earlier it was referenced that you were not sure on optics. The Apollo has 90 degree optics.
80/20 Pivots
I like the idea of being able to angle the fixtures as I don't want light bleeding out of the aquarium glass/acrylic. I want it to catch the sand bed and shed the rest of the light on coral, rock, and back wall which will be foam back wall. This helps to discourage algae growth on the front glass/acrylic and is the nice thing about optics on LEDs:thumbsup: Also would like an electronic lift so I can lift the light rack up and out of the way when not in use.
***Earlier it was referenced that you were not sure on optics. The Apollo has 90 degree optics.
I picked up three of these about a month before he switched over to the new ones :headwally: but it it was what it is. I am trying to mount them in a canopy and so far have had no luck doing it. I looked at 80/20 and originally all of there stuff was no hanging loads? Did i look at this wrong? Other than that, anyone have any cool ways to hang these LEDs? Also Im nervous about the hanging kit cause i got one from rapidled and I came home one day to one of my LEDs on my 90 about an 1" off the water with a broken hanging kit overhead.
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Tank2379
Active member
Solar Blast Artic-Red Review
Solar Blast Artic-Red Review
So far I have had this up and running for about 4 1/2 days now, and all I got to say is I am really impressed with the quality and design of this fixture. The color intensity is pretty sick and with the Blues and UV Purples that are dim together really gives a nice Pop to all corals and colors.
The white are super cool and dim together with the reds. Right now my intensity for blues are at 80% and white are at 40%... I have the 20K look that I always like and with the addition to the reds coming on with the whites it really pops out the red and orange colors greatly.
But as a fan of T-5, I still feel T-5 are a better match for LED's the only downside for T-5 are the bulb purchases every year. The fact that I have a system that I don't have to buy lighitng for anymore for another 7-10 years thats got to be a great deal in itself. I am happy with the purchase and can say that LED's are the future of reefing.
Happy Reefing everyone :wavehand:
Solar Blast Artic-Red Review
So far I have had this up and running for about 4 1/2 days now, and all I got to say is I am really impressed with the quality and design of this fixture. The color intensity is pretty sick and with the Blues and UV Purples that are dim together really gives a nice Pop to all corals and colors.
The white are super cool and dim together with the reds. Right now my intensity for blues are at 80% and white are at 40%... I have the 20K look that I always like and with the addition to the reds coming on with the whites it really pops out the red and orange colors greatly.
But as a fan of T-5, I still feel T-5 are a better match for LED's the only downside for T-5 are the bulb purchases every year. The fact that I have a system that I don't have to buy lighitng for anymore for another 7-10 years thats got to be a great deal in itself. I am happy with the purchase and can say that LED's are the future of reefing.
Happy Reefing everyone :wavehand:
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