LED recomendations

[Reef1121]

Hi there, I am about to purchase 2 AI SOL blue fixtures from my LFS and was wondering is this the best controlable LED fixture as far as PAR, color spectrum and extras i.e. Thunderstorms, cloud coverage, winter and summer light cycles (neptune controller) and full month moon cycles.

 

[pmrossetti]

as of right now AI and Vertex . Radion full programs not released yet.

 

[Reef1121]

What about the spectrum, is it comparable to a MH but with the "pop" that a T5 would have?

 

[pmrossetti]

see heckeng's review below

 

[Reef1121]

Thanks for the help. His initial review was great. And I cant believe he runs his at 100%. My LFS cant get theres above 40% without frying out their SPS. But now seeing that you can replicate just about any color and any spectrum does anyone have any complaints about the lights thus far?

 

[heckeng]

You're confusing people Reef1121. I don't run mine at 100%.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2091266

You will get FAR more "Pop" with these than with T5 or MH. My color spectrum is more complete than with my previous 14k Phoenix MH bulbs, but I don't quite have the yellows like when I ran 10k bulbs--but when I used those MH bulbs, I didn't like the rest of the tank colors. I tried Aqualine Bueschke 10k, Reeflux 10k, Reeflux 12k, and finally the Phoenix 14k. All of them (and I believe with EVERY lighting system) you will have SOME compromise. The goal is to try and accomplish what you like and what is good for the corals with the minimal amount of compromise.

Overall, to me they have a great coloration with a little less of a compromise than you would have with MH bulbs. I think you could get a better overall spectrum with T5's, or potentially the right MH/T5 or LED combination and have good "pop" with them but you don't get any other benefits of the LEDs like the lack of light spill, low heat, and the amazing programming/dimming.

 

[Reef1121]

Sorry about the miscommunication. Yesterday I had followed a link off of your review thread and it went to another thread were the person was running 12 AI SOL with the 70 degrees optics at near 100%, which I had thought was insane. Sorry again about any confusion this would have caused.

 

[heckeng]

It's no problem Reef1121, I just hope my review helped and didn't want you to think that after reading my review that I was running 100%.

The hardest thing with these lights is being patient enough not to crank up the power. My tank is a little dim looking right now but I can tell I am right on the edge of having too much light for some of my corals. I figure I will ramp up around 5% every week to two weeks until I am around 40-50%

 

[Reef1121]

Your review was one of the best that I have read and I thank pmrossetti for giving me your link to look up. It was very informative and gave me all the answers to the questions that I had about the light system. I want to trust my LFS about what they told me about the lights but again they are a store and they like to make a profit too. Its nice to hear from people that actually have the lights to hear the pros and cons opposed to just what the company says. The 2 fixtures that I ordered will be for my 55g bulid that is all but done. Ill post pics when I have water and the lights on it. Thanks again for all of your help.