Verdict is in on Aqua Illuminations- Don't buy

[SethTheWineGuy]

After purchasing AI SOL Blues in Dec 2010 for my build I have done a lot of fiddling around with these units and would like to offer MY observations and experience. When researching lighting for my build I entertained all options. I decided on LED (And AI specifically) for a number of reasons. I went around town viewing a number of different tanks with different LED set ups. Of course, I also saw several MH and T5 setups as well. When all the research was done and after reading CalmSeasQuest's thread on RC I decided AI was the way to go.

LED had such an upside looking at it on paper. And so here are the pro's and con's of the AI's for me on paper

PRO'S

1. No heat emission
2. Complete control of White to Blue ratio with controller
3. Sunrise and sunset. (Love it!)
4. Apex controllability allowing i-phone controls and wicked programing options (A real draw for the gadget guy!)
5. Low energy consumption
6. Low bulb replacement cost based on life expectancy
7. And yes I hate to admit it, but the "It's the newest, coolest, hottest thing on the market factor" (Remember, this was 2010)

CON'S

1. Price
2. SPS didn't look as pleasing to the eye as MH tanks.

When I emailed and called AI prior to deciding on the units, they basically put their hand on the Bible and swore that each unit would cover a 24"x24" area well enough to grow any sort of corals I like within it. I was told without question, two units hung 12" over the water with 40 degree optics would be more than enough for my tank.

(I will have to disagree with their claims. I would say they adequately cover between a 12"x12"-18"x18" square of a 25" deep tank.)

With the information they gave me I made my decision. While the units were very expensive, I could justify the cost given the upside. After running the units front to back, side to side, changing the optics, mixing the optics, and adjusting the height... I've come to some conclusions. Here are my observations over the past year plus.

• SPS has little to no growth and color is vastly inferior to MH tanks.
• * A friend of mine is running a tank with 400w MH. We both bought the same exact SPS frags, from the same colonies, at the same time. His have incredible Pop, growth, and color. Mine do not.
• My Zoa's and LPS are growing like MAD and have incredible color with a "Wow" factor.
• Spotlighting is a real issue with the stock optics if using AI's recommended quantity.
• Very uneven light distribution. PAR can be measured a full 200 points different just 2" away from another parallel spot.
• Brightness is very deceptive. The naked eye looking at a tank with MH vs LED will fool you. The AI's seem to be a more laser beam/particle beam light where MH seem to be a more wavelength light.
• *I would liken this to the difference between a room lit with sunlight flooding in from a window or a room illuminated by a very bright flashlight. While both may have the same measurable PAR, one is distinctly different than the other as seen to the naked eye. Which of these would you like the rooms of your house illuminated by?
• SPS has bad color
• SPS has bad growth

FWIW- My tank parameters have ranged over the past year as follows

• Mg- 1290-1350
• Ca- 420-450
• KH-11-12
• PO4- Never higher than .12 it was at .02 yesterday per Hanna Bench top photometer. (Not the pocket version)
• NO3-0
• Specific gravity 1.025-1.026
• Temp 77.4 in winter an 80 in summer
• PH 8.2-8.4

Just recently I've had a problem maintaing my Mg and Ca. Probably do to the fact that things are actually GROWING with enough lights added.

I was in love with these units for the first several months I had them. I wanted to love them even after I started seeing their failings. I didn't want to think I had made a bad decision, (And even worse, admit it to the world!) I'm setting my pride aside to try and help others. I loved these units for all the wrong reasons. Bottom line- Why do we buy lights for our tanks? To GROW things! Not do fancy tricks or cut down heat.

AI claims each of their 75 watts units is equivalent to 270 watts of MH. Well, it took 6 AI's on my tank for everything to be happy and growing. That would equate to 1620 watts of Metal Halide per their claims. My tank is 120g! (47x24x25) The internal overflow I have cuts the usable coral foot print of the tank down to 18" front to back.

My entire issue or "beef" with AI is with the fact their claims are FALSE! Be it their posted charts or verbal/written recommendations. Looking at their chart alone, common sense will illustrate that. Chart I'm referring to being here: (http://www.aquaillumination.com/sol/performance.html) Off Aqua Illuminations website.

So,how does a rectangular shaped module produce a balanced spherical foot print of light? I'm no geometry wiz but I would call that a misrepresentation. (The only possible explanation I can think of is: The only pucks generating relevant light for PAR are the inner four with the 40* optics and the four outer 70* pucks are just there to help wash out the intense columns of light the 40's produce.)
But, I measured my PAR directly beneath a fixture with all 70* optics and got 300 uMol in the sand bed (22" down with three units) at 100% power. The 40* optic theory is debunked.

So, if I went to a car dealership and said, "I have a boat weighing 8000 pounds that needs towing and I'm looking for a truck to tow it."
Then, the dealership sells me a truck and they say, "This truck can tow it no problem." They even show me nice documents saying how much it can tow and its massive engine power. I bring the truck home and I can't even get the boat out of the driveway. I go back to the dealership to complain and they tell me, "If you buy another truck and daisy chain them together you could then tow the boat for sure."

People need to know when a manufacturer is not living up to its claims. I take every opportunity to do so. I have no doubt if you throw enough of these units on any given tank you can grow any coral. I say that you can't using AI's claims of performance.

 

[Tron_954]

I beg to differ, my SPS (dominant reef) has nothing but color and growth. So its on a tank to tank basis.

But don't kid yourself, u may have had a mishap somewhere but these lights surely provide excellent growth and great color, obviously completely different than MH, so how bout lets not compare apples to oranges, sorry to hear they didn't work for u, but let's keep the lit bashing to a minimum as they work for several people.

Have a good one!

 

[gveng]

let me know if you decide to sell them! i'm interested!

 

[SethTheWineGuy]

I beg to differ, my SPS (dominant reef) has nothing but color and growth.

I appreciate your input but you are reinforcing my angle here. On a 23g nano I would expect good results from one of these units.

To reword my analogy-
You and I went to the same truck dealership. You told them you needed a truck that could tow your rowboat and I told them I needed one to pull my 32 footer. We were both sold the same truck. When I complain that it doesn't pull my boat, you chime in and say it pulls yours just fine.
That is my whole point. You need a lot more units (power) than what the company would suggest. Since going to 50% more units than the company claims I would need, I'm doing just fine.

 

[Allmost]

ok, you should have worded ure thread differently

as I understand, you are not bashing AI nor LEDs, you ae bashing the SPECIFICATION given by AI ...

well, I am not suprised, cause what is rated correctly in this hobby ? lighting, skimmers, pumps, ... they are ALL OVERRATED ! a skimmer rated for 200 G, can skim only 100G for SPS ... as a reefer, I am used to that now ...

there are multiple tanks on here running AI with good growth and color ... so its not the AI ....

radion sais the same, covers 24"x24" , and it doesnt ! they are all the same !

 

[rl225]

Thank you for your feedback. What I take from this is buyer be warned, in your opinion a 24"x24" lighted footprint is not adequate for sps, you feel it's closer to 12"12"

I really want to believe LEDs work. It's the best option (aside from price).

LEDs have also struck the plant growing world by storm. People growing plants via hydroponic indoor systems are also using these lights and switching from HOT HID lights like HPS and MH.

I won't be buying lights for months.. everyday I switch from T5 to MH, and have about given up on LEDs, but not all the way yet.

Maybe a middle ground of 18"x18" is a more accurate footprint. I think the footprint also is effected by LEDs in 40 or 70 optics range?

I sure wish there was an answer to my question:

What is the best lighting for SPS 225 72"x24"x30"Tall?

Some say T5, others say LED, some MH... to me, T5 may have trouble getting to 30", while MH won't and has been tried/tested and works.. and LED.. is a debate.. for me, today, MH seems my best option, but not looking forward to the HEAT and ballast NOISE

 

[Tron_954]

It's the penetration, not the spread.

And FYI, radion penetration is no where near the strength of the sols

Lfs apogee test proved that one lol

 

[Allmost]

It's the penetration, not the spread.

And FYI, radion penetration is no where near the strength of the sols

Lfs apogee test proved that one lol

please quote, so we know who you are trying to talk to / what you are replying to.

 

[SethTheWineGuy]

as I understand, you are not bashing AI nor LEDs, you ae bashing the SPECIFICATION given by AI ...

CORRECT

well, I am not suprised, cause what is rated correctly in this hobby ? lighting, skimmers, pumps, ... they are ALL OVERRATED ! a skimmer rated for 200 G, can skim only 100G for SPS ... as a reefer, I am used to that now ...

This is why I stick to manufactures that have accurate claims and bash those that don't. Everything else on my tank does what it claims. Vortech's for flow, Emperor Aquatics for UV, MRC Reeflo Orca Pro for skimming. If anything- all these underestimate their performance.

I just call it the way I see it. Most people seem to be ok with The Emperor's New Clothes.

 

[38bill]

"Verdict is in on Aqua Illuminations- Don't buy"

I have no problem with your private opinions but a "verdict" requires a jury of people.

 

[SethTheWineGuy]

Just to be clear folks, I wouldn't post something like this about a company that stands behind it's product. I've had problems with products of all types over the years but what sets a company apart from others is their desire to try and make it right.

When I shared my issues with AI many months ago their response to me was- "Sorry, the guy that gave you the bad advice on our products doesn't work here anymore."

I'm sharing my experience. Nothing more. I know many people that quietly got rid of their AI's because they were a little embarrassed to publicly admit their issues. I really don't care what others think about my missteps. I made, what I believe, to be a mistake. My local club is well aware of it. I'm just bringing it to a little bigger audience now.

 

[Donkeykong]

To the OP, it is like you said not every truck is built to pull every load. One of the problems is that like alot of things in this and any hobby they are rated to high so you actually need a little more than recommended. But I do believe this is a very power tool and configured correctly for the tank it can be very successful, which has been proven here many times over. LED's are so new still that there are few hard and fast rules that there is a lot of testing and adjusting that needs to be done for each tank. I think LED's are great option for lighting but for anybody who just wants to plug a product in and walk away they are just not there yet. IMO

 

[hkgar]

Maybe the trailer was misconfigured and was applying too much tongue weight for the truck to handle.

 

[bayoupr]

My Verdict is; AI is INNOCENT of all CHARGES.:hammer:

 

[rtparty]

My Verdict is; AI is INNOCENT of all CHARGES.:hammer:

How?

They recommended something that wasn't nearly enough. It has been common practice on the boards to say that AIs can only really cover a 12" area. Some use less and do fine but they can in NO WAY cover a 24x24 area properly. AIs are just too spotlight-y for good spread.

 

[bayoupr]

I have four over a 180, 72 x 24 x 24 and have no spot lighting effect. They are 12" above the water. When I had three with 70deg optics I didn't have a spot light effect either. Picked up a fourth cheap and went back to the stock optics.

 

[min9a]

So how many units do I need for a 36x24x20 tank?

I'm new to LEDs. I saw the radions have cool programming features. Do sols have such features?

 

[sirreal63]

There isn't a problem with the product, but there is a problem with some of the claims they made. Notice they do not boast about them being comparable to a 250 watt MH? It is missing unless they have buried it somewhere else on their website. If they told you that you could cover a 24x24 area evenly it would be easier to sell a couple of units and get you hooked for when you realized you needed two more. Obviously not all of their sales reps are unscrupulous dolts because I got good information.

My tank is 40x40x17 tall and they told me it would take 4 units to cover it (70 deg optics). That is about right based on Sanjay's testing of the unit. I currently cover the tank with 300 watts of halides so there was no need in switching to 280 watts of LED's.

I applaud you for coming here and telling of your experience. If you look at the tanks that have been successful with them, they are running them so they cover a 12x12 area. There is nothing wrong with the product but there is everything wrong with their claims. If you look at the chart on their website, the 100-150 par they are correctly stating is needed on the sand is only in a small area through air (about a 12x12 area), add water to the mix and it is much less. To combat this you need more units to evenly distribute the PAR. The product is fine, but it needs to be utilized correctly just like every pc of equipment we have.

The technology is growing at a rapid pace and it won't be long before it lives up to the hype and they are a realistic and viable lighting alternative for the masses. Right not that just isn't the case. Some people will see real and quantifiable results in their bank account from using them, but for most it is just a neat new toy. In the end we will all benefit from the technology, it is here to stay.

 

[sirreal63]

I have four over a 180, 72 x 24 x 24 and have no spot lighting effect. They are 12" above the water. When I had three with 70deg optics I didn't have a spot light effect either. Picked up a fourth cheap and went back to the stock optics.

If you want to have some fun, call them up and tell them dimensions of the tank and that you want to cover the bottom of the tank with 100 PAR across the entire length and width of the tank so your LPS will be happy, then call back and speak to someone else there and see if the answers agree. To add even more fun to it, tell them you have seen Sanjay Joshi's testing.

 

[harlequinacro]

Research, Research, Research..................that's how this hobby works. Especially with a lighting setup of all things. I take everything a manufacturer recommends with a grain of salt. Talking to a representative of a company is going to be a biased conversation. I'm not saying all manufacturers are like that, some manufacturers are very knowledgeable and their products perform like they say. I like to stick to proven products & methods before I make purchases of products still in testing phases.