Vertex Illumina Club

So I'm setting up a 60x18x25 125g Sps dominant tank. I'm actually leaning towards AI but thought I would ask a few questions about these fixtures first.

Which length would I need, would I need the 60" vertex fixture for 60" tank?

Is an aquarium controller needed to get max use of fixture like with AI? By that I mean setting up detailed sun rise sun set/ storms on computer and so on.

If I need something repaired on it do I need to ship it over seas?
 
Thank-you for the reply. My lfs has AI and after seeing it in person like look even better a lot smaller than I had pictured.

What watt LED'S do vertex use?

I have fishroom so the look of them don't matter a whole lot.

My wife REALLY REALLY likes the price of the AI but I had the 5' pulled up on computer maybe the 4' will be closer to the AI price....
 
Thank-you for the reply. My lfs has AI and after seeing it in person like look even better a lot smaller than I had pictured.

What watt LED'S do vertex use?

I have fishroom so the look of them don't matter a whole lot.

My wife REALLY REALLY likes the price of the AI but I had the 5' pulled up on computer maybe the 4' will be closer to the AI price....
 
MSHUR said:
jamie,

thank you again for your input. my last question would be integration with Profilux.
Since my tank controlled by Profilux would be possable to controll Illumina with 1-10v output? maybe they working on some module integration with Profilux . Profilux known as great worlwide product and i think iwould be big plus for Illimina to be integrated .
unless its already in progress:)


Mike
Click to expand...

Mike,

the Illumina doesn't need any additional control. It is autark. Vertex is planning the release of their Cerebra control system this Summer. I'll be doing beta testing on it and can let people know what it offers. Although it will be possible to intergrate it with the Illumina, I think for most of us this will simply be a nice plus, but not really required. With the V-Stick, you can completely program the Illumina, including light mix, time mix, storm effects, types of moon cycles, etc. and, if you can program in Java, you can literally write your own programs.

I've not worked with the ProfiLux, but its specs are a bit different than the Cerebra. Vertex's Cerebra is really oriented to the aquarist and designed to co-ordinate all the Vertex compatable products. I can't wait to play with this baby. I'm expecting the unexpected. Let's see!

By the way, one shouldn't refer to LEDs per wattage, as they are not Watt specific. When run at a particular current, they will show a certain Watt consumption, but this is variable. One can still refer to lumens per Watt, as this would be a specific relationship, but it finally depends on the running current (amp/volt).
 
How large is the lighting area of the Vertex 260? Does it cover to the 30" deep tank?

What is the dimension of the lighting fixture that not including heat sink area?

What's different of these models? How many LEDs bulbs does it have for the 60" to 72" lighting fixture.

R260's use 3W Cree XPG

SR200's use 3W Cree XPE
 
Jamie,

Don't worry about it...as of recent, I spend a lot of time reading with my job, I love to read but sometimes it would just be nice to SEE pictures when reading about results and claims...people have different learning styles/preferences, just trying to offer you some constuctive criticism, otherwise it appears you know what you're talking about and are doing well. I'm also sure there is an underlying words useage/sarcasm issue on my part as far as you reading my post as upset...I just get annoyed easily, that's my problem not yours, you're just trying to be helpful and communicate in a style you're comfortable with...I wish more people would post their photos of this light and their tanks overall look.

As far as the cloud thing....I wasn't wanting to extend my light period by hours, just maybe 30 minutes more of the "full sun" look...I could care less if the thing powered off and on, I remember reading in the manual about how if the LEDs dim too low the fixture will turn off the LEDs but the fixture will still be electrically live. I'm not kidding, one of my rules to live by: If I touch something, it's probably going to shock me. My friends say I'm some sort of human tesla ball, and I think they're right.

As far as my pictures go, all my pictures have been taken by an android phone or BlackBerry...my nice camera has a lot of fun features on it, I love it and can never just take one simple photo with it like I can with my phone...I'd rather see crappy cell phone pictures than nothing IMO.

Your question on the algae under the vertex...yes and no.
This is my tank at the end of January...
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-02-08025138.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-02-08025138.jpg border=0 alt=></a>
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-02-09134208.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-02-09134208.jpg border=0 alt=></a>
For those of you not familiar with it BE GLAD! It's called Neomeris annulata, a calcium and light loving algae and it's not fun or easy to get rid of.

This is my tank now (these two photos were taken and edited with my Nikon camera so the color is pretty accurate)
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=D7000SIDE.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/D7000SIDE.jpg border=0 alt=></a>
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=D7000FULL.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/D7000FULL.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

Other than the green little monsters that took over in the begining I had hardly any algae issues during the cycle...I only have one spot of H.A. in my tank and it is melting away as I have turned the rock towards direct lighting...maybe it's just luck but I had a feeling all along the light was the influential variable on my marine plants and algae growths...The livestock in the tank is thriving under this light, and I too could not be happier with this light.

No worries,
A.
 
Agydal,

sweet tank you have. I have mainly sps, its nice to see a collection of lps. I plan on adding a few Goniopora and smaller Favids to round out the deeper areas. At the moment I have but on Fungia, possible F. scabra, which is an easy one. It realy has improved under the LEDs, as most corals have.

Your alga were actually kinda cool, but a plague is a plague. I can' t get into Aiptasia, either! :uzi:

Here's to a new begin :beer: . Two things they do extremely well in Germany; bread and beer! I'll see about a foto or two.

j.
 
I just received my SR-1200. Can someone tell me if it's possible to turn off the individual LED modules? I would like to turn off the first and last module.

Thanks
 
I do have the V-Stick, can you advise me how to program it in the "Expert Mode". I thought you have to turn it off in the "Special Settings" section where you do the cloud and lightning. But it doesn't seem to work for me.
 
studentdriver said:
I do have the V-Stick, can you advise me how to program it in the "Expert Mode". I thought you have to turn it off in the "Special Settings" section where you do the cloud and lightning. But it doesn't seem to work for me.
Click to expand...

if you put cloud dim out to 100% and then apply the cloud to module 0 and 9 maybe 6 in your case then press apply settings the first and last module will be turned off
 
Picked up my 12' 260 Vertex unit today from UPS.
Had to pay a 75 dollar "brokerage fee" to UPS, which was un-expected.
Anyone else in the U.S. have that?
I bought from JandL Aquatics in Canada.

:EDIT: apparently this is typical UPS behavior for Canadian exports. :fun2:
 
Last edited:
UPS happens to charge a lot as well when we Canadians buy things from US. So I always insist shipping by USPS, and if they can't I go elsewhere. So in your case, next time you should ask them to ship by Canada Post.
 
I found the club...now just checking to see if this is what I want to do. I am planning a 60X36X30 tank and was looking at the 60' 260 for a light. Will this be enough?
 
It will certainly be enough. In my 70cm/30" deep tank I find I must reduce the royal blue to 80% to prevent burning, while the white is between 50%-80% (1 hr peak) and the blue at 90%. Growth is great, colours fine and more intense. I have mainly acros, but a few Fungia and various Montis. With a tank as big as you are planning, I would leave some nice open expanses of white sand to reflect the light to the underside of table acros. It really makes them shine.
 
OK, I thought the width was the depth. My tank is 27" or so in width and I think it could be a bit wider without a problem, as the Vertex Illumina does not use lenses. It has a 120° light angle, which would give shaded area at the top of the water collumn with less light around the bottom perimeter. I suppose the final question is, 'what are you planning on keeping?' The bottom will be lit, no problem, but the light intensity will be lower toward the glass. I would think it would be sufficient for most low light corals. If one needed additional light, it could be supplemented with some Vertex Illumilux strips or simply more lighting pads added to the Illumina fixture. There would be a solution possible, should the light intensity be insufficient.

One thing I have noted since using the Illumina; small Monti frags, which fall from the corals through my clumsiness, start growing in all sorts of strange corners and shadows, often showing different pigments than those they had under the stronger light. Apparently the royal blue and blue are penetrating the water so well, that these frags are capable of establishing themselves, when under my previous HQI lighting, they would have simply died.
 
I am wondering where you came across the fact that the whit lights on the Vertex Illumina were not for coral growth! I have a 36" 200 Illumina and run my lights at 80% white and 100% both blues! Getting great growth! It is really white and would like to turn the white down some more but with t5 lights the whites are the grow lights! I would think the blues would be the supplemental lights and not the grow lights! My tank depth is 24" and 30" deep and 36" long!

Let me know your thoughts!
 
I notice that the Illumina 200 series has 2 white LEDS to every one Blue and one Royal Blue. Is that the same setup with the Lummina 260?

I belive the AI SOL has a 1 to 1 ratio on all three color LEDs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Maxspect jump led issue
Replies
0
Views
88
Cruzersmith
C
jay505
Is STARS still an active club
Replies
3
Views
48
griss
griss
davisl
SOLARIS PFOaquatics with I5 Power Supply - AUTO settings question, there a manual?
Replies
5
Views
323
oreo57
oreo57
Timfish
WooHoooo! Or, Guess the Parents.
Replies
9
Views
564
C.Eymann
C.Eymann
L
Equipment help
Replies
8
Views
61
lilredwuck
L
Back
Top