Vertex Illumina Club

Anyone running the newest BETA firmware having problems with the fixture?

Some days none of the LEDs will come on when they are suppose to, only the UV will turn on. If I upload the program again, it'll fix the problem. It has done this twice now.

The other problem is that when you use the "Light Compose". The UV pads do not function correctly.
 
I had to write the whole lighting prog from scratch then upload to unit, save to startup and then saved the file. The program forgot my settings after restarting the v-link desktop.
What worked for me was to then reload the new csv. file from "my documents"and then click save as startup. Once I had done this, all was well and has stayed the same up to now. That was 11 days ago.
 
hagarthefish,
I try uploading the program again and it fixes the problem. But the next day it'll do the same thing again.

I also tried saving the .csv file to the hard drive and then reload it again.

How do you exactly "Save as Startup"?

Thanks
 
I'm considering the 6 foot vertex for my 7 foot glass oceanic tank. Hanging the light is not an option for me. Has anyone used the bracket legs in a similar application. They are for rimmed acrylic, and I don't know if they would be suitable for a glass tank with plastic trim, thanks, Mike
 
studentdriver said:
hagarthefish,
I try uploading the program again and it fixes the problem. But the next day it'll do the same thing again.

I also tried saving the .csv file to the hard drive and then reload it again.

How do you exactly "Save as Startup"?

Thanks
Click to expand...

You just click on "start up setting"
I guess this is a part of the reason that its still Beta! Perhaps I'm was lucky?
I don't really know, but I did have problems at first. Did you write the whole light pattern in expert, from scratch? Not copied from an old file or custom? Then saved to file and then loaded from the new file and saved to startup. Then save settings from drop down menu once again.
Thats how I did it, pehaps more luck than judgement?:headwallblue:
Good luck mate, hope they finalise the software soon!
 
Mike,

I'm supposed to received the mounting brackets from BRS today and it's going over a 10mm rimless glass tank so I wouldn't know how that would work with the plastic trim. Perhaps all you need is to measure the thickness of the lip of the plastic trim when you order the legs. There is video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4zZFi76Afg done by "Biased reefer". Maybe this can help you. Good luck.
 
Thank you Animadverto, that was indeed helpful to visualize the brackets. My plastic trim lip is .65 in, so none of the feet will fit it, but after watching the you-tube, I don't see any reason I couldn't just saw off the plastic foot portion that sits inside the tank, and just have the acrylic feet sit on the rim. The brackets would then overhang on the outside of the rim to keep the light from shifting and becoming a submarine! Please let me know after you receive yours if you think they are sturdy enough to support a six foot illumine in the manner I described.
thanks! Mike
 
Mimbler1 said:
Thank you Animadverto, that was indeed helpful to visualize the brackets. My plastic trim lip is .65 in, so none of the feet will fit it, but after watching the you-tube, I don't see any reason I couldn't just saw off the plastic foot portion that sits inside the tank, and just have the acrylic feet sit on the rim. The brackets would then overhang on the outside of the rim to keep the light from shifting and becoming a submarine! Please let me know after you receive yours if you think they are sturdy enough to support a six foot illumine in the manner I described.
thanks! Mike
Click to expand...

Hey Mike,

I received my mounting brackets and had them installed. The design is very solid and clever in a way that the brackets are adjustable to the desired width of your tank (provided that your fixture is not too short in relation to the tank itself) and the weight of the fixture is distributed to the tail end of the brackets where they hinge onto the top edges of your tank with the heavy duty acrylic feet. My only mistake was not ordering enough acrylic feet. I ordered one set thinking that it's for one fixture, but you will need 2 sets of them (2 feet on each side of the extruded aluminum brackets). These brackets will have no problems supporting the weight of the fixture you're thinking about. You are absolutely right about sawing off the acrylic foot portion that sits inside the lip of the tank for your specific situation as they don't support the weight of the fixture at all. They are just there to keep your fixture from moving around, but the movement is already restricted by the brackets themselves and the top portion of the acrylic feet that rest on top of the lip of the tank. I hope this helps.

David
 
Im thinking about purchasing this unit, my tank is 39x24x22 deep. I was deciding between the 24"260 or the 36" 200...My tank is a mixed reef but even if i went full
SPS I would think the 36"200 would be plenty of light. I also believe I would have more flexibility with the longer unit. Is this sound logic or am I missing something??
 
Thanks David, your description told me exactly what I needed to know. I'll be able to order the fixture now. I really appreciate your feedback!
Mike
 
Illumina desktop v-link sync

Illumina desktop v-link sync

Sorry if this is answered earlier in the thread, but how do I sync using Vertex Desktop/V-link to my Illumina?
Thanks!
 
Can someone tell me why they chose the vertex illumina over the radions? are they that much better? I herd people are getting great results from the radions?
 
If I had to do it again I would probably choose the radions because they have better support imo. Also, they are not overseas in Australia but instead, in the US. I have seen with my own two eyes that they can color sps corals. Vividaquarium has them in their large display tank.

I don't know about the Radions software but the Vertex illumina software needs to be better as well.

The advantage I give to the Illumina over the Radions is that the Illumina is upgradeable by its modules and looks better over a tank as a large single unit opposed to two small units.

If, in the near future a new Cree led is released with say, full spectrum, then you can easily upgrade by just buying a pad. However, I think the next generation of Radions are going to offer the same thing, upgradeable modules just like the AI Vega. Just my 2cents.
 
luk81a said:
Can someone tell me why they chose the vertex illumina over the radions? are they that much better? I herd people are getting great results from the radions?
Click to expand...
Not sure about USA, but In Europe it's a clear win for the Illumina. We also have SR360s, and if you have to cover say 48" tank (or a bit wider) you will need at least four Radions vs. one SR1200 - and the SR360 1200mm will be cheaper as a base unit (3000 vs. 2529 Euro). Another reason I got Illumina is that it can be upgraded - not somewhere in the future, but now.

Each Illumina has these pads, and the 1200mm has 8 of them, and it can accept an Aux module between each two pads (for a total of 7 in SR1200). I got mine with two true violet, one red and two Royal Blue modules. The UV/Violet are just for color rendering and pigmentation, the RB give some additional output, and the Red LED module... well I wanted to see it. Of course this way the unit will cost me a bit over 3000 Euro, but I have the way I want it, it is a single unit and I can mount it on top of the tank (it doesn't have lens so it covers a lot of surface).

Now if I wanted to get something cheap but with high overall quality I'd get Aqualum fixtures, they are made in Greece and are fairly good for their size. Radions are just too expensive for their size in Europe - and especially in my country as I have to order them from Germany or UK (the later is a bad idea given how expensive is the pound sterling right now), so I'd have to pay the shipping as well. If you are going to use them over very deep tank they are the way to go, but if it is just wide and not that deep (less than 30")- there are better ways to do it, and much cheaper as well.
 
Last edited:
I think the reason why Illumina is the best fixture is the lack of optics/ reflectors and close bunching of the LEDs.
I have been to Vivid as well, I think some shops have staff to take extra good care of their system and Corals can get used to almost any type of light but the water Chem. is the most important factor.
However the tank at Vivid is great to demonstrate that LEDs can grow corals.
I think other fixtures do not have the same natural lighting shimmer look that Ilumina has.
Also I don't like to raise my fixture 8" to avoid disco ball effect.
The problem is the grass being greener on the other side. I too have been to other club memeber's place and thought their fixture is better and the same for him! He almost traded his Reeftech for the Illumina I talked him out of it! At one point you just gotta be happy with what you have.
I think I be OK for lighting for a few years unless.... :)
Cheers,
Dave
 
Mounting Kit

Mounting Kit

I have a 2 foot SR260 that I mounted on my Marineland 93 gallon cube tank and it worked out great.All you have to do is turn the plastic mount around and have the unit clamp onto the tank. It sits perfect and slides back and for with ease. For some reason the system will not let me upload any pictures so here is a link to another site that I have photos on.

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/tank-threads/127854-my-93-gallon-cube-setup.html
 
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