Vertex Illumina Club

[Luxo]

I bought a SR260 from Bulk Reef Supply a few weeks ago. I purchased extra red modules for it and right off the bat couldn't get it to follow any of the programs. I finally got it working after 2 days of tinkering an after they emailed me a different program, but a $2,500 fixture shouldn't be so buggy.

It worked for a while, then on friday night one of the ballasts went out. I tried to get an advanced replacement (give Bulk Reef my credit card to ship me out a replacement, then send the broken one back, and they credit me) but they wouldn't do it, saying that warranty claims have to go through the manufacturer. I just bought the thing! Now I have to wait 2 more days just to get an answer as to when I'll get a new ballast. I have a ton of new SPS's & can't got a week without light.

I know a lot of people have had good experiences with this light, but I def haven't. I'll probably sell it & go back to my Sfigoly MH fixture. The energy savings & cool features aren't worth this headache!

That's bad luck! Are the powersupplies MEANWELL?
You should check that since that is what I got on mine but that was a year ago! they are one of the best in the industry! Unless the changed the PS!!!!!! to save money!
The fixture is just too feature-rich! too many programming options! takes a little learing curve to master it but once you do should be OK! Have not had any issues here!
Cheers,
Dave

 

[Luxo]

I have just changed the colours to white and both blues to 35% and I like what I see :celeb1:
I just followed the blue saturation idea that everyone else had for the past year. I don't know why "Baaaah!":fish2::fish2:

Good stuff! Let us know how things change! Why don't you raise the UV up a bit!
I would do it gradually! a few pages back I you can see pics from an Aussie forum showing how the LPS were effected under UV!
Not sure how much UV output the pads have but should definately make a difference same as a tanning bed I guess

 

[Retzius]

This thread has been pretty lengthy and I don't see many pics. So I will add a few of before and afters to show how my 24" Vertex Illumina 260 has worked for me. This is using the standard 3 color leds found on the units. No red or UV.

Back in November (newly setup tank) Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

I ran a calcium reactor for the first six months and it was a nightmare. After I ran two part things colored up after a month and started growing. I am sure if I had two part from the beginning my growth would be even better.

 

[hagarthefish]

Good stuff! Let us know how things change! Why don't you raise the UV up a bit!
I would do it gradually! a few pages back I you can see pics from an Aussie forum showing how the LPS were effected under UV!
Not sure how much UV output the pads have but should definately make a difference same as a tanning bed I guess

Once I get a new vlink and update the firmware etc I will build up the uv slowly. I have always had probs with having to reset firmware. Sometimes the lights run great for weeks then for no reason there will be a random group of leds on at three in the morning!!
I have had the lights running for just over a year now.

 

[stewgene]

Hey there guys, thanks for all the help. Made buying the 600 260 that much easier. Been on this thread for awhile but this will be the first post.
Ok, could really use some help.

(Firstly, i use a Mac OSX 10.6.8 No real access to a PC)

- Had the light on and working beautifully for a few months. Just kept things simple and had it in custom mode. Whites 50% Blues 70%ish. Corals doing great.

- Added the red module, worked great, the firmware read it instantly. On the lamp itself and on the Desktop.

- A couple of months go by.... all is great.

- UV module comes out (excited) installed it last night, all hell breaks loose!

1. UV pad doesn't come on.
2. Firmware is all up to date according to Vertex's website.
3. Program is still set on custom, but not working. Times are all off.
4. Pads start flickering for no apparent reason.
5. Neither lamp nor desktop recognizes the uv pad.
6. Tried the manual reset and factory reset, to no avail.
7. I'm pretty sure and hoping that its something simple, but i could really use some help.

Thanks again guys.

 

[captbillm]

Software Question

Software Question

I found this European site that Jamie from Vertex posts on. Go there and ask him for addvice.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=578802

:idea:

 

[stewgene]

I found this European site that Jamie from Vertex posts on. Go there and ask him for addvice.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=578802

:idea:

thanks for the link. Good info on there.

 

[strendo]

Just thought I'd post an update to my broken driver- I'm going on week 3 without my light. Warranty service is horrible for a $2,500 light!

 

[Padrino]

Just thought I'd post an update to my broken driver- I'm going on week 3 without my light. Warranty service is horrible for a $2,500 light!

Who are you dealing with? Have you contacted the distributor. Id suggest contacting proline aquatics located in BC.

 

[hagarthefish]

Just thought I'd post an update to my broken driver- I'm going on week 3 without my light. Warranty service is horrible for a $2,500 light!

That is a worry m8. I had a broken v-link and had to wait a few weeks also. Thats a major problem when parts etc are not easily available.
I got in touch with vertex by email and the reply was they don't really break!!
Mine did and was, there were non to be had in the UK and even vertex had none!
Hope your tanks alive and well m8 :hmm2:

 

[strendo]

That is a worry m8. I had a broken v-link and had to wait a few weeks also. Thats a major problem when parts etc are not easily available.
I got in touch with vertex by email and the reply was they don't really break!!
Mine did and was, there were non to be had in the UK and even vertex had none!
Hope your tanks alive and well m8 :hmm2:

Thnx, I bought it from bulk reef supply, they have them in stock but won't send me one for a replacement. I even offered to pay for another one until they got my broken one back. Really ridiculous, I'm trying to return the light to them now.

 

[notclear]

That is not good service, in fact terrible. But how about you just buy the v-stick from another supplier?

 

[hagarthefish]

That is not good service, in fact terrible. But how about you just buy the v-stick from another supplier?

At the time n8, there were no v-links anywhere in the UK and Vertex had none either. I have got one now however. The others guys problem was not to do with a v-link:thumbdown

 

[strendo]

At the time n8, there were no v-links anywhere in the UK and Vertex had none either. I have got one now however. The others guys problem was not to do with a v-link:thumbdown

Yes, I still haven't gotten the replacement part. I've been without a light for close to a month now. I've had to resort to disputing the charge with my credit card. Horrible customer service! You'd think someone from Vertex would bother following this thread..

 

[hagarthefish]

Yes, I still haven't gotten the replacement part. I've been without a light for close to a month now. I've had to resort to disputing the charge with my credit card. Horrible customer service! You'd think someone from Vertex would bother following this thread..

If you want a Vertex rep to see your postings mate, better to post here: http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=535977

These threads get read by Jamie every few days at least and he will try to help

 

[Snarkys]

Just thought I'd post an update to my broken driver- I'm going on week 3 without my light. Warranty service is horrible for a $2,500 light!

Hi,

I am not really sure what happened here but I'd like to offer an apology for any frustration you may have experienced trying to get this replaced. Please contact Brandon Brandon@bulkreefsupply.com 763-432-9691 and he will take care of this immediately. There really is no reason you should have to wait that long for warrantee service on a fairly critical component to your system. Not really a big deal if a tank goes without light for a week but a few is pretty unacceptable, especially on a piece of equipment in this price range.

Like pretty much every product out there be it car, phone, skimmer, light"¦ the warrantee is offered by the manufacture and it is their responsibility to quickly diagnose issues and replace components covered under the warrantee. Vertex and their distributor generally have very helpful service but being as it has been this long I want to make sure you are taken care of immediately. I will make sure Brandon takes care of this quickly and to your satisfaction : )

Again I apologize for the hassle, Ryan

 

[ReefShrink]

Just joined the club! Ordered it from BRS this morning, they are have it on sale today!

 

[chuckbuc]

I am upgrading from a 120 gal with halides to a 300 gal deep dimension which is 6ft x 3ft by 27" high .I really want to go led on my new build ,I was planning on going with Vegas but seams like the vertex 360 may be the way to go ,what exact model would I need for my new tank and ruffly what does it cost

 

[ReefShrink]

Vertex recommends going one foot less than the length of your tank so a 5 foot 360 runs $3,485.99. It has a very good spread so it should take care of the 36" depth of your tank.

 

[geniusloci]

I keep mainly soft and lps and my lights started playing up 3 weeks ago, some pads went out and others look to be brighter than others. Normally when this happens I can reset firmware with the vlink.

BTW, have you ever setup Clouds or Triangular movement? As these are two reasons to have pads with different power.

I've also ordered Vertex Red and UV modules and we'll get them setup when they arrive.

The Red module (and the red light in general) is very overwhelming, in the long run you may ignore it completely. UV pads are actually more like True Violet - they are partially in the visible range but keep in mind the RBs cover some part of that range. What can cause change of pigmentation or lack of bright colouration is low level of the Whites or high level of the Blues (which are also very overwhelming in my experience). So far on SR360 with added UV/RB and one Red) I use 20-40% White, 90% RB and less than 30% Blue. UV - 10 to 20% with short 30% rise at noon. I used some Red each morning and evening, but some LPS corals and all the bubble tip anemones shrink the moment it shows - it seems they don't like it and afaik I will not get any good color if they start producing pigmentation to shield from the red light.

In general - there is almost nothing from the red spectrum in deep water, and true UV is filtered as well, so I don't see much need to supplement the reds (the UV pads add violets and near-visible spectrum so they stay), as they will be used mostly by algae. At least I think so, judging from my brief Illumina experience.