AI 16HD Issues

[Reaper_Six_Four]

Hey everyone,
I'm currently in the market for some lights for my new reef tank. My previous tank had some off brand lighting that performed rather well for what they were worth (grew corals etc.).

This time around, I'd like to invest a little more money so I can have more options on functionality and control. Seems like one of the most popular lights out there are AIs. However, I've seen some negative reviews on them and while I understand this is a very popular light and it is a small percentage of fails, I'd like to gather first hand user's experience on these (both negative and positive).

Also, any other recommendations on other lights? I'm looking for a light that gives off the tank's shimmer and gives me control over the lights fuctions and settings.

Thanks!

 

[tmc13]

I've used AI's for many years now on various tanks. All the way back the the original Sol's. I'm currently using 3 of the AI prime 16HD's on 22 gallon nano aquarium. Although, not perfect I don't think I would use anything else on this particular tank. IMO, the pro's outweigh the con's. One of the con's being that the lenses tend to melt on some of the led's after a while (I think it's mostly on the UV). Some people have said AI has corrected this, but I have not witnessed that myself as I have ordered and gone through at least two on each one of my units over the last couple of years. Maybe they are sending me old stock, but who knows. It's not a huge deal as they are only a few dollars, but why not just fix the issue permanently. The biggest pro for me is their adaptability. You can space them apart and configure them as you like very easily. Also, if one craps out on you, (which has happened to me twice) you only have to replace one instead of an entire dedicated light fixture. To me it's cost savings where you are replacing one unit for a couple hundred dollars as opposed to a single unit used to light an entire tank, which depending on your light and what is wrong could cost you upwards of several hundred dollars.

 

[Reaper_Six_Four]

I've used AI's for many years now on various tanks. All the way back the the original Sol's. I'm currently using 3 of the AI prime 16HD's on 22 gallon nano aquarium. Although, not perfect I don't think I would use anything else on this particular tank. IMO, the pro's outweigh the con's. One of the con's being that the lenses tend to melt on some of the led's after a while (I think it's mostly on the UV). Some people have said AI has corrected this, but I have not witnessed that myself as I have ordered and gone through at least two on each one of my units over the last couple of years. Maybe they are sending me old stock, but who knows. It's not a huge deal as they are only a few dollars, but why not just fix the issue permanently. The biggest pro for me is their adaptability. You can space them apart and configure them as you like very easily. Also, if one craps out on you, (which has happened to me twice) you only have to replace one instead of an entire dedicated light fixture. To me it's cost savings where you are replacing one unit for a couple hundred dollars as opposed to a single unit used to light an entire tank, which depending on your light and what is wrong could cost you upwards of several hundred dollars.

Thanks.

Yeah, I've mostly been reading about the melting of the lens which sounds like they are replaceable. When you said two have crapped out on you, do you mean it just stopped working all together? Without getting too much into the variables here, how long did you have these until they failed? Thanks again, you're basically hitting the questions I've had.

 

[MichaelReefer]

AI are the only powerheads and lights I use- and their customer service is AMAZING.

 

[tmc13]

Yes, one just stopped working, the other had a burned out led. One unit after two years and another just this weekend, which would be pretty close to four years, so not bad. I run them at blues and UV (75%), White (20%) and red and green (5%). This was not always the case, I did run blues and UV at (100%) for a while when I had them on my larger tank. This particular unit this weekend, had a solid red light (instead of green). When I disconnected the power, it just never powered up again, nothing, just dead. I looked up solid red light and it states it's a overheating issue. I keep my fan screens clean and fans were also working, so I'm not sure what happened. When I took it apart to check there was a slight burn smell and you can see one of the small capacitors (I think) looked fried. The unit before this I had my red led burn out, which is weird because I've only ever run red and green at anywhere from 5-15%. I thought about just leaving it, but I'm anal and just replaced the whole unit.

 

[Reaper_Six_Four]

AI are the only powerheads and lights I use- and their customer service is AMAZING.

Good to know. Customer service is also a determining factor

 

[Reaper_Six_Four]

Yes, one just stopped working, the other had a burned out led. One unit after two years and another just this weekend, which would be pretty close to four years, so not bad. I run them at blues and UV (75%), White (20%) and red and green (5%). This was not always the case, I did run blues and UV at (100%) for a while when I had them on my larger tank. This particular unit this weekend, had a solid red light (instead of green). When I disconnected the power, it just never powered up again, nothing, just dead. I looked up solid red light and it states it's a overheating issue. I keep my fan screens clean and fans were also working, so I'm not sure what happened. When I took it apart to check there was a slight burn smell and you can see one of the small capacitors (I think) looked fried. The unit before this I had my red led burn out, which is weird because I've only ever run red and green at anywhere from 5-15%. I thought about just leaving it, but I'm anal and just replaced the whole unit.

So safe to say at least two years worth of use? Depending on all sorts of things, but in your experience.

 

[tmc13]

Yes, in my experience, easily two years.

 

[SPS2020]

Not 16's, but I really like my 32HD's. Had the lens melt issue on four units after two years. Connectivity is reliable with BLE. Once configured, I have had no reason to adjust them remotely.