Feedback on AI Prime 16HD Schedule

[gavinc123]

So I watched a couple videos on AI Primes and my schedule is the screenshot below but I'm not sure if that is a good schedule. Im running 2 16HDS on a 40 gallon breeder both roughly 10 inches from the sides spaced and 11 inches from water. Thanks

 

[Neon_Devil]

It all depends on what you're trying to grow like sps/lps/softies but I'm pretty sure your light settings are way to intense for any of those. I get my schedules from the website https://www.aquaillumination.com/lightsciences/signature-series

 

[Duffer]

I have seen that before with that high intensity from others and it may work for them…saying that I would knock them down a bit, get rid of the red and greens as it promotes algea, I would also wack the whites way down…I have 2 26hds and one prime and the max my white is 9%, some like it a little higher…you can also go to their Facebook page as they have a ton of files with presets..

 

[Clown2020]

I would say a tad intense unless entirly sps or highly demanding coral, red and green are only for looks and Growing alge so would aim to use as little as possible but don’t look too much in your settings

here’s what I run on a 32.5 gallon flex 8 inches off the surface, for a mixed reef mostly lps and nems some sps and some softies.

shedule


peak settings

It all depends on what you're trying to grow like sps/lps/softies but I'm pretty sure your light settings are way to intense for any of those. I get my schedules from the website https://www.aquaillumination.com/lightsciences/signature-series

Agree signature series is a great place to start, I started with Eddie Putra settings and modified slightly to suit my taste and my corals

 

[tharbin]

Are you using the BRS 100% AB+ recommendations? I tried them at 80% and my corals did not seem to approve. I have heard also, but have no direct knowledge of it, that running the Prime 16HD LEDS over 100% can eventually fry the LED lens. I guess they are replaceable but still....

I'm using the David Saxby settings from the AI Signature series and it seems to be working much better for me on my 15 gallon peninsula tank.

 

[Idech]

I have heard also, but have no direct knowledge of it, that running the Prime 16HD LEDS over 100% can eventually fry the LED lens. I guess they are replaceable but still....

Yes, that is a very common complaint. There is even a company/guy who is about to launch new designed lenses for AI lights. Those lenses will be designed not to melt.

So IMO, lower those settings below 100%.

 

[gavinc123]

I would say a tad intense unless entirly sps or highly demanding coral, red and green are only for looks and Growing alge so would aim to use as little as possible but don’t look too much in your settings

here’s what I run on a 32.5 gallon flex 8 inches off the surface, for a mixed reef mostly lps and nems some sps and some softies.

shedule


peak settings



Agree signature series is a great place to start, I started with Eddie Putra settings and modified slightly to suit my taste and my corals

Yeah i ended up going with the eddie pultra one to see how it goes

 

[Adrift]

Also make sure your viewing period is good for you to watch the tank. I have my photo period from 9am -9pm. This way I have max viewing prior to going to bed. Just a thought.

 

[JNalley]

So far, I have purchased a set of 2 AI Prime HD's (Last gen, not the 16HD's) and a set of Hydra 26HD's. In both pairs, you can tell that they were run at different intensities, out of each pair one is bluer and less intense than the other, even with the lenses off, and none of the lenses look browned/yellowed out (I do have spare lenses lying around for when that happens, they're only $6.00 for the new series and $7.00 for the old series). They're going to need LED Module replacements to get them back to the same color/brightness, and AI charges ~$50/LED Cluster for that service (Just the cost of the LED Cluster).

I'm unsure of others' experience here, but I've taken PAR measurements at the bottom, middle, and top half of my tank. I have the 3D Reefing Diffusers on all lights because it reduces the disco ball effect, and it allows me to run lensless (something I am trying out right now). I have all of my lights at 8" off the surface of the water, and I have maxed out UV/Violet/RB/B then Red, Green, and White pushed up to taste and to make sure that the wattage is maxed at peak photoperiod. My PAR measurements at the bottom of my 18" deep tank (Hydra 26HD's) with a 2.5" sandbed are anywhere from 50-100 depending on where in the tank, and the top of my rocks are right at 200-250 PAR with around 400 PAR right above the surface of the water.

I find the AI lights to be adequate, but only just, which makes sense since they're considered mid-tier lights. It's probably worth pointing out that these have 3 fewer LEDs than the newer lights, and the diffusers reduce about 15% of the light, plus screen tops block an additional 5-10 PAR, so your mileage may vary. Also, the PAR readings were taken with the Photone app, which according to these forums is accurate within about +/- 5 PAR. One of these days I'll get around to renting/buying a PAR meter and testing again, but running my lights at this intensity has not had any ill effects on any of my corals and all of them seem to thrive/love it. Infact, using Saxby, some of my Zoa's were reaching for light (growing long stems) and running them at this intensity has seemed to stop that.

 

[mforde]

I would say a tad intense unless entirly sps or highly demanding coral, red and green are only for looks and Growing alge so would aim to use as little as possible but don’t look too much in your settings

here’s what I run on a 32.5 gallon flex 8 inches off the surface, for a mixed reef mostly lps and nems some sps and some softies.

shedule


peak settings



Agree signature series is a great place to start, I started with Eddie Putra settings and modified slightly to suit my taste and my corals

Hi, I have a similar setup and I’ve been running my lights at over 100%. Do you have a pic of your tank with these settings. If your doing well with a mixed tank my lights must be way to intense.

 

[X-37B]

Hi, I have a similar setup and I’ve been running my lights at over 100%. Do you have a pic of your tank with these settings. If your doing well with a mixed tank my lights must be way to intense.

Here is my 18" nano cube.
2 16HD's.
No par nunbers.
Running
UV & V 140%
RB & B 125%
G & R 6%
W 30%
My system is all acros.

 

[EricR]

I just installed 2x AI Prime 16HD LEDs over 40 breeder today so I know nothing yet.
I went for 55% of the BRS LPS/softie recommended settings,,, and acclimating starting at 50% of that for 30 days.
Hope I don't fry my 2 zoas -- we shall see.

 

[mforde]

Here is my 18" nano cube.
2 16HD's.
No par nunbers.
Running
UV & V 140%
RB & B 125%
G & R 6%
W 30%
My system is all acros.

Very nice!
im gonna stick with my schedule
88
88
123
123
Green at 35 for a few hours
0
0

 

[MaxTremors]

Personally, I wouldn’t overdrive any of the channels, it’s just going to burn the lenses and shorten its lifespan. This is what I ran my Prime at for a mixed reef, which was plenty of light. If you’re doing SPS dominant, you could bump it up a little. If running the channels you need at 100% is inadequate, I would add a third light. But 2 primes on a 40 breeder at this intensity should be plenty adequate.

V - 70
UV - 65
B - 95
RB - 95
R - 5
G - 5
W - 25
M - 0

 

[mforde]

Personally, I wouldn’t overdrive any of the channels, it’s just going to burn the lenses and shorten its lifespan. This is what I ran my Prime at for a mixed reef, which was plenty of light. If you’re doing SPS dominant, you could bump it up a little. If running the channels you need at 100% is inadequate, I would add a third light. But 2 primes on a 40 breeder at this intensity should be plenty adequate.

V - 70
UV - 65
B - 95
RB - 95
R - 5
G - 5
W - 25
M - 0

Thanks.

 

[mforde]

For the BRS custom settings at 100% the V, UV, B and RB are maxed out at 166, 166, 125 and 125 because that’s as high as they go but when you reduce to let’s say 40% the intensities are reduced accordingly to 66, 66, 55 & 55. My question is when your not over driving the channels why not have the V, UV, B and RB at all the same %? Eg; V66, UV66, B66 & RB66. You could have these lights at 100% for all violet and blue channels, has anyone tried this?

 

[PatW]

I tend to run violet, royal and blue at relatively high levels but not near 100%. Say 80%. I run UV at about 60%. I run green and red at low levels less than 10% and white at about 20%.

 

[kev.2013]

So I watched a couple videos on AI Primes and my schedule is the screenshot below but I'm not sure if that is a good schedule. Im running 2 16HDS on a 40 gallon breeder both roughly 10 inches from the sides spaced and 11 inches from water. Thanks

If you use this schedule, I’d recommend checking your lights after 8-9 months of use. While overdrive is a feature AI advertises, if you have the “UV” at max it’ll cause your lens to melt a little.

This happened to me on two different units, both after 8 months of use running almost the same spectrum.