Fluval 3.0 Marine Light Wi Fi Capable with ramping and Timer

[AoD]

My tank is 36” long and 13” deep from top to bottom so the light has no problem reaching the sand. I have no idea at this point what the actual par values are without testing with a meter. I know it says on the box, but I’m assuming those numbers are for directly inline with the light and with no surface agitation.

 

[sonnyteee]

Very true. But you said your corals are doing well? Then what your doing is right.

 

[wowatracy]

Rented a PAR meter and got these values with every channel at 100%. My LPS and softies weren't doing well until I turned the white down to 50%. I've since turned down the pink to 10% also. Unfortunately I had to return the PAR meter before I could take new readings with the white setting turned down. 55g tank

 

[AoD]

That’s a great pic. It’ll be helpful. What size tank is that?

 

[sonnyteee]

Rented a PAR meter and got these values with every channel at 100%. My LPS and softies weren't doing well until I turned the white down to 50%. I've since turned down the pink to 10% also. Unfortunately I had to return the PAR meter before I could take new readings with the white setting turned down. 55g tank

That's awesome!

 

[AoD]

My bad. It says 55 gallon right on the post.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Any updates on what settings you are all using for this light now that theres been a firmware update?

 

[art926]

Any updates on what settings you are all using for this light now that theres been a firmware update?

I'm using 2 lights for about 2 years now over my 20 gallons NUVO.
The settings are:
Red at 5%
All others at 100% except whites,
Whites are at 60%.
11 hours/day including 1 hour sunrise and 1 hour sunset. Full dark in the night.
Everything grows well including some SPS. I'm thinking of increasing brightness even more, but wouldn't like to add more white for that, as the color already looks warm enough (wouldn't like lower Kelvins for aesthetic reasons) and the lights run quite hot. I'm thinking of adding a 3rd one to make them brighter, but not sure yet. So, my advice is still the same as many months ago - use 2 or even 3 of these lights and run then cooler, so they can work longer. The biggest contributors to PAR is the white channel here (I've measured).

 

[the_chef_pierre]

So should I increase whites even more? Right now I think I have it set at around 5% pink, 90% cyan, 100 % blue, 100% purple and 60% cold white

 

[Chad Sepulvado]

Take it back. Two a I primes for a few more dollars and you won’t regret it. That’s the exact path I took. The fluval are garbage except for aesthetics and the app works well

 

[the_chef_pierre]

AI primes are crazy expensive here in Canada. Around $350 each, so a total of $700 for two of them. I got the Fluval light for around $250, so less that the cost of 1 AI prime. I would definitely prefer the primes, as for sure they are better but since this is only my first reef tank and its a fairly small 30 gal breeder, with only about 10" of height I feel I might be ok with just the Fluval for now and maybe upgrade later if I end up choosing to get a better tank and get more into this hobby. I do agree though, the primes are beautiful lights

 

[art926]

So should I increase whites even more? Right now I think I have it set at around 5% pink, 90% cyan, 100 % blue, 100% purple and 60% cold white

Are you using only one lamp? If so, it can be too low intensity for you tank, but really depends on what you're growing in there. Running everything at 100% would make the lamp too hot (so, it might not last long and burn out) and the color temperature might be too warm (but it's subjective, depends on how you like it).
As for the Primes - they give amazing light and very adjustable, but the light distribution is very different from what Fluval gives. Fluvals are very scattered lights, Primes are more focused, almost like Kessil. Using any focused spotlight-like lamps gives contrast patterns. You'll have to have a few of them and far above the tank, otherwise some parts will get too much light while others - too little. It has its own procs and cons.

 

[RobW]

Are you using only one lamp? If so, it can be too low intensity for you tank, but really depends on what you're growing in there. Running everything at 100% would make the lamp too hot (so, it might not last long and burn out) and the color temperature might be too warm (but it's subjective, depends on how you like it).
As for the Primes - they give amazing light and very adjustable, but the light distribution is very different from what Fluval gives. Fluvals are very scattered lights, Primes are more focused, almost like Kessil. Using any focused spotlight-like lamps gives contrast patterns. You'll have to have a few of them and far above the tank, otherwise some parts will get too much light while others - too little. It has its own procs and cons.

I have a fluval evo 13.5 gallon tank in my sons room. The lights that come with it were horrible. White and blue with only on and off. I replaced them with 2 kessil A80's and a controller. Big difference!

 

[the_chef_pierre]

The new fluval isnt that bad, has 5 channels. I'll still play around with it. Trying not to keep everything at 100%

 

[legrunt]

To get around that whole "lost memory upon power failure" thing, set the light up on a al-cheapo power timer that cycles the power every night at midnight. That way, if you do experience a power failure, the next time the timer cycles, your light restarts at the correct time.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Smart idea

 

[Lita]

I'm running 2 lights like these (for even more even coverage) for 10-11 hours a day.
Channel levels:
Pink: 0% (probably useful color, but I'm afraid it can promote algae growth and I prefer colder hue for the reef tank)
Cyan: 40% (useless for photosynthesis, but I love the color, makes it look very natural)
Blue: 30%
Purple: 40% (that's a lot, actually, even though not so visible)
Cold White: 10%

At these levels the lamps stay cold and the light is strong enough to grow SPS.

Do you still use these settings? I have the same light x 2 and I run all channels on 100% . Seems 10% is really low intensity to grown anything . What sps are you growing? I have mainly softies, some lps and BTA and running it all at 100% don’t feel it’s too much.

 

[Lita]

Rented a PAR meter and got these values with every channel at 100%. My LPS and softies weren't doing well until I turned the white down to 50%. I've since turned down the pink to 10% also. Unfortunately I had to return the PAR meter before I could take new readings with the white setting turned down. 55g tank

What depth was this tank?
was this just with one light?

 

[art926]

Do you still use these settings? I have the same light x 2 and I run all channels on 100% . Seems 10% is really low intensity to grown anything . What sps are you growing? I have mainly softies, some lps and BTA and running it all at 100% don’t feel it’s too much.

No, I'm using different settings now. In my later posts in this same thread you can read it and see the photo. Also, I've added a 3rd lamp a few months ago )

 

[wowatracy]

What depth was this tank?
was this just with one light?

Just one light. Depth is 15" Height is 18"