Let's hear from reefers using AI Sol's

Bluejawtrigger · Mar 17, 2012

I'm hearing a lot of negative results or not fantastic results lately about AI Sol's. But I know several people who have had great results with growing sps using them. I'd like to know and hear if anyone on here use using them, and how you like them.

I currently am running them. 2 weeks now and love the look.

Plus: a lot of people are quick to blame one thing for coral/tank issues. They don't take into account or consider they might have missed something. When things are growing great, it's easy to get lax in our regular maintenance. I've seen it a lot with bio pellets. There's no silver bullet in this hobby. So I know there's got to be some hobbyist on here using AI's with positive results growing sps. So let's hear it.

CSJIII · Mar 17, 2012

Good topic cause I too am curious. I just set up a new 57 gallon Illuminata and went from 150 w HQI to a AI sol blue. It has been above my tank for 7 weeks now. I do like the light but having a few downsides.

Pro: The light is fantastic for the strength it gives, colors and ability to program it with the AI controller. Thinks seem to be growing great!

Cons: THE SPREAD! My tank is 36" wide and I have the fixture 20" above the water and I still have some zoas that are reaching for the light, on the sand and 8" off center. If the fixture was even 4" wider, it would catch light down there. But its built so compact that it doesnt cover more that 24" as suggested by AI. Another con, and this is something I want to know from other AI users.... I am loosing all of my reds. My oranges are turning yellowish, and my reds are fading away.

Overall I love the light! But even with my tank at 36" wide, I think I am going to have to buy a second fixture. But the problem of my corals loosing all red color scares me a bit. Hoping someone else chimes in with a solution to my lack of red.

Bluejawtrigger · Mar 17, 2012

I'm running two on my tank, 13" above water. They do only cover 24"24" area. My tank is 40/26/26. The coverage is amazing. I'd rec you get two. I have good blue, green and white. There's not really red in the AI's. I'm going to add some magenta exotics strips for my reds. That's the only downside , which I'll fix rather cheap, that I've seen thus far as well.

CSJIII · Mar 17, 2012

Bluejawtrigger said:
I'm running two on my tank, 13" above water. They do only cover 24"24" area. My tank is 40/26/26. The coverage is amazing. I'd rec you get two. I have good blue, green and white. There's not really red in the AI's. I'm going to add some magenta exotics strips for my reds. That's the only downside , which I'll fix rather cheap, that I've seen thus far as well.

Is it because it doesn't have any red led's that I'm loosing my red colors? I have read posts that say that the red color is filtered out of the water. So IS that the problem? I bought a "Paris Hilton" frag from Jason Fox last weekend in Chicago and it has already lost half of its red eventhough its looking really healthy. Here is a pic from about 7 days ago. I will update with a today picture later.

Bluejawtrigger · Mar 17, 2012

CSJIII said:
Is it because it doesn't have any red led's that I'm loosing my red colors? I have read posts that say that the red color is filtered out of the water. So IS that the problem? I bought a "Paris Hilton" frag from Jason Fox last weekend in Chicago and it has already lost half of its red eventhough its looking really healthy. Here is a pic from about 7 days ago. I will update with a today picture later.

IMO that is what I think. Everyone talks about the radions and how they have all the colors. In the little info I've found, red is the only one missing. But for twice the price, I couldn't justify it. I'd have built my own first. There's a few other percs the Radions are supposed to have I know. I'm sure the acro is doing good, looks great, just the lights aren't brining out the reds. Have you tested your water as well? Phosphates, mine were .05ppm last night. I'm not saying that'll fix it if they're off. But you have to rule out everything. To blindly start changing things, without finding the specific problem, you won't know what corrected the issue. So it can keep happening. You first must test everything until you find the root of the issue. I hope that makes since.

This is why I wanted to start this thread. Are people blaming the AIs because they aren't sufficient or are they just blaming them.

laynframe · Mar 17, 2012

I have 2 ai fixtures and my 2 red acan colonies turned orange and the other went rainbow which is cool. I have a red planet growing in my tank and it hasnt lost its color at all in fact i think its gained a lot of red from when I out it into my tank seven months ago.

Bluejawtrigger · Mar 17, 2012

laynframe said:
I have 2 ai fixtures and my 2 red acan colonies turned orange and the other went rainbow which is cool. I have a red planet growing in my tank and it hasnt lost its color at all in fact i think its gained a lot of red from when I out it into my tank seven months ago.

Very cool. How's your growth? Personally , I like the look of my red planet under the LEDs.

Thatgrimguy · Mar 17, 2012

I have been running them since inception on my 210g. I have experimented with spectrum supplementation because the units are a bit cold for my taste. Figi purple t5s make a good color supplement. I have never actually run them for more than a few days because it threw too much light into the room.

Overall I'm very happy with my Sol Blues. The control and dimming is great and my corals and tank look great to me!

In this pic you can see the VHO and T5 I've been experimenting with. (would work great in a more traditional canopy, but in my case it throws too much light in the room outside the tank)

Most recent FTS (iphone camera) (03/12/12 or so)

Early shot of the tank (my moms DSLR) (taken 08/02/11)

I've played with optics and configuration. I settled on all 40 degree optics, mounted high and parallel touching. I'm currently working on a DIY 1.1"x60" heatsink to hold 28 violet (420nm) leds and 14 warm white. That should give me extra pop and help bring out reds and pinks that the Sol lacks aesthically.

(only 7 months difference in those pics!)

Bluejawtrigger · Mar 17, 2012

Very nice. The new ones come with 70degree optics. I really like your setup. You may have said, are your other lights just for supplement?

I've noticed my polyp extension has increased a lot.

Thatgrimguy · Mar 17, 2012

Bluejawtrigger said:
Very nice. The new ones come with 70degree optics. I really like your setup. You may have said, are your other lights just for supplement?

I've noticed my polyp extension has increased a lot.

That PE is looking good!!

They come with 70s on the outside and the 4 interior pucks are 40s. I swapped out my 70 degree exteriors and run all 40 degree optics now.

I never use the other lights. It was an experiment that never worked out. I am trying to get some color supplementation but the t5/vho combo threw too much light out in the room, the color was great though. I think the LEDs I'm putting together will bring out the pop and the red/pink with out being so distracting in the room.

reefknight · Mar 23, 2012

Tagging along!

Just set up a small cube with a single Sol Blue, so looking for all the input I can get.

Thanks

drtrash · Apr 5, 2012

I'm in the same boat with my Ai blues, let me know what you come up with for led supplementations Was thinking of using t-5 but want to solve the color hole in led's, color in tank looks nice is that just led?

Bluejawtrigger · Apr 5, 2012

I added the Stunner strips. Magenta.

Still need to work on my ratios.

drtrash · Apr 5, 2012

Hard to tell from the pic, do you think it is filling that void?

Bluejawtrigger · Apr 6, 2012

drtrash said:
Hard to tell from the pic, do you think it is filling that void?

I notice a little difference, not as much as I thought I would. But, I was already extremely happy with my AI's. It was really an experiment. I'm waiting on a parameter. Mine care only at 60% right now, I don't want to go higher until I find out what my readings are. Once I can them set to the correct % and play with the color combo, I'll know for sure.

kuyatwo · Apr 6, 2012

If you go by what the experts say PE is not a good thing.

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gillundr · Apr 6, 2012

I would be interested in seeing that info. Do you have links? I always judge my corals happiness by the amount of pe I see and most of my stuff has great pe and now thats bad?

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kuyatwo · Apr 6, 2012

gillundr said:
I would be interested in seeing that info. Do you have links? I always judge my corals happiness by the amount of pe I see and most of my stuff has great pe and now thats bad?

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i was like you thought pe was good thing...

here is thread on PE by anthony calfo

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/general-sps-discussion/57132-polyp-extention.html

drtrash · Apr 7, 2012

I turned mine up in the 70% range and I think was too high and it changed color in alot of acans and chalice. I am running more in the 40-50% most of day and only go above 65% (B, RB) for 1 1/2 hrs.

Thatgrimguy · Apr 8, 2012

kuyatwo said:
i was like you thought pe was good thing...

here is thread on PE by anthony calfo

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/general-sps-discussion/57132-polyp-extention.html

He's not saying that all polyp extension is bad. Just that extreme polyp extension can be a sign of stress. As with all things in this hobby, it's about balance.