Rapid LED Corona

Jpcoral · May 3, 2020

NS Mike D said:
I bought mine used in Fed 2018. I think they were 2 years old at that point (i'll note tge age again when I post my numbers).

I will be reconfiguring my settings. I have somewhere a spectrum balance from Dana Riddle, if I can find it I will repost that I used to ballpark my settings. I think they went something like this.

At 7am I had them go on ramping up to 11am to

White: 85%
Violet. 85%
Moonlight 0
Blue. 85%
Red. 40%
Green. 40%

then dialing down at 1pm to

White: 50%.
Violet. 75%
Moonlight 0
Blue. 75%
Red. 25%
Green. 25%

Then at 7pm

White: 0%.
Violet. 50%
Moonlight 0
Blue. 50%
Red. 25%
Green. 25%

11pm off

this was a guessing game. I when the par meter arrives I will redo these better matching the spectrum balance with actual math/readings

I understand dinos don't like blue but like white and that algae like red and green.

I don't like washed out blues all the time, but when I sit down at night I do enjoy a blue dominant setting to bring out the fluorescent proteins (ie pop) in the corals

How high from the waterline are your lights mounted? I have mine about 9". With whites that high (85%) par at the top of my rockwork would be 1000. I have my royal blues at 85%, my violet/uv at 75%, whites 15%, red and green 5%, moonlights 25%

NS Mike D · May 3, 2020

I keep mine about 9" as well

Vinman · May 3, 2020

12" for me with t5s

Vinman · May 3, 2020

I can lower him if I need to after the par meter

NS Mike D · May 6, 2020

While the PAR meter is in transit .... I'll change the subject a bit but still related to a product review thread.

One thing that has been a concern is the long term viability of the App, Fishbit. The App, which I like, is part of the kickstarter endeavor for a wifi based controller. 6 years ago, a wifi based controller was a good idea given that connecting your Apex to your home wifi, and thus Fusion, required some MIT level handholding.

But that was 2014, and the company looks dead in the water. The last update on their kickstarter page was 2018 , about 2 years after the kickstarter funding, explaining that they had lined up a new plastic supplier after failure to deliver by their initial supplier, and they were ramping up to go to live production.

They have since gone silent and they oder page and amazon page are no longer working, and the only activity on the site is from initial patrons complaining about no updates and requesting refunds.

Also, the new Apex has caught up on the wifi, is a tried and tested product and the entry level model, the APEX EL, is equivalent in function of the Fitbit at the same price. In other words, even if FitBit could go into production, there is no incentive to get one given the alternative in the Apex line.

I reached out to RapidLed about this and invited them to participate in this thread (or email back a reply for me to post)

Vinman · May 6, 2020

On this 180 build I'm doing I'm trying to stay away from having a controller I don't know if it's possible but I'm going to hold out as long as I can so far so good

NS Mike D · May 6, 2020

Mike at RapidLED got back to me today:

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the email and thread. We aren't active on forums but happy to address the app via email.

We can't speak to FishBit's controller/monitor status, other than that they're very late on delivering as everyone (including them) is aware. However, before we started the Corona project with them we received assurances that the app would exist even if they were to go out of business, change directions, etc. As of today nothing has changed in regards to that agreement, meaning any Corona users would be able to have access to the app (at least in it's current state) for the foreseeable future regardless of what happens to them.

I hope that helps to alleviate some concern, if you have any questions as always feel free to reach out to us anytime.

Thanks,
Mike

Nano man · May 6, 2020

I have the app and it works fine for me. I can customize my sun cycle just fine.
I use my apex for everything else in my tank. And a Bluetooth strip for other components in the sump.
All on my iPhone.

Vinman · May 6, 2020

Works good for me too. I dont really change it though. Kind of set it and forget it

NS Mike D · May 8, 2020

My Initial PAR readings

The lights are 7'' from the water line of the 29g Aqueaon. Measurements as estimated averages and the readings vacillate. The tank has rock fish etc and not a true empty tank reading.

I took readings from 6" deep, 12' and sand bed, left, right middle

100% White (W), Violet (V), Blue (B), Green (G) and Red (R)

70	600	70
120	410	120
170	310	160

50% WVBGR

50	310	70
70	210	100
60	170	90

100% WVB, 30% GR

110	610	300
115	390	165
110	290	170

100% VB, 50% W, 20% GR

85	450	250
90	350	150
90	260	145

100% VB, 0% WGR

70	450	250
70	350	150
70	260	145

Vinman · May 8, 2020

NS Mike D said:
My Initial PAR readings

The lights are 7'' from the water line of the 29g Aqueaon. Measurements as estimated averages and the readings vacillate. The tank has rock fish etc and not a true empty tank reading.

I took readings from 6" deep, 12' and sand bed, left, right middle

100% White (W), Violet (V), Blue (B), Green (G) and Red (R)

70 600 70
120 410 120
170 310 160

50% WVBGR

50 310 70
70 210 100
60 170 90

100% WVB, 30% GR

110 610 300
115 390 165
110 290 170

100% VB, 50% W, 20% GR

85 450 250
90 350 150
90 260 145

100% VB, 0% WGR

70 450 250
70 350 150
70 260 145

So having a little trouble deciphering your results could you elaborate a little more

NS Mike D · May 8, 2020

Par readings at different depths with different spectrums settings, first one was all spectrums at 100%

Vinman · May 8, 2020

NS Mike D said:
Par readings at different depths with different spectrums settings, first one was all spectrums at 100%

So this screenshot
100% yes but ...left top box 6" left side of tank middle box middle of tank right box right side?
2nd row the same but 12" from lights?

Screenshot_20200508-194944_Samsung Internet.jpg

NS Mike D · May 8, 2020

yes. I should have added labels. The table does correspond to the visual layout of the tank.

Left. Middle. Right

6"
12"
SB (16-17").

Jpcoral · May 24, 2020

NS Mike D said:
My Initial PAR readings

The lights are 7'' from the water line of the 29g Aqueaon. Measurements as estimated averages and the readings vacillate. The tank has rock fish etc and not a true empty tank reading.

I took readings from 6" deep, 12' and sand bed, left, right middle

100% White (W), Violet (V), Blue (B), Green (G) and Red (R)

70 600 70
120 410 120
170 310 160

50% WVBGR

50 310 70
70 210 100
60 170 90

100% WVB, 30% GR

110 610 300
115 390 165
110 290 170

100% VB, 50% W, 20% GR

85 450 250
90 350 150
90 260 145

100% VB, 0% WGR

70 450 250
70 350 150
70 260 145

I rented the par meter from BRS and with my 5 lights moint 9" over my 5' tank and all channels at 100% I was getting over 1000 at the top, 600 in the middle and 400 at the bottom. Your 100% readings seemed low to me since you have your lights mount 2"closer to the water surface.

Vinman · May 24, 2020

I have t5 hybrid with 3 coronas running at 90% on blues but 40% and under with the other colors. Hard to read but mapped my sand bed and all my rocks

Biologic · Dec 8, 2020

NS Mike D said:
Two years later and I went back to my review and have nothing to add. These lights have been set it and forget it, keeping the schedule and growing the corals.

The app is a charm. I like that it's not on my apex which can be a PITA to reconnect when the power goes out, Meanwhile the fishbit app just reconnects easy peasy.

Still crazy that these just don't get mentioned often in the light suggestion threads, given how those of us who have them are quite pleased with their performance and price point.

hey I wanted to ask, did you some how connect these to your apex? Not sure if I miss read this.

I have an Apex, I had plans on getting a Fishbit, but I was burned in 2015 by their second kick starter.