Aqua Illumination, everything you want to know!

[seth the wine guy]

Budsreef;619307 wrote: Seth, if it is a standard 120G, 4'x2'x2', then it will depend a lot on how your rock structures are, but I think two is a good way to start and add a third later if you want. If you do two, you will probably want to mount them parallel to the length of the tank and a little towards the front.

What kind of mounting/hanging method are you planning on using?

Yep, standard 120. Was going to do a DIY mount but just decided to get the AI mounting rails. (I just love the clean sleek look) I'm going to have them connected to a pulley system that will allow light height adjustments with a crank. I'll start at 12" like AI recommended to me and go from there.

I thought the same thing about the light placement. I'm going to try front to back first and if I don't like what I'm getting I will probably have to ditch the AI rails and mount lengthwise toward the front like you mentioned. (Not sure if the rails will work for the latter configuration. I'll have to play around with it and see.)

 

[mapleredta]

If anybody is interested, I have a set of legs and mounting rails I do not need that I would sell/trade.

 

[budsreef]

Seth The Wine Guy;619318 wrote: Yep, standard 120. Was going to do a DIY mount but just decided to get the AI mounting rails. (I just love the clean sleek look) I'm going to have them connected to a pulley system that will allow light height adjustments with a crank. I'll start at 12" like AI recommended to me and go from there.

I thought the same thing about the light placement. I'm going to try front to back first and if I don't like what I'm getting I will probably have to ditch the AI rails and mount lengthwise toward the front like you mentioned. (Not sure if the rails will work for the latter configuration. I'll have to play around with it and see.)

How long of a rail kit did you get? I mounted mine parallel by adding a couple pieces of angle iron. I got two of the 36" rail kits to go over two 36" tanks even though I knew I was going to put only module over one of them. I really like the clean look of the rails as well. If you are going to hang them with the AI hanging kit, it is adjustable already. Of course you are welcome to come by to see mine anytime.

 

[gnashty]

allright guys - now that i see some pics Id like to know what you think about how many I would need to cover a 180? 72x24x24. If I could do 3 then it seems worth it. are there large ballast? my canopy nor stand could accomodate a large, hot ballast..

Edit: Just got home and tank was at 82.9....I underestimated the effects of my lighting heat on this smaller tank...and my canopy isnt even on yet - its open top...these may be in my future sooner than I thought.

 

[budsreef]

gnashty;619440 wrote: allright guys - now that i see some pics Id like to know what you think about how many I would need to cover a 180? 72x24x24. If I could do 3 then it seems worth it. are there large ballast? my canopy nor stand could accomodate a large, hot ballast..

Edit: Just got home and tank was at 82.9....I underestimated the effects of my lighting heat on this smaller tank...and my canopy isnt even on yet - its open top...these may be in my future sooner than I thought.

Gary, I answered in PM but thought I would also post my answer here.

The 70 degre lenses are $25 for each module, so it would be $75 for three and they have to be ordered directly through AI.

There is no ballast. Each module has it's own powersupply set which consists of the basic computer style transformer with AC plug and a long thin DC wire that goes to the module. There is another long thin data cord that goes from the controller to the first module and then short data cables daisy-chained to the next and then the next.

Those were the easy questions. The rail kits come with legs that hold the modules just a couple of inches off the tank which might be good in your application but I personally don't like the four individual legs since they don't let the whole thing slide easily making it difficult to get into the tank.

I really don't have experience enough to say whether three would be enough but in my opinion I don't think so if you can't raise the units at least 12 inches off the water to get the light spread even with all 70 degree optics. There are two excellent threads on RC with lots of examples of different sized tanks and applications with their results that you would definitely want to check out.

Page 52 of this thread has some basic guidelines for how many units are needed:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841197&page=52">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841197&page=52</a>

And this thread has some applications information:
[IMG]http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1963379">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1963379</a>

I hope this helps and I am willing to talk about these at any time, I'm just not smart enough to have the answers. :)

 

[mapleredta]

Great answers, Bud.

 

[gnashty]

I can get them a little higher but they would have to be mounted to the ceiling of the canopy which will leave no spance for heat dissapation.

Budsreef;619663 wrote: Gary, I answered in PM but thought I would also post my answer here.

The 70 degre lenses are $25 for each module, so it would be $75 for three and they have to be ordered directly through AI.

There is no ballast. Each module has it's own powersupply set which consists of the basic computer style transformer with AC plug and a long thin DC wire that goes to the module. There is another long thin data cord that goes from the controller to the first module and then short data cables daisy-chained to the next and then the next.

Those were the easy questions. The rail kits come with legs that hold the modules just a couple of inches off the tank which might be good in your application but I personally don't like the four individual legs since they don't let the whole thing slide easily making it difficult to get into the tank.

I really don't have experience enough to say whether three would be enough but in my opinion I don't think so if you can't raise the units at least 12 inches off the water to get the light spread even with all 70 degree optics. There are two excellent threads on RC with lots of examples of different sized tanks and applications with their results that you would definitely want to check out.

Page 52 of this thread has some basic guidelines for how many units are needed:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841197&page=52">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841197&page=52</a>

And this thread has some applications information:
[IMG]http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1963379">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1963379</a>

I hope this helps and I am willing to talk about these at any time, I'm just not smart enough to have the answers. :)[/QUOTE]

 

[mapleredta]

gnashty;619705 wrote: I can get them a little higher but they would have to be mounted to the ceiling of the canopy which will leave no spance for heat dissapation.

You could always do a hanging kit inside your canopy. I have virtually no heat being released from the module.

 

[budsreef]

The modules have fans on the top and even though mine have yet to turn on that I know of, you wouldn't want to cover them. I would think that you would need to keep a couple of inches clear at the top. The other issue with having these mounted low is splash. I would hope the units are fairly water resistant, but salt creep sure seems to be able to get into tight places.

 

[mapleredta]

Budsreef;619723 wrote: The modules have fans on the top and even though mine have yet to turn on that I know of, you wouldn't want to cover them. I would think that you would need to keep a couple of inches clear at the top. The other issue with having these mounted low is splash. I would hope the units are fairly water resistant, but salt creep sure seems to be able to get into tight places.

I was going to say the same about the fans. I notice even at 12", I still have salt on the optics.

 

[gnashty]

mapleredta;619708 wrote: You could always do a hanging kit inside your canopy. I have virtually no heat being released from the module.

I would want to use rails so I can move them side to side if I wish though, my canopy isnt very tall, maybe 12" from where it rests on the tank to the inside ceiling so i would be right back where I started..

Budsreef;619723 wrote: The modules have fans on the top and even though mine have yet to turn on that I know of, you wouldn't want to cover them. I would think that you would need to keep a couple of inches clear at the top. The other issue with having these mounted low is splash. I would hope the units are fairly water resistant, but salt creep sure seems to be able to get into tight places.

I could always use my glass tops to prevent any splashing and to minimize any salt creep....?

 

[mapleredta]

How are these units working for yall? I know a few more members have upgraded to them so lets hear your opinions.

 

[jumplittlechloe]

I have been pleased so far. I have the AI unit 5" off the water lengthwise over a 34g. The tank is mostly stocked with sps. I changed the middle optics to 70 degree which provided a more even spread. I also think it allowed me to increase the intensity higher because there is no longer spotlighting in the center of the light. I noticed the fan started coming on once I increased the intensity to 80%.

 

[jef4y]

Still waiting for mine =(

 

[mapleredta]

jumplittlechloe;648261 wrote: I have been pleased so far. I have the AI unit 5" off the water lengthwise over a 34g. The tank is mostly stocked with sps. I changed the middle optics to 70 degree which provided a more even spread. I also think it allowed me to increase the intensity higher because there is no longer spotlighting in the center of the light. I noticed the fan started coming on once I increased the intensity to 80%.

80% Jeez? Did you gradually increase your settings to that? I'm running mine no higher than 55% I believe.

 

[jumplittlechloe]

I have had them up and running for around 2 months. I increased slowly over each week. Currently my settings are:
8:00 - 0 4 4 - 30 min
9:30 - 2 7 7 - 30 min
10:30 - 60 70 70 - 30 min
11:30 - 80 95 95 - 210 min
4:00 - 60 70 70 - 210 min
8:00 - 2 7 7 - 30 min
8:30 - 0 4 4 - 30 min
10:00 - 0 0 1 - 30 min

 

[mcphock]

I like mine so far. I may actually have to plug my heater back in for the summer..... heh.

I started my lighting at 40, and I've been moving up 1% per day. I love the color rendition so far. Looks just like my old 20k radiums.

I called AI before purchasing to see if I could do two units over the standard 120. They said yes, if the fixture was 12-14" inches off the water. Shenanigans. It looked awful. You'll need at least 3, if not 4. Don't kid yourself!

 

[mapleredta]

I'm guessing you were using the 40 degree optics, correct McPhock?

 

[mcphock]

Likely. Stock with the unit. Perhaps different optics would have aided with that....

 

[seth the wine guy]

McPhock;648278 wrote: Likely. Stock with the unit. Perhaps different optics would have aided with that....

I had definite issues with 2 stock AI units over my 120g. Spot lights and didn't reach the two sides of the tank as much as I would have liked. (I am running them length wise since I have a coast to coast overflow that takes some surface real-estate.) I changed my optics to 70* and now 2 units over my 120g look great! I left one 40* puck in each unit positioned directly over the clams in the bottom. Spot lighting is gone and I'm getting lots of growth from most everything in the tank already. SPS included. I am placing duplicate frags of the same coral all over the tank to observe growth and overall happiness. I have my Blues at 100% and whites up to 65%.
I will likely add a third AI unit simply because I want the freedom to grow SPS just about anywhere in the tank and I like the color spectrum that my current percentage is set at. So, while I could increase the intensity to grow things in more places of the tank, I would rather just get another unit and dial the whites down and keep the blues up. Right now I would say 80% of the tank could grow SPS.

Anybody got a PAR meter they're willing to lend out?