AI Blade Grow for Fluval Evo

[BobcatTracker1]

I’m thinking about upgrading from the stock light on my Fluval Evo 13.5 to one 12-inch AI Blade Coral Grow. I’m noticing some zoa stretching (People Eater) and maybe some color loss (rasta) and shading from the aquascape.

Any experience with heat buildup when putting the Blade in the stock hood/lid? I’m in South FL, and that’s a concern. I have the Inkbird with cooling and a small fan with 3D-printed duct work, but it provides limited cooling ability. So a substantial addition of heat compared to the stock light is a concern.

And how is the Blade Grow at providing natural or whiter light, as opposed to visibly blue, for occasional viewing?

Does it fit snugly and securely into the stock hood? Hoping to avoid a ker-plop when removing the lid or turning it 90 degrees for tank access.

 

[slingfox]

I’m thinking about upgrading from the stock light on my Fluval Evo 13.5 to one 12-inch AI Blade Coral Grow. I’m noticing some zoa stretching (People Eater) and maybe some color loss (rasta) and shading from the aquascape.

Any experience with heat buildup when putting the Blade in the stock hood/lid? I’m in South FL, and that’s a concern. I have the Inkbird with cooling and a small fan with 3D-printed duct work, but it provides limited cooling ability. So a substantial addition of heat compared to the stock light is a concern.

And how is the Blade Grow at providing natural or whiter light, as opposed to visibly blue, for occasional viewing?

Does it fit snugly and securely into the stock hood? Hoping to avoid a ker-plop when removing the lid or turning it 90 degrees for tank access.

I had/have three of the 5” AI blades on my tank. Two went defective in the first six months and were replaced under warranty. The third had complete failure at month 15 which was outside warranty. I shipped that unit to AI and they said it was unrepairable. I don’t run under a hood. I assume these would have broken faster under a hood.

Light spectrum on the Grows is very pleasing particularly if you light the whiter spectrum. The blues are also nice but you don’t get the color pop that is possible with Radions or Kessil.

 

[NC AL]

I’m thinking about upgrading from the stock light on my Fluval Evo 13.5 to one 12-inch AI Blade Coral Grow. I’m noticing some zoa stretching (People Eater) and maybe some color loss (rasta) and shading from the aquascape.

Any experience with heat buildup when putting the Blade in the stock hood/lid? I’m in South FL, and that’s a concern. I have the Inkbird with cooling and a small fan with 3D-printed duct work, but it provides limited cooling ability. So a substantial addition of heat compared to the stock light is a concern.

And how is the Blade Grow at providing natural or whiter light, as opposed to visibly blue, for occasional viewing?

Does it fit snugly and securely into the stock hood? Hoping to avoid a ker-plop when removing the lid or turning it 90 degrees for tank access.

Nope, a 12" blade is a perfect fit replacement for the evo 13.5. No heat issues. It actually generates a lot less heat than the stock light. perfect fit. Its like it was made for that tank. I have been running it on my sons tank for 1.5 years now.

 

[NC AL]

The AI blade is fully adjustable from completely white to all blue.

 

[bridge2smooth]

Nope, a 12" blade is a perfect fit replacement for the evo 13.5. No heat issues. It actually generates a lot less heat than the stock light. perfect fit. It’s like it was made for that tank. I have been running it on my son’s tank for 1.5 years now.

Can I ask what your time and settings are? And do you have it sitting on the stock lid or is it mounted above?

I setup a blade grow 12” on my 2 month old Fluval, and I am trying to find the best intensity for the Royal Blue, Blue, and Cool White. Right now I have it at 38% RB, 38% RB, and 32% CW.

 

[bridge2smooth]

I’m thinking about upgrading from the stock light on my Fluval Evo 13.5 to one 12-inch AI Blade Coral Grow. I’m noticing some zoa stretching (People Eater) and maybe some color loss (rasta) and shading from the aquascape.

Any experience with heat buildup when putting the Blade in the stock hood/lid? I’m in South FL, and that’s a concern. I have the Inkbird with cooling and a small fan with 3D-printed duct work, but it provides limited cooling ability. So a substantial addition of heat compared to the stock light is a concern.

And how is the Blade Grow at providing natural or whiter light, as opposed to visibly blue, for occasional viewing?

Does it fit snugly and securely into the stock hood? Hoping to avoid a ker-plop when removing the lid or turning it 90 degrees for tank access.

I am the same and didn’t want to remove the hood(at least for now) and they do fit perfectly in the slot.

I haven’t noticed heat to be a problem. My temp stays pretty consistent during the day, and do not see heat speaks, but I am currently operating the lights at roughly 36% (38% Royal blue, 38% blue, 31% cool white) with a 7.5 hour peak and hour ramp up and down.

I am working on dialing in my intensity settings for the spectrums but either way, blues will be higher than the whites. And so the tank definitely is on the bluer side. To offset it, you would really have to ramp up the cool white, but even then, it still has seems a blue tint and appears less “full.”

I still like the lights and plan to keep them, but I do wish AI had a 12” blade version of the prime! If they come out with one, I’ll definitely upgrade!

 

[NC AL]

Can I ask what your time and settings are? And do you have it sitting on the stock lid or is it mounted above?

I setup a blade grow 12” on my 2 month old Fluval, and I am trying to find the best intensity for the Royal Blue, Blue, and Cool White. Right now I have it at 38% RB, 38% RB, and 32% CW.

I can’t tell you the exact time setting because my son has control of his tank with the app on his phone. Your values seem very close to what we have it set as. It starts up at 6:00am so he can see it on before he goes to school very slowly ramps up throughout the day and then slowly ramps down about 6 ending at 10:00. Starts off bluer, than whiter than back to bluer.

It is just sitting on the stock lid with the tank support extended to fill the gap. FYI he has been using it for more than 2 years.

 

[bridge2smooth]

Can I ask what your time and settings are? And do you have it sitting on the stock lid or is it mounted above?

I setup a blade grow 12” on my 2 month old Fluval, and I am trying to find the best intensity for the Royal Blue, Blue, and Cool White. Right now I have it at 38% RB, 38% RB, and 32% CW.

I can’t tell you the exact time setting because my son has control of his tank with the app on his phone. Your values seem very close to what we have it set as. It starts up at 6:00am so he can see it on before he goes to school very slowly ramps up throughout the day and then slowly ramps down about 6 ending at 10:00. Starts off bluer, than whiter than back to bluer.

It is just sitting on the stock lid with the tank support extended to fill the gap. FYI he has been using it for more than 2 years.

Nice, thank you. Thats a beautiful tank!

I hadn’t considered a much longer ramp time like that. I may do something like that as well.

 

[BrightReefer]

I can’t tell you the exact time setting because my son has control of his tank with the app on his phone. Your values seem very close to what we have it set as. It starts up at 6:00am so he can see it on before he goes to school very slowly ramps up throughout the day and then slowly ramps down about 6 ending at 10:00. Starts off bluer, than whiter than back to bluer.

It is just sitting on the stock lid with the tank support extended to fill the gap. FYI he has been using it for more than 2 years.

I’m starting to think I’m over do light intensity on mine now, I have the same set up but at peak it’s 12%RB 62%B 25%CW.
All I have is a frag of zoa, acan, Duncan, and hairy mushroom. I have been wanting to change it. Just don’t want to shock things. Also dealing with hair algae.

 

[NC AL]

I’m starting to think I’m over do light intensity on mine now, I have the same set up but at peak it’s 12%RB 62%B 25%CW.
All I have is a frag of zoa, acan, Duncan, and hairy mushroom. I have been wanting to change it. Just don’t want to shock things. Also dealing with hair algae.

That 62% blue is pretty high if you have it mounted on the lid. I imagine most of those corals would prefer a little less light