AI Blade mounting question

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok. The light geek in me just HAS to know... Why 4? What combination (Grow/Glow) do you plan to use?

lol

Ready..,

3 freshwater and 1 glow. I’m looking for white light with enough low wavelengths to drive fluorescence and possibly pigment formation (think suntanning). I’d match the sun if I could. I plan to feature at least some organisms that thrive in shallow water and take in loads of par, such as a magnifica anemone.

Definitely not the norm, but there are folks around with similarly white light in their tanks. That’s the look I want.

 

[Hooz]

lol

Ready..,

3 freshwater and 1 glow. I’m looking for white light with enough low wavelengths to drive fluorescence and possibly pigment formation (think suntanning). I’d match the sun if I could. I plan to feature at least some organisms that thrive in shallow water and take in loads of par, such as a magnifica anemone.

Definitely not the norm, but there are folks around with similarly white light in their tanks. That’s the look I want.

That's why I asked! After reading some of your other threads asking about whiter light, I was wondering how you were going to achieve that with Blades, but the Freshwater + Glow option makes sense. I'll be interested in seeing it once you get rolling.

 

[gregrock68]

I’m thinking it is likely I will be getting 4 x 48” AI blades for my tank.

The question is what happens that is bad, if anything, if this size is just supported at the ends. They have end mounts for the smaller sizes, but just the top clips for 48” and longer.

My canopy is just big enough to fit these lights, and a 3/4” shelf in each side would support the ends with no chance of them falling off.

But will the middle sag, and if so, is that a problem? It’s hidden so the look doesn’t matter, but I don’t want something to break.

I could, of course, use a clip in the middle, but that would make them harder to push backwards if I need to put something large into the tank (like a rock, an anemone, etc.).

TIA.

I will recommend you talk to @Velcro - he can 3d print you custom mounts for the AI Blades based on what you need. Just had him make me a set and they were excellent! Top quality and fitment, built to spec with SS hardware.

 

[Freenow54]

I’m thinking it is likely I will be getting 4 x 48” AI blades for my tank.

The question is what happens that is bad, if anything, if this size is just supported at the ends. They have end mounts for the smaller sizes, but just the top clips for 48” and longer.

My canopy is just big enough to fit these lights, and a 3/4” shelf in each side would support the ends with no chance of them falling off.

But will the middle sag, and if so, is that a problem? It’s hidden so the look doesn’t matter, but I don’t want something to break.

I could, of course, use a clip in the middle, but that would make them harder to push backwards if I need to put something large into the tank (like a rock, an anemone, etc.).

TIA.

I wonder if the 3 in one mounting system ( for rimmed tanks, or the 2 in one for rimless meant for Orphek lights would work

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK, got a detailed answer from AI:

The longer versions bow when mounted with just the tank rests. Not only does that make the light look bad, but it also makes it more likely to break the LED PCBs, and is more likely to succumb to outside forces due to a gap that's created between the foam gasket and the surface of the lens.

So I'll rig up some kind of way to hang a clip in the middle, or perhaps a third support in the middle.

Part of what I do may depend on whether I can fit them inside the canopy with just the cord bent immediately after it leaves the light (gap to canopy edge is very small) or if I need to drill cord holes in the side of the canopy facing a wall. That will make then far less mobile already, Since I do not yet have the lights, I cannot work out these details. :)

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[Fasthandsslowmind]

Randy,

IDK if this will help, but here's how I did my 66" blades. Been almost 2 years now. They're more rigid / durable than I thought they would be. I'm always using them as a shelf for tools & things, though I'm sure that's a bad idea.

 

[Fasthandsslowmind]

lol

Ready..,

3 freshwater and 1 glow. I’m looking for white light with enough low wavelengths to drive fluorescence and possibly pigment formation (think suntanning). I’d match the sun if I could. I plan to feature at least some organisms that thrive in shallow water and take in loads of par, such as a magnifica anemone.

Definitely not the norm, but there are folks around with similarly white light in their tanks. That’s the look I want.

I like this idea!

AI accidentally shipped me a freshwater blade, and somehow never asked for it back. Maybe I'll give it a try. More white light would be cool. As of now, I have 3 Grow, 1 Glow, and the Orphek Icon.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'll be interested in seeing it once you get rolling.

Me too. I've never seen it in person, and am planning to jigger it on the app anyway. :)

Aside from looking at the spectra AI publishes, one thing that also leads me to think it's not as crazy as it might sound is that there are no led types used in the gro and glow combos most reefers use that are not represented in the mix I'd get with a glow and freshwater.

For example, the royal blue from the glow and the cool white and blue from the freshwater is equivalent to a grow. So my mix would be like a grow (or two grows if the glow is at 2x power over freshwater power) plus the very short wavelength colors in the glow, plus a bunch of additional cool white, warm white, and red LEDs. :)

Glow
12 – Royal Blue
6 – 430nm
3 – 415nm
3 – 405nm

Grow
12 – Royal Blue
6 – Cool White
6 – Blue

Freshwater (x3 since I'll have 3)
16 – Cool White
4 – Warm White
2 – Blue
2 – Red

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The bowing can also reduce the water resistance since there is a rubber gasket that seals the lens to the metal body.

You can easily add a t slot track in your canopy to attach a clip to and still allow you to push them back if needed

I determined I can mount a front to back board (like a 1x2) and could attach a track to it. Do you have particular track and clip combo you think works well?

 

[BasementBox]

I’m thinking it is likely I will be getting 4 x 48” AI blades for my tank.

The question is what happens that is bad, if anything, if this size is just supported at the ends. They have end mounts for the smaller sizes, but just the top clips for 48” and longer.

My canopy is just big enough to fit these lights, and a 3/4” shelf in each side would support the ends with no chance of them falling off.

But will the middle sag, and if so, is that a problem? It’s hidden so the look doesn’t matter, but I don’t want something to break.

I could, of course, use a clip in the middle, but that would make them harder to push backwards if I need to put something large into the tank (like a rock, an anemone, etc.).

TIA.

So. I can finally return the favor advice wise Randy! I had a 66” blade I had for a year. There certainly was sag. Noticeable. Now this was last years generation of course.

That said. No. It did not have an impact on the corals I had. If anything because of the sag I felt it assisted with getting through “shadows” because of the bend and angle it created. Is it so noticeable that it’s frustrating? I’d say if you have ocd… I would not go with them. However. They are good quality. The app is great. Overall. It’s a solid platform product.

 

[rtparty]

I determined I can mount a front to back board (like a 1x2) and could attach a track to it. Do you have particular track and clip combo you think works well?

I’d likely find some t slot aluminum on Amazon and cut it to length. Just need a miter saw since it is aluminum and cuts easy. Go slow. You may even find the exact length you need

Or let me know and I have extra. I can cut it and send it out to you easy enough.

Then I’d find a T bolt of some kind that fits the t slots

 

[Harpo]

I’m thinking it is likely I will be getting 4 x 48” AI blades for my tank.

The question is what happens that is bad, if anything, if this size is just supported at the ends. They have end mounts for the smaller sizes, but just the top clips for 48” and longer.

My canopy is just big enough to fit these lights, and a 3/4” shelf in each side would support the ends with no chance of them falling off.

But will the middle sag, and if so, is that a problem? It’s hidden so the look doesn’t matter, but I don’t want something to break.

I could, of course, use a clip in the middle, but that would make them harder to push backwards if I need to put something large into the tank (like a rock, an anemone, etc.).

TIA.

I have a pair of heavy duty mounts that you can have. They are made out of .25 aluminum that i anodized black. I will post a snap shot when I get home

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks guys. Now that I know what to look for, I see some that may fit perfectly from Amazon!

 

[spsick]

@Randy Holmes-Farley if you didn’t pull the trigger, they’re on sale today!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley if you didn’t pull the trigger, they’re on sale today!

Thanks!

 

[Notsolostfish]

OK, got a detailed answer from AI:

The longer versions bow when mounted with just the tank rests. Not only does that make the light look bad, but it also makes it more likely to break the LED PCBs, and is more likely to succumb to outside forces due to a gap that's created between the foam gasket and the surface of the lens.

So I'll rig up some kind of way to hang a clip in the middle, or perhaps a third support in the middle.

Part of what I do may depend on whether I can fit them inside the canopy with just the cord bent immediately after it leaves the light (gap to canopy edge is very small) or if I need to drill cord holes in the side of the canopy facing a wall. That will make then far less mobile already, Since I do not yet have the lights, I cannot work out these details. :)

Thanks for everyone's help!

Im in the same situation any solution?