AI Vega

[MBSL55]

Here's the trick for everyone setting up multiple lights. When setting up more than one light, don't set the correct positions. Just let it pick whatever it thinks they are and hit accept until they are all set. Then move the lights into the right order. It's the only way I got mine to work ay least...

Dude, you just saved me from so much frustration this weekend with all the stuff I've been dealing with on my build. Nice way to end the weekend and all my lights are working now thanks to this tip.

Side note, the red and green LED's cover my tank perfectly even though there are only 2 of each in each fixture (I can see that now that I can control each color individually).

@prsnlty: at least you've been able to run Sols since February so all your stuff is used to LEDs. I'm guessing you have probably saved a bit on the power bill and bulb changes too. I know my Sols more than paid for themselves considering how many T5 bulb changes they've kept me from doing, less chiller run time, less electricity usage, etc.

 

[prsnlty]

MBSL55: You're absolutely correct :thumbup:

I have saved a small fortune considering I had 4 - T12s over my tank, chiller and fans I no longer need. My electric bill dropped $80 a month. I also see better growth and polyp extension. Best of all I'm beginning to be able to keep SPS alive (althought i learned a hard lesson in LED bleaching with my first SPS birdsnest frag). So with electric bill savings alone I've been in the black a couple of months ago with my future spending.

Thanks, I wasn't looking at it that way

125g mixed reef Peninsula
salinity: 1.025, CA: 500, ALK: 9.0DKH, NO3: 0, PO4: 0.25, MAG: 1355
AI SOL BLUES/ 24" T5 Combo
30g Sump, 1400gph Return Flow, 3700 gph PH Flow

 

[prsnlty]

BTW... 6ft bulbs are super expensive to ship too!

125g mixed reef Peninsula
salinity: 1.025, CA: 500, ALK: 9.0DKH, NO3: 0, PO4: 0.25, MAG: 1355
AI SOL BLUES/ 24" T5 Combo
30g Sump, 1400gph Return Flow, 3700 gph PH Flow

 

[MBSL55]

Yeah, I can imagine! I was having to replace 8 x T5 bulbs before and my chiller would be constantly running. I never really calculated the electricity savings as that was just an added bonus. Same here on the SPS. I learned I could only keep my Sols at about 80% max before I started bleaching. Although the measurements I've taken indicate the Vega has less PAR than the Sols, it doesn't really matter to me because I couldn't crank up my Sols all the way anyway without bleaching things . . . and that was with 70 degree optics replacing the 40's in all my Sols.

Who would have thought, upgraded lighting that makes you money in the long run :bigsmile:

 

[3Twinklets]

I received a message from Reef Geeks that said the same thing. They believe the par value and depth coverage,(On tanks more than 30" deep), is better on the Sols.
You guys are not kidding about the savings! We live in South Texas. With the MH fixtures my chiller ran constantly and the heat in the room was terrible! while the rest of the house was freezing! My bill went down from 80 to 100 a month also.

I am now rethinking my plan to upgrade. It would be nice though, if you could mix the Sols and the Vega and use both together.

 

[MBSL55]

I received a message from Reef Geeks that said the same thing. They believe the par value and depth coverage,(On tanks more than 30" deep), is better on the Sols.
You guys are not kidding about the savings! We live in South Texas. With the MH fixtures my chiller ran constantly and the heat in the room was terrible! while the rest of the house was freezing! My bill went down from 80 to 100 a month also.

I am now rethinking my plan to upgrade. It would be nice though, if you could mix the Sols and the Vega and use both together.

I'll see if I have time to post my PAR measurements later today. I'm not good with computers and pictures so it will just be raw numbers without a tank shot and superimposed PAR values.

I would think you could mix Sols and Vegas if you, for example, got a wireless module for the Sols and used the new controller to control both the Sols and Vega? Perhaps it would be worth an e-mail or call to AI. BTW, if you need 40 degree optics, I've got quite a few of them as I swapped all of mine out for 70's.

 

[prsnlty]

What about on tanks 22 inches deep? How is the par at those depths?

I swapped all my 40* for 70* lenses also... lol

125g mixed reef Peninsula
salinity: 1.025, CA: 500, ALK: 9.0DKH, NO3: 0, PO4: 0.25, MAG: 1355
AI SOL BLUES/ 24" T5 Combo
30g Sump, 1400gph Return Flow, 3700 gph PH Flow

 

[prsnlty]

I would think you could mix Sols and Vegas if you, for example, got a wireless module for the Sols and used the new controller to control both the Sols and Vega? Perhaps it would be worth an e-mail or call to AI.

I asked this question in the past and yes you can but... big but... you would have to have them separately controled from the Vega. Because Sol and Vega LED and boards are different, the software is too. But other than cloud cover i think you can set the timers to adjust at the same times...

125g mixed reef Peninsula
salinity: 1.025, CA: 500, ALK: 9.0DKH, NO3: 0, PO4: 0.25, MAG: 1355
AI SOL BLUES/ 24" T5 Combo
30g Sump, 1400gph Return Flow, 3700 gph PH Flow

 

[3Twinklets]

Thank you! That is exactly what I plan to talk to them about at MACNA and Morgan from Reef Geeks is going to be right next door to them.
(Using both)

I'll see if I have time to post my PAR measurements later today. I'm not good with computers and pictures so it will just be raw numbers without a tank shot and superimposed PAR values.

I would think you could mix Sols and Vegas if you, for example, got a wireless module for the Sols and used the new controller to control both the Sols and Vega? Perhaps it would be worth an e-mail or call to AI. BTW, if you need 40 degree optics, I've got quite a few of them as I swapped all of mine out for 70's.

 

[3Twinklets]

Now that you guys mention it, and I think about it for a minute, its very simple really! Their leads that connect are certainly long enough to jump one I think. I other words, 1 Sol,1 Vega, 1 Sol, 1 Vega, 2 controllers?

Reef Geek said the Vegas are very good for tanks like yours prsnlty, at 22". Better width coverage.

I asked this question in the past and yes you can but... big but... you would have to have them separately controled from the Vega. Because Sol and Vega LED and boards are different, the software is too. But other than cloud cover i think you can set the timers to adjust at the same times...

125g mixed reef Peninsula
salinity: 1.025, CA: 500, ALK: 9.0DKH, NO3: 0, PO4: 0.25, MAG: 1355
AI SOL BLUES/ 24" T5 Combo
30g Sump, 1400gph Return Flow, 3700 gph PH Flow

 

[MBSL55]

Okay, here are my quick PAR comparisons:

AI Sol Super Blue, 80% power, 12" AWL, all 70 degree optics, center of fixture, depths are given below water line:
3" = 360
6" = 250
10" = 215
18" = 150
18" offset to side of fixture by about 6" = 85

AI Vega, 100% power, 15" AWL, center of fixture, depths are given below water line:
At water line = 410
3" = 350
8" = 230
16" = 180
21" = 125

I know the depths don't match up as I was taking measurements of where my existing corals are (roughly) with the Sol readings and then the Vega readings are based on mounting heights for corals in the new tank.

Readings between Vega fixtures: roughly 14" separation between fixtures (7" from the "back" or "front" of a fixture where the power cord input is located); 15" AWL:
At Water Line = 300
3" = 220
8" = 175
16" = 150

 

[seth&angelle]

2 100w White Ecoxotic Canons, 2 100w Blue Ecoxoitic Canons, and 3 AI Vegas.

 

[3Twinklets]

Thank you everyone for sharing. Helps a lot!

 

[Kbra]

2 100w White Ecoxotic Canons, 2 100w Blue Ecoxoitic Canons, and 3 AI Vegas.

Jebus

 

[Reloadeddevil]

Can we look at corals colors and FTS. Thanks.

 

[Jakef150]

You said 80% do you mean all 80% W,B and RB ?

Also check your PM since I don't want to hijack here..

Thanks

Okay, here are my quick PAR comparisons:

AI Sol Super Blue, 80% power, 12" AWL, all 70 degree optics, center of fixture, depths are given below water line:
3" = 360
6" = 250
10" = 215
18" = 150
18" offset to side of fixture by about 6" = 85

AI Vega, 100% power, 15" AWL, center of fixture, depths are given below water line:
At water line = 410
3" = 350
8" = 230
16" = 180
21" = 125

I know the depths don't match up as I was taking measurements of where my existing corals are (roughly) with the Sol readings and then the Vega readings are based on mounting heights for corals in the new tank.

Readings between Vega fixtures: roughly 14" separation between fixtures (7" from the "back" or "front" of a fixture where the power cord input is located); 15" AWL:
At Water Line = 300
3" = 220
8" = 175
16" = 150

 

[Surfage_Breakage]

How many vegas do you all think I would need for a 225g 72Lx24dx30h?

 

[MBSL55]

@JakeF150: Correct, my PAR measurements were taken with W/B/RB each at 80%

@Surfage_Breakage: I would go with 4

 

[Kbra]

How many vegas do you all think I would need for a 225g 72Lx24dx30h?

You could do 3 if you run them perpendicular to how they show them on their mounts. You get a 2'x3' spread easily
But 4 would work fine too. If you got the extra $500 otherwise start with 3 then decide if you want another

 

[Surfage_Breakage]

ok thanks!