Aquatic Life Debuts LED/T5HO Hybrid Mounting System Fixture Reef Hobbyists Have Been Waiting For!

[tpack17]

If this winds up working for you, could you repost back here? I lost 2 of them as well during install.

What did you do since you didn’t have them?

 

[North Borders]

I made sure I had at least 2 in each sleeve. I stole one from the other side so I had 2 and 2. I tugged on it pretty hard to make sure it was stable and it felt strong enough to me, but I would still like to get 2 replacements eventually.

 

[tpack17]

I actually found both of them. Still not sure how but got them both. Sorry I couldn’t help you.

 

[Norcalreef]

Got my 36” today. Using with a Radion G4 pro. Using all ati bulbs 2 blue plus, 1 actinic and 1 coral plus. It’s like looking at tank in hd. All I’ll say is the instructions are garbage. Not sure if the Radion is hooked up correctly but it seems like it. Maybe a online reference for how to mount different fixtures. I work construction so I had it built and installed in under an hour. But I could see how the less inclined may seriously struggle.
But man it is a great light! Such a better/cheaper option than buying another 1 or 2 radions.

 

[Norcalreef]

All leveled and wires cleaned up. I can’t believe how much I like this light. Starting with just the front bank of light for a hour for a week. Corals look great, some of the pop of all blue without the terrible look of all blue. Looks much less blue in person.
I got lucky and both cords reached my apex power bar.

 

[siggy]

@1stNoel How did your light turn out

 

[11f150]

So I have a 72" tank and have 3 radions. If I went with the 61" fixture with the 3 LED mounts my question is would the radions be mounted directly above my tanks braces? Heres a picture of my setup and the radions now are centered over each section on the tank.

 

[mitch91175]

So I have a 72" tank and have 3 radions. If I went with the 61" fixture with the 3 LED mounts my question is would the radions be mounted directly above my tanks braces? Heres a picture of my setup and the radions now are centered over each section on the tank.

What is the length of them now? Are they less than 61” now? You can put them where you want to with the fixture.

 

[11f150]

What is the length of them now? Are they less than 61” now? You can put them where you want to with the fixture.

So you can adjust where the LEDs would be mounted on the fixture?

 

[mitch91175]

So you can adjust where the LEDs would be mounted on the fixture?

Yes

 

[11f150]

Yes

Thanks!

 

[BantyRooster97]

Just received mine & it came out of the box looking just like the one from @1stNoel
That one must have "SLIPPED" thru QC as well

@AquaticLifeProducts @siggy

 

[mitch91175]

Just received mine & it came out of the box looking just like the one from @1stNoel
That one must have "SLIPPED" thru QC as well

@AquaticLifeProducts @siggy

Pics?

 

[BantyRooster97]

Mike, from AL reached out & is sending me new end plates. He said they are working to make them thicker, these are very thin.

 

[1stNoel]

@1stNoel That one SLIPPED thru QC, it's up to you BUT you could remove the end caps, then stand the fixture on its end and push the extrusions together flush (they Slide) then flatten end plates, or ask for new ones
Dave @AquaticLifeProducts can help

Thanks for asking.

I fixed it. It was easier than I thought it would be.

The ends lined up perfectly (so it's not like it was cut at an angle or anything weird). The end plates can bend by hand, and when you screw them back on...they will flatten well enough to serve their purpose.

Here are initial pictures of my set-up (having issues with the pics, so I'll re-post later if they aren't visible to all...I can see it on my phone, but not my laptop).

I'm still working on cord management since one of the cords doesn't reach my switch. My initial thought is to buy a four-port extension cord, plug all the lights into it, then plug the extension cord into a timer that's programmable via a phone app. Price for the timer is $20, which is cheaper than buying 4 individual timers.

I also managed to install an AP700 between the two fixtures by not installing the end bars. I instead attached four extra rectangular brackets for support.

View attachment 20180422_034328.jpg

View attachment 20180422_034359.jpg

View attachment 20180422_034428.jpg

 

[1stNoel]

Thanks!

The brackets attach to a groove. You just slide it into the desired position and tighten down the screws to set it.

 

[siggy]

Mike, from AL reached out & is sending me new end plates. He said they are working to make them thicker, these are very thin.

Cant wait to see what the next generation will offer. Maybe Dim-able, with a single cord, what about a night light that comes on when the bulbs are not ? How about a string of Reef Brights or two.

 

[Montiguy1287]

I’m sure it’s in this monster thread somewhere but what’s a good bulb combo for a natural looking reef with good color pop?

 

[BantyRooster97]

Received the new end caps (with new cord) from A L. Very quickly I must say. Putting it all together today, so we'll see how it looks.

I too am interested in bulb combos. I purchased 2 Blue +, Actinic & a Coral +. Not sure what the best order to put them in. Right now I am going Blue + - Coral + & Actinic - Blue +

 

[1stNoel]

Received the new end caps (with new cord) from A L. Very quickly I must say. Putting it all together today, so we'll see how it looks.

I too am interested in bulb combos. I purchased 2 Blue +, Actinic & a Coral +. Not sure what the best order to put them in. Right now I am going Blue + - Coral + & Actinic - Blue +

I PM'd ATI and they responded that all bulb combos will grow coral, so choose a combo based on what's pleasing to your eye. That being said, it depends on whether you prefer a Windex blue tank or a bright white tank. I'm in the Windex blue camp, and I don't think any of the bulbs offer the icy blue look of the Kessil AP700 Deep Blue.

I currently use a combo of Blue+/Coral+. It mimics the 8:00 position on the AP700 colorwheel, where the fish colors pop and coral colors somewhat pop. Other combos I've tried:

• Blue+ only (too green),
• Blue+/True Actinic (I find that fish colors and even some coral colors look muted under it).
• AquaBlue is supposed to be really white, so I haven't tried any combos with it.
• Purple+. I'm going to buy a bulb and see what Coral+/Purple+, and Blue/Purple+ look like.
• Coral+/True Actinic. Haven't tried yet.

One note of caution: turn down your LED intensity settings and slowly introduce the new lights. I turned down my LEDs from 50% down to 35%, and started running T5s at only 2 hours during peak intensity. My acans started shrinking up after a few days. I've now adjusted LED intensity down to 20%, and will try the T5s at 1-hour per day (increasing by an hour each week...or slower...until I reach 5 hours max).