Lighting question? AI Blade

[twentyleagues]

So the channel comment above does not mean at the level of led color?

correct. Most of their bars contain a couple different colors per bar to give that bar a specific spectrum. You can not change the bars color by adjusting specific diode on that bar. The bar is only dimmable as a whole. So you would have to buy the bar that fits your spectrum that you want or as close as possible. I think Orphek does have something that would fit what you are trying to do.

 

[twentyleagues]

So what constitutes a channel? A whole bar of several different leds?

I seem to be getting conflicting info.

Yes correct. A bar with different diode colors to create a bars spectrum would be 1 channel dimmable as a whole but not individually controllable per led that is on that bar.

 

[twentyleagues]

I dont know if this helps or hurts....
Those led in the pic is what you get on the bar and the graph is that bars spectrum. It can not be changed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

correct. Most of their bars contain a couple different colors per bar to give that bar a specific spectrum. You can not change the bars color by adjusting specific diode on that bar. The bar is only dimmable as a whole. So you would have to buy the bar that fits your spectrum that you want or as close as possible. I think Orphek does have something that would fit what you are trying to do.

That bar is close, but like other freshwater bars, I’d want to control the spectrum. GHL and AI allow it to some extent. :)

 

[reefer2/19/24]

Light question for those who know or own AI BLADE strips. I’m trying to find lights with no fans. The Blades seem like a good option. So far what I’ve been reading is the par can handle LPS and SPS. My tank is 70 long 16 inches high and 18 inches wide. I was think about getting one grow and one glow. Is that enough light or do i need three? Two glow and one grow of a different combo. I suffer from migraines  and the fans on my Nicrews are bothering me plus the tank is in my livingroom. thanks for the help.

I have 1 AI Blade and a Fluval Marine Sea and it's literally almost too much! I think mine is about 4' long and 22" high and 20" deep. Running at 60% softies are doing great and a couple chalice frags. Plenty of par.

 

[reefer2/19/24]

I wanted to see how many I would need. You pretty much have the same size wide and depth. For lps and sps I was thinking I might need 2 or 3.

1 is enough.

 

[ReneReef]

This plasma light does an excellent job, but is large and fan driven cooling. I'd pick it if I could. The link shows a reef tank video under this close to natural sunlight spectrum. Looks great to me. That blue spike everyone wants is not my preference.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/magnifica-under-plasma.1094405/

That plasma light (Gavita pro e270) does NOT have moving parts, so no fan.
But yes its big...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That plasma light (Gavita pro e270) does NOT have moving parts, so no fan.
But yes its big...

Sorry, you are correct. I confused it with the 300 model which is actively cooled.

 

[ReneReef]

Sorry, you are correct. I confused it with the 300 model which is actively cooled.

I fully agree with your vision on lighting.
I build a new tank last year and now I regret not having incorporated these plasma lights...

 

[rioreef]

I have 2 grows and one Glow over my 72in penninsula. They put out a ton of par. Two will probably be ok. 3 is probably overkill for my 5 month old tank but I went overboard and put a ton of sps and lps in it. So I just got 3 because I will need them eventually. I am getting 400+ par in top 3rd of tank and only running them at 75%ish.

I have 30" 2 Grows / 1 Glow over my 75g and my numbers are similar to what you indicate on yours. These definitely put out the PAR. Not good at getting tank pics to resemble what I really see, so I am not even going to try and capture a pic showing the what color enhancement I get from the Grow Blade. For sure getting better color/fluorescence since adding the Glow though.

 

[Krux]

So the channel comment above does not mean at the level of led color?

There are two types of programming. Quick program sets an on and off and allows ramping up and down but is across all channels. Not using the quick function takes longer, but allows each color to be adjusted individually. Orphek has 6 colors of diode, but each bar does not contain all 6. On the deep UV I believe it is channels 5 and 6 - I can adjust all 6 sliders, but the other 4 have no effect.

Here is a picture of what the interface looks like… it is admittedly clunky and the one thing I wish they would improve. Each time you want to change intensity you need to select the exact minute which is difficult with human sized fingers.