Using only AI blades on bigger tank

[Max1]

Hi, I am wanting to find out if anyone has been succesfull using only AI blades for a mixed reef tank before. I see some people saying that they have, but I haven't seen anyone with a larger tank say they have done it. I see people use them as supplementary lighting, combined with other lights, but not just the AI blades. I see that on the AI website they state that the lights can be used on their own. I have a 150cm long tank running 2x Red Sea LED 170s and thinking about changing, considering running 2x AI blade grows and 1 glow. What is peoples thoughts? Thanks

 

[Freenow54]

Hi, I am wanting to find out if anyone has been succesfull using only AI blades for a mixed reef tank before. I see some people saying that they have, but I haven't seen anyone with a larger tank say they have done it. I see people use them as supplementary lighting, combined with other lights, but not just the AI blades. I see that on the AI website they state that the lights can be used on their own. I have a 150cm long tank running 2x Red Sea LED 170s and thinking about changing, considering running 2x AI blade grows and 1 glow. What is peoples thoughts? Thanks

I don't believe they can be but then again it depends on the length and the height . The larger bars are higher wattage . I have two AI Primes 100 watts each. The spread is dismal. I have bought two 12 inch bars to fill, but I did not realize they are 24 watts each. They will be combined but I am not sure what to expect . I am reluctant to think I made a good decision my tank is 48/18/24 top to bottom

 

[Max1]

@

I don't believe they can be but then again it depends on the length and the height . The larger bars are higher wattage . I have two AI Primes 100 watts each. The spread is dismal. I have bought two 12 inch bars to fill, but I did not realize they are 24 watts each. They will be combined but I am not sure what to expect . I am reluctant to think I made a good decision my tank is 48/18/24 top to bottom

So is it mainly a PAR issue? because looking on the chart they give for wavelength of light output, the AI grow looks similar to the red sea lights. I was thinking using 3 of the 57 inch (145cm) long bars, 2 grow and 1 glow as AI recomends. This is pretty much the entire length of my tank. The grow lights are 120w each and the glow is 140w, so a total of 380w. I haven't seen anyone do this before which is why I am unsure as to possible issues. Thanks

 

[Justfebreezeit]

They can but I would look at quanta Helix bars instead.

The ai blade is not very versatile in its spectrum. Although it does have good par for its wattage

 

[Max1]

They can but I would look at quanta Helix bars instead.

The ai blade is not very versatile in its spectrum. Although it does have good par for its wattage

Thanks for input, I haven't seen those helix bars before but I will have a look. What is meant when you say that the spectrum isn't versatile? Like it's not very adjustable in the app? or that the spectrum doesn't have the desired peaks of wavelength (which I am still trying to understand myself as online information can be conflicting). Attached is the advertised spectrums for the AI Glow and Grow, and also the Red Sea G2 spectrum, which Red Sea thinks is perfect based on years of research, and to me it looks similar to the AI spectrum.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Yes I mean the spectrum. I used one grow as a primary light and the colors are washed out and don't have much contrast. I can't speak to the combo of grow and glow though

It grew coral just fine. It's just the color rendering was lacking imo

 

[slingfox]

Take a look at Parker’s Reef on YouTube. He runs stunning display tanks with just AI Blades.

 

[Max1]

Yes I mean the spectrum. I used one grow as a primary light and the colors are washed out and don't have much contrast. I can't speak to the combo of grow and glow though

It grew coral just fine. It's just the color rendering was lacking imo

Ok, I have an AI blade grow 12 inch on my qt tank, which I think doesn't look too bad, is this the same light you have?

 

[VintageReefer]

The problem with many bars is par and spread. They don’t punch deep for a very wide area. Looking up the 57” blade, it’s $570. So 570x3=1,710

For 1500 you could get a meridian 45 and get coverage of 60x24 with default optics or 60x30 with a wide angle lens swap. Plus you’d could add the matching edge bars down the line if you ever needed them.

I think blades are great for smaller tanks but the value doesn’t really scale when you start planning for a larger tank.

 

[rtparty]

Ran them for more than 9 months on my 250g system. It was a mixed tank with SPS from top to bottom. Had more PAR than I ever needed and spectrum was plenty.

Notice those saying it can’t or shouldn’t be done have no experience doing so. Yet, there are multiple of us who have done it just fine. You can find my build thread if you search my posts

 

[Max1]

Take a look at Parker’s Reef on YouTube. He runs stunning display tanks with just AI Blades.

Thanks, yeah this is something that I was looking for where someone has used them on bigger tank and likes them. I think this guy was in Adelaide a few days ago also

 

[Max1]

The problem with many bars is par and spread. They don’t punch deep for a very wide area. Looking up the 57” blade, it’s $570. So 570x3=1,710

For 1500 you could get a meridian 45 and get coverage of 60x24 with default optics or 60x30 with a wide angle lens swap. Plus you’d could add the matching edge bars down the line if you ever needed them.

I think blades are great for smaller tanks but the value doesn’t really scale when you start planning for a larger tank.

Have you used the Meridian 45 before? I don't know much about them but they don't seem like a popular option. Aslo a brief look online and I can't see them available in Australia, so would need to be imported. I think if they where a good light more people would use them?

 

[Max1]

Ran them for more than 9 months on my 250g system. It was a mixed tank with SPS from top to bottom. Had more PAR than I ever needed and spectrum was plenty.

Notice those saying it can’t or shouldn’t be done have no experience doing so. Yet, there are multiple of us who have done it just fine. You can find my build thread if you search my posts

Thanks, this is good to hear. Was there anything about them that you weren't happy with?

 

[Max1]

Ran them for more than 9 months on my 250g system. It was a mixed tank with SPS from top to bottom. Had more PAR than I ever needed and spectrum was plenty.

Notice those saying it can’t or shouldn’t be done have no experience doing so. Yet, there are multiple of us who have done it just fine. You can find my build thread if you search my posts

Also I am new to this website and not sure how to search for your older builds. How many blades did you run, glow/grow? and what length lights and tank? Thanks

 

[rtparty]

Also I am new to this website and not sure how to search for your older builds. How many blades did you run, glow/grow? and what length lights and tank? Thanks

Here ya go

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/its-a-lifestyle-250g-vivarium-frogs-moved-in.843645/
I ended up running 5 of the 57" but 3 was enough. 3 Grow and 2 Glow

 

[slingfox]

Ran them for more than 9 months on my 250g system. It was a mixed tank with SPS from top to bottom. Had more PAR than I ever needed and spectrum was plenty.

Notice those saying it can’t or shouldn’t be done have no experience doing so. Yet, there are multiple of us who have done it just fine. You can find my build thread if you search my posts

I also ran triple AI Blades previously for close to two years (2 glow + 1 glow). Solid par (300+ in middle of tank at 80% intensity or so) and pretty much unbeatable spread other than covering your entire tank airspace with T5s and LED bars.

Agreed the lack of “spectrum” comment must be from people who never ran them since that is not consistent with the reviews from people who have including very reputable folks like David Saxby and Mike Poletta. Are there better lights and setups? Yes but you can run a beautiful tank with just Blades.

 

[slingfox]

Hi, I am wanting to find out if anyone has been succesfull using only AI blades for a mixed reef tank before. I see some people saying that they have, but I haven't seen anyone with a larger tank say they have done it. I see people use them as supplementary lighting, combined with other lights, but not just the AI blades. I see that on the AI website they state that the lights can be used on their own. I have a 150cm long tank running 2x Red Sea LED 170s and thinking about changing, considering running 2x AI blade grows and 1 glow. What is peoples thoughts? Thanks

Note that I have a similar sized tank (at least in width). I previously ran triple AI Blades (2 Grows + 1 Glow) but switched to Straton X since I wanted more par for a SPS dominant setup. Both are nice setups, albeit the Statons are even more expensive but at generate 550+ par halfway down the water column running at 75% intensity. You don’t not need that kind of par for a mixed reef.

If you plan to go the AI Blade route you should go with 2 AI Blades Grow first. That may be enough light and coverage. Then the question is whether to add another Grow or Glow. I prefer the Grow spectrum personally but that is a matter of preference (eg, I run a mostly daylight spectrum most of the day).

For a 5 ft tank I prefer the mounting options for two Straton X vs. triple AI Blade but that is because I don’t use ceiling mounts since my ceilings are quite high which makes things complicating.

 

[VintageReefer]

Have you used the Meridian 45 before? I don't know much about them but they don't seem like a popular option. Aslo a brief look online and I can't see them available in Australia, so would need to be imported. I think if they where a good light more people would use them?

Didn’t realize you were in Australia. But yes it’s an excellent line from one of the top USA based companies. They ship worldwide but I’m unaware of the cost. Might not be in your favor once factoring for shipping.

Yes they are very good and will grow coral

Blades can do a great job also. Just throwing out an option that I thought could save a bit of money, but I didn’t check where you were located.

 

[slingfox]

Didn’t realize you were in Australia. But yes it’s an excellent line from one of the top USA based companies. They ship worldwide but I’m unaware of the cost. Might not be in your favor once factoring for shipping.

Yes they are very good and will grow coral

Blades can do a great job also. Just throwing out an option that I thought could save a bit of money, but I didn’t check where you were located.

For a 5 ft tank I also believe the Meridians have a better off the shelf mounting options than the AI Blades. Also more variety of LEDs for tweaking the spectrum. Potentially more cost effective than triple AI Blade but to get comparable spread you may have to add the Meridian bars as supplemental fill light.

Regardless of what light you choose you may want to order the basic/minimum setup first to see what par and coverage you get then add on more lights if needed. That is a little better for budgeting.

 

[VintageReefer]

For a 5 ft tank I also believe the Meridians have a better off the shelf mounting options than the AI Blades. Also more variety of LEDs for tweaking the spectrum. Potentially more cost effective than triple AI Blade but to get comparable spread you may have to add the Meridian bars as supplemental fill light.

Regardless of what light you choose you may want to order the basic/minimum setup first to see what par and coverage you get then add on more lights if needed. That is a little better for budgeting.

It’s basically the grow + glow combined in one unit without sacrificing par, and they can be mounted higher

Both setups can work. planing stage is where you learn about pros/cons and pick your light and go in prepared