Using only AI blades on bigger tank

[Freenow54]

Did you run just the blades and no other lights? What was coral growth like?

From what I have read the green and red are not important to coral growth .I would like an opinion regarding that

 

[oreo54]

From what I have read the green and red are not important to coral growth .I would like an opinion regarding that

The term "important" is problematic.
The bandwidth can be use-able but unnecessary or perform functions that are ancillary.

Literature wise you get stuff like this. note the Zooxanthella action spectrum
Keep in mind that peaks aren't "exact" and can differ by how it was measured.:

And the absorption spectums of pigments concentrating on Chl a, c, and peridinin.
Especially peridinin where it can outnumber chl a 4 to 1 See the PCP complex

The peridinin molecules absorb light in the blue-green wavelengths (470 to 550 nm) and transfer energy to the chlorophyll molecules with extremely high efficiency.[1][2] PCP complexes are found in many photosynthetic dinoflagellates, in which they may be the primary light-harvesting complexes

Problem is there is really no definitives out there.
About the best is heavy red light (like pure 660nm red) will bleach your corals.

I'll leave any comments on algae out.

 

[X-37B]

Who is RHF.

Reef Chemistry by Randy Holmes Farley here on R2R.

 

[Freenow54]

Are the Hydras 64s noisy?

Here is My Blades Bracket as you asked

 

[ClownSchool]

I'm still pretty new, is a wavelength of 420-460nm ideal? Like I know that its high uv and low visable +a little red based on research papers, but is this 410-485 something that reefers agree on? and if so should the AI blades be really good, based on the spectrum the advertise, it looks like the peak is bang on 420-460? I know it's a difficult question so if not sure than no issue

BRS did a pretty neat comparison video that showed where the 16 best brands fall on both par and pur, but I can’t find it. There’s a post of it on their Facebook page, but I couldn’t get the sound to work.
They seemed to think around the 410 to 485 range was really important for sps coloration and extension, explained here:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/brstv-investigates-lighting-pur-quality-of-light

 

[William Sharkspeare]

I currently have 3 63" grows on my 240 gallon with room for more if needed. I have not measured par yet as I am still setting up the tank, but I did find this thread after I already purchased them. He is getting 350-400 par on the bottom of a 30" tank.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/f...romise-hidden-fish-room.1074153/post-14026030

 

[Seven Year Nap]

I use only 2 x24” Ai blade grows on my mixed reef IM 50 lagoon. It’s not perfect, but neither am I.

I run them white heavy, directly on top of the tank and get 400 par where my clam is.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Did you run just the blades and no other lights? What was coral growth like?

Just the blade yes. Coral growth was adequate. I have no complaints about that

 

[Anonymous'Reefer90]

¿Son ruidosos los Hydra 64?

No, not at all and I live in a hot area I like the combination they give with the blades

 

[ReeferDog]

I have one 48” glow and two 48” grows over a 60” long 150g display. Been running this light setup for the last 12 months, replacing Neptune Sky lights that were malfunctioning. Tank is 24” tall, lights peak at about 75% mid-day and I get plenty of spread.

 

[dustinc]

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

You can absolutely use Blades only as your tank light. There is a very popular person on YouTube that uses it as his only lighting on his display. I'm currently using 6 blades (4 Grow & 2 Glow) only on my SPS dominant 72x36x30. I have the lights tuned to 72% on the color spectrum I dialed in and have almost 300 par on the base of the tank (30" deep).

Par is absolutely not an issue with the Blades. The only potential concern I see with them is the lack of spectrum outside of Royal Blue/Blue. I was it had some warm white and some other blue/violet in the in between spectrums. Good luck!

 

[Max1]

You can absolutely use Blades only as your tank light. There is a very popular person on YouTube that uses it as his only lighting on his display. I'm currently using 6 blades (4 Grow & 2 Glow) only on my SPS dominant 72x36x30. I have the lights tuned to 72% on the color spectrum I dialed in and have almost 300 par on the base of the tank (30" deep).

Par is absolutely not an issue with the Blades. The only potential concern I see with them is the lack of spectrum outside of Royal Blue/Blue. I was it had some warm white and some other blue/violet in the in between spectrums. Good luck!

Thanks, I also want to get 5 or 6 of the lights now, either 2 glow 3 grow, or 2 glow 4 grow. Do you have an opinion on this? Do you think that the ratio you have done of 2 glow to 4 grow is ideal?
Also would you have an opinon on mounting something like this on the back of the tank? I cant find anything I can buy to do this. You have your 6 lights mouted in a flat line horizontally, I am thinking that I want to mount mine in a slight curve like an umbrella, so the ones on the very front and back face the main rockwork a bit more, and dont shine out of the tank as much. Do you have any thoughts on this? are you happy with the way yours are mounted? Thanks

 

[dustinc]

Thanks, I also want to get 5 or 6 of the lights now, either 2 glow 3 grow, or 2 glow 4 grow. Do you have an opinion on this? Do you think that the ratio you have done of 2 glow to 4 grow is ideal?
Also would you have an opinon on mounting something like this on the back of the tank? I cant find anything I can buy to do this. You have your 6 lights mouted in a flat line horizontally, I am thinking that I want to mount mine in a slight curve like an umbrella, so the ones on the very front and back face the main rockwork a bit more, and dont shine out of the tank as much. Do you have any thoughts on this? are you happy with the way yours are mounted? Thanks

I'm very happy with the way mine are mounted. I don't think you need to angle as they are such a flat blanket of light, they already to a good job of eliminating shadows (much like T5 lighting). I think 5 would be more than enough for your width of tank.