Any thoughts on the AI Sol LED light module?

[DavidLipps82]

I'm fairly new to the hobby and have recently setup a 55 gal tall tank. I would really love to start growing corals and have done my research to find that a good lighting system is important in this setup. I was thinking of purchasing the AI SOl LED light with controller. Any suggestions as to if this is a good idea or not would be greatly appreciated. I was thinking this light would be a good choice because it seems to give off excellent light and is also upgradeable and very controllable.

 

[22engine]

I love mine. Getting good growth from my LPS. Just started some SPS so waiting to see on that. Controller is great. Gonna need two units for a 55 I believe. Only one controller though.

 

[higorc]

I have had a couple of AI Sol Blues going on 6 months now. Love the way the lights look, the programability, color. I have gotten good results with LPS, SPS and soft corals. I have to say that some SPS doesn't do too well under it though.

I get growth out of SPS corals but some of their colors tend to change. I suspect from the lack of some light spectrum (mainly 420nm Actinic, UV, greens and reds). This doesn't happen to all SPS though. I have noticed that any "fuzzy/hairry" SPS like Pocillopora, Milis, Stylos do well under the AI Sols but other Acroporas have changed the colors a bit.

I recently added a couple of T5s to my AI Sols to get some of the "missing" spectrum (http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums...pplement-for-AI-Sol-Blue-LED&highlight=higorc) since I read that some reefers in Reef Central and other clubs have had succes with it.

I have to say it has made a noticeble change at least in my Blue Digita which had good growth under the AI Sols but turned brown. Now the whole colony is getting it's "blue/purple" colors back since I added the T5s.

Just to summarize, I think the AI Sol Blues are great light for LPS and Soft corals, but you should pick wisely any SPS you want to grow under it with out any kind of "light spectrum" suplementation.

Good luck
Higor

 

[inverted]

Nice light, I have on as a supplemental light. Works well, looks good. Controller isn't the best, but gets the job done.

 

[bill120mph]

Love mine so far, I just installed 7 of them over my 180... I bought them fro, blackpearlaqua.com they are on sale 329.99 with free shipping ... I have received great customer support from them.. good luck. I control mine wit their wired controller but the wireless adapters should be out soon.

 

[joelg]

I have been using 2 sol blues over my 29 for about 2 years
once I got a good lighting schedule down they have been trouble free with good growth
if I was to buy now I would probably go with the AI Vega instead just because it is newer technology with added spectrum
I did cook a few corals in the beginning due to my under estimating the power of the LED's
after I toned them down a bit it was all good

 

[DavidLipps82]

:.Thank you all very much for your comments. They've helped a lot. Currently i'm running 3 separate lights, only because that's just what i had kicking around and seems to do ok, but i really want a more programmable light and maybe free up some power outlets ha. I don't have any corals in the tank just yet, just a couple fish (2 clown fish, 2 yellow watchmen gobies and a few hermit crabs) but i really want to start adding some. My lights are a 30" or so Marineland single bright LED light and 3 T5 lamps (2 are 6,700K and 1 is 10,000K) Does anyone think this lighting setup is ok for corals to start? I do eventually want to get an Neptune Apex controller along with 2 SOL LED Setups but i need to save some cash up for that setup.

 

[Ruge13]

I have had a couple of AI Sol Blues going on 6 months now. Love the way the lights look, the programability, color. I have gotten good results with LPS, SPS and soft corals. I have to say that some SPS doesn't do too well under it though.

I get growth out of SPS corals but some of their colors tend to change. I suspect from the lack of some light spectrum (mainly 420nm Actinic, UV, greens and reds). This doesn't happen to all SPS though. I have noticed that any "fuzzy/hairry" SPS like Pocillopora, Milis, Stylos do well under the AI Sols but other Acroporas have changed the colors a bit.

I recently added a couple of T5s to my AI Sols to get some of the "missing" spectrum (http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums...pplement-for-AI-Sol-Blue-LED&highlight=higorc) since I read that some reefers in Reef Central and other clubs have had succes with it.

I have to say it has made a noticeble change at least in my Blue Digita which had good growth under the AI Sols but turned brown. Now the whole colony is getting it's "blue/purple" colors back since I added the T5s.

Just to summarize, I think the AI Sol Blues are great light for LPS and Soft corals, but you should pick wisely any SPS you want to grow under it with out any kind of "light spectrum" suplementation.

Good luck
Higor

Have had them over a mixed reef for 3 years now.. agree 100% with this. Some good, some not so good. Overall I like them over a rimless open room tank. If I had an enclosed, in wall type system where the lights are hidden I would be supplementing with t5. For a standard 55 you will need 2 for sure.