Actinic 420nm UV Supplement LED lights - Is this the real thing?

[higorc]

I have been looking for methods/ways to supplement/add the lack of 420nm Actinics/UV lights in my AI Sols.

I found this on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-Re...180?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1909e3c4

Do you think this is the real deal? Is there a way to test it to make sure that's what it is really putting out?

Other options would be DIY some custom strips or add some T5 HO lamps (which I think would defeat the purpose of having LEDs, but it would definetely add the missing 420nm wave length).

I was thinking of giving this a try. Do u think it would be a total waste of $?

 

[newenglandreef]

I don't see where it says that it's a UV.

If you have an AI unit, I think you can buy "pucks" now with UV's that you can switch out-- and for the AI SOL's, I think they're only like $25.

 

[higorc]

I don't see where it says that it's a UV.

If you have an AI unit, I think you can buy "pucks" now with UV's that you can switch out-- and for the AI SOL's, I think they're only like $25.

I didn't mean to say it was UV light. Just Actinic in the Ultra Violet spectrum wavelength (420nm).

I din't know actinic and UV puck were available for AI Sols. I thought they were only available for the Vegas. I will have to check that out.

Thanks for the info

 

[newenglandreef]

Yeah I think I saw them somewhere because I remember seeing the AI's were $25 and the Vegas were $50. Check the AI website, they sell them direct.

 

[higorc]

Just got off the phone with AI tech support. When I asked about the pucks for the AI Sols, they mentioned the Vegas and how they have the upgradable "Color Pucks". But nothing for the Sols. When I asked if they have any plans of any kind of "Color Pucks" for the Sols, he said that besides getting the "$250" upgrade to the Vegas and then getting the pucks he doesn't know of any other upgrades available.

I guess a DYI strip or a couple of small 420nm+UV units is the best option now. Cause by God I am not paying $500 to convert my Sols to Vegas and "then" paying to add different puck colors to it.

I had the chance to have the Vegas before but my Sols r doing just fine for what I am growing as of now. Just thought I would try to get at least a little more spectrum in my Sols.

If I have to spend that kind of money on my Sols, I would rather get either the GHL Mitras or the Pacific Sun Tritons!

 

[newenglandreef]

Looks like they have the pucks but no color options. That's two bad. I wonder if it's something could easily add by pulling the individual LED and placing a color/UV one...

http://shop.aquaillumination.com/collections/all-products/products/ai-sol-sol-white-led-puck

 

[Jarob]

You should buy a small heatsink, driver and a few UV LEDs from stevesLEDs or something. You could build a nice controllable supplement UV light for around $60

 

[Sean Irwin]

You can DIY or try to find some supplemental lighting to tag onto your fixture. Ecoxotic and Current USA don't have 420 nm fixtures but they do have some at 403 and 453 nm that may be suitable. They're a couple of par38 fixtures that might work as well.

 

[STiTCH87]

Whatever LEDs the Maxspect R420R has, that's the real deal 420m, so i'd buy those ones individually for a DIY kit. IDK what LEDs they are without looking it up but the info is readily accessible.