ai vega owners

[g-ray]

Just wanted to see if any sps reefkeepers out there are finding success with these? I have had them on my tank for the past month and have seen little growth and less happy corals. I am trying to figure out what exactly has gone wrong all my water parameters have stayed the same. Feed back would be great thanks!

[electricrcplane]

Did you use the acclimate feature? Switch from another lighting technology? I switched from the AI Nano SOL blue plus and thought ah I don't need to acclimate, WRONG, I put the setting on after I noticed my corals were turning white from getting blasted with so much light. other than that, I'm getting exceptional growth on my caps and montis, a little slower on my acroporas, but I think I have them too high. I also borrowed Maasts par meter from Elegant reef and an inch under the water I'm still getting over 1000, on the sandbed about 250. The fixture is about 12 inches off the water and the tank is a 29 gallon standard.

[g-ray]

I didnt use acclimation mode either however for some reason my coral dont seem to be getting enough light. Dull colors and browning so I raised them thinking there is not enough coverage and raised the intensity. I was at 85 on the blues and 75 on the whites

[g-ray]

That was at 6in btw now I am at 12 inches off the water line at 100 percent

[electricrcplane]

what type of light were you using before?

[CoryDude]

So far I'm two weeks into a vega on one half of my tank. My red montipora digitata has gone nuts with new growth. Everything else is holding its color. Other than the multicolored shimmer lines I can't tell the difference between the 250w halide side and the vega side.

[g-ray]

8x54w t5 and had perfect growth

[Big_Pun]

hmm.......

[electricrcplane]

do you still have your old light fixture? If so I'd go to elegant and grab the par meter. Check what your old fixture was putting out and compare to the AI fixture. I know for me the LED has worked exceptionally well for growth, (maybe not metal halide growth, but decent growth). I'm getting better growth with the Vega than I did with the previous AI generation light.

[350gt]

IM loving mine....

I dont have tons of SPS but the couple pieces I have have grown a bit... wont say insane growth but some..... Still wouldnt want MH for the quicker growth....

These things grow aiptasia like CRAZY!

[350gt]

I did just raise mine a bit....


I lowered them to about 6 inches and went back to about 8... at the setting I had them my sunset monti was dulling out.


IMO 12" might be too high... try 8 and lower them back from 100.....

Are you using the easy mode?

[g-ray]

I am starting to think I had then a little to low and the intensity to high for the height. I raised them yesterday and did a water change yesterday. I put the intensity at about 85% on blue and 80 on white the rest at 70

[350gt]

This is a piece from LOU in a months time under the vega

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/gsrt5/IMG_8814.jpg

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/gsrt5/IMG_9075.jpg


Like I said not insane but they work....

[g-ray]

I might try and lower them to 8in later. How high are yours 350? And intensity?

[350gt]

I am starting to think I had then a little to low and the intensity to high for the height. I raised them yesterday and did a water change yesterday. I put the intensity at about 85% on blue and 80 on white the rest at 70


might just be the transfer from T5 to led..... I remember when I swapped to the AI sols, some of my stuff freaked out...


Right now I am using the auto easy mode from 9:00 am to 7 PM with a 4 hour ramp time..

lights peak at

whites 60
blue 90
royal 90
DBLUE 90
red 40
green 50

[350gt]

just measured they are 7-8" above water....

might just leave them there.... going to check with the par meter tomorrow..

Ive had it for a few days but the battery crapped out on me and I had to go find one.....

I will post some #'s to give you an idea.....

[350gt]

only reason I am using the easy mode is cause its EASY...lol cant wait till director is released...

[g-ray]

I know I am using easy mode also I am going to try that configuration what size is your tank?

[350gt]

60x18x24 I have 3 units mounted horizontally and its enough.......

[FireWater]

I have mine at 8" AWL. 2 units on a 4'x2' 120. I run all blues at 95%, whites at 80%, red at 85% and green at 50%.

I'm still liking mine.

[350gt]

I would say lower them to about 8" and run acclimation mode...

[g-ray]

I will give it a shot

[350gt]

if you notice stuff looking worse, I would be willing to hold some stuff.... as Im sure a few others would be too..

[rockmp]

I have mine about 8" AWL and set to max of 75%. I have two of them on a 36x21x21....plenty of light. Some of my corals were mad but are now recovering. I have started to see new growth on all my SPS.....really digging them.

[Big_Pun]

have you made any other changes to tank?

[g-ray]

Nope thats it. I am thinking it could have been a number of small things. I have change the configuration a little and I am going to see how these work out.