AI SOL. How many?
 

So i was looking at upgrading my lights to leds.
I was leaning towards AI sols for two reasons. I have read they get better depth coverage and being a highschool student with a part time job i dont have the money to buy radions.
I have a 144 half circle tank and currently have a 4 foot 250w x2 fixture. I was hoping i would be able to get away with 2 AI sols.
The tank is 50 inches across the back, 24 inches deep and the furthest distance from back to front(In the middle) is 28 inches. I have mostly SPS on the top half and LPS on the bottom.
I know their is lots of threats regarding ai sols but i am still unable to decide what would be best coverage for my tank dimensions.
Any advice would be great

I would run with 2 first and see how it is, add another one if neccessory.

2 should be fine, maybe mount them like "/ \" and it also depends on how the rock are stacked

So mount them fabric eachother slightly? My rockwork is pretty much two huge mountains, one on each side and then a arch across the top.

Facing*

If you wait until fall they are supposedly coming out with a new ai which is thinner, more powerful, and wireless comm to your computer. Just a thought, same price point as well I think

From what I have read they are 500 instead of 400. I would wait but my urge to switch to led is to great lol. Have they announced when they are coming-out yet?

All I've heard is fall 2012. For an extra 100 it could be worth it given the increased power. It's basically 2 of the AI nanos attached together. I think it will be somewhat competitive with the radion although one thing it won't have is the 5 colours that the radion has but don't quote me on that one.

I believe the new Ai Phoenix will be 4 pucks of leds, a 5 watt white, 2 3 watt RB, and 2 3 watt blue.

I think it'll actually be called AI Vega. See the AI site for that

The website is useless. All it said it coming soon. Their are no specs or anything. From what I have read on reef central they rethought the design and everything to be more competitive with the radions. I also read that the reflectors or what ever they are called have more 70 the 40 to minimize the Hight of the lights while spreding the light better in the tank.

It's tempting to buy now but I think it'll be worth the wait

yes, sorry, Phoenix was the name for the prototype.