Will 2 AI Sol Super blue Work?

[clowny]

"you will have a large shaded area but it should have a nice dramatic look to it. try to get the unit with 70 degree optics for better spread."
That does sound pretty cool the island idea, by shaded areas you mean the ends and front and back? as the units would be set parallel, with 8 inches of space from the ends and from eachother.

sps corals are the hardest to keep due to the quality of water they require. almost 0 nitrates and almost 0 phosphates. if you dont run a skimmer you will be instead spending the money on extra liver rock,
would 120 pounds in the display and say 30 pounds of rubble in the sump be enough?

a well stocked fuge with tons of macro algae,
I was hoping to have eatable Macro fuge one day (fish eatible) so no cheato, the Tang heave diet perhaps http://www.ipsf.com/tangheaven.html

and salt for large WEEKLY water changes. Skimmers help reduce tank maintenece and also oxygenate the water so you will probably need extra power heads to increase gas exchange. You can get a good quality used one on this board for under $250. if you do decide to go the skimmerless route, i would wait a FULL year to ensure your bio filtration is at its peak and you are able to maintain good water parameters with whatever regiment you choose. If you find its not cutting it, add a skimmer.
Definitly was goning to be a year plus as I would want the Pod population and all the fish to be in the tank before adding corals.

Clownfish eat pods btw.
Damn you clownfish!

Thanks for the info will definity have to put on the thinking cap now with regaurds to the macros and skimmer.

[intarsiabox]

Clown fish are greedy and will likely cause seahorses to starve to death or may harass them. Best kept in a species only tank or with non aggressive non competing fish such as small gobies or fire fish. They also require a tank with low flow as they are very poor swimmers.

[clowny]

Here is a new questions: When I get my LEDs (AI Sol or DIY) the fish tank will not have seen any other light source ever, what intensity should I start with? Just find a brightness/color and day cycle I like and stick with it and adjust coral/rock placement in the future based on that?

[apexifd]

Originally Posted by clowny

Here is a new questions: When I get my LEDs (AI Sol or DIY) the fish tank will not have seen any other light source ever, what intensity should I start with? Just find a brightness/color and day cycle I like and stick with it and adjust coral/rock placement in the future based on that?

30-50% and slowly increase intensity every week.

[doch]

I don't feel like 2 sols would be enough. I would say at least 3. If you're dead set on only using 2, make sure to mount them at least 12" above the tank. This said, it will depend on what you're planning for corals.

As for intensity, I'd say start at ~30% and ramp them up very slowly. I've yet to determine the magic ramp up rate, but go slow.

[clowny]

Not dead set on 2 was told from stores selling AI Sol's that each unit can cover a 24x24 area for a SPS reef I was told similar about the Ecotech Radions, and have seen par comparissions with the AI, Radions and Vertex, being close to eachother. If 3 are necessary for SPS to be placed anywhere I would do so. Thanks for the Intensity advice too.

[Bblinks]

Originally Posted by clowny

Not dead set on 2 was told from stores selling AI Sol's that each unit can cover a 24x24 area for a SPS reef I was told similar about the Ecotech Radions, and have seen par comparissions with the AI, Radions and Vertex, being close to eachother. If 3 are necessary for SPS to be placed anywhere I would do so. Thanks for the Intensity advice too.

AI puts out more par then the rest (ref. Dr Sanjay's review on reef builder)but pur is really what we should be looking at. regardless I think if you are used to metal halide with t5's, you will find 2 ai over your tank will be bit on the dark side. I have asked the same question on my 300. Most think 6 units is enough, ai recommands 12 units so I decided to go with 9 units. It does have good coverage but because I have them mounted under a canopy, they are 8 inches awl so I still have some shaded parts even with 9 units. Don't get me wrong, I was running 3units 18 inches awl on my 210 sps heavy tank and it was enough light coverage for it, but with it so high I was running them like my halides, ramp up 1 hour, 6 hours of full intensity then ramp down 1 hour. so if you run 2 units 14-18 inches awl, you should have good enough coverage but you do sacrifice intensity. I would start with 2 units and hang'em high up and see how you like it and go from there.

[clowny]

Interesting I am going to be haning from the roof with the kit so it is easily adjustable. Thanks for the input will try 2 and go from there.

[unclesalty]

Originally Posted by Bblinks

AI puts out more par then the rest (ref. Dr Sanjay's review on reef builder)but pur is really what we should be looking at. regardless I think if you are used to metal halide with t5's, you will find 2 ai over your tank will be bit on the dark side. I have asked the same question on my 300. Most think 6 units is enough, ai recommands 12 units so I decided to go with 9 units. It does have good coverage but because I have them mounted under a canopy, they are 8 inches awl so I still have some shaded parts even with 9 units. Don't get me wrong, I was running 3units 18 inches awl on my 210 sps heavy tank and it was enough light coverage for it, but with it so high I was running them like my halides, ramp up 1 hour, 6 hours of full intensity then ramp down 1 hour. so if you run 2 units 14-18 inches awl, you should have good enough coverage but you do sacrifice intensity. I would start with 2 units and hang'em high up and see how you like it and go from there.

Excellent post Rich and you definately know what your talking about!! I bet 9 on your tank looks awesome.
Most people cheap on their AI fixtures and then they wonder why they lacking par with them raised so high to achieve the coverage. People that I have talked to that have AI's agree with no less than 6 fixtures for a 180g.