Could I Get Away With 3 AI Sol?

[mark]

how high will your lights be above the water?

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by mark

how high will your lights be above the water?

About 5 inches. Same as my mh where. I'm actually getting more spread from each ai than I did with each halide

[Bill@IA]

Since your AI Modules are less than 12" from the water surface 5 or 6 modules is the way to go on a 72"+ aquarium. I assume you have have changed the way they are mounted. Pics show them parallel with front glass.

[Parker]

I've been debating switching over to the SOLS as well, my heart was hoping for three but my brain is saying five.

[Bill@IA]

Originally Posted by Parker

I've been debating switching over to the SOLS as well, my heart was hoping for three but my brain is saying five.

Start with 3 and mount them high. (above 12") Depending on coral placement all will be fine....especially for new systems where you are just adding coral.
If you have a well established fully stocked display then go with the 5 right away.

[Parker]

Originally Posted by Bill@IA

Start with 3 and mount them high. (above 12") Depending on coral placement all will be fine....especially for new systems where you are just adding coral.
If you have a well established fully stocked display then go with the 5 right away.

You think three would be enough on a 7' long 30" deep tank @12" awl?

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by Parker

You think three would be enough on a 7' long 30" deep tank @12" awl?

i think it all depends what you're trying to light up.

with 3 mounted parallel to my front glass i get no light on the glass (which is what i want) because i dont have rocks going directly to the glass.

if you have a 7 foot tank but only 5 feet of rock to light, then it'll work with 3 fixtures

[Bill@IA]

Originally Posted by Parker

You think three would be enough on a 7' long 30" deep tank @12" awl?

I agree with MarkoD. In the last couple of months I helped with 2 300DD installations. Neither hobbyist went by the AI recommendations. One 300DD has 3, yes 3 modules, the other 300 DD set up started with 3 AI Modules but has since added two more. Both systems are outstanding.
The key was placement, height above water line, water parameters and supplemental coral feedings.
The AI modules have enough PAR to deliver results in an aquarium 36" deep. Your depth of 30" will not be an issue.

[RedCoralEdmonton]

As for strength, I've had my 5 units 18 inches over the 225 (72,24,30deep) for 4 weeks now, and they are running at 70 white and 100 both blues for over a week now, everything is growing like mad, I did have some cyano on the sand for a bit, but I just broke out the Hanna checker and found out that my gfo needed to be changed, sitting at .22 phosphates..... So ditched the gfo and put in some foz down and the next day cyano almost gone..... So it wasn't the lights causing the algae, but an underlying problem of phosphates.....

Steve

[Bblinks]

I am not sure if AI made that chart to sell you more units, but when I contacted customer service at AI, they told me that I would need 12-15 units on my 300DD which I thought that was a bit ridiculous. I would say depends on what you are planning to keep 1 unit should be good for a 24x24 area coverage if they are situated 10-12inch awl. I was thinking about getting all 70 degrees lens so I can get a bigger spread since these things are par monster anyways.

Hey Marko, how areyou liking the AI compare to your aquamedic fixture in terms of front and back coverage?