AI Sol Review

[Aquattro]

No more recent updates. Things have pretty much remained stable after my last review. The T5 single bulb was a Fiji Purple, I can't say that it really made any difference. I think more bulbs might have an impact, but then you're back to bulbs, heat and costs associated with them.
Overall the colors have remained the same, with a few exceptions. One piece browned out a bit, but came back quickly.
I ignored most advice about starting at some ridiculously low intensity and had the lamps at 100% blue, 85% white within two weeks. YMMV.

[Myka]

You're 11 months in now Brad, what do you think for growth and color changes?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

You're 11 months in now Brad, what do you think for growth and color changes?

Picking on my because I called you chatty?? lol

Well, 11 months in, and overall I'm happy with the purchase. Chris (Tang Daddy) said it best with "LED are the best lights in the world, once you forget what the MH looked like". I don't remember clearly what the MH looked like anymore, so now I'm content with the AI's.
To be honest, I only had one real color change in coral; the pink and blue milli went all blue. The rest stayed the same, and growth, quite frankly, has been stupid. I'm constantly trimming and dealing with coral aggression. Colors are all bright and vibrant, PE is great and overall, tank is doing well. Last week's frag swap left more nose prints on the front glass than I could count, so that is probably a testament to what others thought of the tank.
I have one light that shuts off the whites later in the day once or twice a week, but unplugging and plugging back in turns it back on. I think it's related to power supplies getting hot, but haven't rearranged them yet.

I bought them at Modular, and the one concern I had about one unit went unheeded, and a follow up with AI didn't produce much better results. One of the units, very rarely, will have more of a green color to the blues when at less than 10%. Like twice a month. Martin didn't have much to say, and AI gave me "acceptable range" BS. But out of 7 units I own, 5 have given me no grief at all.
I do like the control I have over lighting with the Apex. You don't get that with other lighting solutions, so a big plus there.
Heat: I still require a chiller on warmer days, although to a lesser extent than with MH. This is of course to keep temp stable. I don't think it would get into dangerous temps if left to their own, but I don't want more than 1 degree swing.
Evaporation is considerably less now, which was the primary reason to switch.
So I guess, looking back, mostly a good move. Corals didn't lose much if anything, growth is the same as it always was, the tank is pleasing to look at and I don't terribly regret the choice.

That being said, my dream tank still would run 400w Radiums, assuming I could manage heat and evap properly.

[Myka]

I actually meant to ask you yesterday, but I forgot and saw you today which reminded me. That's a very positive review Brad, good to hear.

[daplatapus]

As one of the nose prints left on Brad's tank last weekend, I was impressed with it. Makes me almost think the light spectrum debate may not have as much weight as I thought... maybe

Hey Brad, I can't remember if you had any pocillopora in there. It's the one coral so far under my LED's that just doesn't seem to do well. I've got a piece in both my tanks which share everything and under MH's they do fine, but LED's not so much.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

Hey Brad, I can't remember if you had any pocillopora in there..

Unfortunately, yes, I have lots. It does really well. It has kept it's pink sheen across the tops of the colonies just as it did under the MH. Even at the bottom of the tank.

[Madreefer]

Hey this thread died.