Aqua Illumination

it gave me a residential address instead wh

I am not surprised..... in fact i suspected as much.

Mary

 

Joe, I don't want to hijack your thread, but i would be happy to give you a review of the system and my experience.
First:  The system
AI lights are  modular, with each 12" module recommended for 24" width .   Each 12 L" section consists of 24 LED lamps grouped into a bank of 8
lenses or pods each containing two 6500K Daylight LED lamps and one
Blue LED lamp. Blue LED lamps peak at 460nm.  The system also includes a controller, which allows you to set mode (auto or manual), sunrise/sunset, lunar cycle, bulb intensity for day and night.  It also comes with  a mounting rail and legs.
I have a 6' tank so i purchased 6 modules.
Pros;
Actual lighting is very nice, although i haven't been able to dial in the lights to get a bluer tone.  Right now i have them set at 75% white and 100% blue.  I am not sure how far I can dial down the white without affecting coral growth.   Par data the company gives only compares at 100% and does not say how far over the tank their tests are.  i will do some experimentation as i go.
Corals love the light.  Everything is growing and has crazy polyp extension.
Tank does not heat up, I have not seen any real rise in temp
Operating Cost.  Before i purchased the system i did a cost benefit analysis  (sorry cost accountant/Controller  before retiring  lol)  and payback was going to be 2 1/2 years vs a metal halide system in terms of initial cost and operating costs. Cost of bulb replacement was not considered because currently there are no bulb replacements.  Each LED is supposed to last 10 years....
Upgradeable  Each module is upgradeable if new systems become available,  This includes software for the controller.  Matter of fact the company is already offering an upgrade over it's old system. 
Looks- rail is made from polished silver metal with black legs so looks very modern and sleek.  looks great as my stand is black.
Warranty  It's pretty confusing when you read it but basically 1 year, or  it could be 30 days  its says both in 2 sentences
Fixture is supposedly sealed internally to protect from water and salt.
System is quiet and no "visible" heat is dissipating into the room from the fans
Cons:
Legs on rail are really not tall enough.  the light barely clears the rim top.  On my tank it is 1/2".  My tank is filled to with in an in of top so i am really uncomfortable
with rail leg length as this means lights are only at the MOST 2" from water top

Light insert into rail.  There are 2 mounting screws in the top of each light.  you unscrew it slightly so it fits into the rail.  if you move the light left or right in the rail. it SQUEALS as it is metal on metal.  unscrew it more does not help and drops the light even closer to the water.  (There is  a hanging option kit)
Controller,  My gripe here is it is a button type dial, if button gets bumped it automatically switches to manual  I mounted mine to the stand door but if it's shut too hard it will change it.  So really sensitive.
Controller issue #2.  i am the idiot here as i assumed  that each module would be individually controlled.  They are not.  If you wish to control the modules individually you will need a separate controller for each.   I wanted to create shady areas
etc...
'
Modules are daisy chained together with the final chain to controller.  The "chain" cords are about 12" in length. which means cord hangs in the water as it's really not long enough to drape in back of tank.  The module it's self is only
The lights may be sealed but the electrical connectors are not!  I have already sent 1 light in for repair as well as the controller.  (This was after less than 1 week of running)   They found water in the light which they said came from the cords...  This resulted in the controller shorting out.
Watch where you place the lights.  The intensity will melt the braces.  They are just like magnifying glasses.  I now have 2 middle braces with circular melts...
With the legs being so short you really don't get 100% coverage  The system needs to be higher to cover that 24" space.  There is no overlap with mine right now so i have some slightly shady spots...   The lights are only 5 1/2" wide... not 12" wide as they are advertised!
Overall:
I do like the system.  I decided on this system after much research because I felt it offered more "bang for the buck".  I liked the idea that i could upgrade the modules should i want to.  It received excellent reviews from different mag articles.  Would i recommend the system?  Yes, after some hesitation. 
My next post will be about my experience.  I wanted this one to be totally based on the system itself and provide info to those that may be considering them..
Cheers
Mary

 

Posted By Mary on 06/06/2010 07:24 PM
Joe, I don't want to hijack your thread, but i would be happy to give you a review of the system and my experience.
First:  The system
AI lights are  modular, with each 12" module recommended for 24" width .   Each 12 L" section consists of 24 LED lamps grouped into a bank of 8 lenses or pods each containing two 6500K Daylight LED lamps and one Blue LED lamp. Blue LED lamps peak at 460nm.  The system also includes a controller, which allows you to set mode (auto or manual), sunrise/sunset, lunar cycle, bulb intensity for day and night.  It also comes with  a mounting rail and legs.
I have a 6' tank so i purchased 6 modules.
Pros;
Actual lighting is very nice, although i haven't been able to dial in the lights to get a bluer tone.  Right now i have them set at 75% white and 100% blue.  I am not sure how far I can dial down the white without affecting coral growth.   Par data the company gives only compares at 100% and does not say how far over the tank their tests are.  i will do some experimentation as i go.
Corals love the light.  Everything is growing and has crazy polyp extension.
Tank does not heat up, I have not seen any real rise in temp
Operating Cost.  Before i purchased the system i did a cost benefit analysis  (sorry cost accountant/Controller  before retiring  lol)  and payback was going to be 2 1/2 years vs a metal halide system in terms of initial cost and operating costs. Cost of bulb replacement was not considered because currently there are no bulb replacements.  Each LED is supposed to last 10 years....
Upgradeable  Each module is upgradeable if new systems become available,  This includes software for the controller.  Matter of fact the company is already offering an upgrade over it's old system. 
Looks- rail is made from polished silver metal with black legs so looks very modern and sleek.  looks great as my stand is black.
Warranty  It's pretty confusing when you read it but basically 1 year, or  it could be 30 days  its says both in 2 sentences
Fixture is supposedly sealed internally to protect from water and salt.
System is quiet and no "visible" heat is dissipating into the room from the fans
Cons:
Legs on rail are really not tall enough.  the light barely clears the rim top.  On my tank it is 1/2".  My tank is filled to with in an in of top so i am really uncomfortable with rail leg length as this means lights are only at the MOST 2" from water top
Light insert into rail.  There are 2 mounting screws in the top of each light.  you unscrew it slightly so it fits into the rail.  if you move the light left or right in the rail. it SQUEALS as it is metal on metal.  unscrew it more does not help and drops the light even closer to the water.  (There is  a hanging option kit)
Controller,  My gripe here is it is a button type dial, if button gets bumped it automatically switches to manual  I mounted mine to the stand door but if it's shut too hard it will change it.  So really sensitive.
Controller issue #2.  i am the idiot here as i assumed  that each module would be individually controlled.  They are not.  If you wish to control the modules individually you will need a separate controller for each.   I wanted to create shady areas
etc...
'
Modules are daisy chained together with the final chain to controller.  The "chain" cords are about 12" in length. which means cord hangs in the water as it's really not long enough to drape in back of tank.  The module it's self is only
The lights may be sealed but the electrical connectors are not!  I have already sent 1 light in for repair as well as the controller.  (This was after less than 1 week of running)   They found water in the light which they said came from the cords...  This resulted in the controller shorting out.
Watch where you place the lights.  The intensity will melt the braces.  They are just like magnifying glasses.  I now have 2 middle braces with circular melts...
With the legs being so short you really don't get 100% coverage  The system needs to be higher to cover that 24" space.  There is no overlap with mine right now so i have some slightly shady spots...   The lights are only 5 1/2" wide... not 12" wide as they are advertised!
Overall:
I do like the system.  I decided on this system after much research because I felt it offered more "bang for the buck".  I liked the idea that i could upgrade the modules should i want to.  It received excellent reviews from different mag articles.  Would i recommend the system?  Yes, after some hesitation. 
My next post will be about my experience.  I wanted this one to be totally based on the system itself and provide info to those that may be considering them..
Cheers
Mary


Thanks for posting this info as I have been wondering about these.

 

My experience with Aqua Illlumination. i am only going to once again be factual and will try to leave any personal feelings out of this. But accept my apologies in advance if i don't succeed. i do have speculation from a pure business standpoint on what is going on , but it is not my place to discuss their operations only their treatment of their customers.

I ordered my lights on 3/10. i was informed at the time that it would be 4 - 6 weeks before they would arrive as the manufacturer was behind. That was fine with me as my tank wasn't "done" cooking yet.

I called at 4 weeks and asked if they had a ship date. They said yes it would be 4/26. Great! i called on 4.30 and said where are my lights. They said they would call nd find out, as the lights are drop shipped. When they called back they said it would be another week. ok. I called back in 10 days and asked again. "it will be another 2 weeks"

This time i thought i'm going to call AI and asked what the issue is. So I called pressed the number for "sales: and got..... REEF GEEK! They knew all about my order and told me my lights had been shipped and would arrive on Monday and the rail on Wednesday...

Yes they did show up on those dates. Lights came from Ames and rail from Reef Geek.. But no controller. So i called yet again and was told controllers were out of stock and it would be another week or two....

lights came on May 3, rail on May 5, and controller on May 17. Original date given was April 20, then 4/26.....

Ordered additional controllers on 5/17. AI said they would ship 5/18.

Controller quit on May 25 and a light module went out on May 26. Contacted AI through their support ticket system. Got no response. Had to get distributor involved to get any type of response.. Finally got a response on 5/28 oh and controllers i purchased haven't shown up.....

Company responded they were waiting to ship additional controllers when they repaired the old controller...HUH? I ordered them BEFORE the one broke! They did ship them on 5/28 after 'pressure'....

Distributor says ' we never know when they are going to ship anything" We have as much problems as our customers in getting the merchandise..... This apparently has been going on for some time. Very poor customer service to everyone including distributors.

They did repair the old module and controller immediately and had it back to me within a week. however when i asked for new ones 'they were out of stock"....

So, if you want this system be prepared to wait.....

Is the wait worth it? I'm not sure,to be honest. I am still bothered by my experience, ask me again when i've had a chance to forget.... ( i have been concise on this, you want copy of all the emails and conversations, i'd be happy to provide them...)

So on a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being best... i give them 0 on delivery. 8 on repairs ( but only because i told them how much i spent with them... in no uncertain terms.....)

I would be happy to share what i feel are their business issues, from a pure unemotional business standpoint, personally, but it is not my place to voice those speculations publicly. (Sorry stems from that nasty little thing called being a controller for too many years. lol My specialty was manufacturing plant startups)

If anyone has any questions, I will be happy to answer them.


Cheers
Mary

 

My guess is they might not ever really see the product other then when some factory is making a mock up for them. Soon as they get a design/product they seem suitable then the factory goes into production making them and shipping straight to distributors. I could be way off base with this too.

 

PM sent joe...

 

Hi Joe -

I was forwarded this thread, and would like to chime in. I also did receive your voicemail, and was planning on getting back with you on Monday.

Not sure how you came across a residential address. Years ago, when the company was formed it was registered with the State as a residential address. Since 2007 we've been in various office locations throughout Ames; three actually as we've grown every year. We are currently located at:

414 S 17th St
Suite 101
Ames, IA 50010

There are currently no markings on the suite we are in, as we do not typically have walk in customers.

We are a design and manufacturing company and often have client projects in our facility that we are not privileged to show visitors. We also do not sell directly to customers, so it'd be a pretty boring visit to be honest. However if the GIRS is interested in taking a tour of our facility in the future, we'd be happy to arrange it.

All of our products are designed and assembled here in Ames. As of late, the demand for the product has been much greater than we were prepared for and as such has created some pretty long lead times for our customers.

Best regards,
-Chris Clough