LED advice

Go with AIs and u won't regret it. There is no comparison between them and the marineland. They are just that much better.

 

Build a DIY from rapidled.com, MUCH cheaper! Totally excellent quality.

 

I would agree with Andy on this one. I have the AI SOL and have been running since MACNA. I haven't seen any change yet, but don't expect too this early in the game. The only reason I would say go with a DIY fixture is because you can add some red LED and hit more of the light spectrum. AI SOL don't have the red LED's. Other then that, I think the AI light is awesome.

 

I have no interest in DIY. Fortunately,with AI's I don't need to. Great product. Not one bit sorry, and I paid the old, higher price. Great growth and look. No unwanted heat.

 

I have no interest in DIY. Fortunately,with AI's I don't need to. Great product. Not one bit sorry, and I paid the old, higher price. Great growth and look. No unwanted heat.

 

I also agree with Andy, I built mine much cheaper through Rapid...

 

One incredibly happy AI Sol Blue customer here. I have three mounted lengthwise above my 150 and everything has been doing great! I like it so much I plan on eventually switching to AI over my 29 cube as well.

 

I'm not sure about the look of LED yet.

Craig pointed out to me the issue of shadowing. I propped a AI Sol Blue at various heights above my tank and the shadowing is hard to avoid. I almost dropped 2k to light my entire tank and I am glad I didn't.

I am running t-5 lights and I guess I will for another year while I wait for the technology to improve and the price continue to decline.

 

hey potroast-can you expand more on what you are seeing when it shadows. How much shadowing? is it mostly at the bottom of the tanke? i am also thinking of the AI sols....

 

the shadowing comes from the spread of the light. The Sol have a hot spot directed towards the center which leaves some darker areas towards the edges of the tank , something they addressed with the new fixture. The new ones they took the water and glass into consideration and more light is focused towards the edges. This allows for light to bend and get reflected back towards the center because of the water and glass and cuts down on this shadowing. For $100 more each fixture IMO that and the rest of the added features make it worth the extra cash.

 

thanks for the info! It makes me nervous about shelling out the money for 3 fixtures........

 

I really haven't noticed any shadowing in my tank. I used a hanging kit and just hung it at the height that covered everything in the tank. my tank is 24x24x24

 

let me know how it turns out, I am considering the AI or the maxspect led for my 90