Which AI Sol LED unit to get?

[Kbra]

So im thinking about picking up one of these LED fixtures but i cant decide between the Sol White or the Sol Super Blue. They are both adjustable for whites and blues so in theory you can match any color. I guess no matter what you get more of a blueish color out of the Super Blue.

Any one have experience with these or seen the two side by side? Thanks

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/LE...ight_System_w!_Controller_by_AquaIllumination

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/LE...ight_System_w!_Controller_by_AquaIllumination

 

[Myteemouse]

I seen a write up somewhere on the web that the SOL blue have slightly higher par than the white

 

[SaraB]

This may help you: AquaIllumination PAR Measurements - Reef Central Online Community

 

[Kbra]

Interesting i would think the whites would be higher.

Sara - Thanks for the link i take a looksy

 

[Breakin Newz]

Sol Blue got my units in yesterday and I love them!

 

[Kbra]

Great to hear. Im hoping to test out a single unit for now on a frag tank to decide if i want to invest in enough for an 8 foot tank...

 

[Breakin Newz]

Great to hear. Im hoping to test out a single unit for now on a frag tank to decide if i want to invest in enough for an 8 foot tank...

What light source are you currently using now?

 

[Kbra]

This will be a new tank. However my current reef is 2 x 250w MH with 2 x 65w compact Actinics. Thats what i will be basing my comparison off of right now. Im thinking on the 8 foot: 7-8 Sols and maybe a few 4' T5 for some other colors if necessary. Time will tell.

 

[CONSTANTNE]

I would say go for the sol blues. I see that a lot of people on forums who have the whites have to lower their whites a lot to get a nice color. With the blues this isnt necessary and thus you are giving corals more light. I think with LEDs more white LEDs doesnt mean more par (I can be completely wrong here lol)

 

[Kbra]

Sounds like blues the winner

 

[Myteemouse]

hers that write up I found!!
NOT MINE!!!!!
this is just part of it but cut and dry numbers

I just completed upgrades of my AI SOl White (W/W/B) pucks to the SOL Blue (W/B/RB). Please excuse the current condition of the tank - It's been more of a test tank than display tank for the past year with lot's of LED and carbon dosing testing (including the 2 significant over PAR/photo-inhibition events detailed earlier in this thread...

*Note - the 24" and 30" measurements are slightly occluded by aquascape and offset about 6" toward the front of the tank. Perhaps the most interesting find was the SOl Blues delivered slightly more PAR at depth. I can only guess this is due to better penetration of the blue spectrum.

SOL White = 0% white, 100% blue vs. SOL Blue = 0% Blue, 100% white.

SOL White = 100% white, 0% blue vs. SOL Blue = 100% Blue, 0% white.

All AIs at 100% compared to Maxspect G2-160 at 100%

SOL White = 0% white, 100% blue vs. SOL Blue = 0% Blue, 100% white with G2 for comparison.

SOL White = 100% white, 0% blue vs. SOL Blue = 100% Blue, 0% white with G2 for comparison.

100% blue output of 2X SOL Blue units - It's nearly impossible to show the "pop" of these, the color is far more intense than shown in the photo. You can also tell how purple in appearance the Semi-LED Royal Blues are in the G2.

I took photos and PAR measurements at other power settings, but it's difficult to distinguish much difference in the photos. The PAR falloff at lesser power settings was mostly linear (50% power yielded about 50% of the reported PAR.) Measurements taken using an Apogee MQ-200 with the electric light settings. Due to variations in measurement accuracy (i.e. hand shake , slight rotation of sensor, rough water surface...) I'd estimate the margin of error at plus/minus ~5%

 

[Kbra]

I'm going blues

 

[Kbra]

Placed my order today for the super blues. They are back ordered for 2 weeks

 

[Breakin Newz]

Where did you place your order? I believe aquacave has some in stock.....

 

[Kbra]

ReefGeek

 

[LILBUDDHA]

I talked with PA at the first of the month and they had them in stock .

 

[Kbra]

Ill take saving $ and waiting a little longer.

 

[shelbyc]

I too upgraded my sol whites for the sol blue and I love the color much more. the problem with the sol white is if you want the bluer spectrum you have to turn down the whites so much at the sacrifice of intensity since the blue is less powerful than the white led.

 

[Kbra]

do you have 2 units over a 4 foot tank? How high above the water?

 

[Breakin Newz]

do you have 2 units over a 4 foot tank? How high above the water?

He has 3 from reading his signature...