3reef Aquarium Forums

The new ATI LED PowerModule will undoubtably win some fans with the enticing combination of powerful LED and T5 lighting. ATI promises better coral color and no more uneven growth found from many other LED fixtures. Unlike the ATI T5 PowerModule, the LED PowerModule has endless color control thanks to the addition of the LEDs that work in concert with the computer-based software and an integrated controller. This is a cool light. Details below.





One to four 75W dimmable LED clusters are on each PowerModule fixture depending on the length purchased. (see pdf)

24-hour control with sunrise/sunset, clouds/moon and each cluster has four independently programmable LED color channels.

LED color channels include: Full Spectrum White, Blue, Royal Blue, & Red.



T5 color and light balance plus LED flexibility without the halide...

Vertex is trying to make the Cerebra controller the only controller you will ever need for your aquarium. With an Android OS, ARM Cortex-A8 CPU, integrated webserver, cloud server and numerous BNC, DIN and USB connections on its 'multi bar' hub - Vertex is going for scorched-earth tactics over the competitors. Details below.



The Vertex Cerebra has sensor auto-detection so you can just plug everything in. And just turning it on might connect it to your computer. Wireless USB-key ready, LAN or hardwire it direct to the modem. The 5.5" touchscreen is intuitive with app icons and totally customizable. Oh yes, you will be able to build apps for the Cerebra. So if it is possible to think of something you can't do with it out of the box, you can program it.

Cerebra Prima

• Cerebra Unit
• MEANWELL Power supply for Cerebra
• Multi-Bar power-bar
• Temperature Sensor
• USB-A to USB-B controller to...

The Plasmalyte Aquatic Light System lit up a few faces at MACNA and just about everything else near it. This is a powerful plasma-powered (LEP) aquarium light. It seems for every 1000 LED discussions, someone brings up plasma and we find out the efforts have not paid off yet - the tech is not there. Well the funny thing about the Plasmalyte is that it has been out there in the horticultural world for 4 years. Details below.



The Plasmalyte was over a very tall aquarium at MACNA. It was obvious that it had no problem getting light to the bottom of it. Apparently I just missed someone with a PAR meter there and they pulled 297 at sand level I was told.

This particular Plasmalyte was supplemented by Reefbrite LEDs in the 400nm range. These LEDs did a good job blending the light into the crisp white/blue spectrum we tend to like. I did note that when the dimmable Plasmalyte was turned all the way up, the light was a bit...

Getting up close to the Vertex Libra dosers was quite an experience. They are over-built and encased in aluminum with a 3.2" LCD touch screen - you don't want to hide this in a cabinet. And beyond the finish, the Japanese Welco quad-roller pump-heads are reliable and extremely accurate allowing for dosing as low as .5mL - a stand out from my Bubble Magus at 1mL. Furthermore, you are not limited to a limited preset amount of dosing per day as much as the Bubble Magus. You can dose .5mL every few minutes if you want. Couple that with medical-grade tubing with high corrosion resistance and this is one serious doser that should last. Details below.

Vertex has made dosers sexy.




Look closely at the display above. That is showing 17.5mL X 46 doses a day for 805mL total. Yes, you enter the mL and then adjust dosing to get your total. How cool is that?...

Build My LED LLC had one of the more interesting products at MACNA this year. Their IP66 waterproof DIY LED fixtures not only are clean and good looking with extruded aluminum, but the placement and reflectors work as a system with the aquarium to take advantage of the natural TIR (total internal reflection) in an aquarium tank. Furthermore, what really was ingenious was the way you can customize your own spectrum before buying on their website. You literally drag and drop the LEDs into the fixture and then get a real-time update on specs such as lumens, CCT, CRI, PPF, color graphs and more. Very impressive.



Co-founder Nick Klase explained to me that this TIR recollection system results in no dots or disco-ball effects from the LED and I can confirm this from what I saw. The LED light was completely diffused into the whole tank. 30 - 90 degree beam angles options and 12 or 48 inch fixtures are currently available....