AI SOL Superblue LEDs (First Impressions)

I finally got my Aqua Illuminations SOL Super Blue LEDs. Overall, beyond impressed with them.

- Very high quality construction and finish. Truly impressive.

- Having 3 types of LEDs (white, blue and royal blue), ability to adjust levels for all 3 independently translates into countless hours of playing with color tones They all look good, so hard to pick what to set it at.

- Control module is very easy to use. It can also be hooked up to other controllers.

[vmeo]21843764[/vmeo]

- Allows for 10+ timers, i am using 7:

1) 6am, Change to 15W, 35B, 35RB over 60min ramp up
2) 7am, Change to 30W, 40B, 40RB over 60min ramp up
3) 11am, Change to 50W, 60B, 60RB over 60min ramp up
4) 1pm, Change to 30W, 40B, 40RB over 60min ramp up
5) 8pm, Change to 15W, 35B, 35RB over 60min ramp up
7) 9pm, Change to 0W, 0B, 2RB over 60 min

Above results in a pretty awesome automated day/night cycle with very smooth transitions

- Shimmer, shimmer shimmer everywhere. (Video and pics just don't do it justice)

- Their website said that to cover 48x12x20 tank i could get away with 2 modules only if I hang them 12" above surface or higher. Currently my modules are about 9" above surface and i still get quite a bit of spill, even at the far ends of the tank. Will probably lower them 3" to about 6" above surface.

- The rail kit that came with it only supports modules sitting perpendicular to the rail length. That did not work for me as I needed them parallel. Ended up using only one of the rail pieces and DIY suspending them.

- Please pardon the current look, still in the process of finalizing setup. I did not want to use their hanging kit because i was not planning to suspend them from the ceiling.

- Comparing to 2x54w T5HO i had before, the colors on everything are so much more vivid now. Fluorescent corals really popped, especially orange and green.

Some pics (below shots are at 40% intensity or less):







Angelfish and I watching the fishies:

 

Very cool, those are some seriously bad arse lights I have to say though, I get a bit of a kick out of the $1000+ lighting and the $10 hydrometer; buy a decent refractometer already will ya ;D

 

I have a refractrometer. It's under the tank. I calibrated it with calibration solution at 1.026. Then tested water with hydrometer and drew a line on it where it should be.

I still test with refractrometer when i do all my water testing, but between the tests i use hydrometer with my "adjustment" line to quickly check.

Good advice tho. My hydrometer was at least 0.003 off.

 

Hey, good idea Actually though 0.003 for a hydrometer is pretty good IME

 

They look great, I have been looking for them online. I see a wide range of prices. Would you mind disclosing where you purchased them from?

 

TB Aquatics

 

How did you mount those?

 

I like the bookshelf! I might steal that idea