Vertex Illumina or AI or Mazarra?

I know, a tough one. which do you choose? a 7x2x2 tank, mixed reef.

thanks for your thoughts

 

Personally I would go with the AI unless you have the cheese for the Vertex.

 

I would get 3 AI modules. It's an awesome investment. I LOVE MY AI LEDs!! They are amazing. The only thing, is I wish I had gotten less of them (I got 5, there is no reason to get this many, I let people on the forums who don't even have the damn things convince me into ordering more of them!) I'm running them around 25% lol. Sps, LPS, both doing amazing. I can see considerable growth and coloration in only the 6 weeks I have had them installed on my new set up! Frags are going gangbusters.

My tank dimensions are 72x24x29.

 

wait... the vortech radion will be here before you know it and it will probably blow those three lights away. Maybe not the vertex. those vertex lights are insane.

 

Thatgrimguy,

3? how high are they?

nc208082,

vortech radion? tell us more!!!

 

Ecotech is coming out with an LED module and with their reputation with wave makers will come out with a system that will most likely be one of the top systems out there. Pound for pound will definitely be in the top 5.

 

If you go AI, you have a few options.

IMO, the best option is to swap to all 40 degree optics and mount them 14-16 inches AWL.

OR, if you can't mount them high, mount them parallel to the tank at about 7" with all 70 degree optics. I don't like the standard optics because they seem to spotlight a bit (70 degree on the outside and 40 on the inside)

I had 5 on my tank and removed one last night, because it was just retarded overkill. Even with only 3 running I wasn't seeing any shadows (I ran 3 just to check it out). Mine are mounted at 15"AWL, running all 40 degree optics and I'm getting 180 Par or so (more in the middle where there are two lights, less at the edges on each side) at the sand bed with 4 running on a Apogee PAR meter. (I'm running 50% RB /50% B /30% W)

 

Im all about AI, they are fantastic and I am only running them at about 30% with standard optics. Heres a picture.

I dont have a good camera at all.....so keep in mind that it looks about 10x better than that.

 

What's so special about the Vertex lights? They look well designed but what do they have to justify the cost? I would think that they're only marginally better than other good options like the Mazarra or AI?

 

I researched the Illumina at great lengths.. I don't see any real advantage over the AI..