PowerModule or LED: Can't Decide on Lighting Upgrade Changing 120 to Full SPS Reef

Slick Fork · #1 08-05-2010, 02:06 AM

I've been humming and hawing as well. I don't like the flat light of T5's, but don't want to drop the big bucks on a full blown LED system when it's still so new. I've also read more than a few threads on Reef Central where people who like the look of 12-14K tanks really dislike the effect LED has on their coral colours. Those that like 20k don't seem to mind as they just crank up the blue.

What I'm considering doing is retrofitting a couple of reefbrite strips into my tek light. This would give me a mix of T5's and LED's, the LED's would give me the actinic pop and shimmer (I'd go with a reefbrite 50/50 and an all white) but let me use the T5's to adjust the colour as needed. This would be a little pricey but not as bad as dropping the $$$ on a full LED fixture

viperfish · #2 08-05-2010, 02:18 AM

I wish I had your problem, LOL! I would go for the Vertex hands down. If I was in a position to be able to get a quality fixture like the Vertex, T5's (or Halides) wouldn't even be an consideration.

Sebae again · #3 08-05-2010, 04:55 AM

I've seen the Vertex over the J&L sps tank and I was really impressed with the colour and intensity.Their tank isn't that deep but I'm not sure what the light was adjusted to. If I had the funds to buy one I would seriously consider getting one.Maybe if you were down their way they could do a demo for you and maybe they could even adjust the height of it to what it would be over your tank. Also you could find out what other Lfs o reefers have and see them in action as well.

Twinn · #4 08-05-2010, 06:03 PM

I've also been to J&L and I know they had to dial the LED fixture down to 60% as the light was to intense on the corals.

Ron99 · #5 08-05-2010, 06:31 PM

Personally, I would go with the AI. I'm not convinced the Vertex will provide even lighting. You can turn it up and bleach your corals down the middle to get decent PAr front to back or turn it down and have lower PAR in the front and at the back. I really want to see some more controlled PAR testing of this unit to see how even the lighting is and what you can achieve front to back and down into deeper tanks in order to justify the price.

trilinearmipmap · #6 08-05-2010, 07:35 PM

I have been thinking about it and I expect the main factors to differentiate between the AquaIllumination and Vertex fixtures would be reliability, ease of repair and support. I am sure each fixture makes a monster amount of light.The light spread mentioned above may be an issue for the Vertex or may not. But more than anything, if you are dropping a few thousand dollars on a light fixture, you want to make sure you are covered if something goes wrong.

I don't know much about the Vertex company. I have seen some of their products advertised over the past year or so. I had thought they were a lower-cost company but now seeing their LED fixture prices maybe I got that wrong. Anyway is this the same Vertex that makes calcium reactors, media reactors etc? If it is the same company then I wonder what reputation they have for product reliability and support?

Another factor in comparing the two fixtures is expandability. For the AI fixture, if you go from a 4 foot to a 6 foot tank, you just buy two more modules and a longer mounting rail system. So AI would seem to have the edge here.

TheDogFather · #7 08-08-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

I have been thinking about it and I expect the main factors to differentiate between the AquaIllumination and Vertex fixtures would be reliability, ease of repair and support. I am sure each fixture makes a monster amount of light.The light spread mentioned above may be an issue for the Vertex or may not. But more than anything, if you are dropping a few thousand dollars on a light fixture, you want to make sure you are covered if something goes wrong.

I don't know much about the Vertex company. I have seen some of their products advertised over the past year or so. I had thought they were a lower-cost company but now seeing their LED fixture prices maybe I got that wrong. Anyway is this the same Vertex that makes calcium reactors, media reactors etc? If it is the same company then I wonder what reputation they have for product reliability and support?

Another factor in comparing the two fixtures is expandability. For the AI fixture, if you go from a 4 foot to a 6 foot tank, you just buy two more modules and a longer mounting rail system. So AI would seem to have the edge here.

Vertex is not a low-cost company, they are German company that offer some of the industries most innovative products, in Canada and the U.S. Proline Aquatics wholesalers support the product so no worries, they do a great job supporting their customers.

The Vertex Illumina is manufactured for Vertex in Austria and I suspect that Gemini Lighting; http://www.gemini-licht.com/ are the actual manufacturers but don't quote me on that.

I looked at the new AI's and one thing that really turned me off was the white plastic skirt around the bottom half of the fixture, it glows when the fixture is on and and I find that very distracting. The Illumina by contrast is like a Stealth Bomber over your tank also the programming options and upgradeability on the Illumina leave the AI in the dust.

Cheers!

-TDF