What LED to choose?

How tall is your canopy? Is it an open top canopy? It changes everything if it is a closed top canopy.
 
It is open....The canopy is only 6 inches off the rim of the tank.

With the Apollo LED do you know of a way to rig the lights to sit on the rim of the tank. I can fashion something from Home Depot or something or maybe even buy the AI rails and rig them to work with the Apollo?

Any ideas?
 
Wouldn't be hard to rig something up out of conduit. I will say that at 6" the two Apollos won't give you full coverage in the tank. To get full coverage out of that tank with the fixture 6" off the rim you would need muuuuch wider (135*) optics. Then you loose your PAR in the sand. With what you are wanting to do I would consider a DIY. They aren't as refined as a ready built fixture but you can hide it under the canopy and mix/match optics to properly light your entire tank effectively.
 
Two Apollo fixtures will give you full coverage on your tank.I have two over my 48x24 and spread was good to cover the whole tank at 6in.above water.Those are very strong,but I would not worry with your tank being 30in.deep.Since I bleached couple of corals, I have mine hanging about 12in.of water level now.
 
It's already been said, but 2 are fine for your tank, I've been told the apollo fixtures are equivalent to a 250w mh
 
Agreed, I have my Apollo about 6"-8" above water and have full coverage on a 24" sq footprint. I used to have it 2" from the water with no change in coverage, I just needed more room to get my arms in the tank without moving the light. Unfortunately now the light spills out the side right into our faces on the couch placed next to the tank. I need to make a lightweight and easily removable canopy to slip on the tank when I'm not reaching in it.
 
gig said:
What is you guys thoughts on the ecoxotic retrofits? On sale for 308 at marine depot

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewI...ium=email&mc_cid=c05065afcd&mc_eid=239a5666d1
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Those are very low PAR fixtures (Softies only). The new Panorama PRO fixtures will be very comparable to the Radion in terms of power, spectrum, and controllable functions/channels.

Hopefully AI really steps up its game with the Phoenix (more competition is always better for future development!). If it doesn't have RGB capability and a decent software suite (no additional controller needed), EcoTech and Ecoxotic are going to destroy them.
 
Thanks Ted, I figured they were too cheap to be sufficient, I'm waiting for a good rgb/dim able fixture that is sub 500 a unit, likely the next apollo's, will like to see the Phoenix and exocotec pro's as well. I have a standard aga 180, so I'll need 3.
 
gig said:
Thanks Ted, I figured they were too cheap to be sufficient, I'm waiting for a good rgb/dim able fixture that is sub 500 a unit, likely the next apollo's, will like to see the Phoenix and exocotec pro's as well. I have a standard aga 180, so I'll need 3.
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Edit: nevermind, I had slightly out of date pricing. The dimmables are pre order at $400 each, plus you need an apex or profilux controller to even turn them on, let alone dim them. Assume about $1500 for your setup, give or take depending if you customize your order with extra LED selection for full spectrum.
 
OK. The big question is can you upgrade and change out the LEDs with the Apollo?

If I buy now and two months later they come out with a better configuration I will be disappointed. I know AI allows for a "plug and play" configuration that if you did buy the SOL you can upgrade the LEDs and change colors, ect.......
 
Most of the cost of the AI is the modules if you go and replace them all. At that point you have to ask why bother upgrading if a little more cash buys you a whole new fixture.

Regarding your question, the answer is yes and no on the Apollo. The LED power chips are individually replaceable, but to do so requires soldering skills or sending the unit back to Apollo for the replacement / upgraded LED to be installed. This is why it is recommended to do a custom order when you purchase the Apollo new, and have them put the array of colored LED in up front if you want the full spectrum color range now.
 
This is where my lack of expertise shines through.....I have no idea where to start.

I have used T5 and PC for so long I am totally out if the loop on technology.

What would be a way to approch a custom order for a ninny like myself?
 
Just contact Apollo directly, I believe you will talk to Joe over there. Let him know that you would like a full spectrum LED array. They can replace any of the white and blue LED with Red, Green, Purple LED of your choice and quantity as a special order. It will add time to your order obviously, but it would save you time and money overall to have it done when you order.
 
I just looked at appolos website and I don't like that the dimmable only works with an Apex controller (won't even turn on without it). So if you don't have one of those there's an added large extra cost. At that point for full spectrum I'd rather just to the Radion.
 
poidog said:
I just looked at appolos website and I don't like that the dimmable only works with an Apex controller (won't even turn on without it). So if you don't have one of those there's an added large extra cost. At that point for full spectrum I'd rather just to the Radion.
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Yea, but when you do the math, 3 Apollos AND an apex with light control module still cost about the same as 2 Radions. ONE Dimmable Apollo puts out almost as much PAR as two Radions at 100%...

(Sorry bout that Eric, hit the edit instead of quote button)
 
Do you think a full spectrum will be just as effective penetration wise?

poidog-

I looked into the Radion. from Aquacave they start at 750 bucks for each fixture....I need two!!! Ouch!

Maybe I should just go back to good old fashioned T5...LOL!
 
Douggie-Style said:
Maybe I should just go back to good old fashioned T5...LOL!
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Just a quality 8 bulb fixture to get the same output as the LED is going to cost you as much as a Radion, not to mention the starting set of bulbs to fill it up, and the scheduled replacement of the bulbs. Dont do eet!
 
FishBeard said:
Yea, but when you do the math, 3 Apollos AND an apex with light control module still cost about the same as 2 Radions. ONE Dimmable Apollo puts out almost as much PAR as two Radions at 100%...

(Sorry bout that Eric, hit the edit instead of quote button)
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That is true. Hmmmm sometimes picking equipment is so hard. Haha

Don't worry I do that all the time too. The buttons are so close to each other!
 
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