Vertex Illumina Club

[deangelr]

Just got this bad boy in the mail..

http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a444/deangelr/60b97ef8.jpg

Set it up last night and it was already in sunset mode (I think) on the default settings.. Very blue


http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a444/deangelr/43593bf7.jpg

[deangelr]

does anyone know if the USB stick is Mac compatible yet?

[deangelr]

http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a444/deangelr/79b44ff4.jpg
After work.... Excuse the aquascaping.. Had to move some LR out of sump temporarily while I modify it.

[sandman111]

wow that thing is bright, i'm going to google that!

[sandman111]

can you give us some specs on that model # ?

[deangelr]

can you give us some specs on that model # ?

This is really all I can find "Vertex Aquaristik is releasing a big brother to their Illumina 200, the Illumina 260. There isn’t much information available on this new Illumina 260, but it is confirmed that the light will feature Cree LEDs and is 30% brighter than the older 200 model. If the 260 shares any similarities with the 2oo, it will probably also feature an on-board controller which will allow hobbyists to create many different dawn to dusk effects and even weather simulations. Additionally, the Illumina 260 will most likely come in a wide variety of sizes from 1′ to 6′. There is currently no official price or power consumption information on these models, as Vertex only announced the light a week ago, but as information comes to light, we’ll be sure to update."

I'll show you a link to the Illumina thread I found

[deangelr]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1873481&highlight=vertex+illumina

[Wayner2]

Is that the 3 foot model or 2 foot?, what are the dimensions of the tank?., how do you find the coverage front to back

Thanks

[notclear]

does anyone know if the USB stick is Mac compatible yet?

I think so as their website has an Apple firmware for you to download.

http://www.vertexaquaristik.com/Products/Lighting/LED/Illumina/SR1800.aspx

[notclear]

This is really all I can find "Vertex Aquaristik is releasing a big brother to their Illumina 200, the Illumina 260. There isn’t much information available on this new Illumina 260, but it is confirmed that the light will feature Cree LEDs and is 30% brighter than the older 200 model.

More info here

http://www.jlaquatics.com/manuals/vertex/illumina_260_release.pdf

[deangelr]

The tank is 29,52 x 22,44 x 19,7 inch. The light is the 2 foot model it has 5 Led modules on it.

thanks for the firmware update.. I wasnt sure if it was a firmware thing or if new hardware was required.

coverage front to back is more than enough.. I have my light 4 inches off the water becuase of spill over. I imagine when i start putting livestock in the tank I will have to dim the lights.

Side to side is also more than enough.. you can clearly see the side spill over on the pictures ive posted above.

[notclear]

Although it says firmware, it is an application that is to be installed on the computer. From that V-Link application you can configure the settings for the lights.

[notclear]

Do the mounting legs come with the fixture?

[deangelr]

Although it says firmware, it is an application that is to be installed on the computer. From that V-Link application you can configure the settings for the lights.

Thanks!

And no mounting legs. Comes with a hanging kit

[3.99AfterTaxes]

Good news! I talked to the wife long and hard about this one and it looks like I'm going to be joining this club this Xmas. Woot!

[Purelife]

I'm part of the club!
Joined this past Thursday picked up a Sr900-200 model loving it and so is my tank.

[sefrayser]

Where do you get them? I have searched and cannot find any retailers.

[Purelife]

We can get them local here in Toronto. Due to some patent stuff they can't be sold in the USA right now.
Send me a PM i can help you score one if you want.

[sefrayser]

We can get them local here in Toronto. Due to some patent stuff they can't be sold in the USA right now.
Send me a PM i can help you score one if you want.


PM sent

[deangelr]

Where do you get them? I have searched and cannot find any retailers.

I ordered mine onine through J and L aquatics.. They were able to ship it to me no problem.

[deangelr]

I'm part of the club!
Joined this past Thursday picked up a Sr900-200 model loving it and so is my tank.

congrats! obviously the coolest lighting club on web.. any pics?

[notclear]

I heard that someone has V1.5.26 for the V-Stick software and I am still using V1.5.22. Where can I find the V1.5.26 software download? Vertex web site has only posted the V1.5.22.

[Purelife]

I heard that someone has V1.5.26 for the V-Stick software and I am still using V1.5.22. Where can I find the V1.5.26 software download? Vertex web site has only posted the V1.5.22.

I'm also on 1.522, whats the difference between the 2 ?

Also i am curious to see what everyone is using for their expert settings, right now i have my white toned right back but the blues are in the 60's-70's range.
So far i am loving the light.



133843

[deangelr]

From there website, here is a link to the newest firmware for MAC:

http://vertexaquaristik.com/Portals/0/images/VertexDesktop_1541_OSX105.dmg

I am have to wait till christmas for my USB.. :(

[notclear]

I'm also on 1.522, whats the difference between the 2 ?

133843

I don't know but I think for any newer version it will fix some bugs and add some new features, and then plant some bugs for future versions :)

[Purelife]

I don't know but I think for any newer version it will fix some bugs and add some new features, and then plant some bugs for future versions :)

lol ya some new bugs for sure will come into play :lol2:

I am waiting to hear back from Vertex themselves i have 2 pads that have Royal blue where it should be blue leds.

[Purelife]

Can someone else test this to make sure I'm not crazy?
First if your unit is hung like mine what you will see standing in front of the unit the power cord is to your right hand and the display is to your left.

Select light composer (on the physical light) and turn down all 3 colors to 0%
Next turn Blue on to 1% take note of where the LEDS are
Next turn on Royal Blue to 1% take note of where the LEDS are

Now if you have VLink go to compose color and do the same
Turn blue on to 1% take note
Turn Royal on to 1% take note

What i found is that when i turn Royal on 1% on the software its actually turning on the Blue lights. The blue LEDS should be on the back of the pods if you are facing it and it is hung like mine.

I wonder if its a bug in the software or just my unit

[Flagswipe]

I'm also on 1.522, whats the difference between the 2 ?

Also i am curious to see what everyone is using for their expert settings, right now i have my white toned right back but the blues are in the 60's-70's range.
So far i am loving the light.



133843

How did you get so many points ? I was told that 4 was the max. number of points until they released newer software.

Perhaps you could help me out, this is what I am trying to do.

I want 7 hours of "sunlight" preferably while I am at work everyday, then when I get home I want the "actinics" as this is how I like to look at my tank in the evenings while sitting around, watching tv and such.

This is what I want it to look like

11am-6pm white 75% Blue 80% Royal Blue 70%
6:01pm-11:59pm white 20% Blue 60% Royal Blue 50%
12:00am-10:59am moonlights on

I dont like the 3 hour ramp to achieve this as there is a "window" of the colours I like but not what I really want. The ramp from actinic to moon is fine and a ramp from moon to daylight is fine but I really want a solid 20k look from supper to midnight'ish. No different than having your VHO's or T5's with Blue plus's in them on later in the evening when your 400w MH's go off for the day

Anyone have the secret to do this? Maybe you could set the parameters, save it and email it to me?

Dwayne

[Purelife]

How did you get so many points ? I was told that 4 was the max. number of points until they released newer software.

Perhaps you could help me out, this is what I am trying to do.

I want 7 hours of "sunlight" preferably while I am at work everyday, then when I get home I want the "actinics" as this is how I like to look at my tank in the evenings while sitting around, watching tv and such.

This is what I want it to look like

11am-6pm white 75% Blue 80% Royal Blue 70%
6:01pm-11:59pm white 20% Blue 60% Royal Blue 50%
12:00am-10:59am moonlights on

I dont like the 3 hour ramp to achieve this as there is a "window" of the colours I like but not what I really want. The ramp from actinic to moon is fine and a ramp from moon to daylight is fine but I really want a solid 20k look from supper to midnight'ish. No different than having your VHO's or T5's with Blue plus's in them on later in the evening when your 400w MH's go off for the day

Anyone have the secret to do this? Maybe you could set the parameters, save it and email it to me?

Dwayne


Sure i could try making it for you or i could try walking you through it

[notclear]

I have been running similar schedules for more than 2 weeks now, so far so good. Will need few more tweaks when I have more time in the next two weeks.

[AGYDAL]

My Vertex showed up yesterday...needless to say, didn't sleep much last night...amazing light.

[deangelr]

Welcome to the Club!!

[deangelr]

OK.. So I am looking for a carpet anemone.. Right now I have my light in the default mode, very bright.. After a new arrival arrives from shipping.. how long should I dim the lights? how much should I dim them?

[AGYDAL]

When you say default mode/very bright are you allowing the light to ramp up to %100? Isn't your livestock frantically searching for sunblock? From what I've found reading about this light %100 is too bright... I think I have mine set in the mid 70's...

Also, I found that when I use my USB extender cord it downloads and uploads much faster and my connection reading is stronger...regardless of if i am using my PC or laptop.

[notclear]

Good find on the extension cord, it must have acted as an antenna or something!

[AGYDAL]

I think the stick works more directional, like using a garage door opener...than positional, like using your neighbors non password protected internet?

Also on my PC screen that does weather I can't get my screen to widen to change the percentages...on my laptop it's wide enough to change percentages...anyone know why?

[notclear]

Could be changing the font size may help. If you are using Windows XP, do that:

From the desktop, right click an empty space, select Properties, then Settings, Advanced, General, DPI setting: Normal size (96DPI).

[AGYDAL]

Nope didn't work...oh well, thanks for the suggestion though...it's probably something simple and silly, i swear that PC has some sort of vendetta against me.

[Purelife]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP8u2Zbs-LM

Quick video i did of things I've been messing around with on the light

[notclear]

Finally I also have some time to prepare one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a2BIg5bdnA

For those who just got the fixture and are wondering how to program the fixture using the V-link software, be sure to check this out first, it will save you some time :)

[gcarroll]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP8u2Zbs-LM

Quick video i did of things I've been messing around with on the light

Loose the frag rack and zoom in to crop out the overflow and this will be a better video.

[TheDogFather]

Nice to see an owners club thread!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHo7LTgkbZ4

Cheers!

-TDF

[TheDogFather]

When you say default mode/very bright are you allowing the light to ramp up to %100? Isn't your livestock frantically searching for sunblock? From what I've found reading about this light %100 is too bright... I think I have mine set in the mid 70's...

Also, I found that when I use my USB extender cord it downloads and uploads much faster and my connection reading is stronger...regardless of if i am using my PC or laptop.

I found that devices running in the 2.4 GHz spectrum (WiFi, cordless phones etc) can interfere with the vStick communications. I shutdown my Wifi access point and even my LED TV when I flash the fixture to get a reliable connection.

I think the vStick broadcast signal strength is not strong enough to compete with other 2.4 GHz devices running in my home...

Cheers!

-TDF

[TheDogFather]

How did you get so many points ? I was told that 4 was the max. number of points until they released newer software.

Perhaps you could help me out, this is what I am trying to do.

I want 7 hours of "sunlight" preferably while I am at work everyday, then when I get home I want the "actinics" as this is how I like to look at my tank in the evenings while sitting around, watching tv and such.

This is what I want it to look like

11am-6pm white 75% Blue 80% Royal Blue 70%
6:01pm-11:59pm white 20% Blue 60% Royal Blue 50%
12:00am-10:59am moonlights on

I dont like the 3 hour ramp to achieve this as there is a "window" of the colours I like but not what I really want. The ramp from actinic to moon is fine and a ramp from moon to daylight is fine but I really want a solid 20k look from supper to midnight'ish. No different than having your VHO's or T5's with Blue plus's in them on later in the evening when your 400w MH's go off for the day

Anyone have the secret to do this? Maybe you could set the parameters, save it and email it to me?

Dwayne

Hi Dwayne, what version of firmware are you running? I have 14 points programmed without issues...

Cheers!

-TDF

[AGYDAL]

Dogfather- I'm not sure...I don't have a land line phone or internet...everything is routed through a cell phone hot spot connection that I turn on when needed...there is a sizeable TV on the wall in an adjacent room but it's rarely on...I do have a sprinkler system in the walls of my residence...possibly the extender helps with structural signal interference? Who knows, but I do know this light looks amazing over the tank!

[notclear]

Vertex has posted new software and firmware updates on their website!

[TheDogFather]

Vertex has posted new software and firmware updates on their website!

I highly recommend everyone upgrade the VertexDesktop Windows application to version 1630 and flash all LED pads to firmware version 1631 to get the full benefit of this latest release!

Cheers!

-TDF

[Purelife]

Great the Vertex website is down.

[TheDogFather]

Great the Vertex website is down.

You can grab the files from here (http://db.tt/xKxaj8X) until the web site comes back...

Cheers!

-TDF

[Flagswipe]

DogFather- I think it figured out now, I have my lights on 14kish from 10am to 6pm then 20k ish actinis on until midnight

Im still not sure about the coverage and growth though, just havent seen it yet. Frags on the back glass just arent getting enough light. Pieces in the middle, more directly under the LED`s are doing well.

I love the controllability (SP) and the Vstick though. Going to give it another month or so and see where we are.

Is the new version better, do I need to sell mine and buy the newer one

[mane]

Hey guys, Im using a mac. I d/l the program and click on the VertexDesktop.Jar file. It brings up a black window with the fishies on it and on the left frame is says vertex desktop but thats it. If I click file I have the following settings: save settings, load settings, download prog, upload prog, select remote, update devices, save log and quit.

How do I get anything up to program or adjust? I cant get past the black window?

Sorry I cant find any info on this first step anywhere.

Thanks!

[notclear]

That means the USB stick couldn't communicate with the fixture. The stick needs to be within 6 ft of the fixture. Or you can add a USB extension cord and place the stick closer to the fixture.

[notclear]

Finally I also have some time to prepare one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a2BIg5bdnA

For those who just got the fixture and are wondering how to program the fixture using the V-link software, be sure to check this out first, it will save you some time :)

I have redone the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOACyN4AOS0

You can now select 720p to view it.

[TheDogFather]

Hey guys, Im using a mac. I d/l the program and click on the VertexDesktop.Jar file. It brings up a black window with the fishies on it and on the left frame is says vertex desktop but thats it. If I click file I have the following settings: save settings, load settings, download prog, upload prog, select remote, update devices, save log and quit.

How do I get anything up to program or adjust? I cant get past the black window?

Sorry I cant find any info on this first step anywhere.

Thanks!

Did you also install the drivers? I know that there are some issues with the drivers not installing properly on Snow Leopard Macs... You may have to run Windows in BootCamp or Parallels and use the Windows version until Vertex can ship the final Mac release.

Cheers!

-TDF

[TheDogFather]

Here is my entry for the Vertex Me contest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwxYt79npAQ

[notclear]

Thedogfather, very very nice!

[mane]

Thanks guys Ill give it a shot.

[deangelr]

Why is this light too bright at 100%? even at full stength par measurements are not as high as NSW...

[reefkeeps]

Here is my entry for the Vertex Me contest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwxYt79npAQ


That was really well done! :bounce3:

[Midnightsun]

Well I want to join the club. :wave: Just bought my Vertex 200 series 24" to go over my not yet received 55G Cadlights Artisan. Will be keeping my existing home made stand, sump and basically all the mechanicals of my 28G Nano Cube setup. Probably gonna take a while before everything is up/running and transfered but will definitely try to take my time and do it right. Here is a link to my 28G . http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=233430&hl=

What are these Aux red leds they are supposed to come out with and how will the work/integrate to existing units?

[TheDogFather]

Well I want to join the club. :wave: Just bought my Vertex 200 series 24" to go over my not yet received 55G Cadlights Artisan. Will be keeping my existing home made stand, sump and basically all the mechanicals of my 28G Nano Cube setup. Probably gonna take a while before everything is up/running and transfered but will definitely try to take my time and do it right. Here is a link to my 28G . http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=233430&hl=

What are these Aux red leds they are supposed to come out with and how will the work/integrate to existing units?

Welcome to the club!

I don't know when the aux modules will be shipping but they just connect to the white bus connector on each of the LED pads - except for module 0 since the bus connector on that module is connected to the display.

Cheers!

-TDF

[TheDogFather]

That was really well done! :bounce3:

Thanks! :dance:

[dbond]

I just received my light today I did not realize you have to order the V Link USB stick separately and suppliers out of stock is their anything I can do with this light without the V Link who knows when they will have them in stock took me 3 months to get the light hoping it wont be another 3 months for the V Link.

[TheDogFather]

I just received my light today I did not realize you have to order the V Link USB stick separately and suppliers out of stock is their anything I can do with this light without the V Link who knows when they will have them in stock took me 3 months to get the light hoping it wont be another 3 months for the V Link.

The only thing the fixture won't do without the vStick are the Expert mode functions. You can get by with the built-in programming functions until you get your vStick. I now it sucks and I feel your pain, I waited 2 and a half months after I got my fixture until the first batch of vSticks were shipped out...

Cheers!

-TDF

[notclear]

I just received my light today I did not realize you have to order the V Link USB stick separately and suppliers out of stock is their anything I can do with this light without the V Link who knows when they will have them in stock took me 3 months to get the light hoping it wont be another 3 months for the V Link.

Have you tried blue world aquariums?

[dbond]

Im going to look around for another supplier for the V Link , have gone thru most of the settings but I have not seen anything as far as setting time parameters for hours of operation will try the website and see if I can download a manual.

thanks

[AGYDAL]

I have my tank lights set to where I am happy with the look of it...I will rent you my V-stick ;) did you see this light in use before your purchase? If you did, is the keeper of this awesome light close enough that you could borrow their V-stick? I think I ran across a post of TDF in another thread that he had posted text about resetting and setting the light...try starting there for info on tracking down the manual (isn't it still in German Text?) I'd find it for you real quick but I am on my phone internet.

[Flagswipe]

I just ordered another unit. A 24" for my System 70 Elos at work. Currently it has a Giesman Infinity over it that I am very happy with. I run a 14k Giesman 250w with 3 ATI Super Blue + and one Fiji purple. I get quite good colour and excellent growth. This new fixture will be a good test to see if I can achieve the same results at work where I spend most of my time.

I still cannot get much to grow in my DT at home with the 5' fixture.

A question to you Illumina and SPS guys. Does anyone ramp their fixtures up to 100% white at any time of the day? I swear that I need to blast my SPS with more light but the "experts" say that most people are using 75% so that is what I am doing as well.

What do you guys do?

[TheDogFather]

I just ordered another unit. A 24" for my System 70 Elos at work. Currently it has a Giesman Infinity over it that I am very happy with. I run a 14k Giesman 250w with 3 ATI Super Blue + and one Fiji purple. I get quite good colour and excellent growth. This new fixture will be a good test to see if I can achieve the same results at work where I spend most of my time.

I still cannot get much to grow in my DT at home with the 5' fixture.

A question to you Illumina and SPS guys. Does anyone ramp their fixtures up to 100% white at any time of the day? I swear that I need to blast my SPS with more light but the "experts" say that most people are using 75% so that is what I am doing as well.

What do you guys do?

Mine ramps up to 100% RB, 80% B and 60% W. Growth appears to be better for me with more blue than white.

Cheers!

-TDF

[TheDogFather]

Im going to look around for another supplier for the V Link , have gone thru most of the settings but I have not seen anything as far as setting time parameters for hours of operation will try the website and see if I can download a manual.

thanks

If you cannot find the manual on the web site you can grab a copy here (https://www.dropbox.com/s/x2e5nwnaoj3puk0/Illumina%20SR%20Manual%20v.1.0%20small.pdf)

Cheers!

-TDF

[dbond]

If you cannot find the manual on the web site you can grab a copy here (https://www.dropbox.com/s/x2e5nwnaoj3puk0/Illumina%20SR%20Manual%20v.1.0%20small.pdf)

Cheers!

-TDF

Thanks much appreciated

[deangelr]

Is there any sort of manual for the V-link program..? I finally recieved my v link in the mail and I am having a hard time understanding the expert mode functions..

I am looking for a schedule similiar to what was described above where lights turn on first with a brighter white look then during the evening with a blue more actinic look..

I also wanted to try and simulate the lunar cycle...

thanks for the help!

[notclear]

Have you checked my video yet? I posted the youtube link in previous thread.

[deangelr]

I did check the video but i didnt really follow how it was setup.

[deangelr]

I also took another look at your thumnail post.. can you send me that program? I saw on the vertex desktop that was an option.. That way i could play with it a little and try and figure out how this all works..

I think I understand the features until the expert mode.

[notclear]

The last part of the video show you how to program in expert mode, step by step.

Just in case if we are not talking about the same video, here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOACyN4AOS0

[jmchzn123]

I just purchased the AI unit. It didn't ship yet so tell me, I'm sure we all read the same material, why did you go Vertex? What other lights did you look at? What was the NUMBER 1 deciding factor.

[reefkeeps]

I'm not buying an AI because they look less appealing than others, I'm torn between Vertex and Sfiligoi Genesis....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1964095

[notclear]

I also took another look at your thumnail post.. can you send me that program?

PM me your email so that I can send you the csv file for you to start.

[notclear]

I just purchased the AI unit. It didn't ship yet so tell me, I'm sure we all read the same material, why did you go Vertex? What other lights did you look at? What was the NUMBER 1 deciding factor.

Two main reasons for me to choose Vertex: Better control and look nicer than the AI.

[deangelr]

Ahhhhh.. I did not sea that second video.. Very nice. You seem clear on this issue!

[notclear]

After I got the fixture, it also took me some time to figure it out. Hope this video can help out new owners.

[TheDogFather]

Please take a moment and vote for my Vertex contest entry (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vertex-Aquaristik-GmbH/339077275866?v=app_138079047824) (ThePugFather)!

Thank you for your support!

-TDF

[kmu]

What optics do the illumina fixtures run?

Anyone with info of the Vertex Illumilux fixtures?

[AGYDAL]

Kmu - I know my 200 series does not have optics. I like the look better than the LED setups that use optics, IMO better shimmer effect. I'm not sure about the 260 or the 200s that now use the Cree...sorry, didn't look into it, afraid I might want to upgrade. Hehe.


Anyone out there with this light have any of their micros in their tank go nuts? I have some crazy neomeris growing in my tank at the moment...I know nutrients are a contributing factor, and my tank is new, but just wondering if anyone with an established tanks noticed their macros loving it if anyone has them?

[TheDogFather]

What optics do the illumina fixtures run?

Anyone with info of the Vertex Illumilux fixtures?

None of the Illumina or Illumiux models have any secondary optics. Only the 120 degree optics that are on the diode from the factory.

You can find more info about the new Illumilux fixtures here (http://www.vertexaquaristik.com/2011-01-12%20Illumilux%20Flyer_final.pdf)

Cheers!

-TDF

[TheDogFather]

Kmu - I know my 200 series does not have optics. I like the look better than the LED setups that use optics, IMO better shimmer effect. I'm not sure about the 260 or the 200s that now use the Cree...sorry, didn't look into it, afraid I might want to upgrade. Hehe.


Anyone out there with this light have any of their micros in their tank go nuts? I have some crazy neomeris growing in my tank at the moment...I know nutrients are a contributing factor, and my tank is new, but just wondering if anyone with an established tanks noticed their macros loving it if anyone has them?

It's your new tank, not the light...

Cheers!

-TDF

[kmu]

I got a 48x18x18 rimless mixed reef tank that is used to an ATI sunpower 6x54

Would 2 illumilux fixtures work for me?

I plan on a 48" Marino Bianco with 12 cree leds 7k and 12 cree royal blue 450nm, and a Marino Blu with 12 cree royal blue 450nm and 12 cree blue 470nm

This are 48 CREE LEDs with 120 degree optics for a 48x18x18 mixed reef tank

[TheDogFather]

I got a 48x18x18 rimless mixed reef tank that is used to an ATI sunpower 6x54

Would 2 illumilux fixtures work for me?

I plan on a 48" Marino Bianco with 12 cree leds 7k and 12 cree royal blue 450nm, and a Marino Blu with 12 cree royal blue 450nm and 12 cree blue 470nm

This are 48 CREE LEDs with 120 degree optics for a 48x18x18 mixed reef tank

I'd would think so. You have a very shallow and narrow (front to back) tank.

-TDF

[Luxo]

kmu
I am also looking at this option but I think it depends to what you like to kep in this tank.
what is your bulb combo for the 6 x54?
I emailed vertex on Illumilux; they said on the illumilux the control is not onboard you have to purchase a PWM module from Vertex that is controlled via 1-10 V and can be connected to any controller that is capable of 1-10 v control.
In your case I would go for a 36" Illumina 200 if the budget is there.
This is what I am planning on getting for a 4' x2' x2' since my tank will have 2 small islands of rock only.
I saw the Illumina on a local reefers tank and it's truly amazing product and bright as hell, my opinion much brighter and more flexible than AI SOL blue.
Good luck with your light purchase.
Dave

[kmu]

kmu
I am also looking at this option but I think it depends to what you like to kep in this tank.
what is your bulb combo for the 6 x54?
I emailed vertex on Illumilux; they said on the illumilux the control is not onboard you have to purchase a PWM module from Vertex that is controlled via 1-10 V and can be connected to any controller that is capable of 1-10 v control.
In your case I would go for a 36" Illumina 200 if the budget is there.
This is what I am planning on getting for a 4' x2' x2' since my tank will have 2 small islands of rock only.
I saw the Illumina on a local reefers tank and it's truly amazing product and bright as hell, my opinion much brighter and more flexible than AI SOL blue.
Good luck with your light purchase.
Dave

My light combo was 4 ATI Blue plus and 2 ATI purple plus

How much does the Illumina 200 in the 36" run for? The 2 48" illumilux would run for around $900

How much is the PWM controller from vertex?

[kmu]

I also had in mind going either with 2 48" illumilux or 3 36" fixtures...

[AGYDAL]

It's your new tank, not the light...

Cheers!

-TDF

Oh, I know a lot of it is my new tank but the stuff also likes high light...a lot of people wouldn't mind this stuff in their tank but can't get it to grow. All the other cycle algaes and stuff have run their course yet this stuff keeps truckin' on...just trying to isolate variables so I can get the upperhand on it.

[TheDogFather]

Oh, I know a lot of it is my new tank but the stuff also likes high light...a lot of people wouldn't mind this stuff in their tank but can't get it to grow. All the other cycle algaes and stuff have run their course yet this stuff keeps truckin' on...just trying to isolate variables so I can get the upperhand on it.

I know that micro's need powerful light to flourish but that can happen under T5's and MH as well... I would not necessarily attribute the growth to the LED's.

What are your tank's parameters?

-TDF

[Luxo]

KMU
4 Blue plus & 2 purple plus! This is really blue!! No white bulbs?
If that is what you want then you should be fine with the Illumilux I guess.
I saw the Illumilux at Macna & they look great about 1" thick & maybe 2" wide!
Premium had it at their booth, from what I was told you can slide them on the side of eachother to cascade them, can be used with hanging kit or legs.
They did not know how much the PWM module will cost since will be released in March they said.
What are you keeping in this tank?
Dave

[kmu]

KMU
4 Blue plus & 2 purple plus! This is really blue!! No white bulbs?
If that is what you want then you should be fine with the Illumilux I guess.
I saw the Illumilux at Macna & they look great about 1" thick & maybe 2" wide!
Premium had it at their booth, from what I was told you can slide them on the side of eachother to cascade them, can be used with hanging kit or legs.
They did not know how much the PWM module will cost since will be released in March they said.
What are you keeping in this tank?
Dave

Its a mixed reef tank with a RBTA, GBTA, very few SPS, some LPS and a lot of softies like leathers, ricordeas, zoas...

Yeah I had in mind if I go with 2 or 3 illumilux I could slide them one on the side of each other and hang them.

Maybe a single 36" Marine Blu for dawn and dusk and 2 Marine Bianco for daylight.

I could start with one Blu and one Bianco and add a third one if neccesary

[Luxo]

Its a mixed reef tank with a RBTA, GBTA, very few SPS, some LPS and a lot of softies like leathers, ricordeas, zoas...

Yeah I had in mind if I go with 2 or 3 illumilux I could slide them one on the side of each other and hang them.

Maybe a single 36" Marine Blu for dawn and dusk and 2 Marine Bianco for daylight.

I could start with one Blu and one Bianco and add a third one if neccesary

Sound good, please keep us posted, what controller are you using?
I think Profilux and Apex have 1-10v.
Although you don't have to dimm them I guess can have the blue come on first then white
Pictures please when you get them.
tks
Dave

[Giray GÜN]

Hi,
I buy a vertex illumina sr 900 for my new aquarium. Update firmware but in the led panel first modul is not working properely when the make thunder effect its closed and it is not open what is the problem and how can downgrade the firmware.

[Giray GÜN]

Ok i solved problem when firmware update 2 options first necessar update second complate update so if you complate update all modules updatable so make complate update :)

[Uncko Macko]

I need an extra opinion. I have a custom rimless 40 breeder being built. The plan is a mixed reef. nothing too hard to keep. Mostly "Nano" livestock. Not sure which light to get. I want to limit light shining outside of the tank so I may get the 24 inch. Will this be enough coverage? And which model? Is the 260 worth the extra money?

so....
24 or 36 inch?
200 or 260?

[Uncko Macko]

I need an extra opinion. I have a custom rimless 40 breeder being built. The plan is a mixed reef. nothing too hard to keep. Mostly "Nano" livestock. Not sure which light to get. I want to limit light shining outside of the tank so I may get the 24 inch. Will this be enough coverage? And which model? Is the 260 worth the extra money?

so....
24 or 36 inch?
200 or 260?


Ehh. I couldn't wait. Ordered the 24" 200 series. I can't wait to play with this thing!

[Giray GÜN]

200 series suitable for your aquarium.

[Giray GÜN]

We must share save log for vertex expire mod whatr do you think??

[Luxo]

I just joined the club, ordered from J&l, Jeff is great to deal with.
I probably will not see it for another couple of weeks, since I am away on business.
Can't wait, I be sure to post some pictures once my tank arrives.
I ordered a 1200, 260. He advised me to start at 30% white.
Are they really that hellish bright!?
I have seen the 200 model on a local reefer's tank and it was super bright, but to start at 30% seems a little too cautious!
What are your thoughts?
Dave

[AGYDAL]

Even your neighbors down the block will know you bought a new light...I have the 200 series and my whites are set at 50% at their highest point and its BRIGHT!

Anyone have full tank photos of their tanks at what they have as the highest settings or what they think their tank looks best at (the blues LED popping color effect etc...) or any before and after if you were running a different light before the Vertex?

GET THOSE CAMERAS OUT PLEASE! Great job on the videos everyone, but where are our stills?! We all spent how much per foot? Yep, i think its safe to assume we all love our systems enough to photograph :) The AI owners are posting their setups pictures...why not us? Huh...huh? We know we look good, show off a little...heck! I'm proud of mine and it's two corals and one fish that always hides...

<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-02-10051844.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-02-10051844.jpg border=0 alt=></a>
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-02-19140410-1.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-02-19140410-1.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

[myfrostymember]

What's the coverage of a 12" illumina 200 at say 6-10 inchs off water? Looking for something that can cover 36x36 18" deep-- Los on the sand few throughout the rocks

[Kolognekoral]

frosty,

the Illumina are not spot lights. The fixture should cover the tank from end to end. The 200 series would be adequate for 18" depth, but a 12" lamp would be too weak for acros in a 36" width tank. Now, 4 12" may be a good option, set chequerboard over the tank.

[myfrostymember]

I have no problem going to a 24" model but hanging 4 12" models over my tank would look like *** I think- I'm not sure

[Kolognekoral]

Of course, aesthetics is another thing. Two 24" units would give you the same light, if not a bit more.

[deangelr]

love the tank Agydal.. ill try and get you a new photo later on

[AGYDAL]

love the tank Agydal.. ill try and get you a new photo later on


Thanks...not much to it yet, moved my rocks around so I could get better flow with the crescent rock design so I could crank back up the lights and put my stuff in the sandbed...I was hoping that someone would follow up with a "my tank is cooler than your tank" picture...still waiting :)

[Uncko Macko]

Got my Illumina fixture last week! I have it over my nano just to play with it until I'm finished with my new reef build. This thing is awesome. In the owners manual it says, "Please refer to the Vertex V-Link Owner’s Manual for more information". It didn't come with a manual and I don't see one on the Vertex site. Do any of you know where I can find the V-link manual? A manual for the software would be nice too. Thanks.

[Uncko Macko]

I started a Programming thread for sharing Light Studio Tips, Tricks, settings, ideas, Do's & Don'ts.

I'd like to keep it strictly regarding the Light Studio App. I don't want to hi-jack the awesome Illumina threads that helped me decide to make the Illumina investment in the first place.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=18483841#post18483841

[alin2]

I'm really tempted by this light fixture for my new ELOS tank.

It will be 48"x31.5"x24"

Any recommendations on length of Illumina fixture?

Also, 200 vs 260?

It'll be a SPS predominant reef tank.

[Kolognekoral]

I'm really tempted by this light fixture for my new ELOS tank.

It will be 48"x31.5"x24"

Any recommendations on length of Illumina fixture?

Also, 200 vs 260?

It'll be a SPS predominant reef tank.

I would take the 200, if the depth is 24". I am running a 260 over a 30"/70cm tall tank and about 6" over the water surface. Well lit with whites at 70%, blue-royals both at 100% and the colours are directly better (more fluorescence). Use the 1500, which is 48 " long. You really want is to go end to end for the best illumination.

You'll love this fixture. You can't hear anything; no fan noise, reverberation, rattling. Very fine workmanship. Looks great and highly programmable.

[alin2]

^^^Awesome, thanks for the info. Although, I assume you mean the 1200 mm fixture for a 48" tank?

[Kolognekoral]

^^^Awesome, thanks for the info. Although, I assume you mean the 1200 mm fixture for a 48" tank?

Yeah! 1200mm is 48". Good you know your maths! :fun2::

[azulikit]

Hi I have a 260 and I'm having some problems connecting it up on a mac. I have downloaded the latest install from Vertex.

There are two files, one labeled install and the other vertexdestop.jar

I have clicked on both and tried to get the programming running with no success. Click on install and it prompts for a password in Terminal. Enter the password and it says no such file or directory. The .jar file takes me to the Vertex screen but I can't do anything on it. Basically just a web page, file and a ? I can click on file, there are some option but all do nothing. The V-stick also does nothing when I plug it in the to computer.

Does anyone know the install process for on a mac. Looks like I'm missing something here.

[Midnightsun]

Tagging along... Tried the Mac thing also but no go. Had another Windows laptop in the house so I used that no problem.

[deangelr]

I though it was the mac thing.. In the V-Link user manual it doesn't mention anything about Mac or being mac compatible.

[return11]

Back after 14 years out of the hobby, but have always been a "lurker" on RC. These lights seem too good to be true! Once they are programmed does a user have to keep a PC on as they work? Are the heat related issues that good when compared to MH? Thank you for your time!

[Kolognekoral]

Back after 14 years out of the hobby, but have always been a "lurker" on RC. These lights seem too good to be true! Once they are programmed does a user have to keep a PC on as they work? Are the heat related issues that good when compared to MH? Thank you for your time!

Welcome back into the hobby!

You do not need a PC to run them, however, with a PC one can do much more elaborate programming, but this is then transfered to the control module and the lamp runs with the new programm.

I'm impressed with the lightness of the lamp, compared to my HQI, about half the weight, although the heatsink is massive aluminium. Looks a lot better, too. It gets warm to the touch, but not so hot that you cannot touch it, as with HQI. I used to burn myself constantly with my old lamp, just reaching to arrange something.

After 10 years of HQI and tubes, this is really a revolutionary lamp. It will only get better.

[scram42]

I'm looking for something to replace the Solaris I5 on my 30 gal. 30" by 12' and 18" deep. I love being able to program sunrise and sunset and so I want something comparable. I'm finally at a stable place where I'm actually starting to get some colour from my acros but I need a little more punch from the lights. I've been looking around alot and the Vertex looks pretty amazing but the 24" is slightly out of my price range. Would the 12" work on a tank my size? Any thoughts anyone? Thanks in advance.

[deangelr]

It would work... But I do not think you would get a full 30" spread across with the 12" fixture. Spread the other direction (front to back) is very wide. I have my light over a tank that is roughly 30x23x20. If I don't put the fixture 2" away from the water there is a lot of spill over from front to back as you can see in the first picture in the thread.. My tank splashes a lot so I moved the fixture much higher up... As someone else in this thread said, "all your neighbors will know you got a new light"..

....Your tank dimensions may not be best suited for this light. It could easily light a tank 30" front to back.

[return11]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but can US residents order from Canada with the patent issues? If I am going to drop 3k on a fixture, 48 inch 260 Vertex, would it be reasonable to assume that I can grow/keep anything I want, proper placement programming etc., with an aquarium 48 inches long and 15-20 inches deep? Width would not be greater than 16 inches. Thanks again for your time!

[return11]

Agydal - how did you get the wave look to you sand? Looks great!

[scram42]

Thanks Deangelr, perhaps the Illumilux would be more appropriate.

[deangelr]

No Problem.. I was curious about how powerful those were as well as i am trying to figure out how to light a 55g that is i think 48''x12"

[deangelr]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but can US residents order from Canada with the patent issues? If I am going to drop 3k on a fixture, 48 inch 260 Vertex, would it be reasonable to assume that I can grow/keep anything I want, proper placement programming etc., with an aquarium 48 inches long and 15-20 inches deep? Width would not be greater than 16 inches. Thanks again for your time!

Yes, US residents can order from Canada, I did with no problems.

Yes, with the Vertex 260 it is brighter than any light I have seen and you can easily adjust the setting lower for any coral.

As I said in the last post. It will work for your tank, But it is hard for me to say this light would be good on a tank less then 20" front to back. So if you put this light over a tank only 16" (front to back) the spread over will be excessive.

Maybe some other will chime in though....

[Kolognekoral]

Yes, US residents can order from Canada, I did with no problems.

Yes, with the Vertex 260 it is brighter than any light I have seen and you can easily adjust the setting lower for any coral.

As I said in the last post. It will work for your tank, But it is hard for me to say this light would be good on a tank less then 20" front to back. So if you put this light over a tank only 16" (front to back) the spread over will be excessive.

Maybe some other will chime in though....

I'm one to think of the future. Even if my tank was only 16" wide....now, I wouldn't worry about a bit of light spill into the room, as I know my next tank would be wider. From my experience, the lighting is the single most expensive part of an aquarium setup and should be able to handle other projects I may plan. Mind you, that said, my tank is the same size since 11 years, I've just added more tanks! By the way, the 260 can light a tank 100cm deep, that's about 40". I run the whites between 50-70% on a 70cm deep tank.

[AGYDAL]

Agydal - how did you get the wave look to you sand? Looks great!

1. Dumb Luck
2. The latest and greatest technology in powerheads: Maxi-jet 1200's plugged into Christmas timers on a powerstrip timed on a Round Robin type powering.

:)

The tanks a 30x30x18" *cough cough I have a 12" 200 model on it I've posted picture around here somewhere, no complaints...cough cough** since it's a cube style it's sort of the nature of the beast to have flow issues...I found that if I angle the the powerheads off the glass I get the most turbulence to the flow and the dents in the sand are where the jets bank.

Also my power went out at my residence for at least 6 hours the other night...and the battery backup for my big tank is MIA at the moment...long story short...alarm clock and microwave did not re-set like they claimed they would, but the Vertex did...

I bet if Chuck Norris has a reef tank he's running Vertex lighting...

[scram42]

But it is hard for me to say this light would be good on a tank less then 20" front to back. So if you put this light over a tank only 16" (front to back) the spread over will be excessive.
But what if I just lowered the light?....just a thought.

[Kolognekoral]

But what if I just lowered the light?....just a thought.

There ya go. Mine is just 6" above the water, which is considered optimum. Much less light spill than with halides and, for some reason, the light is much better distributed in the tank. Probably the reflection caused by the wide angle of the LEDs.

[deangelr]

But what if I just lowered the light?....just a thought.

On a 20'' tank I have to lower it about 4 inches above the water to get rid of the spill. But there is quite a bit of turbulence at the surface of my water and so it scares me to put it so close.

You would also then end up dimming it more due to the brightness, But I do think the light will work and it is an awesome unit.. Always leaves room for an upgrade..:spin3:

[alin2]

There's a post on RC with a Vertex Illumina owner turning off his end modules because of excessive light spillage.

How much spillage have folks had with Illumina fixtures that are as long as their tanks? I'm thinking of the 900 or 1200 Illumina 260 for a 48x31.5x24 tank.

Thanks!

[Kolognekoral]

There's a post on RC with a Vertex Illumina owner turning off his end modules because of excessive light spillage.

How much spillage have folks had with Illumina fixtures that are as long as their tanks? I'm thinking of the 900 or 1200 Illumina 260 for a 48x31.5x24 tank.

Thanks!

I have the 1200/260 over my 136cm wide tank. The light spillage is much less than I had with two 250W HQI at the same height (6") over the water. Also, due to the reflection of the light on the glass having changed with the Vertex Illumina, my achilles doctor doesn't attack his reflection nearly as much, actually almost no more. This was always a stress factor for this fish as he matured.

Generally, the reflection of light within the tank is much greater than before and, despite my massive rock formation in the axis of the tank (it is viewable from 3 sides) the light penetrates much deeper than before. This has to do with some basics on light refration through air, water and glass. A subject I have planned for my blog.

The issue of water surface turbulance became obvious after a few days. I have rearranged my current to minimize the turbulance and I am happy with the result. One still has lots of shimmer without visible surface turbulance.

[Pacificcoast]

Hi everyone,
Just joined RC, i love this thread and am totally into and completely switching over to led. I am running 4-39w t5ho on my 26 gallon reef. I want that illumina, obsessed!!! The only problem are the dimensions of my tank, imagine a flat back hexagon but instead of a flat back it comes in on the back side too. It is 36" long, 15" deep and 13" front to back, but only for 24" in the middle before it starts to point inward. Making sense so far?lol What a pain in the ***.
Having read this entire thread, it seems my dreams of illumina are crushed. I was thinking either a 12", or 24" fixture. But i really want to thank all of you, seriously! Without proper and acurate information, people make the wrong choices, and this is a big choice. Do you all think i might be better off waiting for 2 sol blue nano from ai? I know this is the vertex club, but can someone help me?
Thanks everyone

[AGYDAL]

Random Thought:
Has anyone increased their photoperiod by figuring in the amount of cloud cover programmed?

Random Thought Gets More Random:
If I had a 10 hour lighting with 20% cloud cover minimum that would be 2 hours minimum of darkness due to cloud cover...so my photo period would only be 8 hours in actuality?

Am I thinking correctly, or have I been looking at tax forms too long and gone number crazy? My conscious is starting to sound like The Count from Sesame Street...ONE! ha. ha.. haaaaa...TWO!

[Kolognekoral]

Random Thought:
Has anyone increased their photoperiod by figuring in the amount of cloud cover programmed?

Random Thought Gets More Random:
If I had a 10 hour lighting with 20% cloud cover minimum that would be 2 hours minimum of darkness due to cloud cover...so my photo period would only be 8 hours in actuality?

Am I thinking correctly, or have I been looking at tax forms too long and gone number crazy? My conscious is starting to sound like The Count from Sesame Street...ONE! ha. ha.. haaaaa...TWO!

The cloud program doesn't turn off the lights, it reduces the output. In nature clouds don't make it really dark, they soften the light. You still have the same photoperiod, just not the same intensity throughout.

I would experiement a bit and see what I like.

[Kolognekoral]

Hi everyone,
Just joined RC, i love this thread and am totally into and completely switching over to led. I am running 4-39w t5ho on my 26 gallon reef. I want that illumina, obsessed!!! The only problem are the dimensions of my tank, imagine a flat back hexagon but instead of a flat back it comes in on the back side too. It is 36" long, 15" deep and 13" front to back, but only for 24" in the middle before it starts to point inward. Making sense so far?lol What a pain in the ***.
Having read this entire thread, it seems my dreams of illumina are crushed. I was thinking either a 12", or 24" fixture. But i really want to thank all of you, seriously! Without proper and acurate information, people make the wrong choices, and this is a big choice. Do you all think i might be better off waiting for 2 sol blue nano from ai? I know this is the vertex club, but can someone help me?
Thanks everyone
Welcome aboard,

a possible solution is the modular Illumilux from Vertex. Do a netsearch to find a vendor with the various models shown.

[aufo8mycat]

they say your neighbours will know when your new light fixture has arrived here is the proof http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a422/123fishkeeper123/outside.jpg
yes the light is over my tank, it is a little higher than it will be when build complete, but you get the picture, other units have regular lighting on i have vertex on 100% white, blue and royal

[AGYDAL]

they say your neighbours will know when your new light fixture has arrived here is the proof http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a422/123fishkeeper123/outside.jpg
yes the light is over my tank, it is a little higher than it will be when build complete, but you get the picture, other units have regular lighting on i have vertex on 100% white, blue and royal

Priceless! LOVE IT!

You definitely got a new light...might want to get a pair of welding goggles to protect your eyes too! :)

[Midnightsun]

opps wrong place

[DDRR]

What is the width of the Illumina 200 fixture? I assume all the different length fixtures are the same height and width?

[Midnightsun]

They are all the same except they get longer or shorter. Anything over 24" you will end up with more ballasts and more cords to plug in. See the Vertex site for exact details.

[Kolognekoral]

What is the width of the Illumina 200 fixture? I assume all the different length fixtures are the same height and width?

The width is always 30cm/12"; lengths are in increments of 30cm/12". Height is at the heighest less than 2". A very sleek design.

[DDRR]

Would a 24" Illuima 200 look right over a 46" x 30.5" x 16.5" tank or should I get a 36" fixture? Those that have either fixture I would appreciate the input. Thanks. These Fixtures seem like the best ones out there for the features and looks.

[Kolognekoral]

Would a 24" Illuima 200 look right over a 46" x 30.5" x 16.5" tank or should I get a 36" fixture? Those that have either fixture I would appreciate the input. Thanks. These Fixtures seem like the best ones out there for the features and looks.

If you are doing sps, I would go for the 36". The 24" would leave the ends in a bit too little light for sps, but lps would do well.

[deangelr]

Priceless! LOVE IT!

You definitely got a new light...might want to get a pair of welding goggles to protect your eyes too! :)

+1 on the welding goggles. "Dont look into the light!!!"

[AGYDAL]

The cloud program doesn't turn off the lights, it reduces the output. In nature clouds don't make it really dark, they soften the light. You still have the same photoperiod, just not the same intensity throughout.

I would experiement a bit and see what I like.

I beg to differ...
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-04-08195430.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-04-08195430.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

[Kolognekoral]

I beg to differ...
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-04-08195430.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-04-08195430.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

What I meant is, it is not an on-off switch that makes a flashing effect. It dims the light via procent, but you can, of course, dim to 100%, which is dimmed out, but not off. Some tight semantics.

[Flagswipe]

Would Vertex users please describe their light programs for me. I am having a hard time with many SPS. I realize that SPS should not RTN STN from light, either too much or too little but that is what I am dealing with and have been since I started this tank from scratch and switched from MH/T5 to LED.
A little background
I have 3 tanks. I have 6 years experience, I certainly dont know it all but I didnt fall off the wagon yesterday either. My 90g frag table is crowded with frags and colonies that I trade and sell, all SPS, many of the same species that are that are suffering in my DT.
I run full zeo on both tanks, the parameters are the same alk 8, calc 390-410, same temp and salinity. The tanks are not connected, they are separate systems but the husbandry is the same. Sump for DT is in the basement beside the Frag tank. All dosing is dont at the same time, same for WC and media changes like Zeolites and Carbon.
The largest difference is that the Frag tank runs 2 x ATI powermodule 48" 6 bulb with a mixture of ati bulbs. I get good growth and excellent (if pale because of Zeo) colour.
Not looking for the usual, "check your alk" comments as I am well past that stage. All parameters are stable and have been for months. Vertex CA reactors, same RODI water, Same salt for WC.

What I am looking for is some advice on what I may be doing wrong with my Vertex.
I already have a ATI 5' 8 bulb on order as I cant lose any more SPS.

Lighting
10am - 6pm White 50% RB 50% Blue 30%
6pm the whites dim down to 15% and the Blues ramp up to actinic level for evening viewing up to 11:59pm then the moonlights come on
from 12am to 10am

What am I doing wrong??

Dwayne

[Kolognekoral]

Dwayne,

when I changed over to Vertex LEDs, the brightness was too much for my corals. I ran the whites at 50% and still use this as my base, but let it run to 80% for a few minutes in the afternoon, after which it drops back slowly to 50%. I find this good for the corals. Blues are slowly ramped-up to 100% and kept there for 8 hours, then ramped down to 0%, esentially the same for the royals, except they come on 1 hours before and burn one our later than the whites. A total for 13 hours light.

I'm am questioning the need to run the blue/royal at 100%. They are not bright to us, but to the corals for sure. 80% may be a better high level. My tank is deep at 70cm/30", but I run a 260 unit.

As to corals not rtn/stn-ing from light, I must differ! Yes, too much light can cause both of these conditions. Stress is stress. As I am not experiencing coral death from the LEDs, it MAY lie in the mix. I have whites at about 50% of the blues. You may wish to reduce the whites to 25%. The corals are growing from the blue spectrum, not the white. They do not utilize light above 500nm. Just how deep is this problem tank?

[Flagswipe]

Thanks for the input. The whites are maxing out at 50% right now but three weeks ago they were at 70%, I brought them down as a test to stop the RTN. I mislead you on the blue and RB, they never hit 100% but do get up to 80% during the day. I am going on memory here but no not 100% at any time. I will try to do a fancy pic like other people have done here for you to look at. Several pieces do look better since going to more blue and less white but I continue to struggle with 30% of my pieces looking in poor health with poor PE.
Example, I have many Millis and hairy SPS. One Milli has poor PE and the skin looks strained then a foot to the right there is a pink milli that is happy as can be and shaggy. I will post some pics for you

Dwayne

[deangelr]

anyone hear when the fixture may be Mac compatible again?

[mapn4reef]

I just ordered a Reef Savvy 48x28x20 tank, should I go with the 36" (900) or 48" (1200) length model? If these lights ever come to the US retail market, do you think it will drop the prices significantly? I suppose competition would increase at that point anyway. Thanks.

[deangelr]

Id go with the 48'' although the 36'' would probably work.

I doubt that these light prices will ever drop significantly like other fixtures might. Vertex will always be striving for top of the line technology and to be the leader in LED fixtures and programmable technology.. The Illumina will always be one of the most expensive fixtures.

Much like high end fixtures from Geisseman ELos, and Sfiligoi have not had large price drops over the years.

[reefrad]

on a 48" tank with 2 islands why cant one use 2 12" units separately?

thanks

[deangelr]

on a 48" tank with 2 islands why cant one use 2 12" units separately?

thanks

You could definitely do that.. Sounds cool. You just wouldn't be utilizing all of your tank..

[Midnightsun]

on a 48" tank with 2 islands why cant one use 2 12" units separately?

thanks

You could but you would almost be at the price of a 36" unit by purchasing 2 12's. You would not be able to get the travelling cloud effect either. You are paying for 2 separate timers and housings so it gets pricey quick.

IMHO, the Vetex should be bought 12" shorter than the tank dimensions for the best possible look and overage. Any wider and it is wasted overspill. In fact, my 24" unit is actually a hair under 26" wide.

[Kolognekoral]

If you aquarium has inner side braces that will impede the light entry, a fixture a bit inside this dimension would be effective. I have such braces on a 136cm long tank and the 120cm Illumina is a good fit.

[Eastamherstbias]

For a 4x2x2. 120gallon mixed reef. Would the illumine 200 work or is the 260 far superior.

-Austin

[aufo8mycat]

For a 4x2x2. 120gallon mixed reef. Would the illumine 200 work or is the 260 far superior.

-Austin
200 would be fine

[Kolognekoral]

I agree. Over a depth from 30" the 260 is your baby, but at 24", no problem with the 200.

[AGYDAL]

Is it me or does it seem that everyone keeps harping on this fixture reaching to the very end of their tanks? If this fixture is being compared to 400w metal halides, why are people acting like they're dealing with long bulbs (T5, PCs, whateva)?

I know they are totally different but...
LED with optics VS. halide bulb with reflector...
Same concept right?

I know on my tank that I run halides on, I never gave a moments thought about the halide bulbs running to the end of the tank.

[Kolognekoral]

Agydal,

they really aren't easy to compare to each other. First, Vertex does NOT use optics, instead, they cluster the LEDs to create intense wide angle spotlights, which is a bit in the direction of HQI. Definitely better for the shimmer. One of the disadvantages of HQI was a 'dead zone' of intense light directly under the bulb, where many corals, etc. couldn't live. Too bright and too hot. With LEDs one can have a smaller spot with literally no heat transfer to the tank and a 'softer' lighting.

Running the LEDs to the end only makes sense if something is living there or for the aesthetic, but most of us use every millimeter. As the Vertex is a 'soft spotlight' lighting with a wide angle, the light pads will have overlap of their light cones in the tank. If the pads do not run as close to the edge of the tank as possible, you will always have a slightly dimmer light in this area. Not great crime, just posssibly not optimum. I'm sure some will like this effect.

I get the feeling you are thinking in terms of 1 to 1 comparison, 250W HQI to LED array. In this case, no, they don't compare well. Then there is the spectrum, but that's another topic.

[aufo8mycat]

I have the sr1500 and i have 182x76x60cm tank so the lights are about 10cm from each end,
I only added water today so water is pretty cloudy but it sort of helps to show the spread in each colour
thought i would take some colour difference shots just 100% of each colour with lights 15cm from water surface


100% white rising
http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a422/123fishkeeper123/rising.jpg
100% white
http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a422/123fishkeeper123/100w.jpg
100% Royal blue
http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a422/123fishkeeper123/100rb.jpg
100% Blue
http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a422/123fishkeeper123/100b.jpg
Everything on at 100%
http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a422/123fishkeeper123/100ever.jpg

and you can have everything in between:
Now i just wish water would clear up and could get skimmer working the way is supposed to but that should be done tomorrow, if i get away from pc and build a 10cm stand to raise it so happy i bought this light now just to get something growing under it

[notclear]

Very nice rack. What do you use to join the aluminum square tubes?

[AGYDAL]

Kolognekoral,

No, I know there is a great difference...I even stated "I know they are totally different"...that's why I chose this and not another HQI fixture(s). I've had experience with LEDs long before people started putting them on tanks.

LED & HQI comparisons are like apples and oranges but there are still similarities...there are clusters of LED light that overlap, I also thought that there were 120 degree optics on this fixture? Those are some wide optics, but they're still optics....Though I have a smaller fixture when I look at the LED from the underside I see LED pads with spacing that will allow for light overlap.

Ah yes, the spectrum...HQI degrades much faster, has undesireable elements in them, heat and whatever...I understand this too.

Also, awhile back I asked about increasing the cloud time to increase photoperiod...I never asked if the power supply stopped like you responded with...I asked if anyone else had thought of this to allow for a longer viewing time of their tank.

And I disagree with the clouds just dimming the light in nature...if the right storm blows in you can get nighttime light during the daytime...you ever lived on the ocean? I have...no matter how dark it gets you still have UV that makes it through the clouds...so far there isn't the UV pad available for sale stateside at this that I know of...no UV + 100% dark clouds allow for longer viewing times...simple math.

You're suddenly on here giving all this advise but where are the pictures of your tank? Seems you deflect to other questions rather than elaborate or your trials and errors in your experiences much?

Current tank at 5 months:
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-04-16133904.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-04-16133904.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

Top view:
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-04-16175003.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-04-16175003.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

Former view from my window:
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=208020_555463784029_6824047_30058382_4617_n.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/208020_555463784029_6824047_30058382_4617_n.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

About 6:30 pm...looks Like nighttime one the left...yet I was facing west when I took this photograph hmmm...
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=215955_555463629339_6824047_30056552_5042_n.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/215955_555463629339_6824047_30056552_5042_n.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

Just supporting my thoughts and questions with some photo back up...wish more people would follow suit...

Aufo8mycat- once again, thank you for the pictures!

[AGYDAL]

Double post sorry

[aufo8mycat]

Very nice rack. What do you use to join the aluminum square tubes?
I got the corner peices etc to make the light stand at bunnings (i think your equivalent would be homedepot) just cut aluminium and slot it in give it a whack with a rubber mallet and done took 1.5 hours, total cost $120AUD including hacksaw
http://i1034.photobucket.com/albums/a422/123fishkeeper123/photo3.jpg
I can lift it with 2 fingers and was able to stand on the cross beams that support light,(65kg) In hindsight I wish i had have thought it out a bit more and put 2 upside-down U in the bottom to run cables through currently have to remove pumps to remove lights

[Kolognekoral]

Agydal,

I don't understand why you seem to be upset with me! I've attempted to answer questions (your or from others) based on my own experience as aquarist (40 years!). I see no reason why you should be reacting as you are. I am sorry, if you are getting the wrong impression. This is unintended.

As to why I am 'suddenly' commenting on Vertex is quite simple, I am doing work for them at the moment (translation, UK program) and have quite a different view of what is going on in the development of LED lighting. I am fortunate enough to have a few unpublished test reports on LEDs for aquariums, from which I am basing many of my comments, plus my own experiences, of course. From what I have been researching and reading, my previous approach to LEDs, using optics for deeper tanks and spreading the array evenly over the tank area, has changed. I find the clustering method better for spectral mix, general illumination and economics. Also, I find it much more aesthetic. At this point we still need to better understand what parts of the spectrum (and at what amounts/percentages) are useful or even required for long term success. I personally like a bit more toward the UVA spectrum (400nm), but is it required or simply usefull? Also, just how far into the green spectrum can one go without a cyanobacteria bloom? They utilize from about 520nm to 600nm.

As for storms, I grew up right on the ocean (only recently away from the sea, but so is it) and know from own experience how weather effects the light. Even in the tropics, clouds do rarely blacken the sky to such an extent that there is no reasonable amount of light. I'm thinking we misunderstand each other, here, as changing the lighting outside of a 24 hour cycle (aprox 12 on top 12 off) is not a very natural method. Be that as it may, I do know aquarists that play with their lighting in order to enjoy their aquariums when they are at home. You could really write a book as to the noted changes in growth, behaviors and general stability of a marine system, when one moves too far away from the natural light cycle. I've not heard of anything being downright killed by unnatural light regimens, but we can generally call them damaging (FO tanks probably don't mind). Is this what you are going on about? Putting 12 hours of lighting into different sections of the 24 hour cycle? Darkness is just as important to corals as light. Just how much one can change the 'packaging' is still unclear. I can tell you, spawning is impeded by strange light rhythms. If we understood more of how the lunar light effects reefs, we may better understand what would be possible. Then, again, I do prefer leaving such cycles as close to nature's developement as possible.

As to the Illumina itself, it dims its lighting, but does not turn it off (unless you set it to 'off' of course). This is a fine line, as the 100% dimming is producing no visible light, however, power is still running and you wouldn't want to confuse dimming with an on-off switch. Not that one could get a shock, but the circuit is still live, just as with a household dimmer. (most now have an 'off' position as well as dimming, at least in Europe).

Nice tank you have coming along, by the way. When I get a decent camera, I'll post a few shots of mine. It is definitely experimental, as that's kind of my job, and houses some fish I've had for over 10 years, when this was first set up. Some of the corals are almost as old, although trimmed well back and, yes, I still kill things now and then. I'm particularly happy with my achilles doctor. He's definitely the king and almost a pet, if you follow me. He's a bit too fast to photograph well.

A question for you, with LEDs have you noticed a strong reduction in nuisance alga? I find, other than diatoms, most 'alga', especially cynobacteria, don't relish the limited spectrum of most LED set-ups.

so, can we be friends?

[dagon138]

I was considering the 24' Illumina 200 for my elos 70, but after some digging (and seeing pictures posted) it appears that a 12' unit would even work fine! This is awesome, and much more in-line with my budget (which got blown getting the elos).
I'll be sure to provide pixs once everything is running.

[MSHUR]

Jamie,

I have 34" tank and i was told that Illumina 260 wouldnt be so good for such a wide tank.Your thoughts greatly apriciated.


Mike

[Kolognekoral]

Jamie,

I have 34" tank and i was told that Illumina 260 wouldnt be so good for such a wide tank.Your thoughts greatly apriciated.


Mike

Mike, what are the actual dimensions of the tank. Do you mean it is 34" from front to back?

Jamie

[MSHUR]

Jamie,

yes, from front to back 34" . size: 72"x34"x25"



mike

[Kolognekoral]

Jamie,

yes, from front to back 34" . size: 72"x34"x25"



mike

Mike,

as the light is leaving the source in a aprox. 120° angled beam, which compresses to aprox . 95° due to water refraction, once the light enters the water column, you may want to hang the fixture higher than the typical 6"-8" recommended for more standard tank depths back to front. I would suggest trying 9"-10". I hang mine at about 5" over an aprox 24" deep (horizontal) tank with excellent results, but I plan on raising it to 6". Adjusting the height is pretty simple, so I would just experiment. My tank has a rock formation in the middle lengthwise, which does tend to shade the outer extremities, but, with a water depth of 70+cm/29" to the bottom, I have no problem keeping LPS on the sand.

In general, I think the Illumina 1500/260 would be enough light and it is capable of taking additional modules in the future, as required. The 1800 will be the exact length. If you want tons of light, go for it.

This will look spectacular!

[MSHUR]

jamie,

thank you for your explanation.

I usually keep high light corals and rising fixure would be concern for me since now i am using 400w Radiums and i really love this bulb and using it for years:))
so, this would be really big move for me:))) since this fixure is expensive i dont really wanna make a wrong move:)) You know:))

mike

[Kolognekoral]

Mike,

I don't think output will be an issue with the 260. I run my whites at mainly 50%-60% for a deeper tank than yours. More would burn my corals at this point. I changed over from 2x 250W and had to be careful. What I found is that the blues make a real difference. Most of the white spectrum is for the viewer.

I know what you mean about the investment. For me, it was a leap of faith, but I am much more than pleased. LEDs are the future, available now, and Vertex simply has the best program. I feel very confident, for a change. Amazing control, with room for advancements, I've reduced my electricity bill by 50% (we pay 5 to 6 x more than most US providers, about USD 0.35 Kh) and literally no extra heat transfer! Looks good, too. Dropping my E-bill by almost €100 per month was reason enough for me. I've paid for the fixture in less than two years. of course, keeping my corals alive and well was always the priority, which is why many delay with the change-over, but in retrospect, the Illumina came along at precisely the right moment for me. Just love it.

[MSHUR]

jamie,

thank you again for your input. my last question would be integration with Profilux.
Since my tank controlled by Profilux would be possable to controll Illumina with 1-10v output? maybe they working on some module integration with Profilux . Profilux known as great worlwide product and i think iwould be big plus for Illimina to be integrated .
unless its already in progress:)


Mike

[ludiNano]

So I'm setting up a 60x18x25 125g Sps dominant tank. I'm actually leaning towards AI but thought I would ask a few questions about these fixtures first.

Which length would I need, would I need the 60" vertex fixture for 60" tank?

Is an aquarium controller needed to get max use of fixture like with AI? By that I mean setting up detailed sun rise sun set/ storms on computer and so on.

If I need something repaired on it do I need to ship it over seas?

[ludiNano]

Thank-you for the reply. My lfs has AI and after seeing it in person like look even better a lot smaller than I had pictured.

What watt LED'S do vertex use?

I have fishroom so the look of them don't matter a whole lot.

My wife REALLY REALLY likes the price of the AI but I had the 5' pulled up on computer maybe the 4' will be closer to the AI price....

[ludiNano]

Thank-you for the reply. My lfs has AI and after seeing it in person like look even better a lot smaller than I had pictured.

What watt LED'S do vertex use?

I have fishroom so the look of them don't matter a whole lot.

My wife REALLY REALLY likes the price of the AI but I had the 5' pulled up on computer maybe the 4' will be closer to the AI price....

[Kolognekoral]

jamie,

thank you again for your input. my last question would be integration with Profilux.
Since my tank controlled by Profilux would be possable to controll Illumina with 1-10v output? maybe they working on some module integration with Profilux . Profilux known as great worlwide product and i think iwould be big plus for Illimina to be integrated .
unless its already in progress:)


Mike

Mike,

the Illumina doesn't need any additional control. It is autark. Vertex is planning the release of their Cerebra control system this Summer. I'll be doing beta testing on it and can let people know what it offers. Although it will be possible to intergrate it with the Illumina, I think for most of us this will simply be a nice plus, but not really required. With the V-Stick, you can completely program the Illumina, including light mix, time mix, storm effects, types of moon cycles, etc. and, if you can program in Java, you can literally write your own programs.

I've not worked with the ProfiLux, but its specs are a bit different than the Cerebra. Vertex's Cerebra is really oriented to the aquarist and designed to co-ordinate all the Vertex compatable products. I can't wait to play with this baby. I'm expecting the unexpected. Let's see!

By the way, one shouldn't refer to LEDs per wattage, as they are not Watt specific. When run at a particular current, they will show a certain Watt consumption, but this is variable. One can still refer to lumens per Watt, as this would be a specific relationship, but it finally depends on the running current (amp/volt).

[Perrier01]

How large is the lighting area of the Vertex 260? Does it cover to the 30" deep tank?

What is the dimension of the lighting fixture that not including heat sink area?

What's different of these models? How many LEDs bulbs does it have for the 60" to 72" lighting fixture.

R260's use 3W Cree XPG

SR200's use 3W Cree XPE

[AGYDAL]

Jamie,

Don't worry about it...as of recent, I spend a lot of time reading with my job, I love to read but sometimes it would just be nice to SEE pictures when reading about results and claims...people have different learning styles/preferences, just trying to offer you some constuctive criticism, otherwise it appears you know what you're talking about and are doing well. I'm also sure there is an underlying words useage/sarcasm issue on my part as far as you reading my post as upset...I just get annoyed easily, that's my problem not yours, you're just trying to be helpful and communicate in a style you're comfortable with...I wish more people would post their photos of this light and their tanks overall look.

As far as the cloud thing....I wasn't wanting to extend my light period by hours, just maybe 30 minutes more of the "full sun" look...I could care less if the thing powered off and on, I remember reading in the manual about how if the LEDs dim too low the fixture will turn off the LEDs but the fixture will still be electrically live. I'm not kidding, one of my rules to live by: If I touch something, it's probably going to shock me. My friends say I'm some sort of human tesla ball, and I think they're right.

As far as my pictures go, all my pictures have been taken by an android phone or BlackBerry...my nice camera has a lot of fun features on it, I love it and can never just take one simple photo with it like I can with my phone...I'd rather see crappy cell phone pictures than nothing IMO.

Your question on the algae under the vertex...yes and no.
This is my tank at the end of January...
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-02-08025138.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-02-08025138.jpg border=0 alt=></a>
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=2011-02-09134208.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/2011-02-09134208.jpg border=0 alt=></a>
For those of you not familiar with it BE GLAD! It's called Neomeris annulata, a calcium and light loving algae and it's not fun or easy to get rid of.

This is my tank now (these two photos were taken and edited with my Nikon camera so the color is pretty accurate)
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=D7000SIDE.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/D7000SIDE.jpg border=0 alt=></a>
<a href=http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/?action=view&current=D7000FULL.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/AGYDAL/D7000FULL.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

Other than the green little monsters that took over in the begining I had hardly any algae issues during the cycle...I only have one spot of H.A. in my tank and it is melting away as I have turned the rock towards direct lighting...maybe it's just luck but I had a feeling all along the light was the influential variable on my marine plants and algae growths...The livestock in the tank is thriving under this light, and I too could not be happier with this light.

No worries,
A.

[Kolognekoral]

Agydal,

sweet tank you have. I have mainly sps, its nice to see a collection of lps. I plan on adding a few Goniopora and smaller Favids to round out the deeper areas. At the moment I have but on Fungia, possible F. scabra, which is an easy one. It realy has improved under the LEDs, as most corals have.

Your alga were actually kinda cool, but a plague is a plague. I can' t get into Aiptasia, either! :uzi:

Here's to a new begin :beer: . Two things they do extremely well in Germany; bread and beer! I'll see about a foto or two.

j.

[studentdriver]

I just received my SR-1200. Can someone tell me if it's possible to turn off the individual LED modules? I would like to turn off the first and last module.

Thanks

[Kolognekoral]

With the V-stick you can program each module in the expert mode. Without the V-stick, it is not possible.

[studentdriver]

I do have the V-Stick, can you advise me how to program it in the "Expert Mode". I thought you have to turn it off in the "Special Settings" section where you do the cloud and lightning. But it doesn't seem to work for me.

[aufo8mycat]

I do have the V-Stick, can you advise me how to program it in the "Expert Mode". I thought you have to turn it off in the "Special Settings" section where you do the cloud and lightning. But it doesn't seem to work for me.

if you put cloud dim out to 100% and then apply the cloud to module 0 and 9 maybe 6 in your case then press apply settings the first and last module will be turned off

[dagon138]

Picked up my 12' 260 Vertex unit today from UPS.
Had to pay a 75 dollar "brokerage fee" to UPS, which was un-expected.
Anyone else in the U.S. have that?
I bought from JandL Aquatics in Canada.

:EDIT: apparently this is typical UPS behavior for Canadian exports. :fun2:

[notclear]

UPS happens to charge a lot as well when we Canadians buy things from US. So I always insist shipping by USPS, and if they can't I go elsewhere. So in your case, next time you should ask them to ship by Canada Post.

[roadracn]

I found the club...now just checking to see if this is what I want to do. I am planning a 60X36X30 tank and was looking at the 60' 260 for a light. Will this be enough?

[Kolognekoral]

It will certainly be enough. In my 70cm/30" deep tank I find I must reduce the royal blue to 80% to prevent burning, while the white is between 50%-80% (1 hr peak) and the blue at 90%. Growth is great, colours fine and more intense. I have mainly acros, but a few Fungia and various Montis. With a tank as big as you are planning, I would leave some nice open expanses of white sand to reflect the light to the underside of table acros. It really makes them shine.

[roadracn]

how about for the width of 36"?

[Kolognekoral]

OK, I thought the width was the depth. My tank is 27" or so in width and I think it could be a bit wider without a problem, as the Vertex Illumina does not use lenses. It has a 120° light angle, which would give shaded area at the top of the water collumn with less light around the bottom perimeter. I suppose the final question is, 'what are you planning on keeping?' The bottom will be lit, no problem, but the light intensity will be lower toward the glass. I would think it would be sufficient for most low light corals. If one needed additional light, it could be supplemented with some Vertex Illumilux strips or simply more lighting pads added to the Illumina fixture. There would be a solution possible, should the light intensity be insufficient.

One thing I have noted since using the Illumina; small Monti frags, which fall from the corals through my clumsiness, start growing in all sorts of strange corners and shadows, often showing different pigments than those they had under the stronger light. Apparently the royal blue and blue are penetrating the water so well, that these frags are capable of establishing themselves, when under my previous HQI lighting, they would have simply died.

[PokerReefer]

I always come to this thread hoping for pictures of everyones tanks with these bad boys. Again I leave disappointed. 

[cchomistek]

I am wondering where you came across the fact that the whit lights on the Vertex Illumina were not for coral growth! I have a 36" 200 Illumina and run my lights at 80% white and 100% both blues! Getting great growth! It is really white and would like to turn the white down some more but with t5 lights the whites are the grow lights! I would think the blues would be the supplemental lights and not the grow lights! My tank depth is 24" and 30" deep and 36" long!

Let me know your thoughts!

[studentdriver]

I notice that the Illumina 200 series has 2 white LEDS to every one Blue and one Royal Blue. Is that the same setup with the Lummina 260?

I belive the AI SOL has a 1 to 1 ratio on all three color LEDs.

[Kolognekoral]

I notice that the Illumina 200 series has 2 white LEDS to every one Blue and one Royal Blue. Is that the same setup with the Lummina 260?

I believe the AI SOL has a 1 to 1 ratio on all three color LEDs.


Yes, you have a 50-50 ratio white to blue. It is possible to add additional pads to the Illumina, with other colours, although the supplement pads are not yet available to purchase. Hopefully by the Autumn.

[Animadverto]

Hello Jamie,

I'm considering the 24" Vertex 200 series or perhaps the 260 for my mainly SPS tank. After reading through the entire thread, I understand that you work with Vertex and perhaps can answer a few questions I have. Others who have direct experience with these led fixtures can feel free to chime in as well.

Here are my questions:
Has the compatibility issue been resolved with the V-Stick expert programming for Mac computers or is it still only compatible with Windows?

Is Vertex planning on adding a direct USB cable connection to the fixture to resolve possible problems with wireless signal strength or interference from other 2.4 GHZ devices such as wireless phones and/or wireless router?

Are there plans in the work for touch screen programming to interface with the expert settings currently available?

Are the 200 series made with Cree led chips now instead of Luxeon?

Thank you so much for your help.

David

[Kolognekoral]

David,

the Mac and PC programs for the V-Stick have both been up-dated this weekend. They are available for download on the Vertex site. As I don't use a Mac, I can't give direct feedback, but the issue(s) is/are being dealt with.

As to a direct USB connector, I don't know, but will ask. The same for touch screen programming.

At this point, ALL new units are with Cree LEDs. The change-over was at the begining of 2011.

Hope this helps, as I know more, I'll post on our UR Forum.

Ciao für now,

Hello Jamie,

I'm considering the 24" Vertex 200 series or perhaps the 260 for my mainly SPS tank. After reading through the entire thread, I understand that you work with Vertex and perhaps can answer a few questions I have. Others who have direct experience with these led fixtures can feel free to chime in as well.

Here are my questions:
Has the compatibility issue been resolved with the V-Stick expert programming for Mac computers or is it still only compatible with Windows?

Is Vertex planning on adding a direct USB cable connection to the fixture to resolve possible problems with wireless signal strength or interference from other 2.4 GHZ devices such as wireless phones and/or wireless router?

Are there plans in the work for touch screen programming to interface with the expert settings currently available?

Are the 200 series made with Cree led chips now instead of Luxeon?

Thank you so much for your help.

David

[rodneyri]

Joined the club, illumina is on its way :)

[Kolognekoral]

Congrats, Rodney!

David,

a quick up-date. The new Vertex Cerebra control unit is a touch screen pad computer and will be on the market in the late Summer. From what I've read of the speces, it will do everything except make toast!

Jamie

[persephone]

hi, i have absolutely no idea how this thin works but i have to have a posting up before i can send a message,so im hopping this will do as i just wanted to thank uncko macko for the link to thedogfarther who posted the V-link desck top manual so thansk.
ps im dislexic so please excues aney erors i havent fixed. kind regards.

[Animadverto]

Congrats, Rodney!

David,

a quick up-date. The new Vertex Cerebra control unit is a touch screen pad computer and will be on the market in the late Summer. From what I've read of the speces, it will do everything except make toast!

Jamie


Jamie,

Thanks for the update. I'm assuming that the Vertex Cerebra will interface seamlessly with the Illumina and therefore will allow us to do the expert programming on the Illumina touchscreen via the Cerebra. Am I correct? Will the V-Stick still be required? Lastly, will the Cerebra be compatible with non Vertex products? I have a feeling I'll be a Vertex fan pretty soon.

David

[Kolognekoral]

David,

I just got back from a meeting with Nicolas and, well, the Vertex Cerebra is gonna blow you away. It will be able to control everything. I'm a bit sworn to secrecy, but, I must admit, my head is still spinning a bit at the possibilities. You're gonna want this. Everyone is gonna want this. I don't think it will make toast, though, but this could change.

Jamie

Jamie,

Thanks for the update. I'm assuming that the Vertex Cerebra will interface seamlessly with the Illumina and therefore will allow us to do the expert programming on the Illumina touchscreen via the Cerebra. Am I correct? Will the V-Stick still be required? Lastly, will the Cerebra be compatible with non Vertex products? I have a feeling I'll be a Vertex fan pretty soon.

David

[Midnightsun]

I have a Vertex Illumina 200 24" unit that I have owned for a while now but have only started using it a couple of days ago. Problem is I cannot for the life of me program the startup. I can do a custom to my liking and save it but need to define startup. This must be real easy but I just can't figure it out. Help.

[Kolognekoral]

OK, I'm not really sure where the problem lies. After programming the custom and pushing the left button til it is saved, it should run automatically. Use the right button to escape to the main menu with the time, etc. Do you have the basic manual and the desktop manual? Otherwise PM me with your E-Mail addy and I'll send them along. Are you using the V-Link or manually programming direct into the unit?

We'll get this sorted.

[Midnightsun]

OK, I'm not really sure where the problem lies. After programming the custom and pushing the left button til it is saved, it should run automatically. Use the right button to escape to the main menu with the time, etc. Do you have the basic manual and the desktop manual? Otherwise PM me with your E-Mail addy and I'll send them along. Are you using the V-Link or manually programming direct into the unit?

We'll get this sorted.

Well I wish I knew also. Regardless, I programed the light via the v-link in expert mode and downloaded it to the light. I then went into light manager on the light itself and chose expert mode. Hopefully it will light up tomorrow morning as it is supposed to. Will get back to you and thanks for the quick response.

PS. You got me really excited about the upcoming Cerebra, sounds like it it the cats meow and a must have however, I am really pleased with my Apex. Maybe after the bugs are worked up I might get the urge to change.:thumbsup:

[Kolognekoral]

Well I wish I knew also. Regardless, I programed the light via the v-link in expert mode and downloaded it to the light. I then went into light manager on the light itself and chose expert mode. Hopefully it will light up tomorrow morning as it is supposed to. Will get back to you and thanks for the quick response.

PS. You got me really excited about the upcoming Cerebra, sounds like it it the cats meow and a must have however, I am really pleased with my Apex. Maybe after the bugs are worked up I might get the urge to change.:thumbsup:
OK, it sounds like you did it right, it is just night time for the programm. Did you programm the moonlight? Last night was the full moon and it rose at about 21:00.

[rodneyri]

put it up last night, this is the 200 model on a 750 deep tank, i have my new tank just waiting on the stand...new tank is only 550 deep.

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/017.jpg

[rodneyri]

Ok so PAR results are in, i have the vertex set at 60% for these readings and will take further readings as i boost the light up of the coming weeks.

RED - ATI 8x54w
WHITE - Vertex Illumina 1200-200 @ 60%

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/PAR180611.jpg

[Kolognekoral]

WOW, and that's just the 200 series. My 260 must be really pumping out the light over my 70cm depth. Thanks for the comparison.

[rodneyri]

Directly under the LED was 1950 PAR so these light sreally pump it

[AGYDAL]

Have you been able to get some photographs of your light up and running over your tank yet?

WOW, and that's just the 200 series. My 260 must be really pumping out the light over my 70cm depth. Thanks for the comparison.

[Kolognekoral]

OK, I was working on the tanks today and took a few poor fotos. I couldn't get the colours anywhere near correct, so I opted to not correct them at all. In any case, to give you an idea, here they are. As you can see, the main tank sits right on the floor of the stair well, replacing a missing piece of the railing. This is an aquarist solution to a dangerous hole in the stair well! :lmao: The last larger acropora was purchased brown and has lightened to rosey-whte with soft green tips in 3 weeks under the Illumina.

[Becca22c]

is there a difference between the light composition and the intensity of the light?

we have the illumina 260 72"

we want to start the lights out low (at around 40%) but we don't see where we can adjust the amount of white to blue to royal blue without the intensity changing. i assume they're linked together.

we of course don't want to set it to 80 white and 100 blues because we feel this will damage the corals. Our previous light was only a 150 watt mh

[Kolognekoral]

You're quite right, one should start with lower amounts/percentages, otherwise one can risk burning the corals.
Do you have the Illumina SR series owner's manual. If not, you can download it from the Vertex website (www.vertexaquaristik.com). This explains how the menus are set up and the steps to program the lights. If you are using the V-Link, then download, also, the Desktop manual, which deals with the computer connections and more complex programming.

For completeness, on the lamp itself, one goes into the menu and goes to the Light Manager and then choose the sub-menu Custom. You then have options to play with. If you wish to simply create a programm, use the various colour accesses to program sun-up, percent, ramp-up length and sundown,, procent, etc. To save the program, you press the left button OK, to jup through the menue you use the arrows, to close a menu and jump to the previous, use ESC.

If you wish to experiment with particular percent mixes, select the Light Manager selection and it will take you to a sub-menu with the various colours and you can play with percentages to see what you like visually. This sub-menu does not save what is set. It is only for trying the various mixes. When you have a specific mix, it must be programmed into the Custom section. I would recommend setting the whites at 40% and the blues at 50% to start. Over the weeks one can raise this amounts as the corals respond. Of course, keep an eye on them. Some may benefit from re-arrangement.

If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me.

[Tesla]

Hi guys,

I live on the US and we dont really have access to these awesome lights due to some patent issues. I would like to come up with an temporary alternative until it gets figured out. There are so many options with DIY drivers. Do any of you guys know what driver chip the Illumina uses, or better yet a high res picture of the chip would be great?

Thanks
Phillip

[Kolognekoral]

Hi guys,

I live on the US and we dont really have access to these awesome lights due to some patent issues. I would like to come up with an temporary alternative until it gets figured out. There are so many options with DIY drivers. Do any of you guys know what driver chip the Illumina uses, or better yet a high res picture of the chip would be great?

Thanks
Phillip

Phillip,

that won't help you. The drivers are simply Meanwell. Commercially available worldwide. The rest of the Illumina is custom made and copying it would be against an international patent.

Many are importing the units from Canada. Just goolge for a source.

[Tesla]

Canada eh!

Sounds like a good idea. Thanks.

[x19]

Ordering my Illumina 200 tomorrow (hopefully they are in stock). I went through a long debate between these and AI but the computer interface did it for me.

[x19]

Placed my order for the Illumina, should be shipping today! Now, my tank is only 16" deep and I'm replacing power compacts.. Any suggestions for what to start at for acclimation? I figure I will never get to more than 30% or so, but where should I start? 10%?

Thanks.

[aufo8mycat]

Ok so PAR results are in, i have the vertex set at 60% for these readings and will take further readings as i boost the light up of the coming weeks.

RED - ATI 8x54w
WHITE - Vertex Illumina 1200-200 @ 60%

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/PAR180611.jpg
can i ask what you used to mesure the par, as i tried mine and was a little dissapointed, but i think was maybe a cheap par meter

[dnf]

Hello everyone*

I'm from Portugal and this is my first time in Reef Central.

I have a 420 litters (112 gallons) reef tank with 112 litters (30 gallons) sump. The tank dimensions are 120x70x60 *("48 x "28 x "24).

At the moment this is my equipment:

- skimmer: bubble king super marine 200
- return pump: red dragon 3.500
- circulation: 2 x tunze 6105 with multi controller 6095 and 2 x tunze 6045
- chiller: aqua medic
- lighting: 10 x T5 54 wats (540 wats)

I will start the balling method next week.

I heard and read very good reviews of vertex illumina and because of that I'm thinking to change my tank lighting, but I have some doubts:

- what is the best model for my tank, sr 200 or sr 260?
- is the 90 ("36) enough or is better the 120 ("48)?

Thanks in advance

Regards*
Dnf

[Kolognekoral]

Dnf,

I take it the tank is 70cm deep. Although the SR200 would be enough for most corals, the SR260 would allow more choice on the sand. Also, with the SR260 you should be able to use the 900 length without a problem. I have the 120 length over my 136 cm wide tank, which is a few centimeters deeper than yours (about 78cm deep) and it is plenty of light.

[dnf]

Tank you Jamie

My tank is bare bottom and is 60 cm deep.*

Is 240w enough? At the moment I have 540 wats T5!

What is the main difference between sr 200 and sr 260?

Tanks

Dnf

[AGYDAL]

Tank you Jamie

My tank is bare bottom and is 60 cm deep.*

Is 240w enough? At the moment I have 540 wats T5!

What is the main difference between sr 200 and sr 260?

Tanks

Dnf


Dnf -
LEDs don't go by Watts, they use a different term for the watts synonym on LED but I can't remember it(Jamie mentions it in a previous post i think) you want to be concerned with looking at PAR.

The difference in the 200 vs. 260:
-a larger portion of your paycheck gets "invested" in your tank:D
-I have the 200 I bought it before the switch too Cree, so mine has the Rebels...as of November '10 the 200's also use Cree but are not as strong as the 260 Cree's. (Look a few pages back at Aufo8mycat's picture taken looking at the front window of his residence...)


Jamie-
I like your answer to your stairwell! As a kid my Mom and I always wanted a freshwater tank in the loft of their entry way like that lol! My Dad gave us some excuse why we couldn't...we had 2 skylights in the loft that would have taken care of any lighting and directly below was a large closet we could have plumbed it all through...it was perfect, but Dads love was for cars :( so the tank had to go in the kitchen...though Dads love for cars trumping Moms and my tanks was forgiven when I turned 16 haha!

Gotta love where fish people find an excuse to get/put a tank...I have a 3gallon corner eclipse with some guppies in it as a bathroom night light, haven't stubbed my toe on the door since! But it's not so bright it wakes me up like the lightswitch controlled lights do :D

Thank you for the pictures.

[Kolognekoral]

Tank you Jamie

My tank is bare bottom and is 60 cm deep.*

Is 240w enough? At the moment I have 540 wats T5!

What is the main difference between sr 200 and sr 260?

Tanks

Dnf

Dnf,

as AGYDAL wrote, Watts are not what one counts with LEDs, except for the electricity consumption. This is why LEDs are taking over, so to say, their energy efficiency. What you want to look at is lumens per Watt and spectra.

The numbers attached to the two model series, SR200 and SR260, is the PAR rating done in the lab. At 50 cm under the water surface, with the lamp about 30cm/12" above the tank, the PAR is 200 or 260 respectively. Now, as most of us are hanging the lamp a meer 6" above the water surface (which is perfect, by the way), the PAR ratings are much higher. Vertex recommends the SR200 series for tanks up to 24" deep and the SR260 series for tanks up to 40" deep, when keeping high light corals. A bit of this is ball park, as a great deal will depend on what one is keeping , as well as how high one hangs the fixture.

Hope this helps,

[dnf]

Thanks

Ok. I think I will go to the sr 200 120 length. The difference €€ between sr 200 vs 260 is huge!!

Regards

[Kolognekoral]

Thanks

Ok. I think I will go to the sr 200 120 length. The difference €€ between sr 200 vs 260 is huge!!

Regards

I would probably recommend you take a 900 instead of the 1200, as it is a bit longer than 120cm and would hang a bit over the edge due to the end caps.

[dnf]

I don't have any experience with led's but I'm afraid that 900 will be shorter for my tank!

[rodneyri]

So a friend of mine came over with a cool little gadget called a CIE Chromaticity Meter to measure the light spectrum and intensity of my new Vertex LED. here are some pretty graphs the unit puts out

im thinking the Violet and Red parts of the spectrum need some boosting, so Vertex if your listening these are the color pads :)

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/light2-1.jpg

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/light1-1.jpg

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/light3.jpg

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/RodLED2.jpg

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/RodLED4.jpg

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/rodney_ri/RodLED5.jpg

[boxer385]

i have the marineland 250 gal tank 60x36x27 would the 260 work for me with a depth of 36, i have sps dominate system?

[Kolognekoral]

i have the marineland 250 gal tank 60x36x27 would the 260 work for me with a depth of 36, i have sps dominate system?

Boxer,

if hung about 6" over the water you will be fine to about 40" depth, so you have a bit of room to play

[Kolognekoral]

Rodney,

very cool! Thanks for posting these. Based on the graphs, I would certainly like to see violet LEDs available, as well as the coming red.

[x19]

Very interesting graphs, thanks for posting. I'm having a bit of a bubble algae problem, so the lack of red spectrum is great at least in the short term.

[Kolognekoral]

Very interesting graphs, thanks for posting. I'm having a bit of a bubble algae problem, so the lack of red spectrum is great at least in the short term.

And long term, as the Illumina is missing their main funtional spectrum.

I've noted some new types of alga(?) showing on my rocks. Sort of a bright olive, encrusting type. Very discrete and makes a nice combination with the various red-purple kalkalga. I suspect deeper water forms I finding a niche without the strong red spectrum.

[rodneyri]

I think we need red and violet to bring out colors lost with LED like my birdsnest looks average under my light where previously it looked awesome

[Kolognekoral]

Rodney,

tha red pads are on their way, followed by violet. I agree, for the aesthetic the red will be interesting, although I think we will need to learn to dose the red in order to keep alga under control (still, most algal problems are closer connected to excess nutrients, than excess red light). The violet spectrum from 390nm-420nm would be nice, although the only violet leds of quality are at about 405nm. When one reads what statistics are available on corals PUR, below this range is not really important.

[x19]

I received my Illumina today, hanging and installation was a breeze but I have 1 question (so far). I programmed a schedule in expert mode via the v-link that goes from 10 am - 10 pm, uploaded it and set the clock accurately on the unit. However, when I click start program it seems to only light up the first pad as though it was sunrise instead of going to current moment in the schedule.

What am I missing?

Thanks.

[x19]

Apparently it was a problem with that program, so I just hit erase all and started over..its working fine now.

[Animadverto]

Jamie,

Do you know the time frame for when the red and violet pads will be available? Will these pads be modular upgrades that we can simply pop in and out or will they require soldering? Are the diode drivers on the Vertex Illumina constant-current driven or constant-voltage? Lastly, is Vertex planning to introduce a full-spectrum LED fixture anytime soon?

I currently have a Maxspect Led fixture, and I would like to upgrade it to a fixture that has a full color spectrum like the Orphek and the ability to control color temperature and light intensity like the Vertex. If Vertex can introduce a full color spectrum led fixture with the existing platform, then I'm sold.

Thanks.

David

[studentdriver]

My backlight LCD used to turn off after about a minute or so. Now, after playing around with the "Expert Mode" it constantly stays on.

Is everyone's LCD on the Illumina constantly on? Can someone advise me how to program it so that it turns off after a while.

[notclear]

The LCD display contantly on also happened to me before. By turning off the main power of the fixture and then turning it back on fixed the problem for me.

[Kolognekoral]

Jamie,

Do you know the time frame for when the red and violet pads will be available? Will these pads be modular upgrades that we can simply pop in and out or will they require soldering? Are the diode drivers on the Vertex Illumina constant-current driven or constant-voltage? Lastly, is Vertex planning to introduce a full-spectrum LED fixture anytime soon?

I currently have a Maxspect Led fixture, and I would like to upgrade it to a fixture that has a full color spectrum like the Orphek and the ability to control color temperature and light intensity like the Vertex. If Vertex can introduce a full color spectrum led fixture with the existing platform, then I'm sold.

Thanks.


David


OK,

the pads will be pop-in and screw down, self-integrating. The programm will recognize them and add them to the menu. I hope to have the first red ones in the hand this month.

Vertex is using a constant current from Meanwell.

On the subject of 'full-spectrum', this is difficult to define. Vertex produces the Illumilux line, which is modular and comes in white/cool white, RB/cool white, RB, Red, etc. and is actually aimed at the freshwater market. Of course, they may be used for marine tanks, too, just they are not an individual unit and not as powerfull. Developement is still going on and more possibilities will come.

For marine tanks, the current statistics show that marine full spectrum is not daylight full spectrum, even in shallow waters. At some point one has to decide what they want to see, coupled with what is good for the corals, etc. The reason the extra pads are being developed , which will allow a truly custon lamp. Needless to say, the developement of future Vertex pads will depend on the developements in LEDs. Plus, things do need to be tested. One doesn't want to put somehting on the market, just because it is currently en vogue. Vertex is striving for dependable quality, not flavour of the month lighting. As things develope, you'll be reading about them.

[Beenalongtime79]

The vertex illumina LED light is quite amazing! Good par numbers at only 60% intensity!

[studentdriver]

notclear,

thanks, that did the trick.