TKG Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I recently picked up an AI Nano Sol for my sump light and wanted to see how it compared to my Sunbrite Slimline S12's. Test was done with pumps/powerheads off using an Apogee MQ-200 with sensor placed on a acrylic rod. Tanks is 36" x 16" x 16". Sunbrite Pros: With all LED's firing on both fixtues, it's much warmer than the AI. Coverage is significantly better. Easily covers 150% more area than the AI. I'll have to try again with 60 degree lenses, it currently has 80's. Mounts are sturdier, however I had to trim about 1" off the front mount to keep it out of the water. No fans, so no noise coming off the fixture. AI Pros: Controlability, it's infinitely better than the Slimlines and I'm not using the controller yet. Much stronger lighting, PAR is significantly better. Much smaller, but a nicer looking mount would be better. Ability to be controlled. Overall, I like both fixtures. They both have their pros and cons, but I really like the adjustability on the AI. After I spend moer time with the AI, I may consider switching the sunbrites to the AI's, however I may need 3 to get the even coverage I like. Can't go wrong with either one and I'm definitely a LED guy from here on out. If anyone has any questions about either fixture, I'd be happy to answer them. Link to comment
Naturalreef Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Thanks for taking the time to post this Tkg. The nano continues to impress me every day. I love the look of the fixture and the fact that there is no light spill. The colors of my corals are fantastic and knowing that I can change the Kelvin to whatever suits me is just awesome. I recently picked up an AI Nano Sol for my sump light and wanted to see how it compared to my Sunbrite Slimline S12's. Test was done with pumps/powerheads off using an Apogee MQ-200 with sensor placed on a acrylic rod. Tanks is 36" x 16" x 16". Sunbrite Pros: With all LED's firing on both fixtues, it's much warmer than the AI. Coverage is significantly better. Easily covers 150% more area than the AI. I'll have to try again with 60 degree lenses, it currently has 80's. Mounts are sturdier, however I had to trim about 1" off the front mount to keep it out of the water. No fans, so no noise coming off the fixture. AI Pros: Controlability, it's infinitely better than the Slimlines and I'm not using the controller yet. Much stronger lighting, PAR is significantly better. Much smaller, but a nicer looking mount would be better. Ability to be controlled. Overall, I like both fixtures. They both have their pros and cons, but I really like the adjustability on the AI. After I spend moer time with the AI, I may consider switching the sunbrites to the AI's, however I may need 3 to get the even coverage I like. Can't go wrong with either one and I'm definitely a LED guy from here on out. If anyone has any questions about either fixture, I'd be happy to answer them. Link to comment
Hognoxious Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 TKG ... great info, thanks for sharing. Link to comment
madfx Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Yeah, great post. These are the kind of reviews and comparisons that really help. Link to comment
TKG Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Thanks guys, was hoping someone would get some use out of it. I'm waiting on a response from Sunbrite and will hopefully start modding my Slimlines soon. I'll have to redo the test afterwards. Link to comment
twan Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Thanks for the shots. I really want one fixture, at most two to light the same size tank. Still not sure what I want to do. The next helpfull shot would be 2 slimline par values side by side on the tank then 2 nano par values side by side on the tank. Then you would be able to compare not only PAR values but light spread. While 2 nano's might give better vertical PAR values there maybe too much horizontal loss. Link to comment
twan Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Also wonder how slimline s18's would work. Link to comment
Daveg99 Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 thats an expensive sump light! Link to comment
TKG Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 Also wonder how slimline s18's would work. I would imagine the S18's would have PAR closer to the AI, but even better coverage. It's hard to tell from the pics, but the AI was noticeablly darker at the middle of the tank, where the Slimline easily covered more than half. thats an expensive sump light! I have a frag rack in my sump, I'm not just using it to light my skimmer. Link to comment
sna66 Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Again.. very useful information . I'm trying to light a biocube 14 and thinking about the AI, my concern is if 2 white leds are suffuicent to keep the corals happy I do prefer the warmer look of the other unit though Link to comment
TKG Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Again.. very useful information . I'm trying to light a biocube 14 and thinking about the AI, my concern is if 2 white leds are suffuicent to keep the corals happy I do prefer the warmer look of the other unit though The XML's are POWERFUL. The lens of the fixture stays cool, but holding your finger an inch or so under them at full tilt will burn you hand. For something the size of a BC14, the AI will definitely cover it. The controllablility is where it really shines. If that's important to you, I'd definitely go with the AI. I like the look of the Slmline's fixture a lot better. It's very hard to tell from the pic, but the Slimlines are quite a bit warmer than that AI. I really don't think you can go wrong with either one. Link to comment
twan Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I agree with TKG. Like the control of the AI Nano's but love the aestetics of the Slimlines better Link to comment
cuboy Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 did you get par readings for the sunbrite with 60* optics? Link to comment
TKG Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 did you get par readings for the sunbrite with 60* optics? I didn't, I ended up getting a larger tank and switched to 2 AI Sols. I can tell you, they dont look near as warm as the Slimline's did and red's dont pop as much as they did. The ramping is almost worth it though. AI really needs to step up and release something with some reds/oranges in it. Link to comment
JDK Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I assume the PAR test was done with the AI NANO running at 100% accross the board? Link to comment
TKG Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 I assume the PAR test was done with the AI NANO running at 100% accross the board? Yes, it was done with both fixtures at max. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.