First look into A.I. Blade

Aqua Illumination recently released their Blade light fixture and we got our hands on the demo units to tell you little bit about them, my initial thoughts after seeing them, playing with them for few days.
Check it out!
Huge thanks to Jim aka Telegraham for the PAR and spectrum analysis.

[@-Wreckanize-]

This is the future of lighting. Can't wait for other manufacturers to catch on. Even current strip lights don't cluster the led's like the blade. Not revolutionary, but evolutionary.

[@sunnygoold9449]

Great review! You did use the wrong image to go with the freshwater - that confused me a bit ;) Good that Telegram gave you the data My biggest thought is that these flip the concept of main lights with supplemental bars on it's head. It looks to me like they are designed to be the main lights and fill the tank (like the sky) and then use puck style LEDs as supplemental spectrum (like the Sun). I would use the Grows on wider tanks. PAR data I have seen from a couple of sources tells me they are stronger than average bars and 2xT5s. So I'd run them lower during the day and then in the evening turn off the whites for amazing pop. These are going to be great for farms - they can put blades on the sides of their wide tanks and cut XR30's in half. Plus they can just use the Grows on LPS systems. The miss for me is the lack of a 4th version and or making the Fuge longer because the Grow is too heavy at 450nm not much below that. I'd want a 430 / 450 / 470 plus warm whites for my acros if I could choose. Other better options would be 430 / 450 / 470 or 430 / 470 / Cool Whites. Also calling 430nm UV is a horrible. It's the biggest thing that turns me off these lights besides the huge jumps in price - every other bar has pricing like Orphek with something like $150, $175, $200 for 2ft, 3ft, 4ft. The Grow goes 190, 240, $330 for 21, 30 and 39 inches - I think the sizing is great if's the huge jumps that make me wonder if I am getting ripped off. Start at $140 and go up $30 for each additional 9 inches PLEASE! The weird pricing is a reason not to buy this light on top of the diodes used. If it was $230 for the 39" I'd just get it for my current build. With that stupid $90 jump I would be so annoyed I'd only get consider the 30" one and probably not get it feeling it's not enough fill for a 40" long tank :(

[@queencityreefs]

So far so good with these lights. But I'm waiting for PAR testing when mounted 9-12 inches from the water surface.

[@SaltFishTV]

Interesting, very interesting. I like the very sleek look of it

[@Reefscom]

It is very nice for sure!

[@theoalex474]

Ordered 2 30" Grow earlier today....can't wait.

[@Reefscom]

nice! let me know how you like yours.

[@sunnygoold9449]

I'm sure when you turn off the whites your corals will look insane

[@stupidkitty84]

I've been running my new AI Blade Grow for a week now. One thing that annoys me is that green power button being on the lighted side of the bar and it ends up giving my tank a green glow all night long (and day I suppose). I worry about water penetrating that button in the future as well. They really need to move the power button to the top or side.

[@tanknicians8839]

Howdy! Can you explain why a 90 degree lens would provide higher par than a 70 or 40 degree lenses? Thanks for review.

[@Reefscom]

Hi! Sorry for the confusion. I meant to say that blade has higher PAR readings than some of the supplemental led products that it will be competing against. Not against their own fixtures that had 40 and 70 degrees traditionally. If you google telegraham's PAR comparison post on humblefish forums, you can see how the blade fared against the 3 or 4 units that he tested.

[@Zentube-]

Do you think the refugium ai blade on the 4.8 deskmate could grow softie/lps?

[@Reefscom]

I think it's entirely possible as things are adjusted correctly.

[@torisewooldridge9725]

Hi, do you know when they will be releasing the hybrid mounting kit?

[@Reefscom]

I asked AI today and no word on ETA for the hybrid mount. I will let you guys know when it does.

[@leemathena3153]

could this be the only light for something like an Innovative Marine 10gallon with Zoas and ricordias

[@Reefscom]

Yup this can work as only light for that size tank.