All categories/Aquariums/AquaIllumination/AI Prime 16 HD
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Aquariums

AI Prime 16 HD

Based on 30 comments across 1 community
What 30 owners say
128 comments reviewed · scored on the 30 clearest verdicts
63%
Recommend
19 owners
27%
Neutral
8 owners
10%
Don't recommend
3 owners
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Reef2Reef
63%
30
What owners love
  • Grows corals exceptionally well across types10 owners · 33%
  • Strong, usable PAR over small and nano tanks6 owners · 20%
Common issues
  • Stock settings run too white, fueling algae4 owners · 13%
  • Needs several units to avoid shadowing3 owners · 10%

Top quotes, sourced

128 reviewed · 30 shown
Sentiment
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Reef2Reef— neutral

Ive used the saxby schedule on my tank recently, i have 4 primes over a 4ft reef. The schedule is very white, it looks good but algae grows like a beast under that schedule in my experience

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I’ve been having great success with saxby. During the mid day it’s a tad whiter but morning and evening a lot bluer. My corals so far have been doing amazing with this

Reef2Reef▼ don’t recommend

I think it’s so dumb that I can’t access my settings or presets from anywhere, I have to actually be next to the tank

Reef2Reef— neutral

Mixed reef minimum 4, better 6. At that point two 4 foot ReefBreeders would be cheaper and give you less shadowing( more coverage).

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

i added a 4th prime to my 4ft tank recently. it makes a huge difference on par values in the center of my tank, i even had to tone the middle 2 down because of it

Reef2Reef▼ don’t recommend

I think the HD was a better light than the 16HD. IMO, the wifi connection of the HD is better than the Bluetooth connection of the 16HD, the HD lenses are much thicker than the 16HD lenses, and the spectrum of the lights isn't different enough to go, "I have to have the 16HD!"

Reef2Reef▼ don’t recommend

In my opinion, I don't think the AI Primes alone look very good.

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I run 40% of BRS LPS/softie recommendation on 40 breeder with 2x AI Prime 16 HD and only zoas and ricordea -- tested well for what I think I want so left it alone. (All zoas/ricordea in right around 100 PAR)

Reef2Reef— neutral

Saxby settings at peak (as downloaded from AI) actually weren't very high in my tank (100-160 PAR in most of the tank). *I assume it's because same percentage intensity on AI Prime is lower output than same percentage on his stronger lights.

Reef2Reef— neutral

I don’t have any diffusers on mine and I notice dark areas around the corners of the tank

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I run 8 16hds on 4 tanks. A 40 breeder needs 3 16's, imo. Starting with 2 is ok. I run 1hr up/down on these settings with excellent results.

Reef2Reef— neutral

I tried it too and it was way white for me. I would have an algae fest with those whites

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

my corals love the high light, i run 4 primes over a 4ft tank and all blue channels are maxed on the outer 2 lights and 90% on the middle 2 lights. whites at about 20-25% par hovers around 300-400 on the rocks and 250-270 on the sand

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I have 1 over 20 gallon tank at least 11 inches from surface of water with these settings it also grows the coral very well

Reef2Reef— neutral

I did lower to first 4 100% and the rest 50% to reduce the melting of the lens.

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I have 2 over a 27 inch tank. I've also switched my settings to BRSs AB+ spectrum and I'm getting great growth(mixed reef).

Reef2Reef— neutral

When I set up the recommended settings my fans kicked on a lot more.

Reef2Reef— neutral

I tried their light settings but it was way too bright and white.

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

i use the same light over a 10 gallon tho, par is around 200 on the rocks so great for sps with lower 100s on the sandbed

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I got 3 on my 36” and using these settings since October and have been rocking some good growth both sps and lps.

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I have switched my landscape and decided to focus more on LPs with the same 3 primes and it looks great.

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

Here is my Nuvo 20 growing everything short of SPS under a single Prime at full strength BRS A+B.

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I'm using a scaled down version of their LPS settings on a 40 breeder and pretty happy with it.

Reef2Reef▲ recommend

I’m pretty satisfied with these settings and impressed with the balances spread for the light!