Disappointed With Aqua Illumination

[Cliff]

Well I thought I would share my latest experience with aqua illumination. But first I have to say that in the past I have been a huge fan of AI lights; in my fish room I currently have at least eight different lights all the way from AI sol blue to a couple of AI prime all the way up to the main units on my main display; they are four ai hydra gen1 lights. One reason I have been extremely loyal to aqua illumination is because of their customer service it is always been spot on; and the second thing I have like about AI is that they could always repair my lights. I have had some AI sol's that went back and they were even able to repair the motherboard and fan for me at very little cost to get my lights working again. That is why I bought the hydra's years ago. The hydra lights are generation 1 but they are all I need; they worked perfectly up till about three weeks ago when I noticed my tank was getting dimmer and dimmer so I opened it up and found that the royal blue channel on three of my four lights had quit working. I guess this is to be expected because are use the royal blue at 100% and have done so for the last six months since my tank upgrade. Now they are used lights and I am not worried about having to repair them; I get that but the problem comes is when I contacted a ai to get new blue pucks. I was told that they no longer make the blue pucks and that in order to fix my lights I have no option but to upgrade them to the 52 HD. This will cost me approximately $500 a light! This is totally crazy to me! It's not like these lights are crazy old they are only a couple of models out. I can't believe they've already stopped making the blue LED pucks! I cannot afford $2000 to fix my lights. I guess I will just go with Chinese black boxes from now on at least I could take out a led and Solder one in
What do you guys think and my looking at this wrong or do I have a right to be mad?

 

[Pistol]

That sucks, I would be pissed as well, I would look into repairing the pucks

 

[Nonuser]

Sounds like a factory defect if its just the blues and they don't have replacement parts? sound Shady AF

 

[Kman]

I would talk to places like reef supplies as they may have the pucks in stock still.

 

[AdInfinitum]

Just like Vertex discontinuing skimmer impellers just about the time people would start needing them....

It's almost as though these companies have realized that most people are in and out of this hobby within a few years and the hardcore equipment junkies don't even keep things that long.....So building a product to last just supplies an unprofitable used market!!!

Makes it hard for people who are in the game for the long run....

 

[OrcaSB]

I don't agree with how they do things either in terms of upgrading so quickly and discontinuing replacement parts. Unfortunately however that is the it works and not just in the aquarium industry. It's not right but it is pretty much the norm and I've heard many stories like yours.


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[Cliff]

Well I for one don't take that kind of treatment; they have definitely lost my business as a customer. I will not spend another $2000 with them just to keep these lights going

 

[Shooter000]

Cliff go with the Mars Aqua 165w or 300w they work amazing, grow coral like mad, built solid and crazy cheap for what your getting, Ive had mine running for almost 2yrs, and love it, just ordered a new 300w to cover the full 3' tank.

 

[shamous113]

the mars aqua are a great light, also take a look at the dsuny lights, I'm liking mine and I'm seeing a lot of growth on the few sps that I have.

 

[Cliff]

Good news I talked to the guys at rapid led. Sounds like they may be able to reflow new leds on my puck

 

[Cliff]

5 bucks a puck to do the labor! Man that's a good deal!! I hope this works

 

[Bigfish]

Ecotech, does the same thing. Just had to spend $120 each to replace my mp40 wet sides as they stopped making the $20 maintenance kit when they introduced the quiet drive's forcing customers to upgrade. I believe ecotech owns AI now as well, so I'm not surprised your having a similar experience. I like ecotechs products, but their customer service is horrible from my experience.

 

[EricTMah]

5 bucks a puck to do the labor! Man that's a good deal!! I hope this works

Keep me posted on this please.

I have a bunch of pucks here for my Al's that need leds replaced as well.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[OrcaSB]

I'm surprised with social media today and forums such as this one being so popular that companies aren't being more careful when it comes to customer satisfaction. News travels quick these days, especially bad news!


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