steve the plumb
In Memoriam
cindy how do you like the lights.They don't seem as bright as the mh but they also don't seem as shocking to the corals either.The corals looked more flourescent and they seem more extended.
Solaris Led lighting systems
- Thread starter jmccalip
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cindyolson
New member
owsi, I live in Arizona. Very hot here and ac needs to be high during the day while no one is home so I have a chiller. My tank stays 77. The chiller does run less, we'll see on my next bill how much less 
. I can tell you the the MH's were very hot on the surface. My friend burned his arm reaching across the top one day, blisters and everything. And the Solaris has no heat coming off at all.
steve the plum, They are not as bright. I'm not so much worried about that as I am the range. They are designed to project in a pyramid going down. So for me the top of the tank does not get as much light as I'd like. I'm thinking I may have to put a couple of t5's at the back of the tank to compensate. I haven't decided yet how I'm going to solve for this. If my tank was 18" rather than 24" I would not have a problem. What I really need to two, but at this time I'm not spending the $$$ for two. The corals are much more extended.
. I can tell you the the MH's were very hot on the surface. My friend burned his arm reaching across the top one day, blisters and everything. And the Solaris has no heat coming off at all.steve the plum, They are not as bright. I'm not so much worried about that as I am the range. They are designed to project in a pyramid going down. So for me the top of the tank does not get as much light as I'd like. I'm thinking I may have to put a couple of t5's at the back of the tank to compensate. I haven't decided yet how I'm going to solve for this. If my tank was 18" rather than 24" I would not have a problem. What I really need to two, but at this time I'm not spending the $$$ for two. The corals are much more extended.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Not to be negative, as the LPSs do look like they really like the new LED light after a couple weeks, but it does make me wonder if it isnt due to a possible lower lighting intensity. Like how mushrooms grow/extend when placed under less intense light than they used to be... Again, please dont take it as negativity... but I do wonder what things will look like over time. So far though, so good. The idea of a full tank shot with the halides to compare to is a good idea as well... the first day shot with the Solaris might just be showing the corals as retracted as it was the first day with the new lights. Overall, things look positive... I am concerned about the long term effects of the limited color wavelengths.... similar, if not more so than the reports that many are making with their T5s.
cindyolson
New member
You can go to my red house and see the tank with MH that I took the same day I put the Solaris on. BTW, my mushrooms are not opening as much, they are all acting like they are splitting. I find this to be really strange.
Cindy
Amphibious
New member
Will the Solaris grow SPS?
Will the Solaris grow SPS?
Interesting discussion. Of course, there are doubters and believers in every discussion on lighting. I was a believer in the LED technology the first time I met Pat at IMAC in Chicago last April. I was the first to place an order with Pat for a 72" 20K Solaris unit. I didn't want to wait for Dana Riddle or Sanjey Joshi to test and report their findings. My 135 had MHs over heating the tank, a chiller running 24/7 and, because the MHs were heating up the room, a room AC running nearly 24/7 just to keep the tank around 80 degrees. I didn't want to run the whole house AC just to cool one room. My energy bill peeked this summer at $365. I needed help and after talking with Pat, believed the Solaris unit was the answer. So the question is, will the Solaris grow SPS corals???
I've had my solaris unit for three weeks and I'm very pleased with it. There was an issue with a portion of one bank of LEDs that didn't light and Pat walked me through an easy repair over the phone. From there it was "plug and play"!
It's very early in the life of the Solaris unit to give any quantitative annalysis to coral growth compared to MH but here is one set of pictures that may tell the preliminary story of coral growth.
This is an Acropora sp, Tri-color from ORA purchased in July. At the time my tank was lite with an Aquactinic 72" MH, 3 - 175W 10K & 4 - 39W Actinics.
Here is the same coral on September 25th, the day my Solaris came in. This is before I replaced the MH unit. You can see growth in this picture.
Three weeks into using the Solaris, you decide what you want to believe.
The Solaris unit is proving to me to grow coral. I have over 36 LE and rare corals all of which are showing improved growth and color. But, there's more to growing coral than just the right light and PAR.
Your water parameters are just as important. Particularly important is your measuring for and ability to maintain Calcium, Alkilinity and Magnesium levels along with the standard Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and all the others.
I maintain Magnesium at 1400 ppm which allows me to easily maintain Calcium at 450 to 500 ppm with a total Alk between 4 and 5 meg/L. Part of the equation for growing corals are the above parameters and the correct lighting.
No doubt about it the Solaris is an expensive investment. But, if it begins to save me money on my energy bill it is worth it. I've disconected the room AC. My chiller actually shuts down now and then. My tank now maintains a temp of 78 degrees with out a problem.
If you shop around you can find better prices on the Solaris unit. I'm not about to rain on any RC's advertisers parade. So if you are not willing to shop the Internet for better prices PM me and I'll direct you.
Oh, by the way, if anyone is interested in a slightly used, in like new condition, Aquactinic 72" 3 - 175W, 4 - 39W, with IceCap dual fans, send them my way. This is a $1200 unit plus the shipping of $75, I'd let go for the right price. I have an extra bulb, too.
Will the Solaris grow SPS?
Interesting discussion. Of course, there are doubters and believers in every discussion on lighting. I was a believer in the LED technology the first time I met Pat at IMAC in Chicago last April. I was the first to place an order with Pat for a 72" 20K Solaris unit. I didn't want to wait for Dana Riddle or Sanjey Joshi to test and report their findings. My 135 had MHs over heating the tank, a chiller running 24/7 and, because the MHs were heating up the room, a room AC running nearly 24/7 just to keep the tank around 80 degrees. I didn't want to run the whole house AC just to cool one room. My energy bill peeked this summer at $365. I needed help and after talking with Pat, believed the Solaris unit was the answer. So the question is, will the Solaris grow SPS corals???
I've had my solaris unit for three weeks and I'm very pleased with it. There was an issue with a portion of one bank of LEDs that didn't light and Pat walked me through an easy repair over the phone. From there it was "plug and play"!
It's very early in the life of the Solaris unit to give any quantitative annalysis to coral growth compared to MH but here is one set of pictures that may tell the preliminary story of coral growth.
This is an Acropora sp, Tri-color from ORA purchased in July. At the time my tank was lite with an Aquactinic 72" MH, 3 - 175W 10K & 4 - 39W Actinics.
Here is the same coral on September 25th, the day my Solaris came in. This is before I replaced the MH unit. You can see growth in this picture.
Three weeks into using the Solaris, you decide what you want to believe.
The Solaris unit is proving to me to grow coral. I have over 36 LE and rare corals all of which are showing improved growth and color. But, there's more to growing coral than just the right light and PAR.
Your water parameters are just as important. Particularly important is your measuring for and ability to maintain Calcium, Alkilinity and Magnesium levels along with the standard Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and all the others.
I maintain Magnesium at 1400 ppm which allows me to easily maintain Calcium at 450 to 500 ppm with a total Alk between 4 and 5 meg/L. Part of the equation for growing corals are the above parameters and the correct lighting.
No doubt about it the Solaris is an expensive investment. But, if it begins to save me money on my energy bill it is worth it. I've disconected the room AC. My chiller actually shuts down now and then. My tank now maintains a temp of 78 degrees with out a problem.
If you shop around you can find better prices on the Solaris unit. I'm not about to rain on any RC's advertisers parade. So if you are not willing to shop the Internet for better prices PM me and I'll direct you.
Oh, by the way, if anyone is interested in a slightly used, in like new condition, Aquactinic 72" 3 - 175W, 4 - 39W, with IceCap dual fans, send them my way. This is a $1200 unit plus the shipping of $75, I'd let go for the right price. I have an extra bulb, too.
jnb
Premium Member
Re: Will the Solaris grow SPS?
Re: Will the Solaris grow SPS?
how deep is your tank?
from what I have read hear - you are happy enough at this point?
Re: Will the Solaris grow SPS?
how deep is your tank?
from what I have read hear - you are happy enough at this point?
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8350172#post8350172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphibious
Interesting discussion. Of course, there are doubters and believers in every discussion on lighting. I was a believer in the LED technology the first time I met Pat at IMAC in Chicago last April. I was the first to place an order with Pat for a 72" 20K Solaris unit. I didn't want to wait for Dana Riddle or Sanjey Joshi to test and report their findings. My 135 had MHs over heating the tank, a chiller running 24/7 and, because the MHs were heating up the room, a room AC running nearly 24/7 just to keep the tank around 80 degrees. I didn't want to run the whole house AC just to cool one room. My energy bill peeked this summer at $365. I needed help and after talking with Pat, believed the Solaris unit was the answer. So the question is, will the Solaris grow SPS corals???
I've had my solaris unit for three weeks and I'm very pleased with it. There was an issue with a portion of one bank of LEDs that didn't light and Pat walked me through an easy repair over the phone. From there it was "plug and play"!
It's very early in the life of the Solaris unit to give any quantitative annalysis to coral growth compared to MH but here is one set of pictures that may tell the preliminary story of coral growth.
This is an Acropora sp, Tri-color from ORA purchased in July. At the time my tank was lite with an Aquactinic 72" MH, 3 - 175W 10K & 4 - 39W Actinics.
Here is the same coral on September 25th, the day my Solaris came in. This is before I replaced the MH unit. You can see growth in this picture.
Three weeks into using the Solaris, you decide what you want to believe.
The Solaris unit is proving to me to grow coral. I have over 36 LE and rare corals all of which are showing improved growth and color. But, there's more to growing coral than just the right light and PAR.
Your water parameters are just as important. Particularly important is your measuring for and ability to maintain Calcium, Alkilinity and Magnesium levels along with the standard Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and all the others.
I maintain Magnesium at 1400 ppm which allows me to easily maintain Calcium at 450 to 500 ppm with a total Alk between 4 and 5 meg/L. Part of the equation for growing corals are the above parameters and the correct lighting.
No doubt about it the Solaris is an expensive investment. But, if it begins to save me money on my energy bill it is worth it. I've disconected the room AC. My chiller actually shuts down now and then. My tank now maintains a temp of 78 degrees with out a problem.
If you shop around you can find better prices on the Solaris unit. I'm not about to rain on any RC's advertisers parade. So if you are not willing to shop the Internet for better prices PM me and I'll direct you.
Oh, by the way, if anyone is interested in a slightly used, in like new condition, Aquactinic 72" 3 - 175W, 4 - 39W, with IceCap dual fans, send them my way. This is a $1200 unit plus the shipping of $75, I'd let go for the right price. I have an extra bulb, too.
JustOneMoreTank
New member
Looks good. The pictures look promising as well. Thank you for the clear, well focused pictures showing before, at the switch, and then after. Maybe a picture again in about 3 months? (keep us posted)
(keep us posted)
Amphibious
New member
jnb,
I use a D70 camera and I find that on auto (point and shoot) when I shoot aquariums, the color tends to come out bluer than the real picture to the naked eye. So here's a shot that shows the 135 right after putting the Solaris on. It looks brighter and a bit whiter in real life.
This is with the Solaris Day Whites and Day Blues set at 100%. You can adjust it differently if you'd like a less blue look. I like the unit so much I've ordered a second. The reason being the first production run of 20Ks sold out before they were shipped. I'm in regular contact with PFO and the second production is nearly sold out.
jnb, I'm sending you a PM.
Yes, I'm very happy. My tank is 24" deep and I keep corals with lower light requirements deeper in the tank. My Crocia clams seem to love it, too.
I use a D70 camera and I find that on auto (point and shoot) when I shoot aquariums, the color tends to come out bluer than the real picture to the naked eye. So here's a shot that shows the 135 right after putting the Solaris on. It looks brighter and a bit whiter in real life.
This is with the Solaris Day Whites and Day Blues set at 100%. You can adjust it differently if you'd like a less blue look. I like the unit so much I've ordered a second. The reason being the first production run of 20Ks sold out before they were shipped. I'm in regular contact with PFO and the second production is nearly sold out.
jnb, I'm sending you a PM.
jnb
Premium Member
thank you and pls do
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8350913#post8350913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphibious
jnb,
Yes, I'm very happy. My tank is 24" deep and I keep corals with lower light requirements deeper in the tank. My Crocia clams seem to love it, too.
I use a D70 camera and I find that on auto (point and shoot) when I shoot aquariums, the color tends to come out bluer than the real picture to the naked eye. So here's a shot that shows the 135 right after putting the Solaris on. It looks brighter and a bit whiter in real life.
This is with the Solaris Day Whites and Day Blues set at 100%. You can adjust it differently if you'd like a less blue look. I like the unit so much I've ordered a second. The reason being the first production run of 20Ks sold out before they were shipped. I'm in regular contact with PFO and the second production is nearly sold out.
jnb, I'm sending you a PM.
Amphibious
New member
Forgot to mention. Yes you get a shimmer effect, less than MH, but you can increase it by agitating the surface water with water returns. It works and after a few days, I don't even notice a difference. Shimmer is shimmer.
joelsaxton
Premium Member
I am very intrigued by LEDs (as my sig shows) but I wonder about their actual effective lifespan. How long before the quality of light degrades and you have to replace the lights? Is 5 years a realistic lifespan?
I read that Cree has gotten 131 lumens/watt in their latest experimental LED's. I believe the solaris is only getting 50 lumens/watt. This seems like very promising technology, but not for me just yet, maybe in 1-2 years when the efficiency and lifespan increase and $ decreases.
But I am glad people like you are going for it now, it will give all of us an accurate real-world assessment of LED performance.
jnb
Premium Member
AVALover5498
*Zoa Freak*
CindyOlson...that is a very beautiful aquarium!!!!! I'm glad i came across this thread,even though i don't have enough money for the Solaris lighting fixture.
jnb
Premium Member
if the elctricity goes out - do the custom led settings remain intact or do you have ta program it all 0over agin?
what side, in the back, is the power cord on looking from the front
thanks
what side, in the back, is the power cord on looking from the front
thanks
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8350913#post8350913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphibious
jnb,
Yes, I'm very happy. My tank is 24" deep and I keep corals with lower light requirements deeper in the tank. My Crocia clams seem to love it, too.
I use a D70 camera and I find that on auto (point and shoot) when I shoot aquariums, the color tends to come out bluer than the real picture to the naked eye. So here's a shot that shows the 135 right after putting the Solaris on. It looks brighter and a bit whiter in real life.
This is with the Solaris Day Whites and Day Blues set at 100%. You can adjust it differently if you'd like a less blue look. I like the unit so much I've ordered a second. The reason being the first production run of 20Ks sold out before they were shipped. I'm in regular contact with PFO and the second production is nearly sold out.
jnb, I'm sending you a PM.
RandalB
New member
Just a quick blurb-
Saw the solaris on display at the recent Backer pet industry show, very impressive; especially the way you can tune the spectrum output from 20K-6500K and the controller that allows 28 day lunar cycles and day to night cycles to be programmed.
They also told me that the 400W versions are due to be released early next year.....
Now if only the price would come down a little, even at wholesale, they are up there...
HTH,
RandalB
Saw the solaris on display at the recent Backer pet industry show, very impressive; especially the way you can tune the spectrum output from 20K-6500K and the controller that allows 28 day lunar cycles and day to night cycles to be programmed.
They also told me that the 400W versions are due to be released early next year.....
Now if only the price would come down a little, even at wholesale, they are up there...
HTH,
RandalB
- Status
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