Solaris Led lighting systems

Status
Not open for further replies.
Looking for suggestions...

Looking for suggestions...

Question for all...

I'm upgrading my 47g mixed reef tank to a new 90g tank (48"Lx18"Dx24"H). I was considering getting the 250w 20k version, but the lighting looks pretty dim. Should I hold out for the 400w 20k version or do you think I'll be good with the 250w 20k?

DSC00049_600x450.jpg
 
Last edited:
i want to get one but still have questions for all you owners out there
1. How long have you had them ?
2. How many of you's keeping SPS ?
3. How much of a savings are you saving by using it ?

Im in NY and we have the highest electrical rate in the states next to hawaii. So it will make a bigger diffrence for me to get rid of my 2 400w MH and 2 54w T5's I have on my 120g
 
cagntlemn,

I think you would be satisfied with the results of the 250 watt 20K unit. I have my 72" on a 24" deep 135 and everything seems happy. No one knows yet how the 400 watts will look. I talked to Pat of PFO and his best prediction on availability was sometime between Jan and June of '07. I haven't heard anything different lately.

tanya72806,

I've had my unit since the first were shipped, Sept '06. On the previous page of this thread I have two pictures of a Bali Tri-color to show the growth in just the last 25 says. If you go through this thread looking for pics you will find others for comparison. My 135 is SPS dominated but with a few Zoos, Recordia, Palyotha, LPS and Softies.

The energy savings is my favorite part. Here's a quote from my post on page 18 of this thread.
You are correct. However you are not taking the energy savings into account. I just received my Nov electric bill, the first full month on the Solaris, it is $86 less than when using MH. Multiply that times 12 gets you $1032 savings a year. Tell me, what MH fixture saves you anyhting? Besides waisting energy, yearly bulb replacement on my former MH ran $180. In three years my Solaris will save me $3096 in energy plus $540 in bulb savings for a grand total of $3636. The unit more than pays for itself in three years. As a MH owner, I felt like the energy company had a syphon stuck in my wallet. No more!!! I'm very happy with the Solaris unit and thankful to Pat and PFO for doing the research, design and marketing them.
Click to expand...
And, from the previous page, my most recent energy bill report.
Just got my energy bill for the last thirty days. It dropped an additional $32. That's down $118 from the peak last August. How much the current drop is due to the Solaris lights is hard to say. It is cooler than in August but, if I were still running the MHs the fish room would be over heating causing the chiller to run constantly and the window AC unit to come on, too.
Click to expand...
As you can see, the energy savings is considerable. If you are wondering where to get the best price here's a quote from underpar.
Try http://www.theculturedreef.com/homepage.htm. They have free shipping if ordered by the end of the year.
Click to expand...
Tanya, I'm sending you a PM about the lights.
 
Mine has the same problem but they have no 60" in stock, Pat said yesterday that he wanted to wait till he looked at yours to see about mine. So I guess I'll get the Generation III version when the next batch comes out. I like the daytime light, just both end banks don't go night time right. But he said he would ship out a light if he had one before I ship mine back so I have no complaints. Fun being on the cutting edge, lol.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7662617#post7662617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
cindyolson, you are now on my buddy list of people whose every post I will watch. I want to see some reviews...lol.
Click to expand...
No kidding! I've had my eyes open for users reviews for awhile now.
 
first off: wow, long thread, lots of great info...some bickering to mull through... but informative.

Secondly, having previously worked in an electronics production facility I was expecting to see some initial QC issues with the Solaris. Which falls directly on the manufactuer. Hopefully PFO is following up on production standards and enforcing the standards they set are being met. Sometimes it takes a few production runs, or versions, to get the bugs worked out.

Since this is a new product, there will always be growing pains and problems. Plus it appears that PFO is changing the bulb array to better accomadate the hobby. From what I have seen, PFO has done well with customer support, and backs their product. All bonuses if you ask me.

I cant wait to see what future mods, or alterations are made to this system.
 
Positive note: Got Solaris a week ago Friday, moved corals that night from 2X150 watt Radium DE's at 18'' sand depth to 22' from Solaris lens to sand. All SPS at different levels and LPS (Frogspawn/Octopus) doing great, nice color shift on several ORA Blue Torts at different heights and locations in tank. Will post pic's when tank cleans up, new set-up going thru mini cycle, golden brown stage almost over.
 
Talked with PFO yesterday. Still no word on when the 400 watt version is coming out.

If anyone is interested, I am aware of a slightly used 48" 20K Solaris that is for sale at a reasonable price. If anyone is interested, PM me.

Dick
 
What is the power rating on the 24" 20,000K? (is 20K same as 20,000K?) Can the unit be mounted on the ceiling of a canopy?
 
Pat/PFO is great to work with, it seems a minor problem with my unit, he sent me instructions on how to correct problem my self. I didn't feel comfortable doing this, no questions asked a new unit is on way to my LFS to swap out with mine when it gets here, probably Tuesday or Wednesday. He assured me he would check it out before shipping, thats customer service.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8854819#post8854819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jacmyoung
What is the power rating on the 24" 20,000K? (is 20K same as 20,000K?) Can the unit be mounted on the ceiling of a canopy?
Click to expand...
Yes. 20K is the abbreviated way of writing 20,000K. When the Solaris first came out the measurement in length, eg, 24" was the length of the unit. Pat soon realized to mount them in canopies they needed to be shorter. I believe each has been shortened 1 1/2" to take care of that problem. So, yes the unit can be mounted in a canopy. You have to allow for ventilation of the fixture, however.

owsi, I think Pat represents the epitome of the words, customer service. He's been great to me and my customers as well. He runs a fine organization.
 
I still want to know the power ratings on the 24"er and 36"er. I did not see that on your site. Do they come with brackets for canopy ceiling mount?
 
jacmyoung,

I'm confused as to what you are asking. The light output is equivilant to 250 watt halides, the transformers are switchable for either 110v to 220v use, the power in the hood is low voltage, 24v I believe.

They come with hooks to hang them and I guess you could use the threaded holes provided for the hooks to bolt them to the canopy ceiling.
 
I don't know about the power ratings but would not mount them from ceiling due to the precise focus of the whole unit. It could be done but the supplied legs are great, very sturdy and precise.
 
I spoke to Pat around December 22nd regarding the 72" "400 Watt - MH equivilent" fixtures that would cover a 24" width / 24" Depth (like a standard glass 180 gallon tank) using a single Solaris fixture - and he said that the target date is April 2007. Of course, since these are being manufactured in China, there are a lot of "ifs and buts" -they are currently challenged by a power supply issue for the 400 Watt-ers. The fixtures themselves are near production ready but the power supplies that power the LEDs at the necessary higher voltage/current that the brighter LEDS require are of inconsistent quality and are holding up production release.

I even volunteered for a "beta release" but he felt uncomfortable doing this considering that if the power supplies are inconsistent, then the potential to shorten the life of the LEDs substantially, is too high - which will not make for a "happy camper".

So I will continue to "jury rig" my current 48" Metal Halide system from my old 70 gallon reef along with a couple of MH pendants (used) to support the extra 2 feet of tank (70 to a 180 gallon) until the Solaris is ready to go....

Then we will see, my pretty little butter cup......, we will see... (March of the Wooden Soldiers - circa 1930's)


Chris
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8858756#post8858756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphibious
jacmyoung,

I'm confused as to what you are asking. The light output is equivilant to 250 watt halides, the transformers are switchable for either 110v to 220v use, the power in the hood is low voltage, 24v I believe.

They come with hooks to hang them and I guess you could use the threaded holes provided for the hooks to bolt them to the canopy ceiling.
Click to expand...

What are the actual watts the 24er and 36er draw?

How much space needed for ventilation if I mount it on the ceiling? My current MH fixture is mounted directly to the lid which opens upward and flipped away, carrying the MH light with it so I can access the top of the tank.

Thanks.
 
I'm sorry, my brain was on strike I guess. The LEDs are 3 watt each, there are 25 to a bank of lights and each fixture has 1 bank of lights per foot of length, eg, 24" has 2 banks and 36" has three.

If I get the correct picture of your canopy, I believe you would want/need 2 3"vent holes on each end to allow the fixture to vent the heat out of the canopy. How do you exhaust the heat from your MHs out of the canopy?
 
My canopy/tank is semi circular, I use a 4" fan blow at the MH/reflector at one end, because of the shape of the canopy, the air turns and goes out of the back opening. I thought the Solaris fixture is vented from top, looks like it is vented on the side then it can be mounted directly on my lid?

How focused are LEDs? I only have one MH lights up the tank, most light at the center of the tank but since the tank is semi circular, the two ends of the tank need less light.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

sickman
Juwel Lido 200 - really reef tank ready all in one? Really Really?
2
Replies
39
Views
1K
Reefing102
Reefing102
T
Alternative Lighting for Biocube 29
Replies
0
Views
119
thommyboy12183
T
Brian60077
Great reasonably price light system
Replies
0
Views
952
Brian60077
Brian60077
C
Maxspect jump led issue
Replies
0
Views
1K
Cruzersmith
C
J
LED fixture lighting help (replacing old T5 HO)
Replies
5
Views
747
griss
griss
Back
Top