Solaris Led lighting systems

[diveredd]

I jumped in and bought the 20K version to replace my MH system. I have to say the animals are loving it. At first, it's odd to feel and view light with little or no heat and its slightly bluer than I'm used to.

I'm no longer hit with a bast of hot air when i open my canopy. Previously I needed the chiller in the summer. This year I probably won't need it at all.

Although it's only been a week, all the animals are healthy and opening up to their previous nature. SPS, LPS and clams look incredible under this light.

so jump in....LEDs are cool!

 

[diveredd]

I jumped in and bought the 20K version to replace my MH system. I have to say the animals are loving it. At first, it's odd to feel and view light with little or no heat and its slightly bluer than I'm used to.

I'm no longer hit with a bast of hot air when i open my canopy. Previously I needed the chiller in the summer. This year I probably won't need it at all.

Although it's only been a week, all the animals are healthy and opening up to their previous nature. SPS, LPS and clams look incredible under this light.

so jump in....LEDs are cool!

 

[Biggie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9307774#post9307774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steve the plumb
Yes biggie they are big.Where did you find her?I see she is poolside.Is that a saltwater pool?She has her own flotaion device,aswell as built in air bags.Who knows when they fall head or heels in love they tend to get a little dizzy.

Lol, Shes got more money than god. Heiress to a fortune and that "I could careless" look on her face is not a facade.

That pool is a resort, fresh water pool with waterfall on one end built in stairs on the other.

 

[steve the plumb]

I would love to play with those.My wife on the other hand wouldn't be to pleased.For any one with the solaris.I am working on getting a custom tank 96 x 30 x 24.What amount of solaris lighting would I need to cover this area.I am thinking 2x 4 foot units.If I go with no bracing in the middle how would I hold the units from falling into the tank.I won't have a canopy.I am looking into a rimless tank.I will have to see about the cost of rimless and if the guy can do it.I have seen one on large reef tank thread and in looks very nice.I don't know if my tank guy can do it.I will also use a wave box.

 

[ceresma]

I got my 20K 48" last week (second 1) The first one was damaged in shipping PFO promptly shipped me a new one and I am pleased with their response. The light is very cool although I think I need to adjust the color mix as it looks a little too blue for my personal taste. I just need to read the manual. I will post pictures soon and I do not need a chiller so that helps with the cost of the light also.
Mark

 

[Saddler]

Given that the LEDs are so directional, would it look really bad to light a 60" tank using a 48" solaris fixture?

 

[ceresma]

I have an aquavim 170 piano shape. The tank is 60", about 6 " on the narrow side (right) is not that bright however I wanted it that way I could have centered the licht better to spread out the light. I'm not sur ehow it would look with a normal shape tank.
I will post pics this week so you can judge for yourself.
Mark

 

[Saddler]

Thanks Mark.

 

[owsi]

Spread

Spread

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9325191#post9325191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saddler
Given that the LEDs are so directional, would it look really bad to light a 60" tank using a 48" solaris fixture?

Go to the PFO Solaris site, it has a spread versus height diagram to give you an idea. It's like a triangle, height equals spread, so IMO 24" somewhere will be under illuminated. Also as for SPS, I am running 90% SPS, and had too much light at the start, I am trying 50% Daylite White and 80% Daylite Blue now, using a 60" 20K over a 60 x 18 x 23 tank. I would like to check PAR and PUR using submersible probes and find out the facts. Just eyeballing it seems brighter then MH, MH had brighter hot spots but the Solaris spreads more light evenly. Its a shame the Mod's can't delete some of the BS/repetitive posts to shorten this thread and make it easier for newcomers, now that it seems to be staying more on track.

 

[hahnmeister]

You know... there are two things to keep in mind here... there are people who have tried the Solaris, and since sold it because they didnt like it in the end. I have been contacted by 3 such people. Why wouldnt they post here? I dont know, but after buying a $3000 fixture that you thought was great, then finding out you really dont like it... maybe you dont want to tell everyone about it.

The other thing to keep in mind is that PUR may be what makes corals grow, but its not what makes them look good. A full range of spectrums is what does that. T5s and now LEDs have shown how having too much blue and little of anything else can actually be a bad thing. Dont get me wrong, if all you are trying to do it grow corals, then by all means... PUR is all you want. But if want them to look good, having 90% of your output in the 430-460nm range is a bummer.

 

[ceresma]

I reduced my day blue to 80% and the colors look more natural now. It is an extremely simple adjustment. I also love the moonlight at night very cool!.
Mark

 

[jnb]

I have a 48 inch 20k for sale, in use for 2 mths - but I am selling it because I am going with a different size tank. $1,600

 

[Kshack]

Hahnmeister,

You seem to know something about these and T-5's. How would you recomend making the best setup with the Solaris and T-5 in combination. My tank is 36 inches wide and I have two 60" Solaris fixtures. I am toying with the idea of adding three 60" T-5's on an IC 660. One bulb between the two Solaris and one on each side (T-5, Solaris, T-5, Solaris, T-5).
What would you recomend for the three bulbs, and do you tink this would be a good idea?
(Solaris are 20K)
Thanks

 

[hahnmeister]

There is one guy here at RC (sorry, but I already deleted the PM so I cant remember who), who contacted me about improving the Solaris with something or what to replace it with. The best thing we came up with w/o selling the Solaris was to add some T5s in... yeah. The Solaris are pretty blue, so one G-man midday was added, one true actinic (since solaris dont use those actinic LEDs that peak at 420nm, but they use the 450nm ones). The last bulb... who knows. Its the 'alternate'... you could use an ATI blue+ for even more blue and T5 blending, or you could use an aquablue for more daylight. I think Id do something like that on yout tank... without knowing if you have 20,000K or 13,000K units, Id say one G-man midday, one G-man actinic 03, and one blue+ or Aquablue.

 

[cschweitzer]

I only read the last few pages of this discussion, but something that wasn't mentioned on these pages that I feel is very important. Many people talk about the test that Dana did, nobody mentions with which systems this test was performed. Commonly in aquaria, the general rule of 1 MH bulb per 2' of tank length is used. They compared one bulb(even if the bulb is on the weak end of MH's) against a 14" system, specifically used for 1' of tank length. To accurately examine the comparison, I think that it should be tested as one MH(on the higher end of usable light), or pssibly a MH/PC 24" pendant against a 24" PFO system. Let's see who would push more light under those circumstances...

 

[owsi]

I think the numbers would be the same or slightly better since the Solaris uses a bank every 12" . This would give you 2 banks of 25, but if you measured spread the Solaris would have a higher overall uniformity. The MH would have higher hot spots but lower overall uniformity.

 

[ppht]

crocea clams or other clams under Solaris? I am thinking of getting into clam care. Could anyone tell me if the have clams under their lights? Is there anything I should know? Should I look for a certain species of clam? I have the 20k 48inch model..

 

[mobby]

Hi all,
Could someone measure the Intensity in A please for one led blue at 100% and one led white at 100%
Thanks

 

[Amphibious]

ppht,

I think I've posted way back that my Crocea clams are doing great under the Solaris lights. Here are two pictures of three Crocea clams I've had under the lights since Sept '06.

The pic above was taken Nov 7, 06.

The above pic was taken Jan 10, 07.

They have doubled in size since I bought them, two in May and one in July '06.

Dick

 

[PSam]

Amphibious - Are you running the 20K?