Solaris Led lighting systems
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
You are likely to not like the coverage the Solaris gives you on a 24" wide tank. Using 44 degree lenses. Look at the coverage pics on the Solaris web page. Even proponents were saying things like add a T5 to the back to extend the coverage. I don't want to do that. It's already expensive enough without having to add more lights to equal a MH coverage. Thus my question (and other's as well) earlier on coverage that have been all but ignored by people in the know.
I've seen blue tip corals growth pics. I have yet to see nice greens, pinks or reds. This is worrisome as the LEDs have little red in their spectrum. And we need to see these colors over months as we all know how corals that colored up under one spectrum can look really cool under actinic light at the beginning but fade over time. They may grow but I would need to see the colors hold.
I've seen blue tip corals growth pics. I have yet to see nice greens, pinks or reds. This is worrisome as the LEDs have little red in their spectrum. And we need to see these colors over months as we all know how corals that colored up under one spectrum can look really cool under actinic light at the beginning but fade over time. They may grow but I would need to see the colors hold.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
And thus another point that many neglect to consider.
If one were to PROPERLY engineer a reflector for a MH to mimic the light footprint of the LED setup, what exactly do you think the results would be
If one were to PROPERLY engineer a reflector for a MH to mimic the light footprint of the LED setup, what exactly do you think the results would be
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Lets add to that:
Relflector technology is one of the single most important AND overlooked aspects of efficent lighting. It is what makes T5s so great and PC bulbs so horrible. Same technology, different reflectors.
Relflector technology is one of the single most important AND overlooked aspects of efficent lighting. It is what makes T5s so great and PC bulbs so horrible. Same technology, different reflectors.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Well.... almost Bean. While the parabolic reflectors do make T5s just that more powerful, they do have phosphors that tolerate about 30% more heat without degrading, and about 25% more lumens/watt... so it is the bulb as well... but poing taken. T5s w/o reflectors are about as effective as white painted canopies used as reflectors for halides.
SWSaltwater
New member
I will buy a PAR meter today and run some test. But the bottom line is no matter what the PAR meter shows the solaris works great!!!!!! I have used it for over a year and I like the results I get, the 400W will only be better in the long run. I used the 250 outside the depth range of 24" (my tank is 32") and the LPS/softies on the bottom did well. Calms had to be moved up but the LPS and softies all did great. The clams are now rolling to the bottom once I added the 400W. Guess it was too intense.
As LED wattage and lumens go up it will hush most critics. I have no idea what motivates you to waste your time bashing those that bought it and or want to buy it.
As LED wattage and lumens go up it will hush most critics. I have no idea what motivates you to waste your time bashing those that bought it and or want to buy it.
Sorry the PAR does matter. You are trying to convert MH users running 10K halides with actinic supplementation over wide tanks. No where have we seen how growth and color holds up to these top end combinations. I've looked at the gallery on the Solaris site and IMHO it is not very impressive. I want to jump. I like the technology. But these questions need to be answered.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
I think many of us have had it up to our eyeballs with this nonsense.
There are a LOT of you that confuse conversation, dialog, opinion and disagreement with BASHING. Are we that PC and that tender that nobody can have a dissenting opinion? Must we praise everyone's ideas and opinions no matter what the truth is or what our OWN opinions are?
SWSaltwater
New member
the dissenting opinion is great, but to follow a thread for a product you don't own or plan to own for months goes a bit far IMO. Dissenting opinion for a product you don't own and have not owned in the past means very little however. I don't see any complaints from my customers that purchased the solaris, and I don't see many online complaints besides a few expect QC issues in the beggining. If you purchased procduct, had it fail or fall short, then tried to warn others thats a different issue all together.
SWSaltwater
New member
If you wanted a good opposing point of view you need to find someone that used it and did not like it. To accept the opinion of someone that has never owned it and posted negative things on it before it was on the market long enough to formulate an opinion is quite concerning. Maybe I can get a new carrer offering up my opinion and review on a lamborghini or a 5,000,000 dollar yacht. About whats happening here.
If you want to critic it "unbaiased"(which is likely too late) then buy one and use it for a year. Chart growth etc. I have seen growth, and a customer of mine OWSI can attest to SPS growth on his unit. His colors are way better as well. I will be the first one to bash it if it was bad, I paid a ton of money for these lights and if they did not work I would have yelled it on the hilltops. Luckily it has beat all expectations.......
RichConley
New member
PAR meters are unbiased.
PAR meters say this thing puts out nowhere near the light that PFO claims it does. Whether or not you've owned one doesnt change the PAR it puts out.
(like 43ish, as opposed to the 100+ of a decent 250w MH)
Maybe I can express some of the thoughts:
Now remember I WANT to believe in this product: When I go to PFO's site, there are NO new photos. SWS, the photos of your tank show no acros - and no growth photos. The Cultured Reef photos are now 5 months old. It would be nice to see new photos of those 2 tricolors - we all know what they SHOULD look like!
Remember, we're interested in more than how they "look", we want to know that they will produce SPS growth similar to that of good MHs. This product is coming up on a year now - doesn't SOMEONE have photos?
Now remember I WANT to believe in this product: When I go to PFO's site, there are NO new photos. SWS, the photos of your tank show no acros - and no growth photos. The Cultured Reef photos are now 5 months old. It would be nice to see new photos of those 2 tricolors - we all know what they SHOULD look like!
Remember, we're interested in more than how they "look", we want to know that they will produce SPS growth similar to that of good MHs. This product is coming up on a year now - doesn't SOMEONE have photos?
RichConley
New member
Actually, the more you pay for it, the LESS likely you are to make a stink when it doesnt work well. Its a pretty established psychological reaction to convince yourself that the money was well spent.
Physics dont change when you own something. These things dont put out anywhere near the light of metal halides. Thats fact. It has nothing to do with oppinion.
PSam
Active member
Indeed, I did. Only one, but still. It was a gentleman here who replied to a post of mine on this thread asking if I was interested to buy. He was not happy with it and very forward about this. It simply didn't do it for him. I have also had private conversations with owners who are very happy with it. I'm on the fence, that's all. I haven't seen any growth pics, aside from the ones bstreep mentioned - and I think it's a valid point. So, let's see 'em!
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
There have been three people so far with Solaris units that have PM'ed me with the intent of either selling the unit once they bought it, or to try supplimenting it with something else to make it brighter. They wish to remain unknown though until they can sell off the units, or decide to stick with them, as owning one, and then declaring you dont like it seems to be very contraversial. But there are owners of the Solaris whi arent its biggest fan, to say the least.
I am on the fence as well. I really want to love this product, I like the claims and techonology, I think it has a future, wether or not that future is now with this product is my question. I want to see PAR readings, lumens output over time, bulb life, electricity / heat ratings. If you own one, or are selling this product I think you would have and want to show these numbers. IF you do not show me these numbers it only leads me to believe it is due to these numbers not being good or not existing due to limited time.
glassbox-design
New member
I was very interested until their IMAC display...I honestly have no interest now. Hahn glad to see i was the only one who wasnt buying it. Back to T5's and Halides 
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