Solaris LED's at Big Al's

[sufunk]

One of the smaller tanks by the dry goods at Big Al's now has a Solaris LED light system on it. Knowing how much they are online, i didn't even bother asking what they would charge for it:eek1:

All i can say about it is WOW! Does it give off an UGLY light! I have seen them a few other times and wasn't impressed with the look of the tank but this was HORRIBLE!!! I was almost shocked it was so bad. You would have thought it was an absolute bottom of the barrel lighting system instead of the most expensive fixture on the planet.

I don't know if they got a bad one or what but you couldn't pay me to put that thing on my tank the way the lighting looked! Anyone even considering LED's should check it out. Looks like they still have ALOT of work to do!

 

[BigMojo]

I saw that too... First time I asked why it looked so bad I asked, and the response was "Well they are so intense that we have to acclimate the corals to it. It'll take about 2 weeks to acclimate." I thought BS then...looks the same now. I tried playing with it, and could not get descent light out of it from the control panel. It's way too blue.

 

[sufunk]

Agreed 100%!!!

Not only were they too blue, they were WAY too dark. My 14k phoenix's are very blue but it's a nice blue and makes the corals look good. This blue was just dark and ugly!

I can't imagine they could possibly sell even one with the price tag it carries and the way it looks in their tank. Anyone who sees it there in person couldn't possibly fork over about 5k(or whatever they're asking) for it.

 

[nyvp]

they are a good start, but i agree they arent there yet. wait 2-3 years and we will all be trying to buy them when the new 5 watt leds come out

 

[Von_Rahvin]

ha. the solaris is just overdriven 1 watt LEDS. the stable and semi affordable 5 watter is closer than you think . .

 

[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=#post target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
they are a good start, but i agree they arent there yet. wait 2-3 years and we will all be trying to buy them when the new 5 watt leds come out

Joe a buddy of mine just recently setup a 280 with them and they are really good IMHO.
U have to see this lights with a fully stocked and well cared for tank not with the Big Al's scenario.
IMO they are truly the next best thing.

 

[gasman059]

Re: Solaris LED's at Big Al's

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=#post target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sufunk
One of the smaller tanks by the dry goods at Big Al's now has a Solaris LED light system on it. Knowing how much they are online, i didn't even bother asking what they would charge for it:eek1:

All i can say about it is WOW! Does it give off an UGLY light! I have seen them a few other times and wasn't impressed with the look of the tank but this was HORRIBLE!!! I was almost shocked it was so bad. You would have thought it was an absolute bottom of the barrel lighting system instead of the most expensive fixture on the planet.

I don't know if they got a bad one or what but you couldn't pay me to put that thing on my tank the way the lighting looked! Anyone even considering LED's should check it out. Looks like they still have ALOT of work to do!

When u get a chance I'll take u to a tank that uses them a u will change your mind.

 

[rawbomb]

Actually the one at big als is a bad representation since ive seen the unit on other tanks and it looks good, not 5k good but good. The new H series is supposed to be like 75% brighter and there is a new modular LED light system coming out soon that is supposed to be upgradeable, cheaper, and much brighter too. I lost the link of it but ill look when get home to see if I have it saved.

But I def see it as the future.

 

[jeffbrig]

I saw one of the solaris systems on coralfragger's tank last week, and I didn't have any problem with the light it produced. The tank was bright and colorful. That's the first one I've seen.

 

[sufunk]

They must have a bad one at BA's then because this was the ugliest tank lighting i've ever seen bar none!

Do any of you guys know an estimate on when the 5w's are available or a approximate cost?

 

[gasman059]

I've seen both the 72 and 60 and both have great colors and as I understand par.
I believe 60 is 4k
and 72 5-6 k

I've not done much research on them but my two friends that run them really like them after many years with MH's.

Although the initial cost is more than the standard metal halide without the need for a chiller, less bulb replacements, and huge power savings over halide lighting, this may very well be the second coming of T5's Yikes did I say T5's LOL j/k
Believe me when FPL comes around the 1k a month u will consider them 2 .

 

[Von_Rahvin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10492327#post10492327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sufunk
They must have a bad one at BA's then because this was the ugliest tank lighting i've ever seen bar none!

Do any of you guys know an estimate on when the 5w's are available or a approximate cost?

for just the LED's? or a fixture. you can find the LEDs online, problem is cooling them. we figured the cost of building a 25 led array with heat sinks at 5 watt leds right at 250 dollars. these are 10 k.

the array would cover approx 16" x 16" and the par value is outa hand.

to make it dimmable would be another 20 dollars.

 

[nyvp]

only problem with my tank would be that I would need 4 - 60" ones for my 120x36x30 tank. thats what like 20k ....lol it will be awhile before I can do that.gasman I totally agree they will make a huge inpact on our hobby. I cant wait.

 

[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10492518#post10492518 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
only problem with my tank would be that I would need 4 - 60" ones for my 120x36x30 tank. thats what like 20k ....lol it will be awhile before I can do that.gasman I totally agree they will make a huge inpact on our hobby. I cant wait.

Hey Joe the recomendations are for normal people not 1k tanks LMAO

 

[A.T.T.R]

i was told that the blue light is what is growing the coral so it looks dimmer ( LMAO O_O WHAAAA is this ecoaqualizer science)
anyways it also looks like it flashes between blue and white and makes me sick

 

[coralfragger101]

Been gone a few days. As Jeff mentioned above, I do have the Solaris. In fact, I have two units. A 48" and a 24" unit. I opted for the 20k units. When I first set them, my initial thought was they were too blue and too dark. Within a matter of a couple of days I preferred the color I was seeing. The blues and white can also be independantly adjusted however in doing so you will lose par. For those that like a "whiter" tank then you simply buy the 14k unit instead of the 20k unit. It simply has more white leds then blues but then you can run it at full power and will have a whiter tank with no lose of par.

There are still some minor programming bugs with the G series IMO but I still don't regret my decision to purchase them.

They are soon (like any day now) to come out with a lower cost unit called the Gallileo that supposedly has all the auto features stripped out of it except for a built in timer and it will have fewer led lights in it as well. Is supposed to be comparable in price to PC's or T5's.

They are also working on a unit comparable to a 1000w MH. I "assume" this is being done with the 5 w leds.

I've been tearing down a couple of systems and creating a new one so I can't contribute all of the savings to simply switching to the Solaris but I've cut my elec bill in half. However, I do believe the main factor is running the more efficient Solaris (and no chiller).

 

[sufunk]

How long have you had yours for?

Can i see some pics please?

 

[coralfragger101]

Only had them maybe 4-6 weeks.

I have no problem posting pics but you will immediately still say it's too blue. My camera seems to pick up on the blue and even intensify it more. I haven't been able to figure out how to set my camera to get the color rendition that I see with my eyes into photos yet. I'm still playing with it. I'll see what I can dig up for posting.

 

[coralfragger101]

Taken about one week ago.

Frag Tank:

The display didn't really pick up too bad on the blue in this photo however the frag tank appears much bluer in the pic than it does with the naked eye.

 

[nyvp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10492564#post10492564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gasman059
Hey Joe the recomendations are for normal people not 1k tanks LMAO

HEyyyyyy so having a big tank makes NOT normal.

if look at the trend for people and size of tanks, my tank isnt that large anymore.