New From PFO - Solaris LED Illumination system - Amazing Technology

[Chiefmcfuz]

When I called yesterday they said the heat problem was that people who were beta testing them they had to go out and buy bigger heaters. There was no problem with heat and she also said sanjay had one. Either way after they work all of the bugs out I am sure the price will come down a little and they will be more readily accessible to our pocket LOL

 

[scarf_ace1981]

what's the difference w/ this and say building your own LED array. you can buy 100s of LEDs on ebay for cheap. i guess nobody wants to do all the manual labor. i will make my own LED fixture before buying a $1300-$1500 fixture.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Or just wait for ink to get a new toy and "BORROW" it from him LOL

 

[inkblue]

:irked: NO LEDS FOR YOU !!

 

[loismustdie]

Scarface, I posted a thread in the Tank Thread Forum about a frag tank I started up using an LED DIY project. I list my complaints of this project as being limited spread of the bulbs and limited penetration. Overall, I feel that such a set up can work in a nano, but any tank over 12 inches wouldn't work out. These were not suprising results. Corals, including SPS grew. Some damaged ones even colored up after putting them in there. My experience with the set up I chose to use though is that it won't work on much more than a 20 long.
You know the guys who have the technology can make a better product. I just wish the price was a little more reasonable. As cali said though, cost effectiveness of LED's isn't too good. If one bulb was to fail, how much to replace one bulb? How many times a year? Reliability of LED's is questionable.
As much as I love this idea and want so bad to see it happen, I'm going to go ahead and wait. Really great work by those who did the reasarch and development of this product. I hope it works. Good luck to anyone who decides to try it.
If you don't want to search for the thread, here's a couple of pics just to give ideas if anyone hasn't seen it.

 

[loismustdie]

here's the bulbs

 

[scarf_ace1981]

nice work chris. is that a 30xh or 20h?

all i know is that i bought an icecap led(blue) from ronen and that thing lights up my whole 40br. i wouldn't even consider putting two on my tank.

 

[druluv]

good point Chris, I also like your lighting work

 

[loismustdie]

The tank is an old custom sump I had. 16 L X 12 W X 16 T. I believe it is right around 10 gallons. Maybe a little less.
Chief, I didn't understand the whole heat issue. Is there an issue or was this an outside interference thing?
A lot of people have been contacting me through PM asking if other products from different companies would work for a DIY set up. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on that since I lack the technical knowledge of LED's and have no experience with other companies products. I took a chance with the company I chose. If you look at my thread, FRY posted his set up which is very professional. Again, a good place to look for ideas. You never know what more eyes and ideas can come up with.
Scarface, touching on Icecap, I was under the impression that the BETA model was going to be produced by Icecap. Someone brought it up in the other thread. Myself, trusting Icecap and being very happy with their products, I'd be more prone to see what they have. As you said earlier, their moonlights are quite impressive. Will PFO now be the only ones producing them or will Icecap also offer something?
Oh well... who knows. Technology and techniques are moving faster than my pockets can keep up with. Gotta love this hobby.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

what's the difference w/ this and say building your own LED array. you can buy 100s of LEDs on ebay for cheap. i guess nobody wants to do all the manual labor. i will make my own LED fixture before buying a $1300-$1500 fixture.

The difference is in the engineering of it and fine tuning the product. Optimizing the LEDs output to the current is a very important issue or else you would end up using a lot more LEDs and still did not get the light intensity you want.

However, to justify $1300-1500 purhcase for the amount of LEds in that hood they better have some very high end innovations(something that they can get a patent) than just putting the LED bulbs together.

 

[meschaefer]

As with any other new product/technology, I wold think that there would be a huge price drop a year or so after it comes out. Once all the early adopters jump in, and they want/need to reach a broader market. Add in the fact that if it works well, other companies will jump on the bandwagon.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Lets just say it's a good start in a great direction, as we all know when things first come out they have bugs and cost alot, then after time they fix the bugs and lower the price.

 

[Deanos]

PFO Solaris LED System Review

 

[efisher]

I think it is a great technology but I like the way the MH make the water look. Although electric cost I could change my mind. LOL
just my 2 cents.

 

[Deanos]

I think it is a great technology but I like the way the MH make the water look.

Are you referring to shimmer lines? If so, here's an excerpt from the review:

"If you?re wondering if a multi-point light source can produce ?glitter lines? (or flicker or any of several other names) ? fear not: The Solaris lighting system (along with water surface agitation) did indeed produce this effect."

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I think it is a great technology but I like the way the MH make the water look. Although electric cost I could change my mind. LOL
just my 2 cents.

Assuming you are talking about shimmering effect. This is a first hand experience picture what you can expect.

Note: the shadow on the pic shows LEDs, when designed properly, can have the shimmering effect many people like about MH.

*Under <15W LED, some what optimised by Wingo*

 

[Deanos]

Note: the shadow on the pic shows LEDs, when designed properly, can have the shimmering effect many people like about MH.

Thanks WingoAgency! I posted that 3 hours earlier