are they crazy

[danny]

I just saw the new PFO solaris lighting system at the premium aquatics web site. The 48" lighting systems sells for $2,208 !!!!!!!!

It's similar to a 250 watt metal halide system but no lights to change.
At this price I change halide bulbs for the next 15 years.

danny

 

[fritz]

I've heard some pretty bad reviews of it as well. I've also seen some data that indicates LEDs do indeed have spectral shift after a year or so negating the "these last forever" affect.

 

[ReeferGoneMad]

well no lights to replace means it will pay for itself in time. they are also that expensive because its a brand new style of light that uses LEDs. which is why fritz just stated that they possibly suck could have something to do with it being new.

 

[leonarsi]

wonder how much the actual bulbs are?

 

[MightyMike]

There was some discussion of this a while back, I was tempted myself, although not super impressed with the lights when I saw them in person. There was also quite an extensive discussion of this in an RC thread too. I'll see what I can scrape up..

 

[BroRage]

i went to a store on 46 which has this lighting on display and running...sps that were placed in the display tank was not doing so great and other high lighting required corals were not doing so well either like some clams..

 

[PalmTree]

I too was tempted!! :scratchch But because it was so new and it has so many bugs to work out I decided to wait. I don't like being the Guinea pig!! :fishhit:

 

[Henrye]

This is Solaris's version 1.0. The LEDs are expensive, as is designing the bread board to power the array. There's been great pressure to get businesses and households weaned off of incandescent bulbs. The current replacement touted is CF, but there is a great push to LEDs, given their improved greater lumens per watt ratio and reported life span of 30,000 hours. You can already buy LED "bulbs" that fit in a standard lamp socket and are 3 times more efficient than a CF replacement bulb, along with a better color rendition than the CFs currently on the market. They are expensive, but are expected to last 10 years, effectively working well past the lifetime warranty held by some owners. If this push is successful, by the time version 3 comes out, I would expect the cost to be 1/4 the present, with LEDs having better spectral plots and accurate color temperatures. which remain stable well into their expected product life span , more lumens per watt, and greater PAR.

Solaris version 1.0 is simply not quite ready for the market, not only because of cost, but because of performance. Two years from now it is likely to find a large shift in price and performance, providing another lighting solution to what's currently available.

Henry

 

[PalmTree]

I agree with you Henry. Its only a matter of time before they work all the kinks out. LEDs have a lot of pros on their corner. I can't wait for the technology to get better.