Solaris LEDs

[Chuck Spyropulos]

The new solaris "I series" is out. The 48 inch unit claims to put out as much light as a 15k 400 W MH lamp. Right now I am running 4 x 250 W SE MHs (1300K) for a total of 1000 W. I am running them under Lumenarc reflectors.

I know from experience that for my SE bulbs, the lumenarcs allowed me to go from 1800 Watts to 1000 Watts by eliminating 2 x 400 W SE bulbs from the 4 x 250 W bulbs I used to run all under PFO ballasts.

I have also read that the LumiLed LEDs in the Solaris fixture have collimnating optics to direct the light down into the tank. What I do not know is how much light density I will lose if I go from the 1000W MHs (4 x 250W) to the 2 x 48 inch Solaris LED panels (800W). I believe that the optics will further increase the efficiency of getting light down into the tank (wrt refelctors) and that this method is more efficient than a reflector for directing light. My hope is that this effect will make up for a fraction or all of the 200 Watts in light output power that I will lose.

The bottom line is whether or not the LED panels get me close to the same PPFD as my existing setup. Any thoughts, links, test results, comparisons, data you might have would be appreciated.

 

[Ray]

Just wondering if these have come down in price? I have seen the First ones that came out in person on a tank and they look pretty good but not as good as MHs (personal opinion) they did have some nice effects you could set into it like random passing clouds and I think random overcast days, stuff like that. They also did give off some good heat and the price tag was over 2K for a 4ft fixture

 

[jtma508]

I'd like to see a head-to-head between the AquaIllumination and the Solaris I-5. The I-5 has 6 more LED's per foot and have included a couple Cyan. I'm more or less committed to going LED but can't make up my mind which fixture. Before PFO redesigned their manufacturing and started building here in the US they weren't even in the running. Now all that is changed. If anyone finds any PAR values (besides the rather vague numbers on the AI site) please let me know.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Almost $3000.000 for the 48" model.

 

[Aquadan88]

Commercial post removed We put it on there, and there were some major shadow zones.

My opinion: these fixtures (48") are made for a 55 gallon tank. Anything larger, and it just doesn't look good.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

You have a shop in Norton? I'm moving there in 2 weeks.

 

[Aquadan88]

Whereabouts are you moving to? I live in Attleboro. lol

 

[JackTheReefer]

The new solaris "I series" is out. The 48 inch unit claims to put out as much light as a 15k 400 W MH lamp. Right now I am running 4 x 250 W SE MHs (1300K) for a total of 1000 W. I am running them under Lumenarc reflectors.

I know from experience that for my SE bulbs, the lumenarcs allowed me to go from 1800 Watts to 1000 Watts by eliminating 2 x 400 W SE bulbs from the 4 x 250 W bulbs I used to run all under PFO ballasts.

I have also read that the LumiLed LEDs in the Solaris fixture have collimnating optics to direct the light down into the tank. What I do not know is how much light density I will lose if I go from the 1000W MHs (4 x 250W) to the 2 x 48 inch Solaris LED panels (800W). I believe that the optics will further increase the efficiency of getting light down into the tank (wrt refelctors) and that this method is more efficient than a reflector for directing light. My hope is that this effect will make up for a fraction or all of the 200 Watts in light output power that I will lose.

The bottom line is whether or not the LED panels get me close to the same PPFD as my existing setup. Any thoughts, links, test results, comparisons, data you might have would be appreciated.

Chuck, I would wait on purchasing one of those fixtures, while the features are impressive and the par readings might be there - they are concentrated/focused, as Aquadan88 said you aren't able to get the even spread of light with the leds as you're able to get out of a traditional MH, they need to do some more work on the reflectors, they might have improved them with the new light, I think that is a lot of money to spend to be a guinea pig seeing they are constantly updating these lights still.

 

[lawrant]

I am very much looking forward to the day when LEDs are the norm. I dont believe that at this point i would want to put that much money into them without knowing for sure they will work the way I want them too.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

LEDs

Commercial post removed We put it on there, and there were some major shadow zones.

My opinion: these fixtures (48") are made for a 55 gallon tank. Anything larger, and it just doesn't look good.

Thanks for the info. Any reason why you think these would be good only on a 55 gallon tank?

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Just wondering if these have come down in price? I have seen the First ones that came out in person on a tank and they look pretty good but not as good as MHs (personal opinion) they did have some nice effects you could set into it like random passing clouds and I think random overcast days, stuff like that. They also did give off some good heat and the price tag was over 2K for a 4ft fixture

You can get the 48" units for around $2500.00 if you shop around.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

FYI: Solaris Review

I found a new review on these Solaris LEDs with some good charts. Now I gotta compare this to Sanjay's data for my MH bulb/ballast/reflector. They are planning to test fluorescent and LED lamps in order to complement Sanjay's MH data.
The magazine is a free online magazine that I have just recently found with some good articles on reef lighting.

http://www.liquid-medium.com/1_5/solaris.htm

From the first issue of the magazine there is a reference light intensity range for natural reefs:

Thriving specimens have been noted in as little light as 35 µMol·m²·sec!" And, Delbeek & Sprung (2005) states that "The greatest variety of coral growth occurs at depths between 10-15m where light intensities are lower than 300 µMol·m²·sec." There are also suggestions that elude to lighting intensities for specific corals.

Looking at the Solaris PAR charts in the link above, they are pretty much there as far as the required PAR. I wish there were some photos of setups using these just to see how they look and how much a of a problem the dark areas are.

 

[jtma508]

There's something wrong with that review. The pictures they show all have a 25 LED matrix (5 x 5) per foot. The PFO specifications and user manual have a 30 LED matrix (6 x 5). What's up with that??

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

There's something wrong with that review. The pictures they show all have a 25 LED matrix (5 x 5) per foot. The PFO specifications and user manual have a 30 LED matrix (6 x 5). What's up with that??

I think that the user manual is wrong. All the pictures I have seen on other sites (Champion, MarineDepot, etc.) show a 5x5matrix.

 

[jtma508]

Well, both their User Manual and their specification sheet specifically indicates 30 LED's per foot. I'll try and get some info from PFO and report back.

 

[jtma508]

The fixture in the review is NOT the I-5. I just heard back from PFO and here was their response to my query:


"The I5 is produced in USA and has a 6X5 array per foot. The I4 and all previous models where made in China and have 5X5 array.



Thank You,

Patrick Ormiston"


I also emailed 'liquid-medium' of my concerns but have yet to hear back.


PFO Lighting Inc.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

I5

The fixture in the review is NOT the I-5. I just heard back from PFO and here was their response to my query:

"The I5 is produced in USA and has a 6X5 array per foot. The I4 and all previous models where made in China and have 5X5 array.

But the data and plots in the review ARE for the I5, correct?

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Light Spread

Chuck, I would wait on purchasing one of those fixtures, while the features are impressive and the par readings might be there - they are concentrated/focused, as Aquadan88 said you aren't able to get the even spread of light with the leds as you're able to get out of a traditional MH, they need to do some more work on the reflectors, they might have improved them with the new light, I think that is a lot of money to spend to be a guinea pig seeing they are constantly updating these lights still.

Although this could be a problem, the PFO site shows that the spread can be adjsuted by moving the fixture up to widen the illumination pattern or down to narrow it. As far as the $, I used the online calculator which yielded a 4 year break even period. Even if the break even period is a little longer...I really want these babies . I like the technical aspects of reefkeeping and all the toys asscociated with it. I'm not really concerned with the $$..but my wife...now that's another story! If I could make a case to her that I would never have to buy new bulbs and that LEDs would cut down our electricity cost, I may get the "go ahead"

 

[jtma508]

If the pictures are of the unit they tested then no, they didn't test the I-5. It would seem decidedly odd that they would provide pctures of a unit that did not match the unit they were testing. That alone would be enough for me to toss their testing results. Attention to detail testers.

Not to mention, I can't place it, but their test graphics look hauntingly familiar.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

I5

If the pictures are of the unit they tested then no, they didn't test the I-5. It would seem decidedly odd that they would provide pctures of a unit that did not match the unit they were testing. That alone would be enough for me to toss their testing results. Attention to detail testers.

Not to mention, I can't place it, but their test graphics look hauntingly familiar.

Well that could be good news if the results are for the I4, since that could mean the I5 may have higher PAR and/or better light distribution to decrease the drop out areas.