Solaris LED Light System

clsimons29

clsimons29

Member
I have been recomended to purchase a Solaris LED light system for my new tank(see other post) and was wondering if anyone had any comments on this system. It is expensive but seems worth the cost with low heat ouput, life of system bulbs, and programability. I would appreciate any comments
Also do you think a 4' light panel would provide enough coverage for my 5' tank or should I get the 5' panel? :notsure:
 
pyro

pyro

Active Member
I've never seen or heard of it. What is the main type of lighting? I don't think LED's serve any purpose other than looks... I use them for moonlights.
Any information about the system?
 
clsimons29

clsimons29

Member
This is brand new technology will be available 7/31/06, uses high ouput LEDs no other lighting required, last 50,000 hours does not put much heat output to tank so chiller is not needed, can customize light for sunrise, day, cloudy, sunset, night, and 28 day moon cycle. Can program to cycle light automaticly. solarisled.com
 
mbrennan

mbrennan

Member
I looked at the web site. Interesting .... but skeptical. Sounds good, but I'd need more data before making a decision.
 
clsimons29

clsimons29

Member
Originally Posted by mbrennan
I looked at the web site. Interesting .... but skeptical. Sounds good, but I'd need more data before making a decision.
Just looking to see if anyone has any experience w/this company or similiar products, I am skeptical also bearing the cost, but intestested becuase of the potential benefits.
Talked to the company these are custom made at their shop. output is 250w per 24" on bottom of tank same as 250w MH. Tech guy will call me tommorow.
 
pyro

pyro

Active Member
Yeah; not to sure if the LED's would put off 'coral-friendly' light. Maybe somebody will chime in with some info... I'm curious.
...The pics almost look like they were photoshopped... :thinking:
 
mbrennan

mbrennan

Member
I know LED technology is advancing rapidly, but I hadn't thought it had reached that point yet or we'd have LED street lights.
 
clsimons29

clsimons29

Member
Pyro said:
Yeah; not to sure if the LED's would put off 'coral-friendly' light. Maybe somebody will chime in with some info... I'm curious.
...The pics almost look like they were photoshopped... :thinking:[/QUOT
Pics are straight off website..
the website says that they are great for coral prop w/full spectrum light, but I will ask the tech guy when he calls tommrow. Unsure of technology and system for my tank would cost $2,800 so any ideas on what to ask the tech guy would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
 
pyro

pyro

Active Member
Jeez; 3,000. I dunno. I'd wait a year and the technology should lower the price. LED's are now well under $1 each.
Personally I'd just stick to a nice MH w/PC or VHO supplement fixture if you are looking for premium lighting. Stick it up high enough to keep heat lower and point a fan at the water.
 
clsimons29

clsimons29

Member
Originally Posted by Pyro
Jeez; 3,000. I dunno. I'd wait a year and the technology should lower the price. LED's are now well under $1 each.
Personally I'd just stick to a nice MH w/PC or VHO supplement fixture if you are looking for premium lighting. Stick it up high enough to keep heat lower and point a fan at the water.
Cost is high but I have a space problem, I have about 2 1/2 feet above the bottom of my tank to the ceiling and it is in my office so I do not want a lot of noise, may have to get a chiller w/ MH. The air conditiong vent is offset about 1 1/2 feet from top of tank... Are MH or VHO a better lighting system?
 
pyro

pyro

Active Member
MH overall. VHO runs cooler but you will have limitations; especially with the depth of your tank. PC's are another option very similar to VHO. Also; no expirience with T5 here but I've heard they run cool and put off a lot of light; also very space conservative.
I checked out that solaris site... It feels like a scam. There was a product marketed a while ago... forget what it was called. Claimed to be this amazing filter type thing that used "earth magnets" to seperate crap apart. Sold tons of them. Had all this 'fluffy' science back up facts. Ended up being PVC pipe with magnets electrical taped around it covered in a snazzy label. That's what these lights remind me of; only a lot more than $50.
The pictures just dont' seem to match up. Some have a nice snazzy LCD screen with 5 buttons, some have 3 and no screen. The pictures of it are outta one tank from what I could tell, and they were not professional pictures either by a long shot. The bottom picture shows a squared off bottom, the top one shows it rounded from the top up to the bottom.
I'd be really careful. Could just be me being stupid also.
 
chipmaker

chipmaker

Active Member
Its certainly a no brainer what I would do. That kind of money can buy some serus top line lights and stil have a pocket full of money left. I would wait and see what results others have had with them on their nickle and not be a guinea pig for some company that may or may not be here next month.
 
clsimons29

clsimons29

Member
I appreciate the comments, I am will definetly check them out very closely espcially with the $$ they are asking for it. Any recs on what lighting I should put in my tank considering it is in my office, have limited ceiling height and I do not want alot of heat or noise ie fan, and I would rather not have to get a chiller.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Yeah with a price tag of that they would have to be really spectacular to spend that kind of cash....You could do a bangin MH setup with Lumenarc reflectors that would beat anything on the market right now cheaper than that.......I would definitely give it some field time before I'd jump on that one.......
 
clsimons29

clsimons29

Member
Talked to the head tech guy for the Solaris system today. He advised me against getting the solaris system because of the depth of my tank, he said they are coming out w/ a higher wattage system in 5-6 months that would work for my tank. He answered the questions of wattage, longevity of LEDs, heat ouput and spectrum spread. He stated they have solved these problems by using "Lumilitz" LEDs in a stacked array and have many beta systems being tested at this time. The system you are seeing in the pics is a beta model made before they intergrated the LCD panel and other refinements. The pics are taken from a user in Chicago, shop is in Washington. He stated they would come with a full 2 year warranty and they would replace if it was not working. He said the only problem they have had so far is some coral bleaching. He advised me to use a MH system at this time and look into their system as it progress. I think I am going to take that advice and start looking at a MH system. Thanks for the comments
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
This is so cool. I have been wanting to get an LED setup for my tank but I never could find one. I am hoping over time with more people starting to make them the price will drop. One thing to consider with the price is the length of time it will last. How long did the tech say the bulbs would last before needing to be replaced?
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
That would be awesome, I did the math and that is almost 6 years if they ran continuously.. well we will have to see but I would imagine they will eventually catch on and hopefully go down in price...
 
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