LED's

[seamonkey2]

I been investigating this for a while, but for the price still out there, so I check RC and there is a guy in the states who sells small panels, it seems right for nanos

I'll need to many for my tanks :)

who knows I may just start buying little by little...nah I dont like waiting :)

http://clearlyleds.com/ProductDescription.htm

hope it helps somebody

Jose

[erikharrison]

could these take the punch out of PC/VHOs I wonder?

[seamonkey2]

they said they do better, last longer, cheaper, blah blah blah, you know the rutine

dont know yet, check RC there are some people who bought the original solaris and they seem very pleased

Jose

[LoneStar]

Cover your whole canopy with them and take notes :)

[captexas]

That's pretty cool. I have been curious if they would be able to create LED's of different spectrums and make them powerful enough to penetrate deep into a fish tank. They are slowly popping up more and more in other lighting devices so why not aquariums! lol. It would be great to have a light system that uses little energy and you never have to replace bulbs. Hopefully they don't inflate the prices just because it's for use on aquariums.

[brewercm]

Like I had stated in another thread about the moonlights. I put in the white moonlights for my 140 basically at two foot intervals, each unit contained two LED's and I'm amazed at how bright it is on the tank when I look at it I did choose the white over the blue though, I just thought the blue looks odd and doesn't truely demonstrates the color the moon puts out at night.

[erikharrison]

The only thing about the LEDs above is that they are specifically made for tanks, so I am wondering if they may have hand picked the bulb colors (it looks like they have) that will go accordingly in a aquatic environment.

[LoneStar]

Like I had stated in another thread about the moonlights. I put in the white moonlights for my 140 basically at two foot intervals, each unit contained two LED's and I'm amazed at how bright it is on the tank when I look at it I did choose the white over the blue though, I just thought the blue looks odd and doesn't truely demonstrates the color the moon puts out at night.

:lol

Check out the link that Jose posted. These are 8" x 6" panels with 164 LEDs in that footprint. For the mere price of $75! :P

So 1 every 2 feet of these may be a little too much for you Cliff :D

[erikharrison]

does anyone know anything about PAR in relation to these? I would be willing to try it on my nano, column, and future (near!) 75g reef. My column is 20x20x30 (or so) and it would actually fit the length. All of the PC bulbs I see are 20" are not (guessing) strong enough to penetrate that depth. It would fit in my nano (eclipse brand ::pukes::) right under the hood with alot of room left. I'll probably snag one and epoxy it to my tanklid.

[captexas]

Be cool if you had the entire canopy above your tank covered in those panels and you could program them to change their intensity throughout the day to simulate the suns orbit and also the same at night for the moon. You could even simulate different times of the month/year, full moons, etc. Just a matter of setting up groups of LEDs to be controlled individually and some programming.

[erikharrison]

does anyone have a PAR tester that could put forth some validity to this kind of thing? I would much rather use something like this rather than PC/VHOs

[seamonkey2]

thats exactly what the solar system does, but they are expensive

I was thinking maybe a reef keeper or something like that can do the same

and yes my Idea was to cover the whole tank, but at $85 a pop x 30 units is a weee expensive for one tank ,specially since I dont have any SPS's

Jose

[erikharrison]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/8/review2
there's a review on the PFO Solaris... very interesting!

[captexas]

Yeah, $850 for a 14inch Solaris fixture is a bit steep and if those prices stay high it will prevent most of us from ever switching over to LEDs. I imagine they have a high price to help pay for all that R&D and programming that was created over their 2 years of development they mention.

I would think a reef keeper or cheapy computer could be programmed to control several of those light panels. If those crazy guys can set music to their Christmas lights like you see on the net, surely it can be done for our fish tanks! lol

[erikharrison]

If those crazy guys can set music to their Christmas lights like you see on the net, surely it can be done for our fish tanks! lol

I heard that was stop motion photography. I always hoped it was real!!! It looks like video!

In that review they used some beefy LED's in that solaris. I am really interested in the effects with the cheapies!

[urban79]

didnt someone on here get one?

[erikharrison]

http://clearlyleds.com/LightIntensity.htm

[brewercm]

I'll say ths about the whiter looking moon lights though. They give out quite a bit of light for eight little LED's, and what's really cool is you get that same cool shimmering effect that you get from the halides. I think the two major factors to get by have to be spectrum and cost. Of course as with anything (except may Harleys, and real estate) cost will go down eventually.

[erikharrison]

will they fit in a standard flourescent fixture width wise?

[Bill S]

Erik - I'm married to Mrs. Griswold. The Xmas light thing is very real.

I wouldn't mind getting one IF: 1) I knew they actually worked and 2) they had decent penetration. I have 400w now with a DEEP tank (over 30"). It takes about 3 years to pay back.

Cliff, I think you should go for it!

[Bill S]

OK, NOW I'm looking seriously at this Solaris thing... I've emailed them for additional info. I'm looking at adding a chiller, which really doesn't fit so I have to locate it outside (protected), etc. So, it's about $700-800 for a chiller/pump. I have 4 - 400w MH DE pendants and 4 ballasts (3 new) that I could sell to help offset it. But WOW. $3345!! And, our electricty here is $0.06 a KWH, which is dirt cheap...

[5.0Stang]

Go for it bill when you do i want to come over again to see that thing my wife said thats cool and im really dreading summer coming around with my tank with next to a 5' window thats single glass. Might just be worth it!

[Bill S]

Oh THANKS. Volunteer me for this experiment. Remember, I was the Hiatt experimenter... That only cost me about a grand.

[Bill S]

Using panels from Clearly LED, it would take THIRTY panels, at $81 (add wiring) each for my 215. That would also require THIRTY power supplies! Total: $2430. Total wattage, less than 300 watts. Compare that to PFO's offering. 450 watts (50% more), in a fixture 1/3 the size, 2 year warranty, programmable timers, fans, etc., for just $700 (30%) more. All from a well known, quality company...

Here's my thought process - PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TEAR THIS UP!

My current MHs are: 3x400w, DE 14Ks. Bulbs are about 1-2 months old. Ballasts are 5 months (2006 model), new and new (2007 models) (Coralvue Electronic) - w/ 2 year transferable warranty). I have a spare pendant, 9 month old bulb and old silver ballast that I'll keep as a spare. New: Pendants: $96; Ballast: $125; Bulbs, $100 (Hamilton 14Ks) = $320 each, plus shipping or tax. Can I get $600 for them if I throw in an Icecap 400w ballast & 72" VHOs with new bulbs, 2 PFO LED moonlights & the custom aluminum rack for them?

Many of you know I'm looking for a new 1/3 hp chiller (personally, I don't want to go used here): $800 in cost-avoidance.

I can then "Lose" my Aquacontroller II. I'll lose the pH meter, but what the heck. I'll replace it with a dedicated pH meter when someone is selling theirs? Can I get $200 for it including all of the X-10 modules I have?

So, I'm up to $1700. Then, if I get a chiller, it has to go outside. I have to build an enclosure for it and plumb it thru the ceiling and down, probably $50 in tubing, $100 pump and $50 in miscellaneous supplies, paint, etc. And, if I'm lucky, I won't have to put in another dedicated power circuit!

Now $1900

Now let's add my $100 a month extra electric bill into this equation. That's in the 1600w of power it consumes, plus the A/C unit (1.5 tons, just runs 2 BR) to cool it. Add to it the aggravation it causes Mamma because our Master BR is so humid from evaporation water...

PFO says they are soon releasing the "400 watt" version in a few weeks. No price, but probably another $500? Let's say $3500 just for the heck of it... They have advised against their existing "250 watt" version, as my tank is 29".

Besides trying to egg me into this, any thoughts?

[hobogato]

sounds like you have all but talked yourself into it already ;) looks good on paper, you have more guts than me being a guinea(sp?) pig :)

[5.0Stang]

You frogot one thing Bill That things cool I am lookin at gettin it just cause of that! Im just gonna end up waiting till i move outa this apt at the end of the year so i can match it to my new tank. Remember Bill it doesnt sound like an experiment here looks like its pretty much proven to save money in the long run if ya got the money up front. Just another 2 cents from me :lol

[Bill S]

Looks like it'll be a month or 2 before they get the 400w ones in. Gives me time to make SURE this will work. I've been impressed by the pix: http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=92371 and others over at reefs.org.

[5.0Stang]

MAN the more i look at this thing i want it more. Im not starting to think if i get one now i can just go for a 10' tank and buy another one when it comes time to. Dont hold your breath on me gettin it anytime soon thank god the 400w ones arent even out yet! I got that thing thats been going around the funzaloo thing! :lol :lol

[LoneStar]

See if you can con PFO in letting you be a beta tester....if they are doing that. You obviously have the power of the pen and I'm sure you could try sweet talking them into letting you try. Perhaps you could slowly transition into getting the lights. Work your way across the tank ;)

[seamonkey2]

Hey Bill sorry for starting this ;)

but all of the point you have made ARE the reasons why I have been looking into this and its cheap alternatives, I even got in contact with a Company in china, that is wanting to make the knock offs of the PFO system, but they are a little ways from getting it done, in summary, this is the new era of lighting for our tanks, so after you get yours and you move on to somenthing else, I'll get it from you :) and a ridiculus low price LOL

let us all know when you get it, so we can stare at it, because if I get one my wife will make mice meat of me LOL

Jose

[Bill S]

Just an update... My wife, believe it or not, is for it. Not spending the money, of course, but she's a cheapskate and sees the payback AND the simplicity of the whole heat up the house, run A/C, buy a chiller thing.

Lone Star, since they come in a complete 72" unit, I can't really replace bits & pieces.

Jose, knocking off PFO stuff might get expensive... They have several patents pending on this, and lawyers to defend them.

[LoneStar]

Lone Star, since they come in a complete 72" unit, I can't really replace bits & pieces.


Ahh well I guess so.


2 words

DO IT :)

[seamonkey2]

hey Bill I am sure china wont touch it because of it, as with everything else they'll take something off or add something and that way it can not be considered the same as PFO, but you are correct knock off can get expensive especially, the warranty part

as Lone star said DO IT

Jose

[Brett Wilson]

Is anyone building light fixtures using the newer, high intensity luxeon LEDs?
http://www.lumileds.com/images/productphotos/star.jpg

[Brett Wilson]

Hey Bill sorry for starting this ;)

but all of the point you have made ARE the reasons why I have been looking into this and its cheap alternatives, I even got in contact with a Company in china, that is wanting to make the knock offs of the PFO system, but they are a little ways from getting it done, in summary, this is the new era of lighting for our tanks, so after you get yours and you move on to somenthing else, I'll get it from you :) and a ridiculus low price LOL

let us all know when you get it, so we can stare at it, because if I get one my wife will make mice meat of me LOL

Jose

FYI China makes a lot of lower quality LEDs. I've got a few LED flashlights from there that were mega cheap and are mega crap. most of the LEDs burn out really fast.

Most of the higher quality LEDs are made in japan I do believe.

[Bill S]

The Solaris units use Luxeon LEDs.

[Brett Wilson]

hmm, luxeons are about $3 each individually (cheaper bulk) plus you need drivers like a buckpuck which are $20 each or more but you'd only need a few I think

I agree with captexas in that clearly most of their price has to be in R&D and labor which makes me think these things will go cheaper with time once other people start competing.

I'd be cool if someone made an instructable (http://www.instructables.com) on how to make your own fish tank LED array. ;) ;)

[Brett Wilson]

hmm didnt realize the solaris mimicked sun/moon phases and all that. that would require more sophisticated micro-controllers but would still be doable *with a lot of research* from a DIY perspective.
I bet one could find all they need from searching the makezine.com blogs and instructables.com :)