My new toy: The PFO Solaris

[Osprey]

I brought home a 36", 20000k LED Solaris light fixture this Friday. Colby figured I'm probably the first person in the Calgary area to own one. I spent a fair amount of time playing around with it before I got around to taking pictures.
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9034/1000897in8.th.jpg (http://img79.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000897in8.jpg)
The light intensity is equal (or nearly equal) there is some debate on that subject) to that of a Metal Halide, but without the heat. The bells and whistles that come with this light are amazing. Digital internal temperature control, cloud cover programs, optional lunar and solar cycles, plus full control over the spectrum of your lighting... there are probably more that I'm forgetting. The price? $2100. I know what you're thinking... more money than brains. But I did the math, and with bulb replacements alone (doesn't include electrical savings), this fixture will pay for itself in less than five years. Long-term, it is a savings. Plus I couldn't have MH in my house, too much heat. This is the best way for me to be able to grow stonies. Here are a few of the different spectrum possibilities... anything from a warm white to a deep, cool blue. Pardon the blinds reflecting in the tank glass...I couldn't see that reflection in my camera's screen.
http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/6043/1000893ra6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7923/1000892oh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/4347/1000896im6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
What you can't see in a still picture is that the Solaris also produces the same 'rippling' effect as MH. I don't think it's as pronounced, though. I don't have any corals yet (previous lighting was too wimpy for corals). But I'll be buying some shortly after Easter, and I'll keep everyone posted on how things turn out.
For additional (and much more scientific) info on the Solaris, check out Dana Riddle's (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/8/review2) thorough study on the capabilities of this light.
Does anyone know of a good insurance provider for home aquaria? I think I've passed the point of no return...

[Melody]

I think its great that you saw beyond the end of your nose and invested in long-term savings!

Definitly insure the thing :wideeyed: .

[thegrandpoohbah]

Nice. I'd love to get my hands on one of those but the price is a bit steep. Definitely worth it in the long run though. Be sure to keep us updated.

[Shelley]

I was looking at one in a store in Duncan last weekend. Yes, please keep us updated. Kewl to know it still gives the ripple effect. Do you find the blue too blue? does it look like LED christmas light blue or tru actinic blue?

[Osprey]

When I first turned it on, all four banks of lights were running at 100%, and I did find the effect a little too blue... but then, I knew that I was probably going to want to tone down the effect, instead of keeping it at 20k. I've toned down the blue spectrum by 60% for regular day lighting; it's at the right spectrum to make everything 'look right' at the moment. The white stripes on my clownfish definitely seem to fluoresce, so the effect works well. I may have to change that with the advent of corals; I don't even have many fish in the tank yet. Unfortunately I didn't write down the light settings when I took pictures, so I have a whole host of unlabelled (and therefore not particularly useful) pictures. Oops!
There are day white lights, lunar white lights, blue day lights, and blue lunar lights. The last shot is of nothing but the blues running. The default moon lighting is of the lunar blues at 10%, and it does look very blue. I've considered switching the moonlighting to lunar whites at something like 5%instead.
The day whites have some greens in the middle to scatter the light a little bit, and they make it appear warmer. It was a surprise to find out that not all the 'white' lights were actually white.
Here's a neat picture of the reflection of the light off the glass in the tank, just for kicks. It's a standard daytime picture.
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/8995/1000898wk1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[nathan u]

that looks awsome osprey, I can't wait to see yours once its filled with corals.
now if only I had the money for LEDs for my tank.
did you get this from bayside corals?

[Osprey]

I bought it from Elite, a Calgary fish store. Colby doesn't normally keep them in stock, but he was able to get one for me on 24 hours notice... I think maybe he got it from Wai's Aquariums (Danny Wai is his business partner). I'm glad I didn't have to order it online; I actually think it ended up being cheaper buying it in store, because Colby only boosted the online price by $100. If I had ordered it privately (J & L seemed convenient), I would have had to pay insurance and a bunch of other junk. Plus if it arrives broken, you have to go through a lot of hassles to get it fixed.