OMG I'm trying $OLARI$...

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

Now to put this into proper perspective If the solaris puts out 100 units of light, 87% will be in the PUR range or 87 units of light. Where if the MH puts out 600 units of light 78% will be in the PUR range or 468 units.

no where in that graph does it say how much light is put out, only how much of the output is usable.. it is a very nice marketing ploy though..

Doesn't this quote from that link address the PAR issue?

"Using the data shown in Figures 2 and 4, plus standardized surface area, the 75-watt Solaris produced 89.4% of the PAR generated by the 250-watt XM 20,000K lamp.

This equates to totalized PAR (µmol·sec) over a normalized surface area of 113 µmol·sec per watt for the Solaris, and 38 µmol·m²·sec per watt for the metal halide lamp."

It sounds to me like the 75w Solaris produces more PAR per watt, but less PAR in total. But not substantially less... 89.4% of the MH PAR.

[Sushiman]

that was my understanding.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Dave C

Doesn't this quote from that link address the PAR issue?

"Using the data shown in Figures 2 and 4, plus standardized surface area, the 75-watt Solaris produced 89.4% of the PAR generated by the 250-watt XM 20,000K lamp.

This equates to totalized PAR (µmol·sec) over a normalized surface area of 113 µmol·sec per watt for the Solaris, and 38 µmol·m²·sec per watt for the metal halide lamp."

It sounds to me like the 75w Solaris produces more PAR per watt, but less PAR in total. But not substantially less... 89.4% of the MH PAR.

the problem is we will never know untill one can properly be independantly tested. as I posted about this befor it is so easy to fuge these tests in any direction you want. for example, just moving my PAR sensor 1cm would reduce my readings my 35%, and if instead of moving it you angle it say 5 degrees it will reduce the reading by over 60%. As well how far from the source was everything tested? You have to look at bulb and ballast, and reflector combanations as well. I know if you use an older electronic ballast on a bulb you can end up with 1/2 the out put of a HQI ballast and so on.. as far as distance from the bulb to the meter at 1cm a NO floressent tube puts out 85% of the PAR a MH does, so you can see also the distance they tank the readings at is a huge factor also because at 18" the NO is less than 10% of the MH.

Personaly I have tested normal LEDs and they don't even make the PAR meter move, I do believer higher wattage LEDs will have some PAR but I do not believe that at a distance of 18" they will even be 40% of the MH.

so what I had said in the last thread untill some one on the island buys one, Hurry up Jason , and lets me bring my toys over and run the test we won't know for sure.

Steve

[Dave C]

I understand Steve. But that's now what I got from your other post. You suggested that they weren't addressing how much PAR the two fixtures put out, only the useable amount. That statement didn't hold up once I read the link.

Won't your results potentially be subject to the same inaccuracies as the ones in the link? btw, wasn't Sanjay doing some tests on these lights? I don't recall reading his conclusions. He seems like an independent source of info and has all the tools.

[StirCrazy]

Sanjay did but his tests were at 1" which as far as I am concerned is a waist of time..

If I do testing i will determin the max PAR at a distance.. not just one point.. this way I can also see the drop off from different location.. I test for US not for a company as I have had to buy evey bulb/ballast I have tested.. I only wish I could get "testers" I could have saved about $2000.00.

Steve

[Sushiman]

Well, the fixture has finally arrived! So far, it looks very nice & the features are easy to utilize. I've just about finished the black-foam aquascape & it looks fantastic. I can't wait to get water in the tank! pic's to come on my days off.

[danny zubot]

Can't wait to see pics.

Do you have another type of lighting system that you can compare it to? Maybe take some comparitive pictures?

[Sushiman]

I'm afraid not, I was just running a bank of 96w PC's prior, but I've sold them off. What I can tell you is the Led's certainly have the intensity & brightness that I've seen on many MH fixtures (visual impression at least), just NO heat! I'm looking forward to trying out different corals under them. My set-up will be primarily LPS, Softies (all types) & clams. I will try a Monti cap & some digitata once the tank has matured & I've upgraded the skimmer & the flow. Maybe a green slimer or something too, we'll have to see.