Look What UPS Brought!

[CarmieJo]

Like everything in this hobby...

But, we have the windows open and it was in the mid 80's today. When I got home it was 79* in the house and my tank was only running at 80* with the lights on. I can guarantee with my PC lights the chiller would have been running just to keep the tank below 82*. To provide some perspective, during the winter we keep the thermostat set at 68* and my tank was running 79* with the PC lights on.

So, I can justify my toy because I am saving electricity.

[Techknowledgy]

... just keep telling yourself that. If you had a big ass solar array sitting on top of your house next to your wind mill I might buy it, but I am not "saving" electricity. I am looking for ways to use less of the more that I want to use. Pretzel logic!

....wonder how much that wind mill is? Could I run the LEDs off of a solar panel? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[CarmieJo]

True that. To that end (using less) we do use all CF lamps and Energy Star appliances in our house. We have lived in the same house for several years and are on an equal payment plan with the power company. Each year, based on the previous year's usage, your rate is re-evaluated. In a normal year you might see a $5-10 increase. The last time we were evaluated it included 10 months of my tank and the bill went up $40. There ought to be some way to use the flow from your powerheads to spin a turbine and help defray the cost!

[Techknowledgy]

I actually thought about that. The water falls 6-7 feet to the basement.... could I put a turbine thingie in the pipe and use the water flow to actually make electricity... man.. think of the money I could spend saving money!

[CarmieJo]

I used to work in the lab at the waste water treatment plant. Even with the tremendous volume of effluent it would have not been cost effective to install a turbine. But it would have been cool.

[Techknowledgy]

Yeah, the technology is coming. Just a matter of time. I saw some plans for a photo voltaic system that had the units actually built into roof tiles on a house. Here in Sady Eggo San Diego Gas and Electricity is SO EXPENSIVE. I hate those guys. San Diego Graft and Extorcion is more like it!

[CarmieJo]

Now that's clever.

[Techknowledgy]

Clever would be a way to install such a system and then have to sell power back to them! ....well..... back to work on the warp drive with the fusion engine.

[Amphibious]

Hey Carmie, nice discussion you have going here on the Solaris unit. I'm happy that you like it. I've been busy and haven't been around much the last couple of weeks. I learned a new skill, SCUBA, that along with all the other things that keep me busy I just haven't been around.

Thanks for the plug above, I appreciate it.

My 400W Solaris is due to be delivered tomorrow, Friday, and I can hardly wait. I see KyleO mentioned above he ordered from me, too. Kyle now has his unit and I hope he starts a thread on the new 400W.

Thanks again, Carmie.

[CarmieJo]

Did you enjoy the lessons? SCUBA is something that is on my list of things to learn to do. I've even talked with my optician about getting a mask with my prescription in it. I know, most people would look into lessons first but my eyes are really bad and I don't think it would be any fun if I couldn't see.

[KyleO]

I see KyleO mentioned above he ordered from me, too. Kyle now has his unit and I hope he starts a thread on the new 400W.


Yes I did..............and yes I will. Taking lots of pictures. Will be installing in the next few days. Very nice unit!!!

[PSH]

What you didn't install it the day it arrived? Man that would have been a national holiday in my house.

[Amphibious]

Did you enjoy the lessons? SCUBA is something that is on my list of things to learn to do. I've even talked with my optician about getting a mask with my prescription in it. I know, most people would look into lessons first but my eyes are really bad and I don't think it would be any fun if I couldn't see.

Yes, I enjoyed the pain of SCUBA lessons because the end result, the ability to SCUBA on reefs, was worth the means. The "pain" is not to be construed to mean much physical pain. There are certain "skills" one does not encounter on land that might come in handy underwater breathing compressed air. So, you have to learn and demonstrate a certain proficiency at accomplishing those skills in pool and open water situations.

I've been a life long water boy, enjoying boats, water skiing, swimming and snorkeling but the last time I SCUBA dove was long before Certification was even thought about. I was 17 (52 years ago) when my best friend and I bought used SCUBA gear and took the plunge. We had no lessons, no directions, we had to drive 80 miles round trip to get air. No one warned us of any danger. I think because back in the mid 1950's the dangers of diving were not well known and certainly not well published. It was a new sport. At age 21 I got married and had to give up some "things" and the SCUBA gear was first to go.

So now, at age 69, I am a "Certified Open Water SCUBA Diver" which means I can now fill my tank and go diving. It was one of Sue's and my goals to accomplish here in FL. Sue is Certified but, needs a refresher course to re-gain her confidence.

Dick

[KyleO]

What you didn't install it the day it arrived? Man that would have been a national holiday in my house.

No.............I am too busy out making up for the money that I spent on this thing!!!

[Amphibious]

My 400W came today and all I can say for now is wow!

Dick

[PSH]

No.............I am too busy out making up for the money that I spent on this thing!!!

That is the same issue I have on buying one. I swear the next light I buy will have to be the last one. I promised my wife 3 light systems ago.

[CarmieJo]

I bought my tank used and it came with a NO strip light. A few months later I bought a used 130w PC fixture for $50. I bought my Solaris a year later I don't think I will purchase another system. I'd already replaced the bulbs in my PC once (cost $50) and was due for another replacement. I've read that the LED's are good for 10 years. If I spend $100 a year for PC bulbs for 10 years that would be a bit more than the cost of my Solaris. How's that for justification!

[PSH]

Thats somewhat putting the cart before the horse. The solaris hasn't been out long enough to judge what kind of life the led's will have.

[wwest]

Yea i don't know about the life span, i do think they will last a lot longer. Maybe a few years, but IMO the life span all depends on how clean the power is. I guess the solaris could have a build in isolation transformer but i seriously doubt it.

I do think the solaris lights are great though and i would love to have one.

[yazadx]

I have only known about Solaris lighting systems for two days now. I have spent the last 48 hours of the time off from work researching them... I AM HOOKED and will have ordered one by next week... [wife will be out of town... ]

Derek

[CarmieJo]

LOL Derek! You better have flowers to welcome her home.

[yazadx]

Hey,

Just heard back from Dick "Amphibious", well a couple of days ago... My 48" Solaris 250W will be delivered by UPS this Thursday... June 14!! Nice Father's Day gift!! Thanks Dick!!

Carmie... this time, no flowers were needed. I just dropped the last digit in the amount I paid for it.... IT WORKED... LOL I'm shamed, bad, and terrible.... BUT, I love the fish hobby... Let nothing stand in my way...LOL Besides, she just purchased a Coach purse for $600, no dropping the last digit on that one... smile

[CarmieJo]

$600 for a purse? Do you know what I could get for my tank? I hope you like your Solaris as much as I like mine.

[strangelove]

Congrates on the light, I know you'll like them. You've got a monster of an anemone. If you have manual settings on your camera you can get pictures that better represent what the light looks like. I've noticed that people are confused by the color and output the light gives off. The best way I've found is to set your camera to manual, ISO 800, white balance set to 10000k, and any parameters set to normal. If your camera doesn't have a manual setting then find something in your tank that is grey or close to it, press your shutter button half way so the camera takes a meter reading, then compose your shot letting the camera focus, then press the shutter button all the way and take your picture. A tripod, or setting the camera on a table works to steady the shot. And turning off your flash will help render a truer color.

The color issue happens because all source lights have a diferent color temprature, like household bulbs are more yellow, flourescents are more green, MH are closest to daylight, but is still a little blue.

As for th Solaris LED's they have a mix of white and blue bulbs, which gives the light a pale blue hue. But not so blue as to wash out any other color. I've attached an image of my tank to see if other Solaris owners might comment if their lights look similar, just wondering if my eyes are seeing what everyone else is seeing.

[strangelove]

Clever would be a way to install such a system and then have to sell power back to them! ....well..... back to work on the warp drive with the fusion engine.

Actually there is a way to do that. PG&E built a prototype Toyota Prius that has any upgraded battery system and a modified plug; which is plugged into an inverter that ties into your power companies electrical grid. Essentially you would charge your batteries at night when power is cheapest, then during the day you would reverse the charge and sell power back to your electric company at a higher rate. Kind of silly for PG&E to do the demonstration with a car, since you'll probably be driving it during the day anyway. Guess they wanted brand recognition to help people understand the demonstration since people already understand how hybrids work.

Taking this concept to a home use application should be easy. If you wanted to you could just buy a bunch of used batteries at your local car wrecking yard and tie them in line, get the inverter and just have a dedicated power storage and selling unit. Just become a power reseller

I've been looking into solar panels and wind turbines myself and there seems to be a lot of choices these days. I think offsetting your electric bill or even zeroing out your bill is the way to go with a tie in system. I'm looking forward to the day that my electric meter runs backwards.

Sorry to get off topic, just wanted to add that.