So what's the story with PFO???

**Rob's Reef** · 05-20-2010, 02:05 PM

It's been a while since i've been here so i was just curious... PFO goes out of buisness over an LED Patent yet there are LED fixtures popping up all over the place!

God this makes me mad being i have a 48" Solaris laying on the ground in a spare room due to ballasts that keep burning up and a company that is no longer around! UGH!!!

Ok, done venting on PFO for now...

On the brighter side "not due to PFO's LED Lighting" I just brought home a Blonde Naso! I've been wanting one for some time now and finally pulled the string!

Man he is a pretty fish!

**rayme07** · 05-20-2010, 06:35 PM

Yea it is sad that they are not around anymore but the new LED's are pretty cool. Also Congrats on the new Naso!! Do you have a pic.

***lReef lKeeper*** · 05-20-2010, 07:48 PM

the new LED fixtures a a different technology than the ones that PFO released. PFO did break the law, these new fixtures do not.

V · 05-20-2010, 08:07 PM

more to the point, cant you retrofit another ballist yourself. Most things still have spec's, so try to match it or use a voltage clipper. Just thinjking out loud, but that would be my game plan.

**rroselavy** · 05-21-2010, 02:22 AM

blink-blink plinkplankplink.

I'm done with LED for now. I use my ol' Solaris G on my QT now. Running a T5HO fixture on my main tank will cost about as much over a 5-6 year haul, and provide plenty of PAR for what I want to do. The main problem I have with LED is the PAR distribution. There is such a steep PAR "mound" in the center of the array (seen here at 19" of depth). My 6x24w T5HO fixture does not penetrate nearly as well in the center, but gets a far more consistent 200-250 at that depth, which I think makes coral placement a bit easier.

PAR graph from the latest AI fixture:

***lReef lKeeper*** · 05-21-2010, 10:04 AM

i am also switching to T5s, from halides though. i am going to be the local guinea pig with T5s, but from what i have read ... they are the way to go, even if MY main thing is custom bulb configuration for coloration of the corals. the ATI blue+ has an awesome par for being a low wattage light. its just to bad that my fixture is on BACKORDER !!

**Rob's Reef** · 05-21-2010, 11:31 AM

yeah i found a guy on one of the boards that was making ballast's that worked... "for a little while"
-another $200 ;p i ended up replacing my solaris with the BELIZE SUN HQI / T-5 Light Kits (72" / 1360 watt kit)

I was just curious about all the new LED lights popping up after the who PFO mumbo jumbo...

As for the Naso he's doing great, eating like a pig! I'll put up a picture tonight when i get home...

**CarmieJo** · 05-24-2010, 09:02 PM

for the picture!

**Amphibious** · 05-25-2010, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by lReef lKeeper

the new LED fixtures a a different technology than the ones that PFO released. PFO did break the law, these new fixtures do not.

Do not be so quick to jump to a judgement like that! It was never proven because they never went to court over it. PFO was forced into bankruptcy because of the cost of litigation was approaching 1 Million dollars. At that point the other company dropped the law suit. Via personal conversation with Pat the owner of PFO. Nothing was proven. Pat told me even if he went on with the trial and won, which he thought he would prevail, he would have nothing left financially. He chose to file for bankruptcy to end the ordeal rather than have it go on for another year or more.

Dick

**Amphibious** · 05-25-2010, 09:21 AM

On another note, I was just at the first Southeastern Coral Farmers Market in Orlando Sunday and there are some new LED light fixtures coming that give stunning results. You’ll see them and many more at MACNA. If you don’t have your registration yet, get it done. This is going to be one of the best, if not the best, MACNAs ever with all the new things hitting the market. This is an exciting time to be in the reefing hobby.

Dick

**rroselavy** · 05-25-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Amphibious

PFO was forced into bankruptcy because of the cost of litigation was approaching 1 Million dollars. At that point the other company dropped the law suit.

Arrggh. It is really sad that companies can be forced OOB based on mere allegations of patent infringement. Smaller companies cannot afford to prove their case anymore. Why does litigation cost this much? Realities like this make me want to live in a secluded cabin, on a lake (within 2 miles to the nearest Krispy Kreme).

**Rob's Reef** · 05-25-2010, 05:01 PM

I totally forgot about the picture guys... sorry

To make up for it i'll do better than a picture... I'll give you VIDEO!!!
i get home around 5:30 pst i'll have a vid up for you by 6 pst!

**Amphibious** · 05-25-2010, 05:43 PM

Realities like this make me want to live in a secluded cabin, on a lake (within 2 miles to the nearest Krispy Kreme).

I hope we’re on good terms cause, I want the cabin next door.

**Rob's Reef** · 05-25-2010, 06:56 PM

i'm over the lake cabin, i want the hut on one of the many amazing beaches in hawaii!!!

**Rob's Reef** · 05-25-2010, 11:02 PM

Not sure if this will work but here is one vid... i just moved and can't find my camera charger so this is from my phone and it's weird how sending and saving videos work...