might be old news but PFO is in trouble

tetra9999 · 02/16/2009, 07:19 PM

my friend has been trying to contact PFO for a warranty issue..

this article explains why they havent answered their phones in 3 weeks. (they laid off all thier entire staff!!!)

http://www.************.com/2009/02/...aquarium-leds/

sorry if this topic was already discussed...

zt444a · 02/16/2009, 07:33 PM

I had done some investigating and had also seen that article. From the looks of things, it seems when they granted that patent, it was way too broad and general. You can patent an idea, but a whole blanket coverung any usages of LED technology in aquaria is just assinine.

I think a good patent attorney should weigh in on this. I think PFO should be able to win, if they were indeed in production and making these fixtures long before they had the patent.

It will be interesting.

Freddie · 02/16/2009, 07:49 PM

sounds to me like there might be something special to this technology and the aerospace industry does not want it in our hands Ultimately you and I know what is right but aerospace is hugely associated with the goverment so do the math

jtrasap · 02/17/2009, 07:53 AM

From a little digging into the links, Orbitec plans to release their own LED aquarium lighting under the brand "Sunbow".

http://www.planet-llc.com/pages/sunbow/pages/apollo.htm

inwall75 · 02/17/2009, 10:42 AM

How do you mount a desk lamp to an aquarium?

http://www.planet-llc.com/pages/sunb...earch_lamp.htm

Letmegrow · 02/17/2009, 10:52 AM

$750.00 ouch. Who would want it anyways.

"Check back soon for design photographs and order information."

Curt, I don't think the illistration was of the actual unit.
It will probably look something like this:

From the website.

There is a version with a controller too it says.

I wont buy into LEDS for a long time. THe Solaris fixtures look like they always dropped in par with in 3 months. Velcos and Beldts fixtures looked great at first, after a couple months not so much. I think LEDs suffer a break in period or maybe the bulbs haze over. I don't know, but it's a cool effect, not so much for getting corals to grow. Not yet.

02/16/2009, 07:19 PM	#1
tetra9999 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 233	might be old news but PFO is in trouble my friend has been trying to contact PFO for a warranty issue.. this article explains why they havent answered their phones in 3 weeks. (they laid off all thier entire staff!!!) http://www.************.com/2009/02/...aquarium-leds/ sorry if this topic was already discussed... __________________ Carpe Cerevisi Current Tank Info: 135g inwall 28g hqi nano

02/16/2009, 07:33 PM	#2
zt444a Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montgomery, NY Posts: 2,610	I had done some investigating and had also seen that article. From the looks of things, it seems when they granted that patent, it was way too broad and general. You can patent an idea, but a whole blanket coverung any usages of LED technology in aquaria is just assinine. I think a good patent attorney should weigh in on this. I think PFO should be able to win, if they were indeed in production and making these fixtures long before they had the patent. It will be interesting. __________________ Howard DeBord " When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris. " Current Tank Info: None atm

02/17/2009, 07:53 AM	#4
jtrasap Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Elmo, Illinois Posts: 1,771	From a little digging into the links, Orbitec plans to release their own LED aquarium lighting under the brand "Sunbow". http://www.planet-llc.com/pages/sunbow/pages/apollo.htm __________________ Jason Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. Current Tank Info: 525g display, 165g sump, 125g refugium...build in progress.

02/17/2009, 10:42 AM	#5
inwall75 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,873	How do you mount a desk lamp to an aquarium? http://www.planet-llc.com/pages/sunb...earch_lamp.htm __________________ Curt If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 7.5g nano, 75g Inwall, 18g nano, 12g nano, 200g prop tank

02/17/2009, 10:52 AM	#6
Letmegrow Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Hill Posts: 4,742	$750.00 ouch. Who would want it anyways. "Check back soon for design photographs and order information." Curt, I don't think the illistration was of the actual unit. It will probably look something like this: From the website. There is a version with a controller too it says. I wont buy into LEDS for a long time. THe Solaris fixtures look like they always dropped in par with in 3 months. Velcos and Beldts fixtures looked great at first, after a couple months not so much. I think LEDs suffer a break in period or maybe the bulbs haze over. I don't know, but it's a cool effect, not so much for getting corals to grow. Not yet. __________________ I'll be just fine pretending I'm not. Understand, Contempt born of clear perception is a birthright to those who channel it toward progression.

02/16/2009, 07:49 PM	#3
Freddie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Caseyville Il Posts: 1,924	sounds to me like there might be something special to this technology and the aerospace industry does not want it in our hands Ultimately you and I know what is right but aerospace is hugely associated with the goverment so do the math