Current USA LOOP Marine Pro

[Susan Edwards]

I'm trying to figure out what lights for a 125g mixed reef tank. 72x18x22

I'm on a tight budget--like 700 bucks. I was looking at the Current USA loop Marine Pro for approx 600 bucks. It includes 2 lights and the loop controller system. There is also the maybe advantage of using the pumps and wavemakers that hook into this lighting system.

I could buy 2 of the eflux wavemakers and their return pump in Feb. when I hopefully get water in tank to start cycle, and add the lights in March or April before I add livestock. Figured I'd cycle with no lighting.

The return pump is a wash price wise with the jebao. The higher flow rated wave makers are more than the jebao's I was going to use so I'd have to just start with 2 and not 4.

anyone have any experience with either the pro lights or the pumps? Should I stick with my original plan of jebao's and try just the lights.

I like the fact that I can do sunrise and sunset, and the clouds and lightening effects might be cool for my little granddaughters when they come to visit. Plus, I can get a 72 inch for my 72 inch tank and not have to order 3 of anything else.

I also looked at the 200 buck kessils and at 24x24 coverage, would need 3. Not sure what their software includes or if those lights are strong enough for my tank. The ones at 349 ea put it out of my budget range for right now.

The SB lights are out of my budget right now as well.

I think I've a headache from light research....

 

[Big G]

I have a couple of the Current Marine Pro lights on my 20 QTs. Not sure if you would be happy with the output of the lights on much deeper tanks like your 125. I like the lights, don't get me wrong. And I have their Loop powerhead system on my 90 and am very happy with it so far. Are you planning on lots of corals that need high PAR levels?

 

[Susan Edwards]

I might want some sps like acros and my rockwork is tall. Hopefully tall enough to put stuff that needs light high enough. Here is the scape. Tallest is approx 6-8 inches from water level. From what I've read, the pros are stronger and they come with 2 of the lights.

I'll prob. add zoas, micromussas and other brains and favias/favites at bottom, duncan, leathers, torches and family, some reverse sunsets and sedosa montiporas. Maybe mushrooms. Maybe anemones.

 

[Doclight]

Bulk reef supply has the Life Aquatics 60" T5/LED hybrid for under 500.00

Would give you 4 t5 bulbs for now and you can add the leds as money arrives..

 

[Big G]

I might want some sps like acros and my rockwork is tall. Hopefully tall enough to put stuff that needs light high enough. Here is the scape. Tallest is approx 6-8 inches from water level. From what I've read, the pros are stronger and they come with 2 of the lights.

I'll prob. add zoas, micromussas and other brains and favias/favites at bottom, duncan, leathers, torches and family, some reverse sunsets and sedosa montiporas. Maybe mushrooms. Maybe anemones.

Forgot they are a double light set; mine are the small ones and are single. Based on your tall rock setup, give'm a try. I really like the lights. Easy setup. Easy to keep clean. Low power usage. The power heads are very nice and quiet. You can have unto 3 powerheads running with the loop system. Two of them would be "slaved" together though.

Only real bummer is the phone AP. They have been promising the AP for iPhone since last summer. Not cool. Taking forever . . . .

 

[Susan Edwards]

So can I start off with those powerheads and return pump and then tie them together after I get the lights? Do they operate independently from the lights and loop?

 

[Susan Edwards]

@Doclight I'd like to avoid t5's due to heat. I live in the central valley in Ca and it gets hot here. Last year, I had a min. of 3-4 fans blowing into my RS Max c250 as the 6 t5's really bring on the heat. Even had to leave part of the lid, the front opening piece open with egg crate across to help with heat.

 

[Big G]

On my 90 I only have the eFlux Wave kit. But yes it all hooks together to one controller or your phone AP
https://current-usa.com/loop/meet-loop/

 

[Susan Edwards]

cool. But can I just buy the pumps and powerheads and run them without hooking them up or do I need at least a hub to use them. I see them sold as kits and singly. Looks like the flow pump goes to the wall via the hub and the wave pumps go to the flow pump hub but not to the wall. Can I run these without the lights and controller for a couple of months

 

[Big G]

I bought the Wave Pump Kit https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01M27BEUW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and one extra powerhead (kit only comes with one) of the 2100 gph. https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7U5MAM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The kit comes with one "hub" for the wave pumps, remote, wires, and a smaller eFlux controller (not the Loop controller. I think you have to buy the light kit for the bigger, all controlling "Loop" unit).

 

[Samina]

I had the eFlux loop on my 55g. I had bought one kit that included the 660gph powerhead and one separate 660gph powerhead. So yes you can use the eFlux pump without the lights. But you will need one kit that has the controller, hub, powerhead and also purchase a separate accessory powerhead. These are the ones I had bought below:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M8L2YF2/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M68JT9V/

I didn’t have the Current Lights so I can’t speak on that. But I did like the eFlux wave system though. However, at full speed, they were not sufficient for my tank. I did have the foam guards on the powerheads so that could have contributed to the lower power as well but I had to cover them because it’s a seahorse tank. So I can’t count that as a negative because the 660gph is pretty low to begin with.

One thing that I had not realized about them was that they only swivel in one direction. The magnetic mounting is sufficient and the powerhead itself is really small in footprint so that is also a plus. But they will only swivel in one direction so adjusting where you want to direct flow can be a bit tricky.

Another thing to take into consideration is that only 2 powerheads that you hook on to the hub will be allowed to run sync and anti sync in the various flow pattern with adjustable speed and frequency. However, if you need it and hook up a third powerhead, it can only run in a stream mode, it will not work on surge or pulse.

Good Luck [emoji846]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I bought the Wave Pump Kit https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01M27BEUW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and one extra powerhead (kit only comes with one) of the 2100 gph. https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7U5MAM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The kit comes with one "hub" for the wave pumps, remote, wires, and a smaller eFlux controller (not the Loop controller. I think you have to buy the light kit for the bigger, all controlling "Loop" unit).

Hey G, have you stuck a par meter on those ?
The loops I saw should have been about 500 par at 12in. I belive . No?

Susan , I’m not sure what you think of used , but I’ve seen some screaming deals on gear lately. It’s the black Feb sale as I call it.

 

[Big G]

Hey G, have you stuck a par meter on those ?
The loops I saw should have been about 500 par at 12in. I belive . No?

Susan , I’m not sure what you think of used , but I’ve seen some screaming deals on gear lately. It’s the black Feb sale as I call it.

Salty, I don't have the lights, just the powerheads from Current USA. But I'm still planning on getting a PAR meter one of these days to get you some data from my SB Ultra.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Salty, I don't have the lights, just the powerheads from Current USA. But I'm still planning on getting a PAR meter one of these days to get you some data from my SB Ultra.

Cool thanks man. (a lux meter is cheaper )


Most of the par data on the current orbit site has been petty close to the par readings I’ve seen here and collected.

 

[Big G]

Cool thanks man. (a lux meter is cheaper )


Most of the par data on the current orbit site has been petty close to the par readings I’ve seen here and collected.

Care to make a recommendation on a reasonable LUX meter?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Care to make a recommendation on a reasonable LUX meter?

I own one like this. You can find it for 13 usually as well.

 

[Big G]

I own one like this. You can find it for 13 usually as well.

picture?

 

[Susan Edwards]

@saltyfilmfolks what is gear? No objection to used-but would want to be sure I'm not being scammed

@Samina I did see reviews on the 660's that said they weren't very powerful. For a six foot tank I'll go the largest. I can always get 2 powerheads and add 2 more of the jebao ones as well and sync them together . Or do 3 and 1 separate. I'd planned on 4 powerheads total.

so the question is:
Go with the current orbit pro system of powerheads and return--a bit more expensive only on the ph's including pro lights
Go with jebao ph's (4 for 110.00) and the jabao dc return pump and pro lights

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

picture?

Darn. Forgot this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LSFR0F...t=&hvlocphy=9061183&hvtargid=pla-505585159192

 

[Susan Edwards]

@saltyfilmfolks what is "gear" is that a used item site?