I need your expertise on how good the CURRENT USA ORBIT MARINE LED light is for coral growth?? I bought a few zoa frags (5) and I’ve been messing around with placements and I see that the zoas have opened up! But I’m not too confident that they like it too much, candy apple reds aren’t showing any red and la laker seems dull, how many other people have this light? Is it good? I have them placed about 6”
CURRENT USA ORBIT MARINE LED LIGHT??
- Thread starter Armani
- Start date
- Tagged users None
RobZilla04
Well-Known Member
That light is underpowered, even for softies/zoas.
Matt Carden
Valuable Member
Orbit uses 1/2 watt LEDs. Whereas all other reef tank lights use 3 watt led.
Thank you all for your responses, I do have a T5 light but I need to find a way to hang it and purchase the right bulbs, can you guys help wit that too? I have 4 slots for bulbs what kind what wattage should I get??
RobZilla04
Well-Known Member
For T5 I like a combination of all blue blubs. Super blue, actinic, and aquablue.
Sarah24!
2500 Club Member
Hello.
What concerns me about these posts is not one has actually asked which current light he has. There are some that are way to powerful for zoas and they will close up. I’d the op could post a pic of his light or model number that would help. Currents (some of them are in the same category as radions g4 pros) and I have proof of this. There are some like the orginal ones (they are kinda crappy) others not so much. Not all currents use 1/2 watt diodes, mine uses 3 watt leds and are extremely powerful. So again depends on the model since there are five current orbit marine or aka pros
Buying a new light isn’t always what needs to be done. What size tank (dimensions) and other corals in size tank would help.
What concerns me about these posts is not one has actually asked which current light he has. There are some that are way to powerful for zoas and they will close up. I’d the op could post a pic of his light or model number that would help. Currents (some of them are in the same category as radions g4 pros) and I have proof of this. There are some like the orginal ones (they are kinda crappy) others not so much. Not all currents use 1/2 watt diodes, mine uses 3 watt leds and are extremely powerful. So again depends on the model since there are five current orbit marine or aka pros
Buying a new light isn’t always what needs to be done. What size tank (dimensions) and other corals in size tank would help.
I was disappointed with my Current obit LEDs for corals. I even went with 2 strips and felt the output was underpowered for my lps. Otherwise, good controllability and no fan=no noise. Probably a better fowlr light. Changed it out for kessil 360x, much happier.
So it’s a 55gallon long, it’s the regular orbit marine ( not pro ) I have 5 different types of zoas. 1 torch, and 1 rock flower. All the zoas have opened at least but I’m just concerned they won’t open more and show their colors. I’ve looked at the specs here is a picture. Let’s disect it.
Currently all zoas are around the 6-9” mark and they have opened which is a good sign and my water parameters are all on point as well.So it’s a 55gallon long, it’s the regular orbit marine ( not pro ) I have 5 different types of zoas. 1 torch, and 1 rock flower. All the zoas have opened at least but I’m just concerned they won’t open more and show their colors. I’ve looked at the specs here is a picture. Let’s disect it.
RobZilla04
Well-Known Member
So it’s a 55gallon long, it’s the regular orbit marine ( not pro ) I have 5 different types of zoas. 1 torch, and 1 rock flower. All the zoas have opened at least but I’m just concerned they won’t open more and show their colors. I’ve looked at the specs here is a picture. Let’s disect it.
Neither will suffice IMO. That is why I neglected to even ask which the OP was using.
Coral use light mostly from the blue spectrum, so white light is not even needed. Check a few of Jason Fox's videos on YouTube. His main display has no white light at all. Most of the coral we place in our tanks come from depths where the light is predominantly blue.
RobZilla04
Well-Known Member
Neither will suffice IMO. That is why I neglected to even ask which the OP was using.
Coral use light mostly from the blue spectrum, so white light is not even needed. Check a few of Jason Fox's videos on YouTube. His main display has no white light at all. Most of the coral we place in our tanks come from depths where the light is predominantly blue.
RobZilla04
Well-Known Member
Ive got two Kessil A3360W-E and a two bulb T5 retro kit. The color spectrum on the Kessils don't go above 30% (or 50% intensity either) and the T5 are Super Blue and Coral Plus. Once they are due for replacement I'll swap the Coral Plus to an actinic. Simply put, I didn't realize how purple that one was until I installed it. Although it blends nicely, I don't believe it is doing anything for the coral.
I think It would be safe to assume it isn’t a pro since the op didn’t state that it was...
Sarah24!
2500 Club Member
Hello,
@RobZilla04 so here are pics of my 240 that is 34 inches tall where my Maximus clam is 24 inches down. They seem to grow clams and sps and lps and softies just fine for me and my tank is probably deeper aka tall wise. Yes I have two of the marine pro 4114 with the 60 degree lens. But even the ic marine pro or the marine that’s the newer loop version has all the blue spectrums. My tank is 13 months old total and has great growth.
This is why I asked, because in order for my softies and zoas to grow I had to turn my lights way down. Adding a third one was not a good idea and went back to two of them equally split based on the critical angel.
With that said the op may have the orginal orbit marine and its (honestly) crappy, but the newer versions that are linked to the loop are much better. Several reefers on here use them and have had great success. Which is why I was hoping to find out because, it could be too much light, with some of their models, but it could be flow it could be parameters all kinds of things. If we all say your light is crappy he buys a new one and nothing changes, (do you think he is going to seek advice from us again?)
Edit
Okay didn’t see the op prior post so you do have the original orbit before the beast version model 4114 came out. They honestly are kinda crappy, they would probably work for softies. But if your trying to get the brilliant colors on the zoas it probably won’t happen on that particular model. The marine that’s new to the ic loop version would be just fine for what your looking for. Also keep in mind the only currents that will grow sps or clams is the 4114 model version. Even the new ic loop pros with duals will grow sps but not suggested but great for lps and softies.
@RobZilla04 so here are pics of my 240 that is 34 inches tall where my Maximus clam is 24 inches down. They seem to grow clams and sps and lps and softies just fine for me and my tank is probably deeper aka tall wise. Yes I have two of the marine pro 4114 with the 60 degree lens. But even the ic marine pro or the marine that’s the newer loop version has all the blue spectrums. My tank is 13 months old total and has great growth.
This is why I asked, because in order for my softies and zoas to grow I had to turn my lights way down. Adding a third one was not a good idea and went back to two of them equally split based on the critical angel.
With that said the op may have the orginal orbit marine and its (honestly) crappy, but the newer versions that are linked to the loop are much better. Several reefers on here use them and have had great success. Which is why I was hoping to find out because, it could be too much light, with some of their models, but it could be flow it could be parameters all kinds of things. If we all say your light is crappy he buys a new one and nothing changes, (do you think he is going to seek advice from us again?)
Edit
Okay didn’t see the op prior post so you do have the original orbit before the beast version model 4114 came out. They honestly are kinda crappy, they would probably work for softies. But if your trying to get the brilliant colors on the zoas it probably won’t happen on that particular model. The marine that’s new to the ic loop version would be just fine for what your looking for. Also keep in mind the only currents that will grow sps or clams is the 4114 model version. Even the new ic loop pros with duals will grow sps but not suggested but great for lps and softies.
Thanks everyone so moving forward, I’ll probably find a way to hang my t5s and get some bulbs. Just sucks I bought this and I like all the features it’s pretty awesome just wish it was stronger...anyone want it? $60 lol.. so 2 blues and 2 whites.. give me some wattage suggestions, it’s a 55gallon long.Hello,
@RobZilla04 so here are pics of my 240 that is 34 inches tall where my Maximus clam is 24 inches down. They seem to grow clams and sps and lps and softies just fine for me and my tank is probably deeper aka tall wise. Yes I have two of the marine pro 4114 with the 60 degree lens. But even the ic marine pro or the marine that’s the newer loop version has all the blue spectrums. My tank is 13 months old total and has great growth.
This is why I asked, because in order for my softies and zoas to grow I had to turn my lights way down. Adding a third one was not a good idea and went back to two of them equally split based on the critical angel.
With that said the op may have the orginal orbit marine and its (honestly) crappy, but the newer versions that are linked to the loop are much better. Several reefers on here use them and have had great success. Which is why I was hoping to find out because, it could be too much light, with some of their models, but it could be flow it could be parameters all kinds of things. If we all say your light is crappy he buys a new one and nothing changes, (do you think he is going to seek advice from us again?)
Edit
Okay didn’t see the op prior post so you do have the original orbit before the beast version model 4114 came out. They honestly are kinda crappy, they would probably work for softies. But if your trying to get the brilliant colors on the zoas it probably won’t happen on that particular model. The marine that’s new to the ic loop version would be just fine for what your looking for. Also keep in mind the only currents that will grow sps or clams is the 4114 model version. Even the new ic loop pros with duals will grow sps but not suggested but great for lps and softies.
RobZilla04
Well-Known Member
Hello,
@RobZilla04 so here are pics of my 240 that is 34 inches tall where my Maximus clam is 24 inches down. They seem to grow clams and sps and lps and softies just fine for me and my tank is probably deeper aka tall wise. Yes I have two of the marine pro 4114 with the 60 degree lens. But even the ic marine pro or the marine that’s the newer loop version has all the blue spectrums. My tank is 13 months old total and has great growth.
This is why I asked, because in order for my softies and zoas to grow I had to turn my lights way down. Adding a third one was not a good idea and went back to two of them equally split based on the critical angel.
With that said the op may have the orginal orbit marine and its (honestly) crappy, but the newer versions that are linked to the loop are much better. Several reefers on here use them and have had great success. Which is why I was hoping to find out because, it could be too much light, with some of their models, but it could be flow it could be parameters all kinds of things. If we all say your light is crappy he buys a new one and nothing changes, (do you think he is going to seek advice from us again?)
Edit
Okay didn’t see the op prior post so you do have the original orbit before the beast version model 4114 came out. They honestly are kinda crappy, they would probably work for softies. But if your trying to get the brilliant colors on the zoas it probably won’t happen on that particular model. The marine that’s new to the ic loop version would be just fine for what your looking for. Also keep in mind the only currents that will grow sps or clams is the 4114 model version. Even the new ic loop pros with duals will grow sps but not suggested but great for lps and softies.
Very well done! Two of the upgraded pro model is a whole different ball game than the single the OP was asking about obviously.
