I'm using the USA Orbit Marine LED Lighting System. Would like to grow LPS/SPS corals. What's your experience with this lighting system with theses corals? This system allows settings for R/G/B/W color spectrums with settings between 0% and 100%. What are your color spectrum settings?
Lighting for LPS/SPS corals
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Ron Reefman
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Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
MAC of SW Florida
First let me say "welcome to Reef2Reef".
I like and use a couple of Current Orbit wave maker systems. I think they are quite good, especially for smaller tanks.
Current Orbit has 2 different levels of lighting systems. Their older stuff was very weak and really just for very shallow tanks that are fish only or with easy to grow corals. I have one sitting on a shelf that I use for a small non-coral tank when I do collecting from the wild (Florida Keys).
I have no experience with their newer version, but I believe it's better. However it still uses very low powered leds (less than 1/2 watt). But it uses more of them?
IMHO, your aquarium would be far better off with lighting that uses 3 watt leds. They will penetrate the water MUCH better. LPS & SPS corals need better, i.e. more PAR (Photosynthetic Available Radiation) than the Current Orbit puts out, unless your tank is less than 12" deep.
I like and use a couple of Current Orbit wave maker systems. I think they are quite good, especially for smaller tanks.
Current Orbit has 2 different levels of lighting systems. Their older stuff was very weak and really just for very shallow tanks that are fish only or with easy to grow corals. I have one sitting on a shelf that I use for a small non-coral tank when I do collecting from the wild (Florida Keys).
I have no experience with their newer version, but I believe it's better. However it still uses very low powered leds (less than 1/2 watt). But it uses more of them?
IMHO, your aquarium would be far better off with lighting that uses 3 watt leds. They will penetrate the water MUCH better. LPS & SPS corals need better, i.e. more PAR (Photosynthetic Available Radiation) than the Current Orbit puts out, unless your tank is less than 12" deep.
First let me say "welcome to Reef2Reef".
I like and use a couple of Current Orbit wave maker systems. I think they are quite good, especially for smaller tanks.
Current Orbit has 2 different levels of lighting systems. Their older stuff was very weak and really just for very shallow tanks that are fish only or with easy to grow corals. I have one sitting on a shelf that I use for a small non-coral tank when I do collecting from the wild (Florida Keys).
I have no experience with their newer version, but I believe it's better. However it still uses very low powered leds (less than 1/2 watt). But it uses more of them?
IMHO, your aquarium would be far better off with lighting that uses 3 watt leds. They will penetrate the water MUCH better. LPS & SPS corals need better, i.e. more PAR (Photosynthetic Available Radiation) than the Current Orbit puts out, unless your tank is less than 12" deep.
Ron Reefman
Lets Go Snorkeling!
Reef Squad
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
MAC of SW Florida
MarsAqua, Ocean Revive, SB Reef Lights... They don't have all the features for you to play with that the Current fixture does, but they provide much better PAR.
If your 30g tank is 16" or less deep and you intend to do zoas and soft corals, the Current will work fine. But you expressed a desire to get into lps and sps and the Current Orbit can probably keep them alive, but the would be healthier and grow better with more PAR than the Current fixture produces.
If your 30g tank is 16" or less deep and you intend to do zoas and soft corals, the Current will work fine. But you expressed a desire to get into lps and sps and the Current Orbit can probably keep them alive, but the would be healthier and grow better with more PAR than the Current fixture produces.
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The Aquatic Arsenal
2500 Club Member
For a little bit more money you can have UV and Violet spectrums as well. I run Reef Breeders Photon V2+ myself @Reef Breeders
Ron Reefman
Lets Go Snorkeling!
Reef Squad
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
MAC of SW Florida
I use the Reef Breeders Photon V2+ as well, but they are more than "a little bit more money". But they are far and away the best value in a sunrise/sunset, 6 channel color control fixture. And they are well made and good looking as well!
Mical
2500 Club Member
I hate to be the "dark cloud" here but Current USA LEDS are inexpensive and tanks look great under them, but they don't produce light enough for SPS. Depending on your depth they might work for some LPS. I had some when I first started, even doubled them up hoping it would grow hammers, frogspawn, etc.. and it was a struggle. Tanks looked great just not the right spectrums. I limped it out on them until I could afford better more high end lighting. When we all first get into this reef keeping, costs can dictate what we want. Until you can afford better lighting stick to softires and zoas. Just my experience.
Ron Reefman
Lets Go Snorkeling!
Reef Squad
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
MAC of SW Florida
A Mars Aqua fixture uses 3 watt leds and makes good PAR for right at $100. It's better than a Current Orbit if your tank is more than about 16" or more deep.
