need help with my lights

[Zeal]

Hello,

There are several several marine orbit lights, I run or have ran all of them. If you have the orbit marine pros, then I would do 100 on blues and 60 on whites orbit should be preset #4 which is coral acclimation. The new ic loop lights are good, but depends which version you have. If you compare to the original orbit marines, yes they are better, if you compare them to the orbit marine pros then the marine pros are still the higher end light, then the new ic lights.

In order of best to worse it would be orbit marine pro, orbit marine ic then orbit marine, then current satellite. Yet, depending on the size of your tank, which version will dictate which model you should use. I have had amazing success with the marine pros, and the ic lights are not terrible as long as your not using them with lots of sps coral and any tank larger than a 125 or 24 inches and 18 wide. Even then 24 inches is pushing the light, on the ic pros. The orbit marine pros can go much deeper because they have a 60 degree lens, instead of a 90 degree lens. The orbit marine s version one, I think anything above a 75 gallon is really pushing your luck. They just don’t have the spectrum or power to give what certain corals need, unless they are placed high, and are low light.

If you have a pic of the remote, and or light that would better help me tell you preset to use, and or how to set it up better.

Sarah

@Zeal
You stated “For the love of god get rid of that light. Long run its not worth it”

What is the reason for this, and what experience do you have? Are you aware that most full size local aquariums for the public prefer these lights? In my research and studing with about 8 different major aquariums, they had more of these lights than any other led light. If they are so terrible why would local aquariums is them? I’m just curious as to how you came to your conclusion, yet at the same time, you show no support as why you say get rid of them? (Please note, I’m not saying you can’t have your view or your opinion, I’m just curious as to why, (plus maybe the op would like to know as well).

New to hobby, from what I've read and been told by many people on this fourm and other fourms + every LFS in my area the current lights are subpar to everything else.

I had the current orbit LC, hated it after 2 days felt cheaply made the Radeons are literally where it's at. If you're already spending so much money on the tank, rocks, corals, fish spend the money on the light. In the long run it's better.

Skimping out on the light early on is shooting yourself in the foot. There's tons of information online about how crappy the light is.

Can't give you numbers or statistics but a simple good search will tell you the same thing

 

[mcarroll]

I will look into lux meter. As far as I can tell my light must be the plain. It doesnt say pro anywhere on it.

Tank is 21" tall 18" from sand to surface.

The plain Marine is only adequate by itself on a 12" deep tank.

Considering the low power and the pic showing the tank "with light wings" I'd suggest another light, as least in the long run. This is just a bad fit all the way around.

Kinda reminds me of this Space Winnebago right now:

Get the "24-36 inch" version, since I think you have a 30" tank. It'll fit the tank correctly AND give you much better/more intense light. (The model you want is listed there for about $200.)

Current Orbit™ IC

Any similar light would work, but these are pretty slick.

so 0 phosphate is bad? what is the highest it should get? my phosphate test only reads .25 the next lowest is 0 on the color chart. how do you measure such a small amount of phosphate?

Below 0.017 ppm of PO4 corals are, depending on other conditions such as NO3 levels, likely to suffer. At or above 0.03 ppm they are much more impervious to many stresses.

You may have to upgrade to a Hanna Checker....the regular one will read accurately down lower than you are concerned with, but they also make a hyper-low range detector too.

 

[Star reefer]

Get an ai prime it's a poor mans radion

 

[Zeal]

Get an ai prime it's a poor mans radion

Even that. Think about the future and your hobby. Invest in a light be cheap on other things.

 

[Sarah24!]

Get a better light like an ai

At Starreefer,

A better light like AI, did you happen to mention, that they cost between 300 and 600 dollars? What credible research have you conducted between AI and current? You stated preciously that you have never used it, but doubt it’s good. Is this pure opinion or fact? Some, people just can’t go buy 350 dollars lights because one says get a better lights.

As a community aren’t we suppose to help those, with what they have? If the op wants to buy something better, I’m sure they have the power to do so. You say you doubt these lights are good, well I run current orbit marine lights. I use them on a 240 gallon tank mixed reef. My lights have out grown others that live by me that use AI and ecotech. (All three Current, AI, and Ecotech are good lights).

Every ecosystem is different, they all respond different to such ecosystems. His tank is use to a lower powered led, if he puts an AI on it, there is a good chance (even if turned down, his corals could respond negatively). My corals didn’t like when I tested the hydra 5200, and or g4 pros. Does this mean they are crappy lights, nope. It means my personal ocean is use to the orbit marine pros and their spectrum.

If this was a brand new tank, with no corals or anything, starting with an AI or Ecotech would be fine. If you consider corals as humans for a moment who live just normal healthy lives. Well let’s change the works schedule from days to nights permanently, instantly. What happens to the person, what happens to their energy and sleep levels? Changing something drastic in a living animals routine can have drastic effects, if not deadly ones. (But have you considered this, have you thought a of what may happen to the ops tank)?

Here are pics of my 240 gallon tank that is 6 months old using orbit marine lights from current?

 

[STEVEN ADAMS]

Hello,

Okay so these are the original orbit pros version one. I would suggest using preset 2 or 4. For the coral, and tank this light is more than plenty to do what you need. (I will say the coral you have ((mostly lps, and softies low light)). If you move to a deeper or bigger tank, or sps coral, then you should consider one of currents newer lights. For a beginner, this light is more than sufficient. Aquariums still use this light on their smaller tanks that are primarily softies, and lower light corals.

If you obtain some corals that need medium light you will need to place them higher up in the tank. Please keep in mind that yes this is a lower powered light, but it’s still strong enough to bleach corals. Is this the best light no, will it work yes. I’d suggest maybe finding a tank that fits the length of the light as well. I wish you luck and fun with your new hobby.

excellent. so I should use preset 2 or 4. how do I go about switching to it? alot of people talk about light acclimation do I need to worry about this with these corals or should I just switch it over? obviously I should change the setting at night once the lights go out and I suppose the corals wont notice much by the time the light kicks back on?

 

[Star reefer]

At Starreefer,

A better light like AI, did you happen to mention, that they cost between 300 and 600 dollars? What credible research have you conducted between AI and current? You stated preciously that you have never used it, but doubt it’s good. Is this pure opinion or fact? Some, people just can’t go buy 350 dollars lights because one says get a better lights.

As a community aren’t we suppose to help those, with what they have? If the op wants to buy something better, I’m sure they have the power to do so. You say you doubt these lights are good, well I run current orbit marine lights. I use them on a 240 gallon tank mixed reef. My lights have out grown others that live by me that use AI and ecotech. (All three Current, AI, and Ecotech are good lights).

Every ecosystem is different, they all respond different to such ecosystems. His tank is use to a lower powered led, if he puts an AI on it, there is a good chance (even if turned down, his corals could respond negatively). My corals didn’t like when I tested the hydra 5200, and or g4 pros. Does this mean they are crappy lights, nope. It means my personal ocean is use to the orbit marine pros and their spectrum.

If this was a brand new tank, with no corals or anything, starting with an AI or Ecotech would be fine. If you consider corals as humans for a moment who live just normal healthy lives. Well let’s change the works schedule from days to nights permanently, instantly. What happens to the person, what happens to their energy and sleep levels? Changing something drastic in a living animals routine can have drastic effects, if not deadly ones. (But have you considered this, have you thought a of what may happen to the ops tank)?

Here are pics of my 240 gallon tank that is 6 months old using orbit marine lights from current?

actually u do your re research an ai prime is only 235 dollars

 

[STEVEN ADAMS]

At Starreefer,

A better light like AI, did you happen to mention, that they cost between 300 and 600 dollars? What credible research have you conducted between AI and current? You stated preciously that you have never used it, but doubt it’s good. Is this pure opinion or fact? Some, people just can’t go buy 350 dollars lights because one says get a better lights.

As a community aren’t we suppose to help those, with what they have? If the op wants to buy something better, I’m sure they have the power to do so. You say you doubt these lights are good, well I run current orbit marine lights. I use them on a 240 gallon tank mixed reef. My lights have out grown others that live by me that use AI and ecotech. (All three Current, AI, and Ecotech are good lights).

Every ecosystem is different, they all respond different to such ecosystems. His tank is use to a lower powered led, if he puts an AI on it, there is a good chance (even if turned down, his corals could respond negatively). My corals didn’t like when I tested the hydra 5200, and or g4 pros. Does this mean they are crappy lights, nope. It means my personal ocean is use to the orbit marine pros and their spectrum.

If this was a brand new tank, with no corals or anything, starting with an AI or Ecotech would be fine. If you consider corals as humans for a moment who live just normal healthy lives. Well let’s change the works schedule from days to nights permanently, instantly. What happens to the person, what happens to their energy and sleep levels? Changing something drastic in a living animals routine can have drastic effects, if not deadly ones. (But have you considered this, have you thought a of what may happen to the ops tank)?

Here are pics of my 240 gallon tank that is 6 months old using orbit marine lights from current?

Great tank! I am definitely not trying to run out and buy a 3 or 4 of 5 hundred dollar light for my little 35 gallon tank. if my one hundred dollar one is going to work. frankly right now I have the feeling that the current light is too bright and glad to know that I should considering turning down the white light to 50!

 

[Zeal]

Wait you have 4 orbits? Pretty sure you can get better results with 2 radeons/2 ai prime

And have a better qaulity of life with their interface and configuring

 

[STEVEN ADAMS]

actually u do your re research an ai prime is only 235 dollars

still. I am new to saltwater but seams pricey for a low tech 35 gallon tank. I

 

[Star reefer]

Yea zeal is right

 

[Sarah24!]

Wait you have 4 orbits? Pretty sure you can get better results with 2 radeons/2 ai prime

And have a better qaulity of life with their interface and configuring

Hello,

I’m not on to sound harsh, but first off, I have two 72 inch orbit lights. (The pic clearly shows that, I have 4 current 2100 wavemakers, and 2 3100 dc return pumps. If you look at the picture, there is only two ramp timers, where do you see four. Second, the third box is the loop controller for me to sync all four wavemakers and run them independently if needed. The four leds displays you see, tell me which wavemakers does what and what program it’s on.

In addition, a 240 would require min 3 radions or 3 5200 hydras. Where did you come up with 2 on a 72 inch tank? In addition I would have to add diffusers so I don’t have shadowing. Since I have my undergrad degrees in marine biology, focusing on marine fish and reefs, how does my corals look unhealthy? When you say “pretty sure” is that an hypothesis or pure fact? Given the fact I tried both three Ecotech and Hydras prior. My coral grew faster, and had better color. Again considering each ecosystem is different, where is your scientific proof?

 

[Star reefer]

OK than tell me this if the orbit led is so amazing than how come world wide corals the best coral company in the country uses radions

 

[Zeal]

still. I am new to saltwater but seams pricey for a low tech 35 gallon tank. I

It's about future proofing. Yes I know the light is a bit pricey but in the long run you'll wish you would have bought something better. So you'll still end up paying more because you'll buy a new light.

Go to your LFS look for one you trust ask if they have any gently used lights. My cousin bought one from one of our local LFS for $300 with the stand (Radeon xr14w gen 4 pro)

 

[Star reefer]

Yea I had a garbage light when i started and I regreted not getting some thing better because it really stuck me with only being able to keep lower light corals

 

[mcarroll]

Folks, seriously be a fan of your favorite light, but let's keep our heads on and keep it fun. Dude only asked for help with his current light. If you don't even like it...

Simple blue+white LED systems will grow corals nicely...look back on the photo evidence of past tanks when that was the only option.

The Current lights are all at least that good or better, depending on the model.

@STEVEN ADAMS Current has published documentation for your light, but can you see an actual part number anywhere on the light so we can be totally sure what you have?