Orphek OR UV/Blue review?

[Daniel Waters]

@sfg here are some pictures. This is for one 48" Orphek LED bar over a 72" x 24" x 18" tank...none of my other T5s or led fixtures are on. Also, my LED bar was custom, and it has 20 of the 410 nm, 8 of the 430 nm, and 8 of the 460 nm LEDs. The original actinic / UV bars are 28 of the 410 nm and 8 of the 430 nm. These pictures were taken with a 20k polyp lab lens on. The tank may look a little dark since I just have the one bar. The tank definitely is a very deep blue color and not what I would want to view for several hours. I run my LED bar with other LEDs and only have the bar on by itself at the very beginning and very end of the day. Otherwise, it is usually being run with other LEDs or T5s. When the T5s are on, the led bar color gets dominated by the whiter T5 bulbs. Of course, that doesn't mean the bar isn't still being useful. I'm just talking about pure visual effect.

 

[sfg]

@sfg jere are some pictures. This is for one 48" Orphek LED bar over a 72" x 24" x 18" tank...none of my other T5s or led fixtures are on. Also, my LED bar was custom, and it has 20 of the 410 nm, 8 of the 430 nm, and 8 of the 460 nm LEDs. The original actinic / UV bars are 28 of the 410 nm and 8 of the 430 nm. These pictures were taken with a 20k polyp lab lens on. The tank may look a little dark since I just have the one bar. The tank definitely is a very deep blue color and not what I would want to view for several hours. I run my LED bar with other LEDs and only have the bar on by itself at the very beginning and very end of the day. Otherwise, it is usually being run with other LEDs or T5s. When the T5s are on, the led bar color gets dominated by the whiter T5 bulbs. Of course, that doesn't mean the bar isn't still being useful. I'm just talking about pure visual effect.

Super appreciate the time with taking the pictures! This definitely helps me with making my decision.

Thanks again man

 

[Dana Riddle]

I'm really late to the party. Here are spectral analyses of the UV/violet LEDs in the Orphek strip. I have a ReefBrite luminaire, but it's an older model and Tullio says some changes have been made since. If anyone is interested, I can get an analysis of that as well.

 

[shred5]

The OR Blue sky would be closer to the Reef Brite actinic blues.

 

[Reefcowboy]

I have two Sky blues OR's on my tank supplementing my spectra mhs/t5s.
It is definitely nice, and for the price you cant beat it.
Reefbrite's VHO are very nice as well, but much pricier in comparison.
A few pics

 

[Daniel Waters]

@Reefcowboy not sure if you're familiar or have used ATI T5 bulbs, but would you say the Orphek Sky Blue LED bar is similar in viewing color as the ATI blue plus bulb?

 

[arafas]

I'm really late to the party. Here are spectral analyses of the UV/violet LEDs in the Orphek strip. I have a ReefBrite luminaire, but it's an older model and Tullio says some changes have been made since. If anyone is interested, I can get an analysis of that as well.

WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE SOME WAVELENGTH GRAPH FOR THE NEW REEFBRITE.

 

[Reefcowboy]

@Reefcowboy not sure if you're familiar or have used ATI T5 bulbs, but would you say the Orphek Sky Blue LED bar is similar in viewing color as the ATI blue plus bulb?

Yes, blue plus is a very good comparison. The cyan LEDs present on the sky blue give the tank a lighter blue, easier on the eye for dawn/dusk enjoyment. Like others mentioned previously, the UV version seems artificial and too glowy, if one seeks a more natural look.

For my set up, I like best when the t5s go off and just the led bars remain on supplementing the halides alone. They give a lot of blue pop, combined with the mh shimmer makes the tank look really nice

 

[Dana Riddle]

Here is a spectral analysis of ReefBrite's XHO LED strip. Maximum output is about 460nm. I've had this for a few years now, and this may not be applicable to newer models.

 

[CoralWealth]

I know this is a little order but I am wondering about this.

For growth, is the UV/violet light bar better for SPS corals to go along with T5 setup? Right now I have reefbrites, but I am thinking of changing to UV if the growth will increase.

 

[sfg]

I went ahead and went with the XHO Reefbrite. It’s tried and proven and also dimmable. I couldn’t get enough of a warm and fuzzy on the Orpheks. Cost more yeah but I got a good deal on one and couldn’t pass it up

 

[CoralWealth]

I went ahead and went with the XHO Reefbrite. It’s tried and proven and also dimmable. I couldn’t get enough of a warm and fuzzy on the Orpheks. Cost more yeah but I got a good deal on one and couldn’t pass it up

Yeah I have 2 XHO reefbrites right now but I am wondering if I should change to UV for more growth

 

[sfg]

Yeah I have 2 XHO reefbrites right now but I am wondering if I should change to UV for more growth

Are they your primary light source?

 

[CoralWealth]

Are they your primary light source?

No my primary is a 8 bulb sunpower.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I run an orphek or120 uv bar for color pop and have been very happy with it. Happy with the build quality of the light. Feels well constructed. Customer service was great as well. They were very prompt with answering all questions throughout the process

 

[akaimal]

The Sky Blue OR bar is similar to a RB XHO, at a better price and IMO, a better looking product. I run 4 bars over my frag tank. Nothing else.

UV
Sky Blue
Reef Daylight
Custom ( UV/violet/blues )

The custom bar is my favorite, followed by the Sky Blue. The UV is okay when combined with other bars, but not something I would get again. Adding it to a blue heavy bar, like my custom bar, makes more sense. The reef daylight isn’t good for me. Too much red and disco effect.

Looks great man! Could you share the arrangement of LEDs for the Custom ( UV/violet/blues )?