Reef lighting help

[uutank]

Hi! after much research of a budget lighting for my 180gallon tank I’ve come across ‘Current USA orbit marine LED’ I think it suits my requirements and my pocket well too. Is it a good lighting system, should I go ahead and buy it or not. Also some knowledge on how to programme lighting for tank the blues and the whites and the amount of photo period, will be a lot of help.
I’ll be adding some corals only lps,softies and polyps, no sps since it’s banned in my country[emoji22]. Thank you.

 

[ScottandAlisa]

I recently talked to @C-reefer on here about the current light. Maybe he could tell you about his experience with them?

 

[Blastonator]

A LFS tried to sell me those lights. They look cool and I like the settings they have but my research concluded that they'd be good for growing little, if anything. I ended up going with two kessil a360we over a 4' 120gal.

 

[uutank]

Suggest some budget reef led .Not thinking of spending more than 250-300$

 

[samnaz]

I highly recommend the Current Orbit fixture.

I had the current orbit marine over my tank for a year, no complaints. Then I upgraded to the orbit marine pro version (found one for way cheap). It’s waaay underrated. It grows everything from soft to lps to even some sps like weeds!

 

[uutank]

I highly recommend the Current Orbit fixture.

I had the current orbit marine over my tank for a year, no complaints. Then I upgraded to the orbit marine pro version (found one for way cheap). It’s waaay underrated. It grows everything from soft to lps to even some sps like weeds!

Thanks bro. Even my first pick is current orbit, but after reading some cons about it, like it’s okay but I’ll be able to grow very little in my tank and it’s good for shallow tank and all that stuff.
Thought tbh I’m so eyeing it rn, for that price it’s just too good, but still needed somebody to aid me in choosing.

 

[C-Reefer]

I use the current marine orbit over my 20 long. However, its only 12 inches deep. It grows corals really well, from LPS to SPS, and really easy to program, very customizeable. For a 180 I'd probably either do t5's or 2 or 3 or even 4 of the current marine pros in a rack. It'll be expensive, but cheaper then radions. Although, I've been seeing Marine Pros for cheap, around $90. Or, you could do the chinese black boxes.

 

[samnaz]

Thanks bro. Even my first pick is current orbit, but after reading some cons about it, like it’s okay but I’ll be able to grow very little in my tank and it’s good for shallow tank and all that stuff.
Thought tbh I’m so eyeing it rn, for that price it’s just too good, but still needed somebody to aid me in choosing.

Well I can’t say for sure it’s your best bet out of all the options, I have no experience with other leds. My tank is shallow only 12” and tiny compared to a 180 gal.

Current USA website has many detailed specification sheets for each light. Those will tell you exactly what will or won’t work for your setup.

 

[uutank]

Thank you @C-Reefer and @samnaz I’ll surely check out the site for spec sheet

 

[WVNed]

I am running 2 Viparspectra 165W black boxes over a 18 inch deep tank. Each is supposed to cover 24x24. You have to figure out some way to hang then yourself.
$119 on Amazon

 

[uutank]

I am running 2 Viparspectra 165W black boxes over a 18 inch deep tank. Each is supposed to cover 24x24. You have to figure out some way to hang then yourself.
$119 on Amazon

Thanks I’ll look into it

 

[Blastonator]

I highly recommend the Current Orbit fixture.

I had the current orbit marine over my tank for a year, no complaints. Then I upgraded to the orbit marine pro version (found one for way cheap). It’s waaay underrated. It grows everything from soft to lps to even some sps like weeds!

How deep is your tank? I have not used the light but I'm under the impression that they wouldn't have much light getting down to the bottom of a 24" tank.

I'm not sure what country you're in but Amazon always has cheap led lights. This one seems pretty solid. Get two and see how they light the aquarium but a third would be ideal.

Ive heard the claim that wattage isn't important with led's but I can't wrap my head around that. 35 watts on the current fixture isn't going to put out nearly as much as this 165 watt fixture IMO:

VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum for Coral Reef Grow Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6uL7AbP6JATGC

 

[uutank]

How deep is your tank? I have not used the light but I'm under the impression that they wouldn't have much light getting down to the bottom of a 24" tank.

I'm not sure what country you're in but Amazon always has cheap led lights. This one seems pretty solid. Get two and see how they light the aquarium but a third would be ideal.

Ive heard the claim that wattage isn't important with led's but I can't wrap my head around that. 35 watts on the current fixture isn't going to put out nearly as much as this 165 watt fixture IMO:

VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum for Coral Reef Grow Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6uL7AbP6JATGC

Yeah I saw Viparspectra too. Are you using it?? How’s it?? My tank is also 24” deep. And I’ve same apprehension that current USA wont be able to get light down to the bottom, as I’ve heard from quite a few people about the light by now that its for shallow tank. But I’m anyway going to grow some lps and softies so I’ll be needing moderate lighting only. I’m quite puzzled up lol[emoji28]

 

[WVNed]

They also make a bigger one.
VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control Series T300 300W LED Aquarium Light

 

[Blastonator]

Yeah I saw Viparspectra too. Are you using it?? How’s it?? My tank is also 24” deep. And I’ve same apprehension that current USA wont be able to get light down to the bottom, as I’ve heard from quite a few people about the light by now that its for shallow tank. But I’m anyway going to grow some lps and softies so I’ll be needing moderate lighting only. I’m quite puzzled up lol[emoji28]

I do not use the light. I ended up going with two kessil 360we over a 4' tank. I was suggesting a cheaper alternative at the request of OP. I didn't see @WVNed suggested the same light before I did, prior to writing my response but it looks like he likes them. Have you seen much growth under the lights, Ned?

 

[WVNed]

My tank has only been up about a month, but everything seems to be fine. I got them because they were about the only thing that would fit right on my tank. Due to the center brace I had to light 2 spaces 15x18x24. I am not super happy with the spectrum but it is what it is. I have ramped it up and am running the blues 100% and whites 70%.
I am seeing coralline growth.