Suggestions for a new Orphek Atlantik User

[McPuff]

Hi all, I just picked up some Orphek Atlantik and will be hanging them over my 300DD. Hoping to get some suggestions on what intensity to use, which program I might consider, etc.

Tank is 72 x 36 x 27"H and has 2 cross braces so there are 3 sections of approx. 3 x 2'. I have 3 fixtures so they will be placed perpendicular to the long end, which should make for terrific coverage.

I currently have 6 AI Sol blue and 3 RapidLED Onyx fixtures over the tank which does a great job and I get about 450-500 par at the top of my rocks (see pic below). I've got an SPS dominant tank as you can see. I run them at 95% blue/UV, 12% white, and 15% color (red/green). It's not as blue as it may sound! Color and growth is very good.

Orphek Users, what program do you run on your tank (or do you manually set the channels)? Does the program also dictate ramp up/down times and overall duration? What overall intensity did you top out at?

James from Orphek said I would not need to run the acclimation mode though I will likely start whatever program at a lower setting than I would plan for longer term... just to be safe.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dlealrious]

Just run them to suit you eye, i run mine near 100%, i find all channels around the same % gives a nice look

 

[biecacka]

I was told to run mine on acclimation mode for 1 month. When I get them back up I will do that, then run them near BRS tested numbers. I thought about something like an ecotech AB+ where the whites are about 25% of the rest of the channels. But most who tried that don’t seem to like it much. Most say run them all around the same for best success. The coral + growth preprogrammed option is a good one too. I think it’s similar to a radium in color.


corey

 

[McPuff]

You had halides right? James did say that a switch from halides would require acclimation mode. I'll check out BRS suggestions. Thanks!

 

[biecacka]

Here is the BRS numbers.
yes I run two halides, 250 watts each.


corey

 

[McPuff]

Thanks Corey

 

[Hoyhoy]

I highly recommend that you go slowly and acclimate accordingly. I replaced my kessils with a single Orphek V4 installed over my 4 foot tank and had it on coral color+ growth mode. I fixed the intensity to 80% and it killed few of my SPS quickly. I believe they were getting hit by +350 PAR (measured with seneye) (I didnt not acclimate sadly). I now have all channels reduced to 60% and afraid of going higher. You have an amazing tank and it is worth buying/renting a PAR meter just to be safe!

 

[biecacka]

You run all your channels at 60%?
If there is one hung I really wish the orpheks had it was a better acclimation mode or at least an intensity option. Like if I wanted to run the ”growth and color” program but at 50% and ramp up to its full pre programmed numbers, I could over time.
corey

 

[Hoyhoy]

Yup, I run all at 60% ( light is about 13 inches from water surface). I did not increase it because SPS growth has been amazing so far. Not to mention that my LPS were stressed and pale when the intensitiy was at 80% (the joy of running a mixed reef!).

 

[McPuff]

Good input guys. Much appreciated!

 

[McPuff]

@Hoyhoy I just put the 3 Atlantiks over my tank... not happy with them at all. Everything looks washed out in yellow and appears cloudy no matter what mix of channel intensities I use. All of the programs don't seem to give me any sort of semblance to what I had with my previous LED mix. Not sure what the problem is. Perhaps the V2 have a totally different set of diodes? That's the only thing I can think of. If I turn all channels to 100% it looks like a 10k halide. Everything looks terrible and colorless. Literally feeling sick to my stomach right now and planning to throw the 9 original fixtures back on. Someone talk me off the ledge...

Edit: The V2 has a totally different set of diodes and channels. I'll either have to upgrade the PCB ($290 each), go back to my old set of lights (which I need to do in the interim regardless), or buy another set of new(er) V4 gen2 lights. Not too happy about it all right now... :0(

 

[Scurvy]

The diodes are the same between Gen 1 & 2. One of my fixtures is gen 1 upgraded to 2 with the new chip.

I feel like with the Orphek you just cant get that blue look you see everywhere and keep PAR numbers where you might like them.

I have friends with Hydra’s and have used Kessils myself. The only way I can get even remotely close to a similar look is running Channel 1 off entirely or very very low percentage wise but that sacrifices quite a bit of power.

I wound up adding a Reef Brite I had sitting around for more blue and have a shorter channel 1 run time. My SPS are all healthy w/ great PE but I don’t feel like the growth rates are where they should/could be but that could also be my inexperience with sps showing too.

Two Gen 4’s 10” off the water. I just recently bumped channel 1 from a peak of 50% to 70% to see if growth rates improve.

If I am being honest I would probably try another fixture were I to do it all over. I am giving them another year before I pull the plug entirely as this tank has only been running 14 months or so. Pic below taken with an iphoneX. No filters.

Not sure that helps anyone but its my tale thus far.

 

[McPuff]

@Scurvy thanks. I didn't actually have a gen1 before, I had a V2. You're referring to the difference between V4 gen1/2 which is only in the gateway, not the diodes as you stated. The V2, unfortunately, has a completely different set of diodes. The V4 is much more pleasing in my opinion. I've got a note out to James at Orphek to see what options I may have. Hoping he can help. In the meanwhile I'm going to throw on the old LED fixtures again.

 

[Mortie31]

I have a mixture of V2.1s and V4 and I think they are incomparable, the V4 is a lot bluer if you want that look. I don’t think it’s possible to get the blue look you seem to want with the V2’a alone. The V4’s are considerable upgrades from the 2’s. Maybe mix a couple of your old fixtures in running deep blue To see if you can find a colour more to your liking and measure the par.

 

[McPuff]

I have a mixture of V2.1s and V4 and I think they are incomparable, the V4 is a lot bluer if you want that look. I don’t think it’s possible to get the blue look you seem to want with the V2’a alone. The V4’s are considerable upgrades from the 2’s. Maybe mix a couple of your old fixtures in running deep blue To see if you can find a colour more to your liking and measure the par.

Thanks @Mortie31 you are completely right. Adding other lights isn't going to help in my opinion. It's either I upgrade the PCB or I get new V4s.

 

[Scurvy]

@Scurvy thanks. I didn't actually have a gen1 before, I had a V2. You're referring to the difference between V4 gen1/2 which is only in the gateway, not the diodes as you stated. The V2, unfortunately, has a completely different set of diodes. The V4 is much more pleasing in my opinion. I've got a note out to James at Orphek to see what options I may have. Hoping he can help. In the meanwhile I'm going to throw on the old LED fixtures again.

My bad, I misunderstood you there originally. Good Luck

 

[Mortie31]

Thanks @Mortie31 you are completely right. Adding other lights isn't going to help in my opinion. It's either I upgrade the PCB or I get new V4s.

I will switch my remaining V2’s to V4’s when they die, but happy enough with the colour I get from 3 2’s and 2 4’s... just a thought maybe worth looking at the Orphek OR lights, I think they do an actinic and maybe 2-3 of those in addition to the V2’s might do the trick

 

[Hoyhoy]

@McPuff Sorry to hear that you are not liking the colors. As Scurvy have mentioned, the orpheks might not give you the blues/actinic you are used to with the old AI sols.

I HIGHLY recommend that view the V4 in person before upgrading and spend the extra money. LEDs can look quite different when seeing them with your own eyes. Youtube videos can be very deceiving . In my case, I was quite impressed with the actinic look of the ecotech marine radions at a local LFS and bought those for my new tank!

 

[Hemipoweredreef]

Yup, I run all at 60% ( light is about 13 inches from water surface). I did not increase it because SPS growth has been amazing so far. Not to mention that my LPS were stressed and pale when the intensitiy was at 80% (the joy of running a mixed reef!).

Can u post your light settings? Please