Supplement Lighting for Orbit Marine

[762pmcs]

I have a standard 90 tank with an Orbit Marine LED, but the color on my corals isn't as vibrant as I'd like it to be. I would like to have the ability to keep SPS, LPS, and softies.

I'd prefer to keep the LED as I like the schedule that the system has, and I have the loop system with wave pumps and a return pump connected.

The tank also has a canopy, and I am curious what issues that could cause as well. Mainly in regards to a fitting a fixture in with the close proximity to the water, and additional heat that may be put off by the light.

I am considering the Aquatic Life 36" Hybrid T5HO 4x39W, though it is 2" too deep, I could probably get it to fit under the lip of the canopy. That brings the question of heat into play, would the small space need cooling with the lid closed?

A few other questions:
- If I am only using t5 blues or purples, do i need a dimmable fixture?
- Would supplementing with additional, higher quality LED's also support the coral I want?
- Am I better off to remove the canopy for more flexibility?

Canopy opening - 48.5x16.5
Canopy top down distance to water is 8"
Canopy top down to tank frame is 6"
Canopy top down to Orbit light is 3"
Orbit Light is 3.5 wide.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I think part of you problem is that your led is not very powerful (0.4 watt leds) so the PAR in your tank is too low in all spectrum.

t5s will add the light intensity you need, but very few t5 fixtures have intensity control (dimming).

A better quality led fixture will certainly solve your PAR issues. But good leds that have the features your present fixture has are a lot more expensive (you get what you pay for). Most better led fixtures use 3.0 watt leds and some now even use 5.0 watt leds.

The 48" Photon V2+ would work. It has 3 and 5 watt leds, it has the same features you Current Orbit fixture has (sunrise/sunset and 6 channel color control, and at the lowest leg setting it's just under 6" from tank rim to the top of the fixture.

Removing the canopy will give you more flexibility in setting up a new fixture. I've had tanks with and without canopies and I like the access into the tank not having a canopy provides. Canopies came about in part to hid the lighting. But today's fixtures are much better looking and more modern.

 

[Sailingeric]

I had an Orbit Marine for a while with my tank when I was making sure I was going to be able to keep a saltwater tank without killing everything. Once I did, I got a Maxspect Razor X led light from Bulk Reef Supply. It does a great job and does not break the bank (too badly). I am actually surprised I don't hear more people running them.

 

[762pmcs]

I think part of you problem is that your led is not very powerful (0.4 watt leds) so the PAR in your tank is too low in all spectrum.

t5s will add the light intensity you need, but very few t5 fixtures have intensity control (dimming).

A better quality led fixture will certainly solve your PAR issues. But good leds that have the features your present fixture has are a lot more expensive (you get what you pay for). Most better led fixtures use 3.0 watt leds and some now even use 5.0 watt leds.

The 48" Photon V2+ would work. It has 3 and 5 watt leds, it has the same features you Current Orbit fixture has (sunrise/sunset and 6 channel color control, and at the lowest leg setting it's just under 6" from tank rim to the top of the fixture.

Removing the canopy will give you more flexibility in setting up a new fixture. I've had tanks with and without canopies and I like the access into the tank not having a canopy provides. Canopies came about in part to hid the lighting. But today's fixtures are much better looking and more modern.

Thanks for the reply. Is a dimmable T5 fixture necessary? I was thinking of only using T5 bulbs in the blue spectrum, then put them on a timer, using the Orbit to add the rest of the spectrum. Would that be too intense of light?

 

[Ron Reefman]

No it would not be too intense.

And no, it's absolutely not necessaryt to use dimable t5 lights. The ability to dim led or t5 light is a feature that didn't exist for a long time. The leds became dimable a few years after they were introduced. In part because they had the potential to be too strong. But many reefers liked the idea of 'sunrise/sunset' so that kind of controlled dimming became popular. The t5 fixtures only became dimable recently (the last few years) and it's just to try and keep up with the features that leds are offering. The idea of sunrise/sunset has virtually no effect on corals or any other inhabitants in your tank. It a desire that humans have to make the tank seem more normal.

 

[762pmcs]

No it would not be too intense.

And no, it's absolutely not necessaryt to use dimable t5 lights. The ability to dim led or t5 light is a feature that didn't exist for a long time. The leds became dimable a few years after they were introduced. In part because they had the potential to be too strong. But many reefers liked the idea of 'sunrise/sunset' so that kind of controlled dimming became popular. The t5 fixtures only became dimable recently (the last few years) and it's just to try and keep up with the features that leds are offering. The idea of sunrise/sunset has virtually no effect on corals or any other inhabitants in your tank. It a desire that humans have to make the tank seem more normal.

I thought it would be fine. I had a tank about 20 years ago with 2 single bulb fixtures, and kept the blue bulb on a 20 hour timer and the white one on for 10 hours. I did not do corals back then, so I wasn't sure if it would be an issue. I think I'll just ditch the lid and go with the hybrid non-dimmable. Thanks for your info

 

[clffthmps]

I have a standard 90 tank with an Orbit Marine LED, but the color on my corals isn't as vibrant as I'd like it to be. I would like to have the ability to keep SPS, LPS, and softies.

I'd prefer to keep the LED as I like the schedule that the system has, and I have the loop system with wave pumps and a return pump connected.

The tank also has a canopy, and I am curious what issues that could cause as well. Mainly in regards to a fitting a fixture in with the close proximity to the water, and additional heat that may be put off by the light.

I am considering the Aquatic Life 36" Hybrid T5HO 4x39W, though it is 2" too deep, I could probably get it to fit under the lip of the canopy. That brings the question of heat into play, would the small space need cooling with the lid closed?

A few other questions:
- If I am only using t5 blues or purples, do i need a dimmable fixture?
- Would supplementing with additional, higher quality LED's also support the coral I want?
- Am I better off to remove the canopy for more flexibility?

Canopy opening - 48.5x16.5
Canopy top down distance to water is 8"
Canopy top down to tank frame is 6"
Canopy top down to Orbit light is 3"
Orbit Light is 3.5 wide.

I thought it would be fine. I had a tank about 20 years ago with 2 single bulb fixtures, and kept the blue bulb on a 20 hour timer and the white one on for 10 hours. I did not do corals back then, so I wasn't sure if it would be an issue. I think I'll just ditch the lid and go with the hybrid non-dimmable. Thanks for your info

 

[clffthmps]

I will never put down another company or brand unless it has caused problems for my tank. I will give props to the Kessil A360x. I have 2 on my tank, and I was amazed.

 

[762pmcs]

I will never put down another company or brand unless it has caused problems for my tank. I will give props to the Kessil A360x. I have 2 on my tank, and I was amazed.

Those do look nice, and have great reviews. But I think the T5/Orbit combo seems a better fit for now. The light I and thinking of getting is a Hybrid, and comes with mounts for the kessil, so I can always add those at a later date.

 

[clffthmps]

Those do look nice, and have great reviews. But I think the T5/Orbit combo seems a better fit for now. The light I and thinking of getting is a Hybrid, and comes with mounts for the kessil, so I can always add those at a later date.

 

[clffthmps]

Great...