USA Current Marine Orbit

[Adriifu]

Hi, I’ve been wondering if this LED is enough for my tank at this point. I am turning it into an LPS/softie tank at the moment and the corals that will be using the light are Duncans, pulsing Xenia, torch, palys, GSP, and more. I also have a BTA. I will be looking into purchasing more coral in the future, but now is not the time because I have been having trouble with some parameters as mentioned in a recent thread. Everything was growing fairly well before these problems. I saw that a few people with this LED turned it into a hybrid with a t5 fixture. I was wondering if my corals would respond well with the addition of one of these; however, if this is the case, I’d need it to be on the cheaper side. If it’s not necessary at the moment, then that would be wonderful to hear

 

[Crabs McJones]

What size tank and what light are you using currently?
One major issue with the Orbit Marine lights is they don't put out alot of par.
The regular orbit marine looses over half its output (400 par) just 1" into the water.

 

[Adriifu]

What size tank and what light are you using currently?
One major issue with the Orbit Marine lights is they don't put out alot of par.
The regular orbit marine looses over half its output (400 par) just 1" into the water.

The tank is a 25-gallon bowfront, and I have been using USA Current for half a year or so now.
EDIT: Not the pro

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

In my experience the current orbit is not enough to keep anything besides softies. LPS will not grow unless close to the surface. I had an orbit USA on my 75g long tank and since I switched to black box viparspectra my LPS grew exponentially.

 

[Crabs McJones]

The tank is a 25-gallon bowfront, and I have been using USA Current for half a year or so now.
EDIT: Not the pro

So at 21 inches tall, depended on your rockwork your corals are likely going to receive only 20-70 par which is fine for softies, but LPS do better in 100-200 par in my experience.

 

[Adriifu]

In my experience the current orbit is not enough to keep anything besides softies. LPS will not grow unless close to the surface. I had an orbit USA on my 75g long tank and since I switched to black box viparspectra my LPS grew exponentially.

Thank you My favias grow, but not very quickly. The torch is my slowest grower. The skeleton has gotten bigger, but it hasn’t produced any new heads. Would you suggest switching to what you switched to?

So at 21 inches tall, depended on your rockwork your corals are likely going to receive only 20-70 par which is fine for softies, but LPS do better in 100-200 par in my experience.

I’d be looking into getting more LPS in the future, so I’d like to make a switch. Would getting rid of the LED be the best option for me or can I work with it still and combine it with a small t5? What would be the cheapest, yet still effective route?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thank you My favias grow, but not very quickly. The torch is my slowest grower. The skeleton has gotten bigger, but it hasn’t produced any new heads. Would you suggest switching to what you switched to?

I’d be looking into getting more LPS in the future, so I’d like to make a switch. Would getting rid of the LED be the best option for me or can I work with it still and combine it with a small t5? What would be the cheapest, yet still effective route?

What's your budget? Did you have a dollar amount in mind?

 

[Adriifu]

What's your budget? Did you have a dollar amount in mind?

I think the highest I’d be able to go is $200, but preferably lower. I don’t know if I can get a lot out of that.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Is this the orbit marine, orbit marine ic, or ic dual? If it is the ic dual, this light should do what you want, but if it is one of the others, I would also suggest switching. I’m not positive what your dimensions are, but take a look at the Noopsyche k7 for your price range.

 

[Adriifu]

Is this the orbit marine, orbit marine ic, or ic dual? If it is the ic dual, this light should do what you want, but if it is one of the others, I would also suggest switching. I’m not positive what your dimensions are, but take a look at the Noopsyche k7 for your price range.

Orbit Marine the dimensions are wacky because it is a bowfront. I will check

 

[Crabs McJones]

I think the highest I’d be able to go is $200, but preferably lower. I don’t know if I can get a lot out of that.

I would browse through the selling forum a bit. There are some great lights for around that price point that would work great for your size tank such as a single Hydra 26 which are going for low cost right now since the new model came out. or a pair of primes or a Kessil A360WE. Otherwise there is always the black box option. A single 165 watt black box would cover your tank and grow literally anything you put under it. Only issue is the cost effective ones lack extras such as programming and ramping. Just simple on off performance.

 

[Adriifu]

I would browse through the selling forum a bit. There are some great lights for around that price point that would work great for your size tank such as a single Hydra 26 which are going for low cost right now since the new model came out. or a pair of primes or a Kessil A360WE. Otherwise there is always the black box option. A single 165 watt black box would cover your tank and grow literally anything you put under it. Only issue is the cost effective ones lack extras such as programming and ramping. Just simple on off performance.

Thank you so much I also have one question. Is this piece of plastic in the middle of the tank an issue for light?

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Thank you so much I also have one question. Is this piece of plastic in the middle of the tank an issue for light?

Not really. It might cause a drop in par right below it, but light from the sides shines over at an angle too. Just don’t put anything that needs much light at all below it.
Edit: it may be more of a problem with some other lights. It won’t be a problem with the one that you have now is what I meant.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thank you so much I also have one question. Is this piece of plastic in the middle of the tank an issue for light?

Depended on light placement, it isn't a huge issue. That is the tanks center support brace. You'll have some shading underneath it.

 

[Adriifu]

Not really. It might cause a drop in par right below it, but light from the sides shines over at an angle too. Just don’t put anything that needs much light at all below it.

Thank you!

 

[Adriifu]

In my experience the current orbit is not enough to keep anything besides softies. LPS will not grow unless close to the surface. I had an orbit USA on my 75g long tank and since I switched to black box viparspectra my LPS grew exponentially.

I was looking at the viparspectra you mentioned, and it is around the same price range as the Noopsyche k7. Which one do you all think is better? I will keep looking of course when I get home, as I have plenty of time to find a good LED. These will most likely be my last options if I can’t find anything in the selling forum.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

I checked, and the Noopsyche k7 pro II should work great for your tank size and budget. A black box would also work. A single AI prime 16hd might work too. I have never used any of these lights, but I have heard complaints that black boxes do not last as long. I’m sure that others with more experience can chime in.

 

[Adriifu]

I checked, and the Noopsyche k7 pro II should work great for your tank size and budget. A black box would also work. A single AI prime 16hd might work too. I have never used any of these lights, but I have heard complaints that black boxes do not last as long. I’m sure that others with more experience can chime in.

There is a seller in the forums with an AI Prime HD for $170. I would probably go for the Noopsyche if it will last longer, though.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

Thank you My favias grow, but not very quickly. The torch is my slowest grower. The skeleton has gotten bigger, but it hasn’t produced any new heads. Would you suggest switching to what you switched to?

I’d be looking into getting more LPS in the future, so I’d like to make a switch. Would getting rid of the LED be the best option for me or can I work with it still and combine it with a small t5? What would be the cheapest, yet still effective route?

I would definitely suggest switching to something else if you want more growth.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

I was looking at the viparspectra you mentioned, and it is around the same price range as the Noopsyche k7. Which one do you all think is better? I will keep looking of course when I get home, as I have plenty of time to find a good LED. These will most likely be my last options if I can’t find anything in the selling forum.

I got my viparspectra for free so I didn’t look around much but the noopsyche ones are creating quite a buzz so I would give them a shot.