I Gotta Ask The Light Experts!

[pimp4cheddar]

Ok folks,

I'm about to pull the trigger within the next 24hrs on some lights. I need to know...which is better:

Current Orbit



Current Light



Please give me your Pros and Cons....both include 2-65watt bulbs and the Orbit has 1 fan...while the Dual Sat has 2...

Please put in your imputs...Thanks,

 

[rabbut]

Look the same on specs. Both will only allow for FO systems or soft corals though If you want to open up more doors, look for 4 tube units

 

[pimp4cheddar]

What kind of corals are soft corals?

Zoo's? SPS? LPS?

I like the Power Compact...simply because the price!!! They are soo much cheaper than T5's

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Soft corals are things like zoas, mushroons, leather corals, xenia and greenstar polyp. Most of them will do fine under them power compact lights.

However as said above T5's would be much better. Soft corals would grow better under them and you could then keep a few LPS corals such as hammers, torches, etc.

Have a look for aqautic "for sale" and classified sites for second hand units as they can be picked up really cheaply. Also look on ebay, just had a quick look and found a 4 tube T% unit for less then them Powercompact ones.

http/cgi.ebay.com/New-T5ho-t5-ho-3ft-4Bu...A1%7C240%3A1318

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Hey Barney,

I fell in love with your tank!!!

Is there anyway I can get the "COLOR" you have in your tank with Power Compacts?

I'm not concerned with what type of corals I can house...I'm mostly into the light aspect of it.


I found a guy that would sell me a slightly used unit for $70 (Current Dual Power Compact - 2x65watt bulbs and also 2 replacement bulbs).

That's the reason I'm asking. I found a cheap set of PC for $70...but I don't want them if I can't get the same color in my tank....



Thanks,

Soft corals are things like zoas, mushroons, leather corals, xenia and greenstar polyp. Most of them will do fine under them power compact lights.

However as said above T5's would be much better. Soft corals would grow better under them and you could then keep a few LPS corals such as hammers, torches, etc.

Have a look for aqautic "for sale" and classified sites for second hand units as they can be picked up really cheaply. Also look on ebay, just had a quick look and found a 4 tube T% unit for less then them Powercompact ones.

[URL="http/cgi.ebay.com/New-T5ho-t5-ho-3ft-4Bu...A1%7C240%3A1318"]http/cgi.ebay.com/New-T5ho-t5-ho-3ft-4Bu...A1%7C240%3A1318[/URL]

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Not too sure how easy it will be to reproduce the exact colour using power compacts to be honest. all I can tell you ise the tubes Im running.

I have:
X2 ATI Aqua Blue Special T5 HO Lamps (54 Watt - I beleive they are around 12k colour temp)
X1 ATI Actinic (54 Watt Actinic)
X1 ATI Blue PlusT5 HO Lamps (54 Watt).

The Blue Plus seems to be halfway between a normal "white" tube and an actinic. In combination with the actinic it really does make the corals glow really nicely and has almost a purple tint to the colour.

I have considered swapping the actinic for a normal white tube (10-12k range) to give me useable light for the corals (not sure how much usable light the blue plus gives) but at the moment they are all doing ok so will leave it as it is.

Just dont buy them from bluezoo aqautics as it took me close to 5 months to get the right stuff from them (still waiting on the free tubes they said they would send me to say sorry for messing me about).

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Thanks Barney,

The only reason I ask is because I'm deciding to buy a PC light for $70 from some online seller...

I don't want to spend the money if I'm not going to be happy with the light output...I'm looking for a light output like the one in your tank...That's why I asked.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

You will get a similar with the mixed blue/white PC tubes. Hard to say exactly how close it is though as it depends on what colour temp the tubes are (and who makes them).

 

[pimp4cheddar]

You will get a similar with the mixed blue/white PC tubes. Hard to say exactly how close it is though as it depends on what colour temp the tubes are (and who makes them).

Thanks,

I guess I will buy the Power Compact from the guy...if anything, I could always sell it for around $70...so I lose nothing...

Hey Barney, I sent you a message...a few questions about your tank.


Thanks for all your help.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah I have seen it. At work at the moment so only flitting in and out of here so cant really answer it at the moment. I will get to it as soon as I can mate. Short answer is yes all my filtration is done almost entierly with my liverock. I have recently added a skimmer but you can do fine with just a decent amount of liverock and good water flow. You would need to use powerheads in your tank though as your HOB will not be given enough flow (you can leave the HOB on there though).