Current Marine LED Light???

Mr_Banana_Pants · Oct 25, 2016

I'm currently in the process of converting my FOWLR tank to a softie and LPS tank. As has everybody on this forum and in this hobby, I've already dumped quite a bit of money into my tank and filtration. I am only missing the proper lighting to begin my coral adventure. I was wondering if anyone has tried the Current Orbit Marine LED lights with any success for a cheaper light to start my reef?

germs101 · Oct 25, 2016

I have that light. It's really cool, and I like the ramping. Although it can keep mushrooms and zoa's alive, I wouldn't rely on. There are other lights out there that are inexpensive but are also great at getting coral growth.

Mr_Banana_Pants · Oct 25, 2016

Any recommendations? When I look at BRS it seems like you need to spend $500+ to get 48" of coverage... And my LFS only has T5 or Current LEDs...

Brew12 · Oct 25, 2016

With a 55g tank, the 48" orbit marine pro should give you all the lighting you need. The regular orbit marine might limit you if you ever wanted to get into SPS's

germs101 · Oct 25, 2016

I ended up keeping the orbit and eventually supplemented with t5s. That was my workaround from dropping too much more money into it, and t5s and leds compliment each other perfectly.

dbl · Oct 25, 2016

There are plenty of folks using the "black boxes" found on that huge auction site with great success. Just another option

Brew12 · Oct 25, 2016

In my opinion (and I am new to the hobby) the high dollar lights are more important for the deeper, wider tanks. A marine orbit pro would be questionable if mounted 8" above a 30" deep tank. For a 55g tank, which is fairly narrow and shallow, a cheaper light should work just fine.

jsker · Oct 25, 2016

I had the orbit marine, and it is a good light if one is going to have a fowler or mushrooms. I ended up replacing my orbit is higher end lights and have been very happy with my choice.
Light are very important to the health and growth of of your system, and should not be compromised just for cost. I would hold for and save, the purchase a light that you not have to replace as you grow.

germs101 · Oct 25, 2016

Brew12 said:
In my opinion (and I am new to the hobby) the high dollar lights are more important for the deeper, wider tanks. A marine orbit pro would be questionable if mounted 8" above a 30" deep tank. For a 55g tank, which is fairly narrow and shallow, a cheaper light should work just fine.

I've been doing this for about 10 years, and this is exactly what I've found through trial and error unfortunately for me[emoji6]

mcarroll · Oct 25, 2016

Did the OP mention the tank dimensions other than the length and I'm just missing it?

Looking at his other threads I can see that it is a 55 gallon tank.

First, consider the success people are claiming with the ordinary current marine light with mushrooms and zoanthids.

Second, consider that mushrooms and zoanthids have the same minimum light requirements as most stony corals.

Third, consider the additional power as well as the stronger 60° lenses on the orbit marine pro – effectively a 50% boost to intensity compared to no lenses – it was basically made for growing stony corals in a 55 gallon tank. One ought to be a safe bet, even if he went to hang at a little above the tank. If you wanted to talk about one of the other strip-based solutions that have no lenses, I would say the mounting them up off the tank would probably be a dealbreaker. There's no reason that should be the case with 60° lenses.

If you intend on keeping clams, or otherwise want a brighter than average tank, then a second strip or other supplementary light could be warranted. You want more than 30,000 lux in that scenario...maybe double that...so it makes sense, but only depending on your goals. One Pro will normally do it.

I just noticed that Current has a new light that is halfway between these two in terms of lenses (90°) but still have to read up on the rest. I think it's called the "IC".

Mr_Banana_Pants · Oct 25, 2016

I apologize I did not put the dimensions up, it is a 12"Wx48"Lx18"D 55 gal tank, not ideal or what I want in the future but a start and something to learn from. I wasn't planning on keeping clams or even sps at this point which is why I was considering the current. For what it looks like if I can grow softies and LPS then it seems to be the best fixture to start with. But obviously I'm going off of limited knowledge and no experience with this so I reach to the people much smarter then I on R2R lol

slipknotgrrl83 · Oct 26, 2016

I have the orbit marine reef pro which has full spectrum as opposed to just whites and blues. I have great growth on my lps

mcarroll · Oct 26, 2016

@slipknotgrrl83 I'd be curious to know how high you have yours mounted...or if they are resting on the tank?

@Mr_Banana_Pants Yes it should be fine for that. Perhaps even excellent. :)

slipknotgrrl83 · Oct 26, 2016

Mine is just resting on the tank. It's a 29 gallon

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 26, 2016

The new pro has a lot more punch.

slipknotgrrl83 · Oct 26, 2016

There's a new one?? Lol

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 26, 2016

The new pro has a

slipknotgrrl83 said:
There's a new one?? Lol

no theres an old one. Lol

The first ones has led squares the new ones have lenses little circles.

Depending on how it's advertised it a current pro. Or current pro ramp. Or something. So it seems like the same thing. When they mean the timer is the pro ramp timer. :confused::mad:

slipknotgrrl83 · Oct 26, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
The new pro has a

no theres an old one. Lol

The first ones has led squares the new ones have lenses little circles.

Depending on how it's advertised it a current pro. Or current pro ramp. Or something. So it seems like the same thing. When they mean the timer is the pro ramp timer. :confused::mad:

Gotcha, mine has the little circles :D