OR4 Blue Plus with 8 Bulb T5

[ReefQuestCorals]

Soo I have been contemplating adding supplemental lighting to my 8 bulb t5, and I really like the design and style of the OR4 Blue Plus.

Looking around havent seen many using them to supplement T5, and I was really thinking of adding 2 of the 48" models to my 8 bulb T5 over a 5ft 90 gallon. Seeing I do have some lower light on the sides. Thoughts? Also looking to add more "POP" to my acros

Current bulb combo

5 ATI Blue+
2 ATI Coral+
1 ATI True Actinic

OR4 Blue Plus - Reef Aquarium LED Bar - Orphek

OR4 iCon Blue Plus LED bar: 400-500nm blue/violet spectrum for extreme coral fluorescence. High-efficiency 5W dual-chip LEDs. Perfect for SPS/LPS tanks.

shop.orphek.com

 

[dvgyfresh]

Only used the orphek bars , not enough positive to say I love them even for main lighting

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Only used the orphek bars , not enough positive to say I love them even for main lighting

Are you using all blue plus? I was watching a youtube video where someone was talking about the sky blue giving more of that pop on his acros, the blue plus wasnt as noticeable

 

[UncommonSense]

I’m just looking at their electrical claims, and am disappointed by the marketing nonsense… they claim to be using 6W chips, but this is at <=50v…

The lack of active cooling or substantial heat sinking on a light this expensive points towards it being somewhat anemic... Though the majority of LED lighting manufacturers do this; so it’s par for the course…

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

I’m just looking at their electrical claims, and am disappointed by the marketing nonsense… they claim to be using 6W chips, but this is at <=50v…

The lack of active cooling or substantial heat sinking on a light this expensive points towards it being somewhat anemic... Though the majority of LED lighting manufacturers do this; so it’s par for the course…

Well it does state running at 50% they are more resistant to higher heat... So kind of goes along with what you said lol But your right unless you design your own DIY your options are limited when it comes to the strips at least.

I have a lot of air flow in the living room where my tank is located, and most of the time while lights are on we run the fan on low so I dont see heat being an issue in my case.

 

[UncommonSense]

Well it does state running at 50% they are more resistant to higher heat... So kind of goes along with what you said lol But your right unless you design your own DIY your options are limited when it comes to the strips at least.

I have a lot of air flow in the living room where my tank is located, and most of the time while lights are on we run the fan on low so I dont see heat being an issue in my case.

At least they acknowledge the design limitations chosen for a sleek look!

If it’s just the “pop” you’re going for, I’m sure these work great! They do look like they’ve put some significant thought into the appearance of the light!

I just wouldn’t trust these as your sole lighting system unless you want to start spending $$$$!

Edit: if you want to fart around with a little DIY option; I have been messing with one I recently discovered!

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

At least they acknowledge the design limitations chosen for a sleek look!

If it’s just the “pop” you’re going for, I’m sure these work great! They do look like they’ve put some significant thought into the appearance of the light!

I just wouldn’t trust these as your sole lighting system unless you want to start spending $$$$!

Right haha You typically dont see a company stating a "flaw" I guess you could call it. But I do love the way they look

And 100% feel they are a supplemental light, but Im sure using a combination of blue plus, reef day plus, and sky blue they would look great! And imo cheaper than going other led routes.

For the pop im curious what others see when it comes to the blue plus vs the blue sky, I feel I may need to remove the true actinic in my t5 fixture and put another coral plus to overcome some of the extra blue from running 2 of these Orphek's

 

[dvgyfresh]

Are you using all blue plus? I was watching a youtube video where someone was talking about the sky blue giving more of that pop on his acros, the blue plus wasnt as noticeable

I had one sky in the mix 2 blue and one uv blue

 

[dvgyfresh]

Only lights

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

I had one sky in the mix 2 blue and one uv blue

Thanks for sharing! Great looking softy/mixed tank

 

[Sumbub]

Blue plus is the closest to ‘ecotech blue’ that most tanks seem to sit in at the stores. Sky blue is less popish and looks ‘brighter’ in a sense.

I run 2 bars of blue plus and violet with their natura compact. Lighting comes out bright and nice. I will say that it doesn’t have the spread that t5s have.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Blue plus is the closest to ‘ecotech blue’ that most tanks seem to sit in at the stores. Sky blue is less popish and looks ‘brighter’ in a sense.

I run 2 bars of blue plus and violet with their natura compact. Lighting comes out bright and nice. I will say that it doesn’t have the spread that t5s have.

Great thanks for the feedback! I love the spread of t5's probably why I havent found myself to spend the money on leds

But the OR4 seem pretty decent priced, and always hear great things about their fixtures

 

[Sumbub]

Great thanks for the feedback! I love the spread of t5's probably why I havent found myself to spend the money on leds

But the OR4 seem pretty decent priced, and always hear great things about their fixtures

I do think using t5s as a supplement with the leds gives you a really nice combo. But everyone has their preferences. I used to run a G4 pro with 4 t5 bulbs. 2 Blue + and 2 true actinics. I had the G4 dialed in where it gives an almost 14k MH style colored tank. I’m still trying to replicate it with the LEDs but it hasn’t happened yet lol

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

I do think using t5s as a supplement with the leds gives you a really nice combo. But everyone has their preferences. I used to run a G4 pro with 4 t5 bulbs. 2 Blue + and 2 true actinics. I had the G4 dialed in where it gives an almost 14k MH style colored tank. I’m still trying to replicate it with the LEDs but it hasn’t happened yet lol

I agree, I love the growth and color from t5 but doesnt give much of that pop you see with some acros. I might look at adding the OR4 Blue Plus then switching out my true actinic bulb for another coral plus to help with a little more white.

Ill have get a set ordered and test it out soon. I think my current set up would give way to much blue adding blue plus fixtures

 

[Sumbub]

Keep in mind their focal rings on the LEDs doesn’t give as much spread as t5s.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Keep in mind their focal rings on the LEDs doesn’t give as much spread as t5s.

Oh yea im just looking for something to supplement with. I would attach the brackets to the screws at both ends of the t5 fixture then slightly angle each into the tank to hopefully hit the rock structures. I can adjust the whole fixture up if needed to disperse more light if needed