Orphek Natura Impressions

[James Emory Verified Sponsor]

I've had Natura for about 7 months. It has been a great light so far hardware-wise. No failed LEDs or anything. My biggest gripe is the app. It is really hard to create a schedule with the app. You have to click on a little doton the bottom of the graph, which is hard to do, and slide it to a particular time, which you can never get to a specific time very easily. I just wish Orphek would give a 2 or 3 year warranty instead of the 1 year. Stand behind your product!

There is a little bit of shimmer with the Natura, but I wouldn't say a ton. For me it is the right amount. The colors blend very well so there isn't really a "disco ball effect" or anything IMO.

When you get close to the time you want, just use the < and > to fine tune the time. It's all in the manual. I find the app much better than the previous one. I also use a capacitive pen for programming.
Amazon product ASIN B0DJDKRPHZ

 

[Tide2water]

You can set the time right to the minute by using the < and > buttons to adjust/fine tune the time. I try to get it as close as possible and then use the arrows to fine tune it.

Wait what!?! Just tied it that’ll be a huge time saver setting up a new schedule in their app.

 

[James Emory Verified Sponsor]

Wait what!?! Just tied it that’ll be a huge time saver setting up a new schedule in their app.

Great! Using a pointed capacitive pen also makes it easier.

 

[sjfishguy]

I have been die hard ATI T5s for many years for acros, but I am upgrading to a larger tank, so the T5s aren’t going to cut it. Pulled the trigger on the naturas and wow, really impressed. A couple thoughts:

If you like a balanced look (like me), you will love this light. Perfect color blend, great par, great spectrum, no disco ball effect (I hate it too, radions have way more disco effect than this light). Most of the energy is in the whites. Running this light the way you are supposed to, it gives a 14k look, about as close to the old 14k Phoenix MH I have ever seen with LEDs. If you like a bluer look, this isn’t the light for you. Like others have said, the app is difficult and not intuitive at all. That’s the only downside I can say.

If you like bluer, the reefi unos are amazing. They were too blue for me, so sold them to someone. Most of the energy is in the blues in that light. App is very intuitive. Awesome price.

Radions- I would call them high price, not high end. I don’t like anything about them: the look they give off, the price, the app. Either of the two above blow radions away.

 

[ReefingInMadrid]

I've had Natura for about 7 months. It has been a great light so far hardware-wise. No failed LEDs or anything. My biggest gripe is the app. It is really hard to create a schedule with the app. You have to click on a little doton the bottom of the graph, which is hard to do, and slide it to a particular time, which you can never get to a specific time very easily. I just wish Orphek would give a 2 or 3 year warranty instead of the 1 year. Stand behind your product!

There is a little bit of shimmer with the Natura, but I wouldn't say a ton. For me it is the right amount. The colors blend very well so there isn't really a "disco ball effect" or anything IMO.

i was looking at this light too, but having had bad experiences with orphek in the past (I had 3 OR3 BARS fail within 2 years...) and seeing that they still offer only 1 year warranty makes it a no go for me.. (what a joke 1 year only for a 700$ light)..

 

[Arkayology]

i was looking at this light too, but having had bad experiences with orphek in the past (I had 3 OR3 BARS fail within 2 years...) and seeing that they still offer only 1 year warranty makes it a no go for me.. (what a joke 1 year only for a 700$ light)..

Agreed. At least give two years. I would suggest that Orphek is a premium brand (at least for my lifestyle), so give us two years! So far the light has been working flawlessly other than my dislike of certain aspects of the app. It is giving good coverage on my 30x24 tank and is growing coral :)

 

[sjfishguy]

I might add the app is also terrible. Lights are great, the app is the most complicated not intuitive thing ever designed. A simple on at noon, off at 8 requires a seminar. A complete Rube Goldberg contraption

 

[Tide2water]

While I do whole heartily agree with everyone on how much the app sucks. It truly depends on how frequently you change up your schedule or spectrum. Boosting some deep blues for a brief night viewing or momentary changes are not a big deal. If you’re a tinkerer and are regularly adjusting your spectrum and schedule you WILL hate it.

 

[bubbgee]

I highly recommend the lights to those who want/like the metal halide look to their tanks and hate the blue look. You won't have that issue with the Natura Icons.

 

[Sdbuehler1]

I don’t think the app is any worse than others I have used such as AI and Kessil. The WiFi setup for Kessil is awful so I definitely appreciate how easy the Orphek lights wifi setup is. Setting the points in the Orphek app is definitely annoying when you need 2 points within 30 mins of each other. Two features I would like to see improved in the Orphek app would be to be able to save schedules with a longer name than 10 chars and the ability to share saved schedules across groups. I don’t know why schedules are only saved per group.

 

[mboley]

I only have experienced the iCon App and Reefbreeders. Once I learned how to use the iCon App I thought it was great, but the manual is terrible. For example there was no mention in the manual about how to use the row of blue dots below the lighting graph. Maybe there is now?

To adjust your schedule or make a new one touch the blue dot below the point you want to change, it turns red; then adjust the spectrum, time, or power. Rename and save your program. The old settings are saved so you can go back to it if you want.

The dimming, cloud effect, and moonlight on the Natura is excellent. But I'm not clear on why they and some other mfgs' push in their marketing the ability to match the moon cycle in your area. Who wants there lights to turn off at 4:00pm in the winter? The moonlight settings under Expand are fine and vary throught the month also.