Orphek vs. Giesmann

[Orphek]

Here is a good article that we have on the site about coral color too. It's been on there for a while but it is very relevant.

CORAL COLOR ? Orphek LED ? LED Aquarium Lights ? Aquarium LED lighting

 

[TrPPnN]

Please explain over-production of zooxanthellae if zooxanthellae is expelled from the coral if the zooxanthellae is responsible for oxygen toxicity in corals in high intensity light conditions?
The expulsion of the majority of zooxanthellae from a coral is what allows us to see the underlying colors in a coral. Under high lighting such as metal halides create a recession and a depression in the zooxanthellae concentration in the tissue to prevent O2 toxicity... Zooxanthellae is responsible for photosynthesis, however, an excess of zooxanthellae is what you tend to see as darkening or browning of the coral to increase the nutrient uptake, especially with frags and distressed coral colonies not receiving sufficient light.

The article is correct about the trace elements and minerals being removed via protein skimming and other mechanical filtration methods, however, the corallary to the fact that Potassium only promotes reds is false.

Potassium supplement to the salt water aquaria promotes BLUEs and PURPLES.
Iron, which is amply found in ocean water, promotes green (photo-inhibition measures)
Iodine promotes Reds, Oranges, AND Pinks.

Photo spectrum from lighting does not solely increase color of corals... intensity does...
Good growth lighting for corals do not promote good coloration per se... nor does the flipside of that statement where good color rendition of corals, to the human eye, is the best for coral growth and health.

I have seen aquariums with good lighting and bad water chemistry fail... I have seen good water chemistry and not so good lighting succeed... yes... the corals are stretched out and brown... but mass growth had increased exponentially... what you need is both to be adequate... the right spectrum for coral growth... the right spectrum for photo-inhibition... good water chemistry... and last but not least, STABILITY

 

[TrPPnN]

I agree with what ReefLEDLight had mentioned earlier in this post... find both units... put them side by side... put a watt meter on both units to verify energy consumption... and yes... feel which one is hotter... good thermal management allows for the LED lifespan to not only increase but to avoid premature color shift as the phosphors in the LEDs overheat...

There are other fixtures other than the major three... of the ones which are the most reliable and robust for our hobby, thermal management of the light source (LEDs) is what is just as important, if not more so, than just the correct light spectrum...

The correct light spectrum can be selected from specific bins for our personal needs, likes and wants... If a unit runs hot at the surface where the LED meets the heatsink, thermal breakdown is in the near future for your fixture... ie, you need to buy another light sooner...

Keep doing your homework and look at all the options that are out there... in the end, the styling of the housing, profile, thermal management, and color rendition will all impact your decision... take your time and evaluate your needs and wants and weight them out... :) Cheers!