Panel LEDs provide better spread, right? Today we test the Orphek Atlantik V4 Compact to find out!

randyBRS · Apr 3, 2020

Sooo many Orphek LED reefers out there and I have to say that I love all of the tanks I see using them!

But... are we using them optimally? Today we give the Orphek Compact V4 the complete testing works to find out those optimal settings!

Fish E · Apr 3, 2020

Panel LED's make sense from coverage and hotspot avoidance standpoints, but what doesn't makes sense is spectrum blending. Since each wavelength of LED is only placed at certain positions on the panel, is it only the area generally beneath that receives the wavelength? How does the whole tank receive the entirety of available spectrum? Perhaps only panels with diffusers like the Radion achieve some blending. Maybe the video will answer this.

hart24601 · Apr 3, 2020

I suspect the future of led lighting will be panel, but have many small clusters for blending. Orphek uses dual chip leds, I think as we advance will see the whole spectrum clustered but in a orphek style layout.

vetteguy53081 · Apr 3, 2020

Orphek does it right. Never had nicer color and growth until I went Orphek

orionstrident · Apr 3, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Orphek does it right. Never had nicer color and growth until I went Orphek

What programming / channel percentages are you running?

vetteguy53081 · Apr 3, 2020

orionstrident said:
What programming / channel percentages are you running?

I have 5 and spectrums vary but most are focused on blue with various mixes of purple/red/green and the added white over the areas with SPS

atoll · Apr 4, 2020

Fish E said:
Panel LED's make sense from coverage and hotspot avoidance standpoints, but what doesn't makes sense is spectrum blending. Since each wavelength of LED is only placed at certain positions on the panel, is it only the area generally beneath that receives the wavelength? How does the whole tank receive the entirety of available spectrum? Perhaps only panels with diffusers like the Radion achieve some blending. Maybe the video will answer this.

Via multiples of the same spectrum LEDs over the panel. The Orpheks are also duel diodes.

atoll · Apr 4, 2020

hart24601 said:
I suspect the future of led lighting will be panel, but have many small clusters for blending. Orphek uses dual chip leds, I think as we advance will see the whole spectrum clustered but in a orphek style layout.

The likes of Ecotech have had plenty of time to go to larger panel lights but are doing just about everything they can to resit it.

Fish E · Apr 4, 2020

atoll said:
Via multiples of the same spectrum LEDs over the panel. The Orpheks are also duel diodes.

Makes sense, but if you look at the diode layout, the 470nm for example, is found in all four corners and down the middle. Does that wavelength have enough spread to cover the areas between?

atoll · Apr 4, 2020

Fish E said:
Makes sense, but if you look at the diode layout, the 470nm for example, is found in all four corners and down the middle. Does that wavelength have enough spread to cover the areas between?

Well one way of looking at it is the truth of the pudding etc. You also have to consider the lenses of course ong with the height which is 16" so higher than say most Radions are fitted I would think.
Nobody is suggesting the Atlantic's are perfect but they are more perfect than the majority if not all LED clumped together LEDs. You could of course fit a diffuser to the Orpheks but am not sure if they would make such a difference. Would be worth trying I guess if only to see but then you would need some decent equipment to measure the mixing and spread along with PAR.

Fish E · Apr 4, 2020

atoll said:
Nobody is suggesting the Atlantic's are perfect but they are more perfect than the majority if not all LED clumped together LEDs.

That statement pretty much answers my concerns. Thank you.

User1 · Apr 4, 2020

Mounting height is going to be a deal breaker for some. Doesn't take away from light being effective but I personally am not a fan of mounting requirements.

hart24601 · Apr 4, 2020

saf1 said:
Mounting height is going to be a deal breaker for some. Doesn't take away from light being effective but I personally am not a fan of mounting requirements.

Yeah no doubt it will be an issue for some. I personally love how high the orpheks mount, for rimless tanks it's great getting that unobstructed top down view and the orpheks somehow do a great job of not having light spill. I have to hand it to them for that feature since we sit next to the tank, but for sure needing them that high isn't for all.

atoll · Apr 4, 2020

hart24601 said:
Yeah no doubt it will be an issue for some. I personally love how high the orpheks mount, for rimless tanks it's great getting that unobstructed top down view and the orpheks somehow do a great job of not having light spill. I have to hand it to them for that feature since we sit next to the tank, but for sure needing them that high isn't for all.

Mine are 10" off the waters surface. 2 x Atlantic's on a 5' long.

User1 · Apr 4, 2020

hart24601 said:
Yeah no doubt it will be an issue for some. I personally love how high the orpheks mount, for rimless tanks it's great getting that unobstructed top down view and the orpheks somehow do a great job of not having light spill. I have to hand it to them for that feature since we sit next to the tank, but for sure needing them that high isn't for all.

I do agree.

hart24601 · Apr 4, 2020

Running mine about 14" above my waterbox 100.3 - 3 foot long tank. I picked that hight as it was just when the light started to spill over the edges. 24" deep and the bottom gets ~300 par. Full size not compact.

Side shot and 2 month acro growth.