Outer Orbit lighting metal hilide with either - t5 actinic or PC - which one???

happygirl142 · #1 10/06/2007, 05:41 AM

Ok I am soooo torn about which light to buy.

I just upgraded my reef setup to a 29 gal tank. My old light is to small now. I have it rigged up to work for now but it really needs to be replaced. I plan to buy an "Outer orbit" light made by current.

I am torn between to simliliar 24" lights

Both lights have a 150 watt 10,000k HQI metal halide. the difference is that one model has 2 - 65 watt Dual Actinic 420nm/ 460nm with 4 white moon lights.

The other light has 2 - 45 watt SlimPaq T5HO Actinic 420nm & 460nm lamps and 12 lunar lights (6 white and 6 blue) each color lunar light can be run seperately or together.

I've been reading all week and still can't decide which atinic is better.

The t5 setup is about $100.00 more than the PC.

You can find all the specs on both lights at:http://www.current-usa.com/

the models #'s I am looking at are 1040 and 1070

My 29 gal tank has almost 60 lbs of live rock, a goos sand bed, and a 10 gal refugium.

I have 2 fish, a Domino Damsel (his name is Spot) and 1 Scooter Blenny. Also I have a cleaner shrimp, a few crabs and snails.
As for corals and inverts. I have 1 very small yellow cucumber, (who just split into 2 a few days ago and both are doing well), a few mushrooms. 2 candy canes, 1 frog spawn, several pulsing xannias and a recently addded sun polyp.

I have only had a saltwater tank for a few months and this is my 1st post. Ok let the opions fly and Thanks to anyone who replies.

customcolor · #2 10/06/2007, 05:50 AM

one thing you will have to worry about with a small tank and halides is the heat problem you could have. i would spent the extra 100 and get the t5 set up cuz the t5's run much cooler than compacts! this is comming from a guy that used compacts on my old 55. just 4 bulbs keeped my tank at the right temps with no heater.

Chibils · #3 10/06/2007, 06:37 AM

I don't think you'll regret the T5s. PC actinics aren't that great for coloration, plus you have much. MUCH better choice with T5. On top of that, 29s are really deep for such small tanks and T5s penetrate much better and run cooler.

Reefmack · #4 10/06/2007, 06:57 AM

I have the 24" 1070 with the T5HO actinics (actually 2x24W each of 420 & 460 - 4 separate T5 lamps) and MH. The T5's alone (without the MH on) will give a much bluer light and they add a whole new look to the color of the rock and corals. I have each color moonlight, the T5's, and the MH on a different timer, trying to simulate night, dawn, early morning, full sun & then the reverse. That takes 2 more timers than they supply (or you can get a dual timer outlet like Coralife has). I also have an Azoo dual fan come on with the MH lamp, and with that my tank is always about 79F (the t5's don't make much heat with the open hood). I really like mine. Good luck with whatever you choose - it's a nice fixture and the built in fan is very quiet.

happygirl142 · #5 10/06/2007, 09:41 AM

Wow, thank you that helps a lot.

I guess the t5 setup it is.

To Reefmack,
Do you have your 1070 on the legs or hanging? My tank is 30" long so I have to hang my light. This fixture comes in 24" and 36" but not a 30". how high from the tank would you suggest I hang it and do you think the 24" will give me the coverage I need?

Thanks

Toddrtrex · #6 10/06/2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by happygirl142
Wow, thank you that helps a lot.

I guess the t5 setup it is.

To Reefmack,
Do you have your 1070 on the legs or hanging? My tank is 30" long so I have to hang my light. This fixture comes in 24" and 36" but not a 30". how high from the tank would you suggest I hang it and do you think the 24" will give me the coverage I need?

Thanks

If you don't want to hang it, you could go with the sunpod, which just has the MH ( plus the moonlights ) I went with the 30", 250 watt version over my 29, and I am very happy with it.

An older picture, but gives you an idea of what the fixture looks like.

Reefmack · #7 10/06/2007, 11:03 AM

Hi happygirl. I have mine on the legs - it fits my tank perfectly. Mine sits 3-4 inches above the tank rim on the legs. just my opinion, but I think the 24" would be best for you (and cheaper I think). The 24" will center well over your 30" tank, and I think will look better than the 36" version.

By the way - the legs do slide in a groove, so it's very possible that the 36" could be set up on the legs, by sliding them in, and it would extend a bit on both sides of your 30" tank.

happygirl142 · #8 10/06/2007, 11:31 AM

Nice tank. Is that really 34 gal? Mine is 5 gal less but tank is 6" wider! I guess I should have found the light I wanted before the tank. It seems 30" is not a very common size like the 24" and 36". The Sunpod is nice but I really like being able to just have my actinics on in the am. Well I know I'm getting the t5 that part is done now I just need to decide wheather I really want to hang it or use the legs. Thanks for all your comments.

Reefmack · #9 10/06/2007, 04:48 PM

Thanks happygirl - yes, 34 gallons - the display section in front is 29gallons, with 5 gallons in the back filtration/skimmer compartment. 24" across so the 24" Orbit fits great. If you look at the tank picture - the 4 legs each fit in a slot that goes across the fixture - I could slide my legs in to fit a smaller tank if I had to, so the legs are adjustable should you get the 36" and decide to mount it rather than hang it. I guess you know it also comes with the hanging equipment. But, what you get has to be your decision, and decisions are not always easy! And in reefkeeping they are always expensive!

happygirl142 · #10 10/07/2007, 10:16 PM

You are right about that. My brain hurts trying to decide for sure what do, my decision seems to be changing hourly. lol
I'll post the finally outcome as soon as I know for sure.

Toddrtrex · #11 10/07/2007, 10:21 PM

Just get the 30" version w/o the T5s, and be done with it.

The moon lights actually put out a good amount of light if you wanted the dusk dawn effect. I was shocked how bright they were. And the bulb ( 14K ) that comes with that unit is pretty good, I was really happy with the color. Though I just put a Phoenix bulb in there.

happygirl142 · #12 10/24/2007, 10:01 PM

Final outcome:
I bought the 36" (Outer Orbit. It has (2) 250 watt MH,T5 actinics and both Blue+White moonlights. I am going to hang it. Eventually I will probably go with the 36" wide 55 gal tank.
Thanks to all who commented.

amike5 · #13 10/24/2007, 10:12 PM

Good choice, I've had my outer orbit 48" for about a year. It came with PC's and I have since decided that I don't like them and have just ordered a t5 upgrade kit.

rickh · #14 10/25/2007, 10:46 AM

I personally don't like the light spilling into the room from a hanging light or a light on legs--very distracting. Either a canopy or the light sitting directly on the glass cover looks much better.

Reefmack-- Your tank looks nice but a shield on the front edge of the light would make the light less distracting.
R

Reefmack · #15 10/25/2007, 12:15 PM

rickh - the light splillover doesn't bother me at all and the tank is on the same side as the TV. What may bother one person doesn't bother another. It looks a lot brigther in pictures than in reality.

rcerulli · #16 10/25/2007, 02:17 PM

pics of my 48" outer orbit pro with t5's

happygirl142 · #17 10/30/2007, 09:55 AM

Once It gets here and it's all set up. I'll let you know what I think about the spill over. lMaybe I'll post a pic as well.

hondo73 · #18 10/31/2007, 01:00 PM

Will the 48" outer Orbit w/ T5s fit inside a 90 gallon tank 48 " long canopy? Or will it extend past the tank? I really like the lighting hidden, and do find it distracting otherwise. Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks

Toddrtrex · #19 10/31/2007, 01:26 PM

If you look at the pictures posted, you might be able to see that they pretty much go right to the edge of the tank. On mine it is even with the trim.

Do you already have the canopy? Or are you going to make one? Another thing to consider is the placement of the vent/fan(s) on the Orbit, would have to match those up with the canopy holes ( if any exist )

seapug · #20 10/31/2007, 02:08 PM

I have the 48" version with the PC actinics. Either one will work, but if I had the choice when I bought mine I would have gone with t5s. You get greater output/watt with them vs. PC.

hondo73 · #21 10/31/2007, 02:31 PM

Toddrtrex, I don't have the canopy yet. I am looking for a new 90 gallon, and want the halides, lunar, etc. I believe this is 48". Would another size work, or any suggestions? I want to keep this simple. I last had a 125 that we retrofit our own lighting, but am getting too old to mess with all that, and want to go smaller. Also, I am thinking of the 250 watt version with the t5s also, partially because that should be cooler with the remote ballast and t5s (?) and I live in Florida now.
Thanks for any input.

hondo73 · #22 10/31/2007, 02:34 PM

By the way, I am buying a premade canopy....

Toddrtrex · #23 10/31/2007, 02:36 PM

I was going to suggest retros, but I can see why you don't want to do that again.

I am thinking that you would have to hang the fixture from within the canopy --- thinking the legs would interfere with the canopy resting on the tank trim.

I know the top of my sunpod ( 250 watt version ) gets a bit warm, so your canopy might have to be on the taller side.

Edit, I missed your comment about getting a premade canopy. What do you want more? The lights or the canopy? Would hate you to waste money on one of them. Is there a way that you could see ( in person ) if they would work together?

ahullsb · #24 10/31/2007, 05:55 PM

The 48 inch fixture would be great over a 90 gallon. I think it is about 15 inches front to back, and the 90 is more than that.