Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this brand LED for Reefing. Building out my 125 gallon and really stuck on lighting. They seem like a decent product based on reviews and videos but not alot of info out there. Wondering if this will work with acro or would it be a bare minimum light for them. Thoughts? Eventually would totally upgrade later to whatever is new and best or Hydra 52s though would need three of those :jester:
Current USA Orbit Marine Pro LED
- Thread starter RyuMcDohl
- Start date
GimpyFin
Active member
I've used the non-pro version and it's a good light for the mushrooms in my small cube, but it's not very powerful. I've looked at the Pro version and it's more powerful, with a broader spectrum, and better optics on the LEDs, but I still don't think it penetrates very deep (They use a bunch of lower power LEDs rather than fewer high powered ones.) Current USA does have a PAR sheet on their site that gives approximate values at various depths between the regular and Pro models. (It's listed somewhere as a download when you're on the product page for the Orbit marine lights.) Anyway, hope that helps.
Yeah I'm just trying to decide what route to go really as I don't want to just waste money lighting that is sub par instead of spending a bit extra to get something decent. It's the standard 125g 72 x 18 x 23. Though getting 3 Hydra 52 is fairly brutal unless I get buy with two until I get the third. What about the hydra 26 ? Like I said I'd like to really get into some decent growth and not be limited to the type because of my lighting. Are there other decent comparable brands ? I hear good things about the hydra s but there must be others opinions out there on brand
Ron Reefman
Active member
Going from a Current USA Orbit Marine to an AI Hydra 52 is like going from a fully equipped (under powered) VW Beetle to a fully equipped Mercedes. There are a number of other options in between. For a little bit more than you would pay for a single AI Hydra 52, you could buy a ReefBreeders Photon V2 at 50" or for about the same as two AI Hydra 52's you could get 2 RB Photon V2 32".
Bpb
New member
The current will not be powerful for acropora on that size tank. A trio of hydra 52 would be really nice, but you could also get a reefbreeders photon v2 for much cheaper. Probably for about the same price as a pair of currents, but would have a ton more power and color to work with
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I have come across reefbreeder quite a bit while digging around. I sort of figured going from the USA orbit to Hydra was how you described it. That does answer my question though that the orbit is not worth the money in terms of coral tanks, I ran into this situation in the past whe. I bought a junky marineland marine strip. Could have kept that 250$ and for a few hundred more got a really decent light. Just seems their product descriptions are fairly misleading in regards to what they can actually do. It did grow coral sure, but 4 heads in 1 years for candy cane is pretty brutal.
I will check out these reefbreeder but it seems if money isn't an issue between reef breeder or hydras would hydras be the best choice ?
I will check out these reefbreeder but it seems if money isn't an issue between reef breeder or hydras would hydras be the best choice ?
Bpb
New member
The current is definitely under powered though. I would do one of the long single photon units. If they've got like a 58" unit one I'm not sure. Just hang it high. 12-18" over the water. The shadowing will be minimal to none at that height. Or you could get 3 individual smaller ones. Whatever fits your budget
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DarkSkyForever
New member
I had a Current Orbit Marine Pro on a 10g nano. It grew mushrooms, zoas, a few softies and montis just fine. It is feature rich for what you get, and the price was affordable. Can't say if it'll be enough for a 125 though.
Bluefish9
New member
Im in the middle of building a 150g FOWLR. Since lighting doesn't really matter so much, I was looking at the current-USA lights BUT I decided against them. With all the good reviews on the amazon Chinese lights, they are cheaper AND people are having success growing coral. Therefore I have flexibility if ever I decide to convert to reef down the road. They are VERY bright and for $90 a pop, they are a no brainer over the Current-USA lights.
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Bpb
New member
Yep. The current light doesn't have the wattage necessary to accommodate the depth and width to grow acropora. Mushrooms can flourish in less than 50 par and a nano tanks are short. A 125 gallon is 18" deep and you'll want to be able to achieve 350-500 par on the rockwork for acropora to develop ideal colors and growth. You simply will not get those numbers using the current light. If you like the features of them and just INSIST you must have it, it's fine for mushrooms and fish only tanks, but should not even be on your radar if you plan to have any sps at all in the tank. It's not designed for them
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See what I am liking about reef breeder from researching them is the include mounting kit . With Hydra it seems even for 26s you need to buy the 80$ classic mount and even then they have them turned back to front instead of side to side. Just seems the trick will be whether I need the threw 24s since I have those blessings every 24". It's too bad they don't have a light longer then 50 
Ron Reefman
Active member
I had 2 of the 32" fixtures over my old 180g tank (6' long). I don't think the shadows from the braces will be an issue. But 3 of the 24" or 16" fixtures will certainly do the job.
i actually really like those current fixtures, i have the satellite+pros on my freshwater tanks, and some cichlid guys even use those orbit marine pros cause they like the colors, the fixtures and the controls are all real nice, the part that's probably underwhelming is gonna be the wattage, they just aren't in the same power tier as the high-end fixtures many run. my kessil on my 60 cube reef uses more wattage then the entire satellite+pro fixture on full blast on my 120g cichlid tank....the power on them is just not there. it would be good for things that don't need super intense light, would be excellent on a fish-only tank.
Ron Reefman
Active member
That's exactly what they should be used for, Fowlr or freshwater tanks. Or easy corals in a tank under 18" deep.
Well I ordered the first of three reef breeder photon v2 24 to test on my older tank. My larger 120 setup is still in transition cycling 
but this way I can see how it does before hand then get everything moves over once parameters are in check in 120. Though I have yet to see a ammonia or nitrate spike after 30 days lol probably helped I had feed stock water from old tank. That I dump I'm there to give it a boost
but this way I can see how it does before hand then get everything moves over once parameters are in check in 120. Though I have yet to see a ammonia or nitrate spike after 30 days lol probably helped I had feed stock water from old tank. That I dump I'm there to give it a boostSimilar threads
