Orbit vs. Satalite for 10g

[sir_dudeguy]

Ok i've pretty much narrowed the light that i'm gonna get for my 10g to 2 different ones...but i'm not sure what the difference in them is.

First one is the orbit 2x40 and it has a cooling fan and lunar light. Its 120 i think.
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/livestock/product_info.php?id=2178

The second one is the Satalite...same thing basically. 2x40w and has a lunar light and fan. Actually now that i look, the first one doesnt list a fan. But the satalite is only 106. Not much difference, but which one is better?
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/livestock/product_info.php?id=2043

 

[Rosseau]

If only the 10G's were a little bit longer for the sake of T5's.

I have no experience with either of those lights.

 

[GreenPuffers]

I wouldnt know the difference between the two, but I have a satalite on my 20g and I really like it. It stays cool and doesnt seem to heat up my tank. Hope that helps a little.

 

[Jadams]

for the ammount of money your spending, the orbit is only a small ammount more. Go with that forsure!

 

[SJGreene]

I have both, except my Satellite is the 4 x65w and it's over a 55g.

Personally, I like the Orbit better. The 20" Orbit does have a fan, which is wired with one of the light socket plugs. Also has two lunar lights.

The reason I like the Orbit better than the Satellite is becasue of the design and ballast placement.

On the Satellite fixture the ballast is placed towards the back of the fixture. Because of this, not much of the air moved by the fan passes over the ballast itself. Most of the air moves over the bulbs.

On the Orbit fixture the ballast is located on the top of the fixture, in the rounded part. Because of the shape of the fixture, and the placement of the fan, there appears to be better air flow moving over the ballast.

Why is this imortant? On my Satellite fixture I am getting ready to replace the second ballast. The first one went out about 3 months ago. The fixture is only 18 months old. I think the ballasts are going bad because they're not being cooled very well. Just my thoughts. No problems with the Orbit fixture.


As for price, if you want to save a little look here:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=currentusa

Even if you don't order from them, see if your place will price match.

Good luck.

 

[tktodd]

I have the orbit on my 10 gallon nano. I like it alot. All my corals are thriving well off of that unit.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=998226

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Ok thanks everyone I think i'll be going w/the orbit for sure now. I was already liking the shape of it better (idk...i guess i just like the rounded look haha).

If only the 10G's were a little bit longer for the sake of T5's.

true story man :lol: If it were 4 inches longer, i wouldnt hesitate one bit to just get the reefgeek.com tek light (either 2x24 to start, or just all out and get the 4x24 retro)

for the ammount of money your spending, the orbit is only a small ammount more. Go with that forsure!

ya, the small difference in price isnt any problem (specially since i'm not the one buying it ). I'm just lookin to find which one is the better light, regardless of price. Will be for mostly just zoas/shrooms, various other softies, i've got a hammer, and a bunch of digis and elkhorn that are all doin good in PC's right now that are lower wattage, so as far as i'm concerned, both should be enough to grow what i've got right?

tktodd....how long have you had that tank set up?

 

[tktodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9709268#post9709268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy

tktodd....how long have you had that tank set up?

It has been up and running for about six months now. I don't have much coraline because I got lazy with the calcium.