Coralife Aqualight Pro vs. Current USA Outer Orbit vs. No Name

[Kdocimo90]

Which Metal Halide Fixture would you prefer?
I have a 210 gallon 72x24x28 tank

72" Coralife Aqualight Pro
3x250W HQI Lamp
4x96W CF Lamps Sq. Pin
4x1W LED

or

72" Current USA Outer Orbit
3x250w 10K HQI MH
8x39W T5 HO
4xLunar Lights

or

This

[Raven63630]

If I had a choice I would go with the Current Outer Orbit with the T-5's, I have the Coralife Aqualight Pro 3x150HQI & 4x96 PC's and while it is a great light I prefer the look of the T-5' over the PC's . JMO

[Kdocimo90]

ok 1 down for Current outer Orbit

[Mikeeal]

One of my clients owns the 250W 72" version of the Current Outer Orbit. It's a great light imo. I have no experience with the other two you mentioned, so I can't compare, but I've been very happy with the Current. The ballasts run super cool as well as the fixture, and it looks great. No complaints from me.

[Kdocimo90]

ok 2 down... thanks for the info too Mikeeal

[Mikeeal]

No worries, let me know if you have any questions.

[A sea K]

I run the 3X150 Aqualight Pro on my 210. Going on two years now with no problems whatsoever.
I agree with the T-5 prefference over PC's but what would most concern me would be 250 watters mounted so close to the water I would be concerned about heat issues if you use the supplied mounting legs and lots of light spillage if you suspend the fixture higher off the tank.
FWIW I am currently planning to upgrade my lighting using 250 SE bulbs in the Lumenbright reflector with supplemental T-5's

[stanlalee]

As someone who has owned a few fixtures from both the current USA fixtures are better built hands down. Unless you get some sort of great deal on the Coralife I'd go with the current fixtures.

[Lightsluvr]

I owned the Aqualight system for six months...sold it to purchase the Current USA Outer Orbit with T5s. Now I run them on both of my tanks...

150W MH on the seahorse tank with largely soft corals, zoos, etc., and 250W MH on the 180G SPS tank.

I will make one comment. I don't care for the 10K MH bulbs on either system. Too yellow for my taste. I immediately replaced the halides with Phoenix 14K bulbs.

Enjoy!

LL

[Kaos]

I don't have any experience w/ the Coralife units but I did just pick up a Current USA MH/T-5 combo unit. It's not in use yet but I have put it through a few trial runs. So far I have been impressed w/ how cool it runs and how well it's built. As of right now I would definitely buy another. Now all I have to do is figure out where to get spare ballasts for the unit in case one goes out. I try to keep spares for all my lights/pumps/controllers or any other critical componets.

[drosen]

You can get spares at thatfishplace.com I believe. Petmountain might have them too.

FWIW I run the 72" 150W T5 Current on my 180. I have an SPS tank and I am getting good growth with the 150s. I am thinking about moving to a 14K HQI bulb though as the Currint comes with two Actinic bulbs 460nm and 430nm and they do not have the "POP" I would like with some of my corals.

Also My fixture was purchased from Pet Mountain. Great price BTW. It came all broken from UPS. Petmountain really supported me. Replaced bulbs right away. When my ballasts flaked a little they had new ones sent. Great customer service and unit has been solid ever since.

Since my wife does not like the look of it, I had to mount in under a canopy hood - to keep heat out I instadded some computer controlled fans and it works like a charm

best of luck

[drosen]

You can get spares at thatfishplace.com I believe. Petmountain might have them too.

FWIW I run the 72" 150W T5 Current on my 180. I have an SPS tank and I am getting good growth with the 150s. I am thinking about moving to a 14K HQI bulb though as the Currint comes with two Actinic bulbs 460nm and 430nm and they do not have the "POP" I would like with some of my corals.

Also My fixture was purchased from Pet Mountain. Great price BTW. It came all broken from UPS. Petmountain really supported me. Replaced bulbs right away. When my ballasts flaked a little they had new ones sent. Great customer service and unit has been solid ever since.

Since my wife does not like the look of it, I had to mount in under a canopy hood - to keep heat out I instadded some computer controlled fans and it works like a charm

best of luck

[marioensf]

By a former employee of aqua traders (importer in San Bruno CA of the "generic"), I was informed the third light is manufactured by the same company in china as the Coralife...
I look at them side by side and they are almost identical except for the power cord arrangement and the side covers

Current would be #1

[Kdocimo90]

well thanks alot you guys... good to know

[hpglow]

I used to have a 2 foot cube with the no name fixture above it. Its a good value, however, there is some flaws with it. First if your not using a timer and manually turning the switches on and off they wear out fast. Second my "electronic" ballast burnt out within 2 to 3 hours of opperation. And third the lamp they send you with them is sometimes yellow, mine was not but I have seen them put out very yellow light. You must be willing to put out about $120 give or take per mh ballast right from the get go on the unit and possibly 3 new lamps.

I am currently an owner of a 48" outer orbit over my 72 bowfront and I hate to say it but this fixture has its drawbacks as well. First, both of the 130w PC ballasts burnt out and took the lamps with them. Because 130w PC lamps are not a common size I converted from 2x 130w to 4x 65 w and it cost the same price to buy either configuration. All but one of the led moonlights have burnt out. Finally, this thing cost too much money for the above problems but I'm still using it.

[Kdocimo90]

Hmm good to know... Current didnt do anything to help you?

[Mikeeal]

Originally posted by Lightsluvr

I will make one comment. I don't care for the 10K MH bulbs on either system. Too yellow for my taste. I immediately replaced the halides with Phoenix 14K bulbs.

Enjoy!

LL

Good to know. I agree, the halides could be more blue. I don't see any yellow, but they are very white. So the Phoenix 14K's have worked good for you? Do you have any comparison pics of the two?

And to the OP, here is the light on a Perfecto 210G, T-5 actinic only:



10K Halides and T-5's:



Now that I think about it, the supplied timers are garbage, I replaced those right away, never even used em.

[Kdocimo90]

Yeah the 10ks are very white.. i was thinking about 14k or 15k... Does the outer orbit come with 10k? Are you able to request different bulbs?

[Lightsluvr]

Here is the tank in early stages with 10K Aqualight Pro 10K halides:



And here is the tank recently with the Current USA T5s and 14K Phoenix MH: (It's now a seahorse tank and those are 150 Watt Halides.)



And here is the 180G with the Current USA Outer Orbit T5 and 250W Phoenix 14K MH:



LL

[Mikeeal]

Very nice, thanks for the pics. Those will be my next bulbs.

[hpglow]

Originally posted by Kdocimo90
Hmm good to know... Current didnt do anything to help you?

The warranty is gone, however, I have a coralife fixture over another tank that has been going longer without any ballast changes. I may have been unlucky so your usage may varry.

[Kdocimo90]

Lol alright guys thanks... I think I'm gonna go with the Outer Orbit... now all i have to do is sell my 72" 14 bulb Constellation T-5 Fixture... and find a 72" Outer Orbit 250watt fixture (used).

What do you think I could sell my fixture for if I bought it new for $1200? It's in perfect condition.. no dents scrapes or anything... Used probably for about 5 months.

[Kdocimo90]

bump

[dj9264]

Not sure of the name but Giesemann was producing a 72" fixture with 3x250w HQI and 4x80w T-5 without moonlights. You maybe able find a deal on one of these if you don't need the moonlights. And you only have to buy half as many T-5s.

They have one with the moonlights but it was way more expensive at the time when I was shopping.

[Kdocimo90]

Ok cool thanks for the info.