Are Orbit powercompact lights worth it??

[lennon]

Oh..sorry. I am so new and feel stupid not knowing all these things. But I promise..I will get better at it.
What would I have to modify. The guy at the LFS said that these light do not attach to the sides of the tank...not to mention I will have a canopy. He said that since I am getting an oceanic tank with the glass lid..that I can just not use the feet on the orbit and just lay it on top of the lid. that is why I figured it would be simple enough.
Did he know what he was talking about? Or am I doing the wrong thing if I just place on top?

By the way..this is the description for the 36" that I want to use on the 75 gallon..
Create the ultimate dawn to dusk effect with the pro-grade, Orbit. It packs our SunPaq Dual Daylight (10,000K & 6,700K), our Dual Actinic (460nm & 420nm) and our Lunar Light™ together in one sleek, fan-cooled fixture. Offering the leading technologies in one 24-hour lighting system that gives you one small step to take for a gigantic leap in performance. The 36" Orbit features a professional grade, powder-coated aluminum housing with splash lens, 1-96w Dual Daylight & 1-96w Dual Actinic lamps with independent controls, ultra-quiet high output fan, 3-Lunar Lights with independent power source, and Docking Mounts for elevating the Orbit above the aquarium.
Includes- adjustable legs, 1 dual daylight bulb, 1 dual actinic bulb, 3 lunar lights, 3 cords and 2 switches.

 

[celacanthr]

that is only 2x96 watts, not enough for even shrooms. And i would not put any fixture 9except NO's on top of the glass because of the salt creep, and believe me just by coming here and asking questions you are already smarter than most people going into the hobby. And also the double fixture idea i sent you in the email is what i plan on doing in my tank.

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
that is only 2x96 watts, not enough for even shrooms. And i would not put any fixture 9except NO's on top of the glass because of the salt creep, and believe me just by coming here and asking questions you are already smarter than most people going into the hobby. And also the double fixture idea i sent you in the email is what i plan on doing in my tank.

I guess that is not a good idea then.
I will look into the dual lighting..Do you still get the same color spectrum as the orbits give?
That is what is drawing me to them. The LFS said it is really much nice looking when you compare to other lights...

 

[celacanthr]

yes with the double lighting you get 4 daylights and 2 actinics, which means everything may end up looking a little yellower ( i doubt it would be very noticeable)

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
yes with the double lighting you get 4 daylights and 2 actinics, which means everything may end up looking a little yellower ( i doubt it would be very noticeable)

Hey..I just noticed these and they are alittle over $300
what do you think??
Current-USA - 36" Orbit 4x96 watt SunPaq with Lunar Light and Fan
This is the brand new power compact from Current USA in its original box. These are in stock and ready to ship. Current USA is the company emerging out of what was CSL with newer and better items. I can get these in other lenghts and in 2x96w, just ask at itemsearch@jcaquatics.com
Create the ultimate dawn to dusk effect with the pro-grade, Orbit. It packs our SunPaq Dual Daylight (10,000K & 6,700K), our Dual Actinic (460nm & 420nm) and our Lunar Light™ together in one sleek, fan-cooled fixture. Offering the leading technologies in one 24-hour lighting system that gives you one small step to take for a gigantic leap in performance. The 36" Orbit features a professional grade, powder-coated aluminum housing with splash lens, 2-96w Dual Daylight & 2-96w Dual Actinic lamp with independent controls, 2 ultra-quiet high output fans, 3-Lunar Lights with independent power source, and Docking Mounts for elevating the Orbit above the aquarium.

 

[celacanthr]

yeah, and you can just take the legs and set em on top of your glass aquarium top.

 

[sweetdawn]

remember that if you want to do a reef you will probably want clams and anemones and they need metal halide save the five hundred just get some cheap lights now and when you can afford the mh get them then you can keep anything you want

 

[bgriff]

I have the Orbit 48" 4x65watt (dual white, dual blue) with moons on a 55 and I am very happy.. (got them used) If you go to google and type your part number (CU01031) you should find a few places selling it under $500.. saw as low as $455.

 

[edwar050]

I dont know what you want to keep but if it were my tank I would ditch the PC's and get halide or t-5's. Four T-5's or one MH two VHO actinic's

 

[thangbom]

I hope I got your attention because I just bought my cousin 4x65 watt power compact for under $150....email me and i'll send you the link...jttranz@yahoo.com
good luck

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by BGriff
I have the Orbit 48" 4x65watt (dual white, dual blue) with moons on a 55 and I am very happy.. (got them used) If you go to google and type your part number (CU01031) you should find a few places selling it under $500.. saw as low as $455.

My LFS is selling the 4 x 96 watts for $420...so that is a good price right
I was told I can get some clams and anemones with these lights..do you have these in yours?
thanks

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by sweetdawn
remember that if you want to do a reef you will probably want clams and anemones and they need metal halide save the five hundred just get some cheap lights now and when you can afford the mh get them then you can keep anything you want

Are you sure I NEED mh? I was told that as long as I had the right wattage..then I could do whatever lights work. I kind of wanted to stay away from MH.
So I wont be able to do clams with the power compact orbits? I hate if the LFS was lying.
For $420 I would think those were the right lights...

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by edwar050
I dont know what you want to keep but if it were my tank I would ditch the PC's and get halide or t-5's. Four T-5's or one MH two VHO actinic's
Hey there..Well, due to heat and mercury vapors...I kind of wanted to stay away from MH.
I don't want to have to get a chiller for this because of it too.
I heard I can get away with the power compacts..is that not true??
thanks

 

[symon]

I bought the coralife pc same setup you are looking at, i only paid 250.00 and as you can imaigne, i wish i have looked online! You can get a heck of a lot better deal! do more research!
I have the home page for orbit, but i don't belive i am supposed to post the addy
you can email me
dowood@comcast.net

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by Symon
I bought the coralife pc same setup you are looking at, i only paid 250.00 and as you can imaigne, i wish i have looked online! You can get a heck of a lot better deal! do more research!
I have the home page for orbit, but i don't belive i am supposed to post the addy
you can email me
dowood@comcast.net
I researched all night and could not find these for less than $450

 

[celacanthr]

sorry lennon you wouldn't be able to get clams, sps, or anemones. Your LFS was wrong/lying

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
sorry lennon you wouldn't be able to get clams, sps, or anemones. Your LFS was wrong/lying
But that was the lighting they had in the system...

I don't want to do MH...I have a canopy so I am concerned about the heat issue and mercury vapors.
Can I mix the MH and power compacts?
maybe I should repost to see recommendations. I just liked what they said about the different spectrum to make the tank look nicer.
I just don't get it. I thought if I did 4 x 96 watts on the PC..that it would be enough for a 75 gallon that is not high at all...

 

[celacanthr]

Do they sell the corals in their system? If so they may never be their long enough to see the bad effects.

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
Do they sell the corals in their system? If so they may never be their long enough to see the bad effects.
No. It was a display tank.
But I don't understand. I am doing a 72 gallon and the 4x 96 gives me 5 watts per gallon.
I thought that was enough for some corals and such...
The book says that too..now I am confused

 

[sweetdawn]

i think it has more to do with the spectrum than the watts. i have two satalite pc on a thirty gallon it is what the lfs told me i could have to get clams. clam died now the pc are on the tank for an hour or two a day and the metal halide pendant is on the rest of the time. two clams doing great and the anemone i thought was dieing is coming back.