Coralife Deluxe vs. Current USA Satellite

rsanz

rsanz

The Peacock Gudgeon Guy
Aug 22, 2006
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I have a 20g long tank for which I am looking to upgrade the lighting. My choices are:
- Coralife Deluxe 30", 65watt, 6700k
- Current USA Satellite 30", 65watt, 10,000k w/ lunar light

The Coralife is about $3 less, but the actual BULB is only 24", leaving a nice dead spot on one side. Ain't that a *****? Everything else about the light I like, including the 6700k spectrum of light.

Now, the Current USA fixture has a 28" or so bulb, but it comes in 10,000k which gives off a nasty blue hue of light.

So, what do you think? I wish there wasn't such a huge dead zone with the Coralife fixture, otherwise this would be a no brainer!

Thoughts?
 
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I could also spring for the All-Glass double-tube fluorescent fixture ($45), but my issue with that one is that I'd like to raise the fixture above the tank somehow. Is there a way to do that? If so, I may just go for that one.

(Sorry for the double-post. I ran out of edit time.)
 
I have read current < corallife. I'm cheap so I think I'd prefer the All Glass, the bulbs are way less to replace but I still haven't decided for a 55g. Some of the t-5 are only 21 inch so even less coverage but more light into tank the way I understand it.
 
I just hate that the bulb is pushed to one side in the Coralife fixture. At least if it were in the middle it could kind of reach both sides of the tank.

Why would Coralife do that? What a buzzkill that is.
 
I have a Coralife sized for a 10g at 6700. I like it, but you're right about the bulb being shorter than expected. I have a "dim spot" in the front corner farthest from the lamp.

Still, I like the fixture overall and wouldn't hesitate to get another. I'm not familiar with the Current USA, however.
 
buy the coralife legs that hold the fixture about 1-2" off the top. the legs slide into the fixture and you can adjust where the bulb sits over the tanks, not too mention the legs help spread the light over the tank.

i did that with (2) 36" 96 watt fixtures over a 125 gallon tank. i moved the legs to where the bulbs were centered over the tank. no dead spots.

legs were like $10 on ebay
 
Have the Current USA Satellite Dual 48" 4 x 65 Watt Power Compact Light Strip W/2 Lunar Lights on my 125g. Excellent!! "T"
 
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