Orbit lighting systems

Andy16

Andy16

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Dec 10, 2002
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Is the 30" Orbit 2X65 watt light with 2 LED lunar lights the best alternative under 175 watt metal halides?

I know most people will say get the metal halides and screw everything else. I know the hobby is expensive and you should never skimp on anything, but im 14 and my dad is not willing to spend that kind of money on my tank for me and I cant afford it.

Anyways, the tank is a 20L. I want to keep SPS and maybe clams but maybe not. So how is this light? Also is it reliable?
 
It won't be comparable to the MH, but it will be good for most corals. The clam would be iffy, IMO--they tend to do best on very strong lighting. But, I know people are keeping clams under CF lights currently. You just have to place the clam so it is close to the lights, and monitor it. Most corals will do very well for you though.
 
In a tank that shallow, you will be able to keep several species of stonies. Montipora digitata and capricornis are doing very well under 2X65W in my 20 tall.

Clams are a little tougher. Many argue that the smallest species, crocea and maxima, really require metal halide to do well. The less demanding species, squamosa and derasa, are also rather large and will need to be swapped out if they start to do well and grow.
 
Ok, I dont care much for clams anyways. I actually got the satallite model instead. The only different is the casing and there is only one LED light.
 
Sounds great. I am not a big fan of moonlights anyway. I think it was Dale who pointed out that marine creatures see very well in the blue end of the spectrum, so it won't really seem very dark to them.
 
Later on I want to see if I can hook up a 70w metal halide in there too. I just need to figure out how to wire it up and ill be good.
 
I got it today, its great. I set up my tank and it looks pretty good. Actually it looks terrible, Its really cloudy. I should be able to aquascape it tomorrow if it clears up.

Unfortunately, my CB shrimp losts one of its pinchers. It was the entire arm. I think it got caught up in the net and it came off. Can it regenerate it?
 
Should be able to, next time it molts. Most decorative shrimp and crabs continue to molt throughout their life, so any lost limbs are only temporary.
 
Thanks Orion. I was getting kinda worried. That shrimp is one of the first things I got.

Well, I have another question. Right now I have the LR just tossed in there. I still need about 10 lbs of sand, so Im going to get some LS sometime soon. Should I wait to aquascape or should I do it now and just add the sand after.
 
i have one of those orbit lights on my 20l reef tank but i have 2 96 watt bulbs and i have had it setup for 6 months and my stonies and etc.. are doing excellant and i also have a flame scallop still going strong after 3.5 months in my tank but i also dose with dts live plankton, but anyways i have my lights setup on timers. the actinic comes on at 9 in the morning and then at 10:30 a.m. i put on the daylight and then at 8:00 p.m. i shut the daylight off and at 9:10 i turn the moonlights on and at 9:30 i shut the actinics off. and then at 8:30 a.m. i shut the moonlightsd off and start all over again.
All my stuff is growing and doing really well with this combo and havent lost one thing in my tank.

good luck :dance
 
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