reef lighting -- JBJ vs. Orbit or coralife??

[[email protected]]

I have a 37g I want to get reef ready. I am in the process of looking
for the right lighting. Here is what I found:

30" JBJ Formos A-DX 65w x2 $199.99

30" Orbit Sunpaq w/lunarlights 65w x2 $159.99

30" coralife 65w x2 ....around the same price


Please offer some help on which is the better light. Or offer any
suggestions you have on the subject.

Thanks,
Phil

[Ray Martini]

I believe the Orbit and the Coralife have moonlights installed. The Formosa
does not. Also the Coralife and the Orbit come with the mounting legs. The
legs on the Formosa are extra but they have the rear flip back hinges which
is an awesome feature. The light filps up 90% for feeding and treating
access. As far as light goes they use pretty much the same PC bulbs.
Coralife is of the linear pin flavor, Formosa is straight pin. JBJ claims
some German reflecting technology for better light blah blah blah ...
Marketing hype as far as I'm concerned. Any of the forementioned lights are
terrific and a huge step up from the old tube flourecsent lights. You should
be able to grow most LPS corals. Probably not SPS corals with PC lighting.

I caught a great deal on a Formosa 48" 65w, waiting for it to arrive this
week.


> wrote in message
ups.com...
>I have a 37g I want to get reef ready. I am in the process of looking
> for the right lighting. Here is what I found:
>
> 30" JBJ Formos A-DX 65w x2 $199.99
>
> 30" Orbit Sunpaq w/lunarlights 65w x2 $159.99
>
> 30" coralife 65w x2 ....around the same price
>
>
> Please offer some help on which is the better light. Or offer any
> suggestions you have on the subject.
>
> Thanks,
> Phil
>

[swhastan]

A Coralife light doesn't comes with mounting legs.
You should buy it additionally.
As far as I know, Current USA Satellite which is made by same company as
Orbit and a little cheaper(around $120) is brighter than other lights with
same wattage.
However, all brands have not much difference, I believe.




"Ray Martini" > wrote in message
...
>I believe the Orbit and the Coralife have moonlights installed. The Formosa
>does not. Also the Coralife and the Orbit come with the mounting legs. The
>legs on the Formosa are extra but they have the rear flip back hinges which
>is an awesome feature. The light filps up 90% for feeding and treating
>access. As far as light goes they use pretty much the same PC bulbs.
>Coralife is of the linear pin flavor, Formosa is straight pin. JBJ claims
>some German reflecting technology for better light blah blah blah ...
>Marketing hype as far as I'm concerned. Any of the forementioned lights are
>terrific and a huge step up from the old tube flourecsent lights. You
>should be able to grow most LPS corals. Probably not SPS corals with PC
>lighting.
>
> I caught a great deal on a Formosa 48" 65w, waiting for it to arrive this
> week.
>
>
> > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>>I have a 37g I want to get reef ready. I am in the process of looking
>> for the right lighting. Here is what I found:
>>
>> 30" JBJ Formos A-DX 65w x2 $199.99
>>
>> 30" Orbit Sunpaq w/lunarlights 65w x2 $159.99
>>
>> 30" coralife 65w x2 ....around the same price
>>
>>
>> Please offer some help on which is the better light. Or offer any
>> suggestions you have on the subject.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Phil
>>
>
>

[CheezWiz]

I own four Aqualight fixtures and have been pleased with all of them.
I use an Aqualight Pro on my tank, an Aqualight 65x2 on a greenwater/brine
shrimp reactor and two 18w fixtures on my refugium.

The Aqualight Pro's can be purchased at reduced prices right now. Mine was
missing the legs, but Coralife sent replacements in two days, no questions
asked. (I think the box was robbed at the store and I was too stupid to
check)

I like Coralife products because of the customer service I have had after
the sale...
Same goes with SeaChem....

CW
> wrote in message
ups.com...
>I have a 37g I want to get reef ready. I am in the process of looking
> for the right lighting. Here is what I found:
>
> 30" JBJ Formos A-DX 65w x2 $199.99
>
> 30" Orbit Sunpaq w/lunarlights 65w x2 $159.99
>
> 30" coralife 65w x2 ....around the same price
>
>
> Please offer some help on which is the better light. Or offer any
> suggestions you have on the subject.
>
> Thanks,
> Phil
>

[Rikko]

On 3 May 2005 21:42:01 -0700, wrote:

>I have a 37g I want to get reef ready. I am in the process of looking
>for the right lighting. Here is what I found:
>
>30" JBJ Formos A-DX 65w x2 $199.99
>
>30" Orbit Sunpaq w/lunarlights 65w x2 $159.99
>
>30" coralife 65w x2 ....around the same price
>
>
>Please offer some help on which is the better light. Or offer any
>suggestions you have on the subject.
>
>Thanks,
>Phil

I've never been a huge fan of the Coralife PC hoods.. The ones we've
been using in the store have been flaky (well, a couple were), and I
was never really that enamored by the colours of the bulbs.
If you want to spend a little more money, see what the pricing is on
the Aqualight Advanced. They're new dual 20,000K HQI fixtures with no
other lighting at all, but I've heard great things about the colour
rendering with just the 20,000K HQIs.

[[email protected]]

Are the mounting legs a must?

Could you tell us who you contacted to get the legs from Coralife?

thx.

[unclenorm]

Hi Phil,
Those light are somewhat low for a reef tank, you would be
better with 4 to 5 watts per gallon. try :-
http:// aquatraders.com
You should find what you need there and at better value
for money.
regards,
unclenorm.

[CheezWiz]

I just emailed the tech support address from their web site.

CW
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Are the mounting legs a must?
>
> Could you tell us who you contacted to get the legs from Coralife?
>
> thx.
>

[FU Manchu]

I have the Orbit 20" running a 10 Gallon and the 30" you are thinking of
buying on a 29 Gallon. Both look beautiful and I have LPS SPS Mushrooms
Polyps you name it. Everything is flourishing and no complaints from me. I
have had both for about 6 months now with not a fault. Easy to clean too if
they get salt creep. Good Luck.

>Please offer some help on which is the better light. Or offer any
> suggestions you have on the subject.
>
> Thanks,
> Phil
>