Outer Orbit HQI/ T5HO

[Grey Reefer]

Has anyone seen these new units and/or heard anything about them?
www.current-usa.com/outerorbithqit5ho.html (http://www.current-usa.com/outerorbithqit5ho.html)

From what I've read they look really nice and I'm going to upgrade the lighting on my 20g. I want to go all out. The lights even come with timers. Thoughts?

[bigreef74]

i have the 72" 150 HQI an 96W power compact and i love it

[Grey Reefer]

I have seen those (almost bought one). The one I'm talking about comes with T5 instead of PC.

[leandrij]

I'm thinking about buying one too, but I just contacted them and they said that they are are also about to start shipping a 250W model.
Model 1079.
I'm not sure if 150W hqi's is enough for me.
I have a lot of work to do at home and I don't feel like doing DIY lighting on top of it.
I like it because of the versatility. I could play with different bulb combinations on the T5s. It's the only thing I've seen so far that has 2 rows of T5s.

JL

[Grey Reefer]

Yes, I would get the 250 watt HQI unit as well. The T5's on the unit appear to have individual reflectors. How good they are is anyone's guess but it is better than a large reflector for both set of T5's. I would like to see a comparision between this unit, sunlight supplies Maristar and Aqua Medic's Ocean light w/ T5. I would also like to see what kind of ballast they use for the HQI.

[rdrash]

I'm getting the 2 x150 and 4x54 today. Should be on my doorstep when I get home.

[db_triggerfish]

rdrash,

Please let us have some feedback, like are you getting Slimmer effect with the 150w x2 MH and the T5 on at the same time. pics would be great.
I am looking to buy it also can't decide like (leandrij) if to go with 150w v 250 MH. More money more heat not sure if needed.

[Grey Reefer]

Pics of the unit would be great!

Who did you order it from?

[AD91158]

I just got the 2 x 150 hqi 4x 39w t5 unit. Shimmer effect is awesome. I downgraded my lighting from an aquamedic hqi/t5 fixture (250watts per bulb) to this. The aquamedic unit put out way to much heat and was blinding. This unit provides just enough light. Also the shimmer effect is more apparent on the current fixture than it was on the aquamedic, I have no idea why. Also the 4 t5's make the dawn dusk affect much more dramatic.

[db_triggerfish]

AD91158, thanks i think i will go with 2 x 150MH and with 4 T5 i can always add two white 14k and 2 actinic.

[ahullsb]

I bought the 48 inch outer orbit with 150's and t5's. Buy it! It is a ton of light! I was worried that I should buy 250's also but I'm glad I didn't. Yes there is plenty of shimmer all the way to the sand. (I have a 55 gallon though). The t5's do have individual reflectors and it's like having a tanning bed in your room. You also have seperate controls for the white and blue moonlights. Your preference. If you are curious, pm me and I will send pics. The ONLY think I decided I didn't like was having one on/off switch for all 4 t5's. I had the idea of running two daylight t5's with 2 actinics to save a little energy sometimes. (Can't do that and still have a dawn/dusk effect.) But no big deal. I still love the light

[rdrash]

What everybody else said about it. I'd also add that it is wide. 16 inches so it covers most of my 75. It has 2 exhaust fans and one intake on the top of the unit. It comes with leg mounts and ceiling mounts. Plus 2 timers.

The image is blurry but you can see how it covers most of my tank.
http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/5324/dscn0472ng8.jpg


Side view of the switches. 1 for T5's 1 for Halides 1 for blue LED's and 1 for white

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6080/dscn0478jw2.jpg



T5's on
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1481/dscn0479xu6.jpg


So fare so good..

[Grey Reefer]

Just realized the light is too wide for my tank. I've got a 20g high.:(

[trwells]

I am also considering this light for my 58g. Any pictures of a tank with all lights on?

[gigiba]

I also purhased the new Outer Orbit HQI/ T5HO and i noticed there are plastic bag warp around T5 bulbs. Did you take it off?

[rdrash]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8790163#post8790163 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gigiba
I also purhased the new Outer Orbit HQI/ T5HO and i noticed there are plastic bag warp around T5 bulbs. Did you take it off?

Yeah I did. Didn't notice them though until I was about to turn it on. That probably wouldn't have turned out to well :eek2:

[gigiba]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8791214#post8791214 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdrash
Yeah I did. Didn't notice them though until I was about to turn it on. That probably wouldn't have turned out to well :eek2:

I sent an e-mail to current-usa and they said we need to take them off.
I don't see that in their installation booklet. :confused:
For those people who are going to purchase it: Remember to take those plastic sheets/bags off the T5 bulbs.

BTW, Do you use white LEDs? what is your lighting schedule?

[ahullsb]

I will attach photos of my tank with all the lights on tonight. So check back. The light is a little too wide for my tank also so a good amount of the t5 lighting is for my carpet also. I am slowly increasing my light cycle. I run the t5's for 10 hours a day and the mh's for 8 right now. The led's I turn on or off when I feel like it. They are usually on.

[CMcNeil]

hey guys i got the 24" orbit fixture on my 38g.i am happy with the lighting i get.i have plenty of growth from all my sps and the colors all look great.heres a pic.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/checkinhawk/Picture295.jpg

[leandrij]

Alright;
So that's enough info for me, I'm gonna buy the 150W, 72" model. Need to get moving on this project.

Just finished painting the back of the tank. Now I have to get it up onto the stand, and wire a new circuit for the lights. When the lights come I'll be ready to test them out.

Jean

[rdrash]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8794731#post8794731 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gigiba
I sent an e-mail to current-usa and they said we need to take them off.
I don't see that in their installation booklet. :confused:
For those people who are going to purchase it: Remember to take those plastic sheets/bags off the T5 bulbs.

BTW, Do you use white LEDs? what is your lighting schedule?

I only use the LED's when I want to look at the tank in the dark otherwise they are off.

The T5's are on 12 hours a day and the MH are on for 10

[Smitty750]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8781555#post8781555 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigreef74
i have the 72" 150 HQI an 96W power compact and i love it I have a 48'' outer orbit 2x150HQI and 2x96w PC with LED moonlights and I love it. Its so clean and crisp looking very little noise and heat is not that big of a problem. BIGREEF I just bought a 125 72x18x23 I noticed you said you have a 72" light setup with the 150HQI what size tank is it on and are you happy with the 150's or do you wish you got the 250's. Im just worried that with the 150's it wont be enough for SPS. But Im not sure any info would help. Thanks