[sharpie]

hi everyone-
does anyone know which brand is better and why? or are they both the same. id be getting them from the same place so id get the same in store warranty which is 1 year.(i think)

coralife and Current USA ........
-thanks guys

[Mattfish]

I'll be the first to jump in, but I bet you'll get lots of responses to this one.

First, which models, how may watts, and for what size tank, and what do you want the lights for? Simple tank lighting for only fish? Corals? Clams? Other high-intensity-requiring livestock?

Second, are you considering these brands and types because of the advice of the lfs, or have you done some research, based ont he answers to the questions above?

Lighting seems to be one of the broadest possible subjects, competing with which skimmer, and which powerheads for diversity of opinion. Depending on whether you're lighting a fish-only tank, or more complex needs, will determine which kind of lights you want. The dimensions of your tank will determine the amount of wattage you need - deeper tank, more wattage to provide light down there.

Depending on the need for your lights, you'll need to consider the amount of heat they throw off, and whether you'll need to cool your tank.

So, please post some more facts, and the people here who are much smarter than me, can recommend types, and then brands doing that type and size.

[sharpie]

i want to get one of these-
Current USA Satellite Dual 48" 4 x 65 Watt Power Compact Light Strip W/2 Lunar Lights
or a
Coralife 48" Aqualight Power Compact Strip Light- 4X65Watt
for soft coral. they both have a one year warranty and they both come with fans, but the current usa fixture has lunar lights.

[Taras1]

I'm into the Current USA brand. Seemed to be a good value for my T-5's. I contacted them for Customer Service and got really good service.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by sharpie

i want to get one of these-
Current USA Satellite Dual 48" 4 x 65 Watt Power Compact Light Strip W/2 Lunar Lights
or a
Coralife 48" Aqualight Power Compact Strip Light- 4X65Watt
for soft coral. they both have a one year warranty and they both come with fans, but the current usa fixture has lunar lights.

I currently use the coralife 4x65 watt 4 lunar light fixture and i love it, however i will upgrade to a HQI/PC or T5 system once i get a deeper tank. Its hard to distinguish which brand is better than another, they all shine in different areas.

The best I can tell you is that find out which has the best longevity of parts. For example, I have never seen Current offer replacement parts other than bulbs, so what happens if you get a bad ballast after a year of having the light and the water runs out? Coralife has a complete line of replacement parts that you can order to replace everything from the lunar lights to the fan, so that may tell you that your initial investment will be upheld if you do have something go out and need to replace it, not buy a whole new fixture.

[sharpie]

Originally Posted by wesley6610

I currently use the coralife 4x65 watt 4 lunar light fixture and i love it, however i will upgrade to a HQI/PC or T5 system once i get a deeper tank. Its hard to distinguish which brand is better than another, they all shine in different areas.

The best I can tell you is that find out which has the best longevity of parts. For example, I have never seen Current offer replacement parts other than bulbs, so what happens if you get a bad ballast after a year of having the light and the water runs out? Coralife has a complete line of replacement parts that you can order to replace everything from the lunar lights to the fan, so that may tell you that your initial investment will be upheld if you do have something go out and need to replace it, not buy a whole new fixture.

well i found some of these replacement parts for the current usa lights. are these what you were talking about?
marineandreef.com/ Parts for Current USA Compact Fluorescent Lights (Orbit and Satellite)
Aquadirect :: Lighting :: Power Compact :: Current Replacement Parts

for coralife-
marineandreef.com/ Coralife Aqualight Compact Fluorescent Replacement Parts

what do ypu think????
-thanks

[wesley6610]

I stand corrected. Good research on the lights.