Jan 2015 lit by four Orphek PR72 Planted Tank LED Pendants.
After three months
Friday, April 3, 2015
Planted Tank lit by four Orphek PR72
Planted Tank lit by four Orphek PR72
Our friend and customer Alain resides in France and Alain sent us a photo update of his planted tank that is lit by four Orphek PR72 Planted Tank LED Pendants. The first photo was taken early January when the PR72's were first installed. The second and third photo show dramatically increased plant growth in just three months. Many of the plants are light demanding and the Orphek PR72 can easily provide the PAR and spectrum they require.
Jan 2015 lit by four Orphek PR72 Planted Tank LED Pendants.
After three months
Jan 2015 lit by four Orphek PR72 Planted Tank LED Pendants.
After three months
Winners of Azurelite photo contest of Facebook
Winners of Azurelite photo contest of Facebook,
We are proud to announce the winners in our Azurelite photo contest on the Orphek LED lighting facebook page.
It was great to see all of the photos that were shared with our facebook contest and it was very difficult to narrow them down to three winners.
We began by narrowing the 100+ submissions down to 12 finalists and then the panel of judges was allowed to select three each. The three winners each received four votes placing them at the top. Here are the winners and then just for fun the remaining 9 photos that were in the final.
We will be contacting the winners and shipping out their free Azurelite flashlight shortly. Stay tuned to the Orphek facebook page for more exciting contests and info about reefkeeping.
You can learn more about the Orphek Azurelite here and you can purchase it from many online vendors including Murfreesboro Aquatics where our good friend Josh will be more than happy to set you up with one and even some corals to go along with it.
TOP THREE WINNERS
Jamie Ornelas, Ryan Miller and Ronnie Hougland
UK Customer reports outstanding coral growth in three months using the Atlantik V2.1
UK Customer reports outstanding coral growth in three months using the Atlantik V2.1.
Our customer in the UK has sent us two photos, the first photo shows his tank the day the Atlantik V2.1 was used. The second photo was recently taken showing the present growth. During this time our customer said he has trimmed the coral a few times and sold the frags. We can certainly see the difference in growth among the various coral. Our customer’s story is not an isolated story but one we hear quite often from our customers.
Befor Reef Tank Nov 2014
3 months Later 4.1.15 Reef Aquarium with Orphek Atlantik v2.1
Befor Reef Tank Nov 2014
3 months Later 4.1.15 Reef Aquarium with Orphek Atlantik v2.1
Orphek LED lighting has been working with coral farms
Orphek LED lighting has been working with coral farms to enhance product health and vigor as well as increase sales all while reducing operational costs and electrical usage.
Karen and Paul from Dragonfly Corals in Indianapolis are dedicated to sustainable coral farming and have been working in their greenhouses since 2006 using as much of natures natural light as possible. Featured in the February 2013 edition of Scientific American magazine the couple remains very humble about their operation which caters to the midwest providing 100% farmed corals to stores throughout the area at reasonable costs.
Karen and Paul also support the local marine club INDMAS (Indiana Marine Aquarium Society). They regularly host meetings and help to share the info of coral health and sustainable farming practices.
Karen and Paul are never in the warehouse without their Azurelite flashlights to show store owners what corals look like with some actinic lighting. They have begun to use the light when taking pictures for the website to enhance the natural beauty of their corals and as a result have been able to increase attention to some of their gems, focus efforts on more productive species and identify corals that can be farmed and productive for them.
Check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/
Farms are becoming increasingly aware of heat issues, power draw and overloads as well as annual replacements for bulbs in fixtures using both T5 and Metal Halides. Most power companies offer incentives to businesses who make the switch to LED from light sources that use larger amounts of power. The entire Orphek Atlantik line of lights is designed to deliver light to corals in the PUR (Photosynthetically Usable Radiation) range with almost no waste. This translates to fast growth, excellent color and increased revenue all while reducing operating costs.
From shallow growout tables to mother colony tanks and deep water exhibits. Orphek is able to provide for all of your lighting needs. Results, Reliability and Design.
New Reef Tank build UK using Atlantik LED light
New Reef Tank build UK using Atlantik LED light
Himat is a recent customer of ours who lives in the UK and has shared photos of his new build with us. Himat is using Orphek Atlantik V2.1's on his new build and all we can say is that it looks fantastic. Can wait to see more photos as the build develops.
Our friend and good customer Bill from the UK is starting a new build
Our friend and good customer Bill from the UK is starting a new build.
His present tank is lit by the Orphek Atlantik V2.1 and his new build will also feature Orphek LED Lighting. Bill has completed the sump area and if his new build is anything like his present set up, it is sure to be a beauty. We will have another update once Bill installs the Orphek LED Lighting.
His present tank is lit by the Orphek Atlantik V2.1 and his new build will also feature Orphek LED Lighting. Bill has completed the sump area and if his new build is anything like his present set up, it is sure to be a beauty. We will have another update once Bill installs the Orphek LED Lighting.
New reef build
New reef build
Yuwono is from Indonesia and he has shared some photos of his new reef build. Surprisingly, he has built the tank himself and with the help of some friends and we must say it looks very nice and well designed. Four of our Atlantik V2.1B Reef Units will be lighting the tank. We are certainly anxious to see the results.
The authorized Orphek store in Tehran shared some photos of one of his customers tanks
The authorized Orphek store in Tehran shared some photos of one of his customers tanks using our Atlantik V2.1.
Notice there is only one fixture needed, not two or three as most other brands will require. Very nice tank for sure and thank you for sharing this with us Ashkan. If you are in the Tehran area, stop by and say hello to Ashkan and get a demonstration of our Atlantik V2.1.
IRAN AQUARIUM ( Email: iran.aquarium@yahoo.com No.241,Before East Mahboob Mojaz, Navab Highway,
Tehran.Iran Tel: 00982155433505 Fax: 00982155433506 )
Notice there is only one fixture needed, not two or three as most other brands will require. Very nice tank for sure and thank you for sharing this with us Ashkan. If you are in the Tehran area, stop by and say hello to Ashkan and get a demonstration of our Atlantik V2.1.
IRAN AQUARIUM ( Email: iran.aquarium@yahoo.com No.241,Before East Mahboob Mojaz, Navab Highway,
Tehran.Iran Tel: 00982155433505 Fax: 00982155433506 )
In LED Aquarium Lighting, Placement is Everything
In LED Aquarium Lighting, Placement is Everything.
So, you’re looking for a new LED fixture for your saltwater aquarium or planted freshwater tank. Maybe you just picked a good deal from that local fish store and now you need to install it. Making a plan ahead of time will give you better results, ease maintenance and give the fixture a longer life span.
In this article we will share the experience of Frank who is using three of the Orphek Atlantik units over his tank. He’s mounted the lights and placed the corals in his tank and then followed our recommended acclimation and introduction levels. Now that he is through the initial period he wants to make sure that he is getting 100% out of his investment in lighting and giving the corals everything that they need.
Frank mounted the lights perpendicular to the length of the tank and spaced them evenly across which resulted in higher levels under the lights and low levels between them. He also was running several channels low from the initial acclimation program and needed to understand the levels as he brought the percentages up
Franks tank with 3 Orphek Atlantiks mounted perpendicular[/caption]
Three steps can help you to implement a good plan and save you time and boost the overall health and vigor of your corals; planning ahead, changing your thinking and testing and observation. Frank performed these steps and is much happier with his lights and his corals are going to show the benefits.
PLAN AHEAD:
Like most things in the hobby having a plan ahead of time will save you lots of headache when installing and using your lights. Having a basic understanding of how you wish to mount the light, recommended attachment points and coverage area is just the first step. In order to have a well-lit tank you need to plan ahead for cable routing, mounting heights and placement over the tank. The best way to do this is by drawing it up.
This can be done with a simple piece of paper and pen or you can use a drawing program on your computer such as Google Sketchup. Start by making a rough determination on the amount of area you will need each fixture to cover and then determine the orientation of these fixtures based upon that data. For example; an 8 foot by 3 foot tank footprint may be lit with 3 units running lengthwise or 4 units turned perpendicular.
8 foot long tank lit by 3 Orphek Atlantik v2.1 units with lights running lengthwise.
Franks tank with better spread, more consistent PAR numbers and a cleaner look.[/caption]
This orientation is usually determined by the coverage area of the light fixture and the intensity needed. Higher intensity corals will need to have more light and many often require additional fixtures over and above most manufacturers’ recommendations. This is where having a plan ahead of purchasing fixtures can save you money in the long run.
We often see clients who purchased 2 of a competitors light and later realized that they actually needed three to cover the tank and provide the intensity that is needed for the corals that they wish to keep. They are left with the difficult task of investing more money in a fixture that has already fooled them or adding supplemental lighting of another kind which often results in a mixed bag of products and results instead of a seamless well designed system that looks good and delivers consistent results.
Know your needs and buy the correct number of fixtures based upon the needs of your tank.
CHANGE YOUR THINKING:
Most people mount their lighting flat above their tank and don’t think twice about it other than when they need to work on it. All too often they have dark spots or spotlighting as a result and think that it’s normal because of the nature of LEDs. This is not the case in a well thought out plan.
We have to begin to think of lighting our systems like we were lighting a stage and where the corals and fish are the actors. Do you like some darker caves for lower light corals? How about reducing the algae that grows on the glass? That’s always a good thing right?
You can mount the lights at an angle to reduce the amount of light that touches the glass which will reduce the amount of maintenance that you have to perform as well. Raising the lights higher above the water can help to eliminate some of the spotlighting on the sand bed as well. A higher mounting point also allows easier maintenance access inside the tank since you are not having to move the lights each time you need to get inside the tank.
In this picture you can see the lights are angled with will reduce the amount of light that hits the front glass. Having the lights mounted higher versus low to the water line also reduces spotlighting.[/caption]
Eliminating shadows and dark spots is something that many reefers are not able to overcome but it can often be as simple as respacing the fixtures. In a tank with two fixtures, spacing the fixtures out evenly over each half often leads to a dark spot in the middle of the tank that looks dim when it seems as if this should be the place with the most light. You can overcome this by moving the two fixtures closer together. In the example below the first pictures show some shadowing in the middle of the tank between the two fixtures. In the second fixture the lights were adjusted to be almost 2 inches closer and the dark spot in the middle was eliminated.
Two Orphek Atlantik Pendants spaced evenly creating a dim area in-between.
The same two units moved 2 inches towards each other eliminating the dark spot.[/caption]
TESTING AND OBSERVATION
The final step is testing and observation of your plan in action. Watching and reacting to the corals is a good way to determine if they are getting what they need. During this phase you also need to be very aware of your water parameters to ensure that any issues in the tank are not misdiagnosed and blamed on the lighting. Coral Polyp extension is usually the first indicator that we see. Polyps should be fully extended across the entire coral. Fleshy corals such as LPS and soft corals should also maintain their swollen flshy appearance and be eating well during daylight hours when spot fed.
Looking closer as your corals become acclimated you should see some changes in color and this is a normal part of acclimation to LEDs. You can learn more about that in this article, Acclimating your tank to LED lighting.
Testing the PAR of various areas of the tank can give you an indicator of how well you’ve done with your lighting plan as the par should be fairly consistent across the length of the tank with higher PAR at the top and lower at the bottom. If you have “hotspots” (areas with very high PAR) it’s usually best to try to reduce those.
PAR testing is easily accomplished with a PAR meter which is a tool that can often be borrowed from a local reef club, another hobbyist or even a local store. Testing the PAR levels throughout the tank and writing down the levels will enable you to bring new corals in and place them in a location where they will likely be happy. Soft corals generally like lower light levels while SPS corals typically like higher light but there is a lot of wiggle room and many corals are able to be acclimated to a wide range of light levels.
If you find that your light levels are not consistent or your corals are not reacting favorably then you need to evaluate the plan and make adjustments accordingly. Photo periods are often too long or too short and need to be adjusted with longer ramp times or lower intensities to allow for the full time to be used. If the lights are close to the water surface you may find that intensities are too high and corals are bleaching out, you may need to reduce the peak intensity. If your’ PAR readings are hit and miss then an adjustment to the position over the tanks may be necessary.
In the case study at the beginning of the article, Frank enlisted the help of a local store with a PAR meter and had them stop by to help him make the evaluation. Test PAR levels and adjust the overall plan. This resulted in better coverage across the tank with more consistent light levels and PAR numbers as well as a cleaner look in his living room.
Franks tank with 3 Orphek Atlantiks mounted perpendicular[/caption]
Three steps can help you to implement a good plan and save you time and boost the overall health and vigor of your corals; planning ahead, changing your thinking and testing and observation. Frank performed these steps and is much happier with his lights and his corals are going to show the benefits.
PLAN AHEAD:
Like most things in the hobby having a plan ahead of time will save you lots of headache when installing and using your lights. Having a basic understanding of how you wish to mount the light, recommended attachment points and coverage area is just the first step. In order to have a well-lit tank you need to plan ahead for cable routing, mounting heights and placement over the tank. The best way to do this is by drawing it up.
This can be done with a simple piece of paper and pen or you can use a drawing program on your computer such as Google Sketchup. Start by making a rough determination on the amount of area you will need each fixture to cover and then determine the orientation of these fixtures based upon that data. For example; an 8 foot by 3 foot tank footprint may be lit with 3 units running lengthwise or 4 units turned perpendicular.
8 foot long tank lit by 3 Orphek Atlantik v2.1 units with lights running lengthwise. Franks tank with better spread, more consistent PAR numbers and a cleaner look.[/caption]
This orientation is usually determined by the coverage area of the light fixture and the intensity needed. Higher intensity corals will need to have more light and many often require additional fixtures over and above most manufacturers’ recommendations. This is where having a plan ahead of purchasing fixtures can save you money in the long run.
We often see clients who purchased 2 of a competitors light and later realized that they actually needed three to cover the tank and provide the intensity that is needed for the corals that they wish to keep. They are left with the difficult task of investing more money in a fixture that has already fooled them or adding supplemental lighting of another kind which often results in a mixed bag of products and results instead of a seamless well designed system that looks good and delivers consistent results.
Know your needs and buy the correct number of fixtures based upon the needs of your tank.
CHANGE YOUR THINKING:
Most people mount their lighting flat above their tank and don’t think twice about it other than when they need to work on it. All too often they have dark spots or spotlighting as a result and think that it’s normal because of the nature of LEDs. This is not the case in a well thought out plan.
We have to begin to think of lighting our systems like we were lighting a stage and where the corals and fish are the actors. Do you like some darker caves for lower light corals? How about reducing the algae that grows on the glass? That’s always a good thing right?
You can mount the lights at an angle to reduce the amount of light that touches the glass which will reduce the amount of maintenance that you have to perform as well. Raising the lights higher above the water can help to eliminate some of the spotlighting on the sand bed as well. A higher mounting point also allows easier maintenance access inside the tank since you are not having to move the lights each time you need to get inside the tank.
In this picture you can see the lights are angled with will reduce the amount of light that hits the front glass. Having the lights mounted higher versus low to the water line also reduces spotlighting.[/caption]
Eliminating shadows and dark spots is something that many reefers are not able to overcome but it can often be as simple as respacing the fixtures. In a tank with two fixtures, spacing the fixtures out evenly over each half often leads to a dark spot in the middle of the tank that looks dim when it seems as if this should be the place with the most light. You can overcome this by moving the two fixtures closer together. In the example below the first pictures show some shadowing in the middle of the tank between the two fixtures. In the second fixture the lights were adjusted to be almost 2 inches closer and the dark spot in the middle was eliminated.
Two Orphek Atlantik Pendants spaced evenly creating a dim area in-between. The same two units moved 2 inches towards each other eliminating the dark spot.[/caption]
TESTING AND OBSERVATION
The final step is testing and observation of your plan in action. Watching and reacting to the corals is a good way to determine if they are getting what they need. During this phase you also need to be very aware of your water parameters to ensure that any issues in the tank are not misdiagnosed and blamed on the lighting. Coral Polyp extension is usually the first indicator that we see. Polyps should be fully extended across the entire coral. Fleshy corals such as LPS and soft corals should also maintain their swollen flshy appearance and be eating well during daylight hours when spot fed.
Looking closer as your corals become acclimated you should see some changes in color and this is a normal part of acclimation to LEDs. You can learn more about that in this article, Acclimating your tank to LED lighting.
Testing the PAR of various areas of the tank can give you an indicator of how well you’ve done with your lighting plan as the par should be fairly consistent across the length of the tank with higher PAR at the top and lower at the bottom. If you have “hotspots” (areas with very high PAR) it’s usually best to try to reduce those.
PAR testing is easily accomplished with a PAR meter which is a tool that can often be borrowed from a local reef club, another hobbyist or even a local store. Testing the PAR levels throughout the tank and writing down the levels will enable you to bring new corals in and place them in a location where they will likely be happy. Soft corals generally like lower light levels while SPS corals typically like higher light but there is a lot of wiggle room and many corals are able to be acclimated to a wide range of light levels.
If you find that your light levels are not consistent or your corals are not reacting favorably then you need to evaluate the plan and make adjustments accordingly. Photo periods are often too long or too short and need to be adjusted with longer ramp times or lower intensities to allow for the full time to be used. If the lights are close to the water surface you may find that intensities are too high and corals are bleaching out, you may need to reduce the peak intensity. If your’ PAR readings are hit and miss then an adjustment to the position over the tanks may be necessary.
In the case study at the beginning of the article, Frank enlisted the help of a local store with a PAR meter and had them stop by to help him make the evaluation. Test PAR levels and adjust the overall plan. This resulted in better coverage across the tank with more consistent light levels and PAR numbers as well as a cleaner look in his living room.
We'd like to thank Oceans by Design in Tukwila, Washington for their help with the lighting plan and testing in Frank's tank.
Check them out http://www.oceansbydesign.
Atlantik v2.1B for excellent coral growth
Atlantik v2.1B for excellent coral growth,
Our friend and client Bruce has shared photos with us of his build using two Orphek V2.1B LED lights. Bruce received his lights in July, 2014 and excellent coral growth is evidenced by Bruce's great photos.
Orphek LEDS give your saltwater Aquarium Installs Better Growth and Color
Orphek LEDS give your saltwater Aquarium Installs Better Growth and Color.
In the aquarium service industry, companies cannot afford issues due to poor reliability or lack of results. That's why the Orphek Atlantik line will become your first choice in service installations and in your own personal systems.
LED has fast become the norm for most installs but there has been something lacking in many systems and it's all to do with the spectrum and the results that it delivers in your coral systems. The Orphek team has done it right by designing a line of fixtures for you that will give you growth and color that rival and often exceed those of metal halide and T5. With a proven track record of performance and continual improvements in spectral design you will not be left installing the average hobby grade products any longer. Give your clients what they deserve and deliver the best looking system day in and day out.
This system is serviced by Advanced Aquarium Services in Greensboro, NC. Company Owner Earnest first began using the Orphek Atlantik series of lights over 2 years ago for small projects and has since begun turning to the Orphek team for most of his installations and is currently planning a retail installation using Orphek as well. This 579 gallon custom Oceanic tank is 8 feet x 3 feet x 42 inches high and it's lit by 5 of the Orphek Atlantik v2.1 wifi units. Its supported by a 120 gallon sump containing the best of equipment and contains over 500 pounds of live rock with a large valley in the middle to allow excellent viewing from both sides in this office setting. Earnest reports that the 17 inch elegance coral in the tank is doing fantastic with the lighting and all of the corals have been doing well as he continues to fully stock this tank with his client.
If you need results and reliability in your installations then there is no company that can offer what Orphek does. Contact us today at contact@orphek.com for info in your area.
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