Greg Curtis

Getting ready to start my 90g 48" pleco tank with live plants. This will be the first tank I've done with live plants. Want to keep low-med light plants with some Amazon Swords. Would this light work okay or would I have to change out the actinic bulbs for 2 other daylight tubes. I want the lunar lights for a nocturnal effect for skiddish catfish.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=12109

Zapins

Looks good. Just make sure to get two 6,700 K bulbs or 1x10,000K and one 6,700K bulb not the actinic bulbs or 50/50 ones.

Also, you might have problems with plecos and plants. Even the plecos that don't actively eat plants, like clowns, and bristlenoses tend to rasp on the leaves and wear them down eventually causing holes and other damage.

Greg Curtis

Thanks Zapins planned on swapping out the 2 actinic bulbs for 6700k daylight tubes. The plecos I'm not sure about just hit and miss I guess about them eating the plants.

Brilliant

If I were you I would buy the Orbit. You can get new ones off Ebay for $255, refurbished ones from Current USA for less. If/when it bites the dust you can retrofit it.

Greg Curtis

What makes the orbit a better choice than the coralife, is it just the retrofit kit.

Brilliant

Larger reflector, more airflow and moonlighting positioned in the middle of the fixture to name a few.

eco-mod

To expand on Zapins' post, make sure you have some driftwood for the plecos to rasp on. That usually will keep any plant damage to a minimum.

Greg Curtis

Took your advice Brilliant and picked up an Orbit with 4-65w tubes with lunar lights. Planning to change out the 2 actinic bulbs for 2 more 6700k daylight tubes for my new plants. Looks like a very nice unit. The tank will have plenty of stacked driftwood as hiding places for the plecos. Hopefully it will keep them off my plants.