Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus Review
The Current USA Satellite Plus Pro is a very thin fixture with an impressive set of features. Unfortunately, this LED Light is on the expensive side–you’re paying for a high level of light control and customization and a built-in timer (among other features).
Current USA is an awesome light, however my top three lights are;
- Best Fish Tank Light Overall: Aquaillumination Aquarium Light
- Best Planted Aquarium Light: Finnex Planted+ 24/7
- Best Budget Aquarium Light: NICREW ClassicLED
This extra customization and timer automation won’t be suitable for everyone. You’ll need to decide for yourself if your tank needs these features (and if you need to shell out the extra cash!).
Below, we take a dip into everything this Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED has to offer.
Further Reading: If You Need More Options Use Our Guide To Help You Select The Best Aquarium Lights
You might as well start with the best features.
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Quick Overview The Current USA Satellite LED Plus Pro
- Value For The Money 80
- How Well Does It Work? 90
- Ease Of Installation 85
- Customization and Control 100
- Light Quality 95
The Best Features on the Current USA Satellite Plus Pro
(These are the primary features influencing the price of this fixture)
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Full Automation (Exceptional Lighting Effects)
This Current USA LED light includes a timer that connects directly to the fixture. This timer also includes the receiver for the remote.
You can choose the start time and the end time for the fixture’s daily light cycle (I.e., you can set the “on” time for 0900 and the “off” time for 1800).
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Ramp Up/Down (Efficient LED Bulbs)
This particular Current USA Lighting fixture also includes a ramp up and ramp down the window. So instead of your lights firing up to full blast, there is a 15-minute window at the beginning where the light starts at low brightness and gradually gets brighter.
This is repeated in reverse as the lights prepare to turn off, with a 15-minute window of gradual dimming.
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Color Customization (Full Spectrum Lighting)
This lighting system gives you complete control over the colors it emits.
Want redder and less blue?
Use the remote to adjust the levels of each color until you find the values you like. Then, you can use one of two dedicated memory slots to save the color.
Technically, the settings for the “daylight” and “moonlight” buttons, found next to the memory slot buttons, can be customized. You can overwrite these stock settings however you’d like.
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Brightness Control
The Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED gives you complete control over the brightness of the fixture, too. Is “full daylight” blasting your planted tank with too much PAR? No problem, dim the light.
Current USA Satellite Plus Pro: the Good and the Bad
Pros: What We Liked About The Current USA Satellite LED
- High level of color customization
- Memory save slots
- Brightness control
- Programmable timer
- The remote control works well
- Thin
Cons: What We Don’t Like About The Current USA Satellite LED
- Expensive unit
What’s in the Box?
When you start unboxing your Current USA Plus Pro, here’s what you’ll find:
- Power Supply
- LED Fixture (with extendable leg mounts)
- Timer (with IR remote sensor)
- Remote Control (with backup battery)
- Velcro patch (optional–for timer or remote)
- Bracket (optional–for securing timer)
- Instruction Manual
Youtuber PeckTec unboxes his Satellite Plus Pro on camera. It’s worth a watch if you want to see how everything is packaged. He demos most of the features throughout the video, but the unboxing takes place in the first few minutes.
What Do You Need to Know? Sizing, PAR, and an Uncommon Complaint about the Current Satellite Plus Pro
Sizing:
You’ll have four sizing options to choose from for this Current USA LED light:
- Current USA 18 “-24” satellite plus pro led light
- 24″ -36″ Current satellite led plus pro
- 36″ -48″ Current USA satellite freshwater led plus pro
- Current USA satellite plus pro led 48-60 in
These are the sizes advertised by Current USA. It’s worth noting that these ranges show the tank sizes this fixture can accommodate.
For the 24″ -36″ light, for example, the fixture is only 24 inches. That extra foot comes from the extendable brackets. This means your 36″ tank would only have 24″ of LED lighting.
Can the 24″ fit on your 36″ tank? Physically, yes. Will it provide enough light? Maybe not. You might want to get the next size up.
Current Satellite Plus Pro PAR Readings:
According to the review by YouTuber Aquarium Co-op, PAR for the “full daylight” mode on this fixture clocks in around 70-75. PAR was tested on a two-foot tank with a 12-inch depth.
Here are his PAR readings for some of the other lighting modes:
- Overcast Day mode: 14 PAR
- Nighttime mode: 5 PAR
- Moonlight mode: 1 PAR
- Sunrise mode: 14 PAR
- Cloudy Day mode: 30 PAR
In his review, he tests the PAR rating on more settings, and he gives his honest take on the fixture. If you’re wondering about whether or not this Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED is suitable for you, his review is worth a watch.
Complaints?
The reviews for this Current USA LED light have mainly been positive. However, in some cases, users complain of the timer working incorrectly or not working at all.
These complaints may be valid, and these users just received a junk timer. But this light isn’t a simple “plug and go” light–you’ll want to read the instructions before trying to operate this puppy.
Satellite Freshwater LED Plus Troubleshooting Instructions and Setup:
We just talked about this, but… we’re going to bring it up one more time: reference the manual as you set up this light.
The setup process will go more smoothly, you’ll be happier, and your light will work the first time correctly. Isn’t that what we all want?
The remote tends to work pretty well. If your remote is giving you trouble, make sure it has a clear path to the IR sensor in the timer. Also, make sure you remove the plastic insert that blocks the battery before customer use.
How Does this Unit Compare?
This unit is more expensive than many other units on the market. If you’re looking for a simple fixture with high output, the Current USA Satellite Plus Pro is not that unit. There are cheaper options that can put out more light than this unit, for less money.
This unit shines (wink) in its automation and customization. That’s what you’re paying for with this unit–the built-in timer, the ramp-up feature, the memory slots, and the color and brightness customization.
For the record, this fixture also includes six weather effects (cloudy, stormy, etc.).
The Automation and Intensity Control
There are freshwater LED fixtures that offer automation. And plenty of aquarists have purchased generic timers to run their lights through.
There are LED fixtures that offer color customization and brightness control. And some aquarists have gotten crafty with their hoods to increase and decrease the amount of light entering their tank.
Very few LED options exist that offer both 24-hour automation and brightness control in the same package. The ability to customize the “daytime” and “nighttime” modes for the built-in timer is huge, especially when you need to be careful about how much light is getting into your tank.
Are Current LED Lights Right for You?
- SUPER BRIGHT- 6500k White LEDs and RGBW LEDs come together in an amazingly sleek fixture thats dialed in for freshwater Aquatics like nothing before
- MULTIPLE MODES- With modes that dim periodically to create cloud cover effects, storm modes that will blow you away complete with lightning strikes and innovative evening modes that include lunar and dusk – it’s sure to add excitement and intrigue to any aquarium.
- EASY INSTALLATION- Sliding docking legs allow quick and easy adjustments for a wide variety of installations. This system also makes adding multiple fixtures a snap.
- REALISTIC EFFECTS- Beyond the world of white and blue light, the Satellite LED also features effects that mimic real-world aquatic conditions.
- WIRELESS CONTROL- Now you can wirelessly program and control just about everything! Seeing dynamic weather effects over your tank is just the beginning! With the integrated 24-hour timer function, you can also program what time to start a gradual sunrise, gentle sunset and both the color spectrum and intensity of your daylight and moonlight.
This fixture isn’t suitable for everybody. However, if you’re looking for a simple planted tank lighting system solution, there are easier options out there.
If you’re looking for a light with high output, but you don’t need the bells and whistles, there are cheaper options out there.
But if you like the idea of this high level of customization and the built-in automation, then the Current USA Satellite Plus Pro is a great option to consider.
As always, consider the needs of your tank. Don’t buy this light just because it has a “stormy” setting–think about what you’re trying to achieve with your planted tank and what you need out of your light to do it.
Happy LED hunting!
Current USA is an awesome light, however my top three lights are;
- Best Fish Tank Light Overall: Aquaillumination Aquarium Light
- Best Planted Aquarium Light: Finnex Planted+ 24/7
- Best Budget Aquarium Light: NICREW ClassicLED
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