Ati led power module or giesemann spectra

[Zacktosterone]

i have a 48x25.5x24 120 gallon sps peninsula reef that i'm building. i've decided that i'm changing fixtures. i may be upgrading to a 48x36x24" reef in the future but for now i'm not sure.

ANYWAY i'm looking at the following:
48" 2x250 watt, 4x52 watt spectra
48" 3x75 watt, 8x54watt led powermodule

what is the better light in terms of

A) Growth
B) Color
C) Bulb replacement cost
D) Start up cost
E) Monthly Cost
F) Reliability and customer support

please leave an answer to the pole and an answer to the questions above.
i know that I cant go wrong with both fixtures but i'm going with the best option in terms of pole results and answers.

 

[Big E]

Have you considered just going with a Sunpower and then a few LED strips on the outside?
Something like BML custom actinic or other supplemental strips.

I don't know if they will take off, but the plug and play LED strips with the T5 pins are starting to hit the market too, so that would give you the option to try them down the road if you want to alternate LED and T5

I don't care for the LED banks in the center..........they seem to be more trouble than they are worth.

 

[Zacktosterone]

I've got two radion pros right now I can add t5s to. So I could anyways add t5s to them but it would take away the low profile look.

The sunpower and led on the side has crossed my mind but it wouldn't solve my shimmer problem.

 

[rovster]

I personally would do the spectra, followed by a sunpower with strips of actinic LED on the sides. I love the look of the LED powermodule but not sure how much those LEDs bring to the table. This is coming from someone with Radions and T5

 

[markalot]

My solution is a Sun Power with BML 20K MC strip that can provide white or blue or both. I am trying to run whites high enough I get some shimmer but the corals don't seem to like it at all.

 

[Moser]

I used to have the Spectra. I now have the ATI Hybrid.

I had 9x400W Radiums- loved them! If you want Radiums, go with the 400 W Spectra.

If you want less heat, the led pop from the Blue/Violet channel ( there is no substitute), the T5 colours and the controllability then there is no substitute for the ATI Hybrid.
I loved my Spectra/ Radiums. I love the ATI Hybrid more! The Actinic + tube is under rated imo!

I would urge you not to go for a cheap substitute. Choose one and go for the real deal!
My choice is the ATI Hybrid.

Mo

 

[Zacktosterone]

I used to have the Spectra. I now have the ATI Hybrid.

I had 9x400W Radiums- loved them! If you want Radiums, go with the 400 W Spectra.

If you want less heat, the led pop from the Blue/Violet channel ( there is no substitute), the T5 colours and the controllability then there is no substitute for the ATI Hybrid.
I loved my Spectra/ Radiums. I love the ATI Hybrid more! The Actinic + tube is under rated imo!

I would urge you not to go for a cheap substitute. Choose one and go for the real deal!
My choice is the ATI Hybrid.

Mo

Why do you choose that over the spectra? And how's the dinner with the led hybrid vs halide. Also how are your sps compared to it

 

[Big E]

I've got two radion pros right now I can add t5s to. So I could anyways add t5s to them but it would take away the low profile look.

The sunpower and led on the side has crossed my mind but it wouldn't solve my shimmer problem.

Ok, didn't know shimmer was big for you. My main point was using T5 as the main lighting and LED as supplements. When the LEDs are in the center it makes growth and color more of a challenge.

Some smaller LED clusters would give you some nice shimmer........you don't need much, but again on the outside.

 

[Zacktosterone]

Ok, didn't know shimmer was big for you. My main point was using T5 as the main lighting and LED as supplements. When the LEDs are in the center it makes growth and color more of a challenge.

Some smaller LED clusters would give you some nice shimmer........you don't need much, but again on the outside.

Big e, the only issue I have with t5 is that it looks super flat. I like the natural shimmer look. I should also add that this 120 gallon is peninslau style so the rock structure will be in the middle

 

[Moser]

Why do you choose that over the spectra? And how's the dinner with the led hybrid vs halide. Also how are your sps compared to it

Halide shimmer is slighlty more natural.

Colours are better with T5- and you can adjust tubes too.

Power and heat, much less with Hybrid and much more control.

Both work well. fade in and fade out is much nicer with the Hybrid.

If you want SPS colour, T5 is your choice. Radium is great!, but T5 is better!!

Mo

 

[Moser]

Ok, didn't know shimmer was big for you. My main point was using T5 as the main lighting and LED as supplements. When the LEDs are in the center it makes growth and color more of a challenge.

Some smaller LED clusters would give you some nice shimmer........you don't need much, but again on the outside.

LED spread on the Hybrid is very wide. They are also very powerful, so you could raise them and get even more spred from the LED if you wished.

I have three units going across 6ft ( 6 units in total) and I cant tell where the leds are from the front- coverage is just fine.

I used the led more as supplement too. The T5 bit is my main lighting"¦.you cant beat T5 for SPS.


Mo

 

[dkeller_nc]

I've got two radion pros right now I can add t5s to. So I could anyways add t5s to them but it would take away the low profile look.

Well, one solution would be to add two of the Giesmann T5HO retrofits to your current set-up. They're sealed, so can be hung without having to mount them in a hood.

 

[Zacktosterone]

Well, one solution would be to add two of the Giesmann T5HO retrofits to your current set-up. They're sealed, so can be hung without having to mount them in a hood.

What kind of ballasts?

 

[ryanrid]

Have they fixed the issues with the ati? Mine had issues (not all the t5 would work) and they didn't honour warranty

 

[Moser]

Yes- my six units all seem to be fine.
One thing is you need to switch the unit off at the mains before you start connecting and disconnecting cords....

Mo

 

[ryanrid]

In Aus 100% of the units failed so ati chose not to honour warranty and stopped supply, these were the first gen of the light but it did leave a sour taste in mouth to have a non functioning light for many ppl

Issues ranged from led flickering, led melting, power box malfunction and t5 banks not working (not ballast issues)

 

[dkeller_nc]

What kind of ballasts?

I believe that Giesemann uses Philips ballasts. They come as an integral unit with 2 T5HOs, reflectors and a metal box that contains the ballasts. There's a picture of the hanging arrangement on BRS's site.

 

[Zacktosterone]

I believe that Giesemann uses Philips ballasts. They come as an integral unit with 2 T5HOs, reflectors and a metal box that contains the ballasts. There's a picture of the hanging arrangement on BRS's site.

Honestly at that price I would actually be better off buying a sunpower and gutting it

 

[slavetonet]

In Aus 100% of the units failed so ati chose not to honour warranty and stopped supply, these were the first gen of the light but it did leave a sour taste in mouth to have a non functioning light for many ppl

Issues ranged from led flickering, led melting, power box malfunction and t5 banks not working (not ballast issues)

Reef Secrets Aquarium are official dealer for ATI in QLD.
this will be the light I am going for in my new build. :bounce3:
Hopefully there isn't any issues later, surely the ATI would be almost 3rd or 4th generation by now? :uhoh2:

 

[gus6464]

ATI 8 bulb with royal blue strips on the side gets my vote.

This is my custom old school powermodule.

Each row has 30 LEDs which consist of the following:
20 Luxeon T Royal Blue
5 Rebel ES Cool Blue
5 semiled violet

IMO Royal Blue is the only LED that not even an ATI Blue+ can best. For everything else I prefer T5.