ATI or Giesemann?

[Goubli]

Hello all,

I think I've narrowed down the lighting choices to either the Aurora t5/LED or the ATI Powermodule t5/LED.

I have a 63" x 22"w x 25" RSM S 650. I am planning to have mostly SPS and some LPS.
Do you think I can get away with a 48" or would I need the 60"?

Also, I've never had t5 or LED as I've been out of hobby close to a decade. I like a nice crisp white with tinge of blue and dislike yellow/natural light in my tanks.
I am thinking of using the t5 as the workhorse and supplement the LED for dawn/dusk flourescence and overall color purposes. Is that what people do?

I am trying to avoid needing to ramp up the LED intensity as I add newer corals.

Thanks for any advice!

Goubli

 

[ksicard]

If you want the T5's to be the primary light source go with the ATI. ATI PM's are more focused on T5's and using LED to supplement, where the geissemen is more focused on LED's and using T5 to supplement. That's the main difference between the two in my opinion.

I would definitely go with the 60" model for either light.

 

[ReefCowboy]

Ive been loking arond for years and IMO based on reviews from owners, the hybrid that relies more heavily in T5's do better. Ive read more than once sunpower fixtures alone show better results to corals than the powermodule due to leds. Between your two choices, the Powermodule from ATI is way overpriced for the leds it offers, but you cant beat their reflectors and overall par offered. The tank will do well on the lighting dept, Period.
Auroras are sleek, and look awesome but I feel the 48" unit although great wont put out as much over the corners as a 60". Long term you would be more satisfied with a 60" unit.
Remember T5 bulbs are preety dimm at their extremities compared to its middles so by default if you dont get as much par on its ends from start while trying to cover 6" farther into the tank ends, you will have a shadowing/low light issue for some sps.

ATI all the way is my 2 cents.

 

[BryanS4]

Ati hands down. You won't be disappointed.

 

[Goubli]

Ok, I'm fairly sold on the ATI. What is the proper ballast that I need? Does it matter, or should I just ask the vendor and trust what they recommend?

 

[rtparty]

Ok, I'm fairly sold on the ATI. What is the proper ballast that I need? Does it matter, or should I just ask the vendor and trust what they recommend?

ATI has ballasts already built in

 

[gus6464]

The ATI kinda defeats the purpose of a hybrid. You might as well go all T5 than to pay the massive premium on the PM. While ATI makes the better T5 only unit, Giesemann makes the better hybrid with the Aurora. The better hybrid though is a Nanobox ATI Sunpower.

 

[Voodoojar]

The new giesemann t5/led thats about to come out looks very interesting

 

[ReefCowboy]

IMO the benefits of a hybrid is to get growth and spread of T5's with shimmer and Pop of Leds.. tanks with T5's only are flat and boring while Led only lit tanks can be lacking spectrum and spread with some fixtures. A hybrid would allow benefits from both which is ideal.
Giesemann's T5 reflectors are not as good as ATI's, and the fixture doesnt put as much par, so basicaly the fixture relies more on the Leds if you are considering a 48" unit for a 60" tank that is also 24" tall tank.
Relying on those Aurora led clusters as the backbone of the tank lighting will NOT be better than the Powermodule with monster par from T5's with leds for accent and visual appeal.

Just look at how many successful running ATI powermodules. That is one of the top if not best lighting fixture out there

 

[eder10986]

I just purchased an ati sunpower and currently run two kessil 360we

Will finish my McGyvering skills this weekend to hang both together.

Looking forward to observing different results!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[frogspawn74]

I just purchased an ati sunpower and currently run two kessil 360we

Will finish my McGyvering skills this weekend to hang both together.

Looking forward to observing different results!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great choice! I run ATI/Kessil hybrid and couldn't be happier with the results.