ATI Powermodule Hybrid Club
- Thread starter rodneyri
- Start date
Thanks again rtparty
Seems it is working well so far
And it also cures the flickering issue!!
Runs it for few more days and see if it is stable!!
Cheers
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Glad to hear!
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Mine is at 12" right now becaise my tank is so shallow. When I move to a deeper tank, I'll move it down slightly.
JPMagyar
New member
A quick update on my Hybrid. I have had it since Sept 2013 and the corals have adapted well with no problems.
Latest pics as of today...
So as I always say the internet is terrible at allowing people to show that they really are not bad or mean, but as a complete opinion and just one aquarist being honest I would say that I do NOT like your tank. It has gorgeous corals but it looks far too barren. Obviously you are incredibly skilled as an aquarist and you are absolutely welcome to come look at my tank and tell me it is terrible and I will still buy you dinner and a beer and call you my pal, but I just had to say it . . . it's sorta like declaring the "emperor has no clothes" to me. Hopefully you can forgive me and understand. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. N'est ce pas?
Now having relieved myself of that burden here's my question to you. Was the addition of LEDs to the ATI fixture worthwhile? A Pure 8 bulb ATI is $800 and a Powermodule is more than 2x the price. Did the addition of LEDs improve your corals in any way? What benefit did you gain from a 2x expenditure?
Check this TOTM out and see if you like it.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/i...013/10/31/106-november-2013-tank-of-the-month
http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/i...013/10/31/106-november-2013-tank-of-the-month
4bruceinc
Member
Hey let's not beat the man up! I'm wrestling with same question myself. As an owner of a 24x8 sunpower that works perfectly fine and has a small ballast that doesn't require a pc, I wonder if the power module is worth it. Do the LEDs make a big difference? Can I get similar results by strapping on some reefbrites and saving myself a thousand bucks? (Kind of ugly looking though)
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
I actually had a modified ATI Sunpower with LED...I made it well before ATI even announced their LED Powermodule. Was it worth getting the LED PM?
YES! :inlove: I love my ATI unit. I have the tank in the living room. The aesthetics is important. Also, the 4 channels of LED, being controllable is another big plus. I get to have some of the good features of LED, whilst still retaining the excellent T5 technology.
JPMagyar
New member
Excellent input. Thank-you!
I hope everyone understands I was not trying to be mean or argumentative. Actually I thought I was being mildly humorous by openly speaking my mind. Anyone that has seen any of my recent posts knows full well that I have made a major move and changed my lighting to a hybrid T5/LED fixture, but I'm still not sure it's going to cut it. I think it will but I'm just not sure and so if I decide not to keep what I have then the ATI Powermodule is a definite possibility but personally I can't see why I wouldn't buy a basic dimmable ATI versus a LED model. So that's why I'm looking for others to offer up what benefits they like. Obviously shimmer is nice, but what else? Do the LEDs allow real color variation? Better sunset/sunrise effects? Does anyone think they are seeing improved coral growth?
In short, I hope you believe that I am not trying to be a jerk even if my questions and comments may have come off as such. I am truly expressing my own thoughts and asking honest questions. If I hurt anyone's feelings I am genuinely sorry. I had hoped that expressing honest opinions without malice and asking tough questions was something we could all do on RC without folks becoming defensive.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
While my tank has had its own struggles as of late only one was from the light. I figured with my fixture being about 12" off the surface of my water I would be okay with the T5s at 100% and the LEDs maxing out at 45% for only a couple hours a day.
Boy I was wrong! I've now got my T5s at 50% and LEDs maxing out at like 30% IIRC. This was coming from a 6 bulb Sunpower so the corals were already used to the stronger light.
Here is my list of pros and cons:
Pros:
1) Blue pop from the LEDs. Nothing beats this.
2) Goes along with #1. The sunrise and sunset effect is amazing!
3) The ability to change the color of my tank if I so choose. If I crank up the white LEDs I can really alter the look.
4) Less bulbs to replace yearly. The cost is minimal but still nice.
Cons:
1) The 24" fixture really needs a 2nd cluster of LEDs. This is a major oversight IMO. At least give me the option to add one if I so choose.
2) I wish I could change the software wirelessly. Having to get the computer out and hook it all up is an annoyance.
Hope that helps a little. I have to run right now.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
Joe, I've been a member on RC almost around the same time frame as you...(was a lurker before that)...I know you arent meaning to be a jerk. I've seen your posts over the years and kind of understand you...hence I know exactly what you mean when you said you dont like Andrews tank.
I've always admired your tank and in my mind it will always be one of the greats. :thumbsup:
However, Andrews tank is something different...for me its a work of art and nature combined together...I only need to walk into an LFS in the UK and now and again I overhear someone mention Andrews tank! Other times I hear the mention of Chingchai's tank. Those guys truly have an international reputation and following. And I am not talking about these guys being mentioned by noobs...no...many a seasoned SPS keepers talk of these two reefkeepers.
I suppose it is how you said it: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I like Andrews tank for its simplistic, clean look. For its artistic statement.
I like your tank because it represents what I want in a tank. A more natural look(perhaps), with deep SPS colours and lots of corals which together resembles a chunk of the reef - all built over many years.
Each has its worth and uniqueness, so therefore rightly deserved the TOTM designation.
Would I by one if I owned a power module already? No.
But why do you need to be convinced? IMO t5 grows and colors corals up better than led.
I bought it simply to do dawn/dusk and to add shimmer to the tank.
I have had led alone and didn't like it.
What is it your trying to get from your tank?
The real question is
Do you want a t5 light with LEDs? Choose ATI
Do you want LEDs and supplement them with t5? Choose pacsun
You can't really make a wrong choice because it's what you want. I Knowingly paid an extra 500$ for my lights to have the LEDs for dawn/dusk. Will they help grow coral? Yes, but thats not why I paid extra for them.
This is a hobby it's disposable income. Enjoy it.
JPMagyar
New member
I think you hit all the major points here. I want purple and blue corals with absolute color saturation. I don't care what it costs. I also want to look at my tank and enjoy the look. Does an ATI Powermodule do a better job at coloring corals than a Pac Sun or a basic ATI fixture? Does a Powermodule produce colors that are cool to look at more so than a basic ATI. I don't know, but I'm looking to you guys to help me understand the differences.
v1...rotate
A Reef In The Sky
Joe,
Although I don't post or comment a lot on other peoples tanks and threads, I do follow many and your tank is one of them. I've been a fan of your tank for a long time and admire what you have achieved. It had even crossed my mind a few years ago, once I saw you live in the NY area to actually touch base to share ideas. Maybe in hindsight, it was best that I didn't.
Comments like yours are usually "water off a ducks back" to me however I find your "far too baron" comment intriguing. Would you care to evaluate on your comment? send me a PM.
On that note, everyone is entitled to their opinions, good or bad but I find it unusual that you make such comments then request my opinion/advice on the Hybrid... Rather strange IMO.
My pervious ATI Powermodule was fantastic. Unfortunately I lost the dimming function to one of the ballasts and it therefore wasn't able to run at its full potential. Then I tried only LED lights for a while but it didn't deliver the complete appearance I was after. I therefore decided to go back to my T5 Powermodule.
Not long after that I was made away of the new Hybrid. I was instantly sold for a few reasons
1. It was a new ATI product
2. It was a combo light hence more options/flexibilities
3. I would be able to have a dimmable T5 unit again
4. I knew I would be buying a quality unit.
Ryan's comments above are also accurate and give great insight into more pros.
Answers to your questions...
Yes the LEDs allow colour variation and even more flexibility with sunset and sunrise. The corals continue to grow at the same rate as my previous ATI unit and I enjoy the ability to tinker with light settings. There is so much flexibility. Yes the addition of LEDs to the ATI fixture was worth while. Cost is a very important consideration however I know what I'm getting with German products... Quality!!
Your post was rather condescending and as a previous TOTM winner and I'd expect more from you. The fact you used capital letters to give your opinion of my tank when the thread topic is not about my tank, rather the light unit itself emphasizes my point of being condescending. Your personal opinion has caused the thread to de-rail. Let's get the thread back on track so we can help others that might be considering this wonderful unit!
Although I don't post or comment a lot on other peoples tanks and threads, I do follow many and your tank is one of them. I've been a fan of your tank for a long time and admire what you have achieved. It had even crossed my mind a few years ago, once I saw you live in the NY area to actually touch base to share ideas. Maybe in hindsight, it was best that I didn't.
Comments like yours are usually "water off a ducks back" to me however I find your "far too baron" comment intriguing. Would you care to evaluate on your comment? send me a PM.
On that note, everyone is entitled to their opinions, good or bad but I find it unusual that you make such comments then request my opinion/advice on the Hybrid... Rather strange IMO.
My pervious ATI Powermodule was fantastic. Unfortunately I lost the dimming function to one of the ballasts and it therefore wasn't able to run at its full potential. Then I tried only LED lights for a while but it didn't deliver the complete appearance I was after. I therefore decided to go back to my T5 Powermodule.
Not long after that I was made away of the new Hybrid. I was instantly sold for a few reasons
1. It was a new ATI product
2. It was a combo light hence more options/flexibilities
3. I would be able to have a dimmable T5 unit again
4. I knew I would be buying a quality unit.
Ryan's comments above are also accurate and give great insight into more pros.
Answers to your questions...
Yes the LEDs allow colour variation and even more flexibility with sunset and sunrise. The corals continue to grow at the same rate as my previous ATI unit and I enjoy the ability to tinker with light settings. There is so much flexibility. Yes the addition of LEDs to the ATI fixture was worth while. Cost is a very important consideration however I know what I'm getting with German products... Quality!!
Your post was rather condescending and as a previous TOTM winner and I'd expect more from you. The fact you used capital letters to give your opinion of my tank when the thread topic is not about my tank, rather the light unit itself emphasizes my point of being condescending. Your personal opinion has caused the thread to de-rail. Let's get the thread back on track so we can help others that might be considering this wonderful unit!
blakeorme
New member
I can't thank you enough!! This along with deleting and re-installing my software solved the following issues:
-flickering (will continue to monitor)
-Error message while loading program into the lamp.
-general frustration that this great lamp had poor, buggy software.
Here is what I did:
1. Deleted all software from my computer and then downloaded and re-installed. (ATI North America site)
2. Reset the lamp controller (several times) to default.
3. Followed your code above and confirmed lamp was set to 3.
4. Loaded the lamp's controller default program into the software and edited my program from there..
5. Saved new program into lamp.
*note. I said I defaulted the lamp several times, because after the first time I defaulted, it I loaded the program, and it indeed had 4LED clusters where I have only 3. Basically, this confirmed that my issue may have been due to the controller operating with incorrect LED cluster amounts.
Again, thanks for the support from this Thread.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Glad everything is working out! Helping others is what RC is all about.
ATI North America has assured me they test every light they sell but I'm starting to seriously question that with all the problems we're seeing. The problem is so easily fixed but people have to search for that help. That's sad IMO.
When mine had all the flickering issues, I was blamed for messing up the controller. Somehow and in some way I was the guilty party, so I was told. Even though I know for a fact my control box came programmed with 4 LED spots and I had to set it back to 1 LED spot.
I'm just glad we seem to have found a fix for everyone!
Similar threads
