Rarend99
Active member
Are these units apex compatible
ATI Powermodule Hybrid Club
- Thread starter rodneyri
- Start date
Are these units apex compatible
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
I don't believe the apex can dim them or anything else. They have their own control box and programing software from what I know.
I'm currently deciding if I want to spend the money on one for my small tank.
I run a 6 bulb sunpower over a 20 long. It's overkill but I love it.
separate.
Thanks for quick response, yesterday, I ordered the 2 foot 4 bulb Hybrid for my cube, since I've never run t5's or LED before, only Halide and only Radiums which means I prefer the 20K look.
Any suggestions on which 4 bulbs I should run with the LED, I realize I should be able to control the look by tinkering with the LED, but i'm kind of lost at this point as to what t5 bulbs to by.
This is an all sps / clam tank.
Thanks in advance
Any suggestions on which 4 bulbs I should run with the LED, I realize I should be able to control the look by tinkering with the LED, but i'm kind of lost at this point as to what t5 bulbs to by.
This is an all sps / clam tank.
Thanks in advance
loweryster
New member
This is a good starting point. http://www.atinorthamerica.com/faq.php
Check the FAQs for "what bulb combination do you recommend"
I have an 8bulb and run their 20k suggestion for a while, it was very blue in combination with the LEDs.
Check the FAQs for "what bulb combination do you recommend"
I have an 8bulb and run their 20k suggestion for a while, it was very blue in combination with the LEDs.
seamcintyre
New member
I just got mine, I cannot see how I am using the program incorrectly but the light just will not work. No matter how I change the settings nothing will turn on.
I'm dumb... operator error. Fantastic lights- best I've seen.
I'm dumb... operator error. Fantastic lights- best I've seen.
Last edited:
mark54321
Active member
After you change settings to your liking you need to save it in lamp. Then it will work.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
My initial thoughts and impressions of the ATI LED Powermodule fixture.
Light fixture - 4x24w with 1 LED cluster
Bulb Combo - 2 Blue Plus, 1 Actinic and 1 Coral Plus
Looks - 9/10
I think the fixture is very good looking. It is quite as thin as sleek as the new LED fixtures but it never can be. There has to be room for the T5 ballasts, LED heatsink, fans and a number of cables. I feel that ATI did a great design job.
Construction - 10/10
Wow! This thing is a tank. It is heavy and very, very solid. The fit and finish is top notch. What else would you expect from ATI though? They've always been built well.
Light Output - 10/10
I am not talking about PAR here as I haven't measured mine but hope to in the future. Just the look and quality of light is what I am looking at.
I was very reserved on how the LEDs and T5s would mix. I hate, HATE the disco ball effect that LEDs produce. However, the T5s and LEDs mix beautifully and the crazy LED shimmer is subdued and the one cluster covers my entire tank (30x12). (I have the fixture 12" off the water surface for reference.) There is very little, if any at all, of the disco ball effect with all lights on. The light looks great and the corals seem to appreciate it so far after just 2 days.
(I won't be claiming anything for at least 6 weeks though in regards to coloration of corals.)
Ease of use - 5/10 at first then 9/10
Alright, hear me out really quick on this one. I give it a 5 at first because this isn't the type of light where you just install everything and go. Well, you have that option if you really want. There is a default program already installed that is good enough to get you going for a day or two if needed/wanted. I wouldn't recommend that route but it is certainly there.
When you install the light for the first time you need to install the T5 tubes, plug the fixture into the controller and then power it up. You then run it through a demo mode to make sure that everything is working properly. Once that is done you are free to move about the cabin...I mean customize everything how you would like. With this light though, you aren't a passenger along for the ride. You are the pilot of this plane! The customization is endless and the LEDs are just awesome to fine tune everything to your liking. Is the light too white? Lower the whites or up the blues. Too blue? Lower the blues. Too much PAR? (assuming you have a meter) Dim everything down.
The software is good enough and doesn't have a bunch of glitches. It isn't super advanced by any means but I like that. I want my light to work and do what I say. I don't need it follow the sun over the Great Barrier Reef or anything like that.
At the beginning, I was totally lost on what to do. There is no instruction manual and unfortunately my laptop is down right now. So I had to haul my controller to my desktop and just mess around without the fixture. I had no idea what was doing what but figured it all out after a few minutes and setup a program. I saved the program and hooked the controller back up. Lights turned on just like I planned. The color was a little white but that is easily adjusted on the controller.
Noise - 9.9/10
I can't believe how quiet this runs with 3 fans on it. Coming from my 6x24w ATI Sunpower, this thing is whisper quiet. There is obviously some noise but if the fans stayed on overnight I could easily sleep in the same room. I have to feel the air coming out to make sure the fans are on. That's how quiet it is.
I will continue running everything and plan to change the bulb combo next week. I will update as I go and get some pictures when I get a chance.
Thanks for reading!
Light fixture - 4x24w with 1 LED cluster
Bulb Combo - 2 Blue Plus, 1 Actinic and 1 Coral Plus
Looks - 9/10
I think the fixture is very good looking. It is quite as thin as sleek as the new LED fixtures but it never can be. There has to be room for the T5 ballasts, LED heatsink, fans and a number of cables. I feel that ATI did a great design job.
Construction - 10/10
Wow! This thing is a tank. It is heavy and very, very solid. The fit and finish is top notch. What else would you expect from ATI though? They've always been built well.
Light Output - 10/10
I am not talking about PAR here as I haven't measured mine but hope to in the future. Just the look and quality of light is what I am looking at.
I was very reserved on how the LEDs and T5s would mix. I hate, HATE the disco ball effect that LEDs produce. However, the T5s and LEDs mix beautifully and the crazy LED shimmer is subdued and the one cluster covers my entire tank (30x12). (I have the fixture 12" off the water surface for reference.) There is very little, if any at all, of the disco ball effect with all lights on. The light looks great and the corals seem to appreciate it so far after just 2 days.
(I won't be claiming anything for at least 6 weeks though in regards to coloration of corals.)
Ease of use - 5/10 at first then 9/10
Alright, hear me out really quick on this one. I give it a 5 at first because this isn't the type of light where you just install everything and go. Well, you have that option if you really want. There is a default program already installed that is good enough to get you going for a day or two if needed/wanted. I wouldn't recommend that route but it is certainly there.
When you install the light for the first time you need to install the T5 tubes, plug the fixture into the controller and then power it up. You then run it through a demo mode to make sure that everything is working properly. Once that is done you are free to move about the cabin...I mean customize everything how you would like. With this light though, you aren't a passenger along for the ride. You are the pilot of this plane! The customization is endless and the LEDs are just awesome to fine tune everything to your liking. Is the light too white? Lower the whites or up the blues. Too blue? Lower the blues. Too much PAR? (assuming you have a meter) Dim everything down.
The software is good enough and doesn't have a bunch of glitches. It isn't super advanced by any means but I like that. I want my light to work and do what I say. I don't need it follow the sun over the Great Barrier Reef or anything like that.
At the beginning, I was totally lost on what to do. There is no instruction manual and unfortunately my laptop is down right now. So I had to haul my controller to my desktop and just mess around without the fixture. I had no idea what was doing what but figured it all out after a few minutes and setup a program. I saved the program and hooked the controller back up. Lights turned on just like I planned. The color was a little white but that is easily adjusted on the controller.
Noise - 9.9/10
I can't believe how quiet this runs with 3 fans on it. Coming from my 6x24w ATI Sunpower, this thing is whisper quiet. There is obviously some noise but if the fans stayed on overnight I could easily sleep in the same room. I have to feel the air coming out to make sure the fans are on. That's how quiet it is.
I will continue running everything and plan to change the bulb combo next week. I will update as I go and get some pictures when I get a chance.
Thanks for reading!
Last edited:
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
They are in the fixture to my knowledge. They need to be cooled as well and nothing would cool them in the control box.
jdraider75
Member
So you can dim the t5 bulbs without shortening their life? Would their be any spectrum shift when dimming?
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Yes.
Ideally you want to burn new bulbs in for about 50 hours before dimming but Oliver from ATI has told me that dimming is no longer an issue. It was an issue back in the days but it was a ballast issue and that has been resolved.
I don't know if the spcetrum will change or not. I would say it might a little but not enough to worry about. My bulbs look the exact same color wise but not as bright when I dim them.
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