ATI Powermodule Hybrid Club

[Patrick Cox]

Not that I know of...I havent updated to the new software. But I doubt there is anything like that in the latest software-someone would have mentioned it here already.

However, there is a web based control solution that will be released soon...that brings up many possibilities...will have to wait and see. Hopefully it will be Apex controllable as well. That would be sweet.

Sahin,
Have you noticed differences in light intensity from the Color Preview mode of controlling the lamp and the actual lamp running off of that same time in the program? The color preview mode seems to be brighter.

Thanks

 

[sahin]

So I'm not unhappy with the PM - but I find myself wondering if I'd be happier with 8 bulbs instead of the four with LEDs?

Has anyone went to either the 8 bulb PM LED or sunpower from the four bulb?

Is it the light coverage you are seeking to increase? Or something else?

Sahin,
Have you noticed differences in light intensity from the Color Preview mode of controlling the lamp and the actual lamp running off of that same time in the program? The color preview mode seems to be brighter.

Thanks

I've never noticed a difference.

 

[msderganc]

Has any one hung an 8x60 pm from drywall with anchors. Wondering which anchors to use and size?

I'd use toggle bolts at a minimum.

 

[flamron]

Is it the light coverage you are seeking to increase? Or something else?



I've never noticed a difference.

Coverage is fine, but I feel like I'm lacking in color choice. Currently running two blue plus, an aquablue special and an actinic.

I used to have an 8 bulb tek over my 120, and really really liked the color.

I also want just a bit more punch to grow sps a bit lower. Right now I am stuck in the upper 1/3 or so.

 

[sahin]

Coverage is fine, but I feel like I'm lacking in color choice. Currently running two blue plus, an aquablue special and an actinic.

I used to have an 8 bulb tek over my 120, and really really liked the color.

I also want just a bit more punch to grow sps a bit lower. Right now I am stuck in the upper 1/3 or so.

An 8 tube unit will certainly help increasing the total PAR in the tank and will help with the tube combos. I think a combo of 2xCoral+, 1xBlue+ 1xActinic or 2xCoral+ & 2xBlue+ with LED's set as follows should look pretty good:
RB=255, B=120, W=70

If you want to move to a unit with more tubes and dont want to shell out the $$$ for an 8 tube LED PM, just pickup a used 8 tube Sunpower then add a reefbrite RB supplement.

I just saw an amazing SPS tank lit with a 6tube Sunpower on Facebook today...colour of the SPS is FAR more dependant on water quality than lights.

FWIW; I had better colours out of my 5tube ATI Sunpower modded with LED's (ie I removed 1 tube) than I currently have with my 8 tube 75watt LED clustered unit. The rest of the system is exactly the same. I have far better coverage and more PAR now as well.

Difference is that the water quality and biology of the system was much better.

Dont mean to rant; I'd rather you not spend money unless you really have to.

 

[flamron]

Totally agree. I'm just now nearing the 12 month mark. So I know colors aren't going to be everything I want.

I just feel like it's lacking the punch I'm used to having with 8 bulbs.

 

[bucfan]

Has any one hung an 8x60 pm from drywall with anchors. Wondering which anchors to use and size?

I used the special ceiling anchors from Home Depot rated to hold 50 lbs each. These flay out at the end like toggle bolts. Got my 48" unit holding up very well.

 

[kewadiak]

I used the special ceiling anchors from Home Depot rated to hold 50 lbs each. These flay out at the end like toggle bolts. Got my 48" unit holding up very well.

Thank you, yea i plan on using toggles, do you remember the size of the bolt that will fit threw the collar/hanger?

 

[blakeorme]

I'm not a contractor and not a drywall installer, but I'd have issues sleeping knowing my heavy, $2k + light was suspended over my tank just using drywall. The load baring capabilities are rated most times on vertical walls and not ceilings. Why not just paint some boards to match the ceiling and mount them from stud to stud? An 8bulb 60in fixture is a beast.

 

[msderganc]

I'm not a contractor and not a drywall installer, but I'd have issues sleeping knowing my heavy, $2k + light was suspended over my tank just using drywall. The load baring capabilities are rated most times on vertical walls and not ceilings. Why not just paint some boards to match the ceiling and mount them from stud to stud? An 8bulb 60in fixture is a beast.

Toggle bolts sit parallel to the wall and are rated well above the weight of the lamp. It's not like a drywall anchor.

 

[blakeorme]

Yeah, I'm very familiar with toggle bolts, but the issue isn't about the weight the toggles can support. It's about the sheet rock failing. It's just nailed to studs, and those nails could pull out, you could have a leak and the sheet rock disintegrate/sag, ...etc If it was a small fixture maybe, but those fixtures are heavy. Also, you will be moving them up/down for maintenance and that's going to put stress on them. With a quick google search, you won't find a contractor that will recommend anything hanging on unsupported drywall.

Just my 2 cents.. I'd recommend just running the idea by a contractor. I'm sure there are a ton on this site. It's just an expensive light, and Murphy (Murphy's Law) has way of always being present in this hobby.

 

[horseplay]

+1 ^^

 

[sbeason]

You could also locate the floor joists from the floor above (what your ceiling drywall is fastened too) and use j screws that you can screw into the wood joist.

 

[discos]

Thats a pretty good combo and you are using all the blue and lots of white in the LED's. Just keep that combo and LED settings, keep things stable and your corals should colour up pretty nicely.

Τy Sabin., indeed is a good light result. In order to go there i end up with 4 different extra bulbs, but I will use them next year, so all good. I try also the coral+ instead of ABS, great result also, but I liked more the bit more "white" of abs.

I really hope the result in time to be good. The amazing aquariums i see here, is great inspiration to me.

So it looks like the lamp is bad and it's definitely a hardware issue. When 4 T5s are on they are dim and they only brighten up fully when all 8 turn on. Sent ATI NA video of this and they have forwarded it to Germany last week. I'm told we have to wait on ATI to decide on what to do after they see the video. How long should that take? I hope that they will get this lamp replaced ASAP.

I have exactly the same problem. I am on email communication with the company for this. It's really very odd how the fixture response when you try to light up the T5 banks separately. It does that even on demo mode when is synced with the computer.

Mine is the new model and is with the 3 led clusters and 8 54w T5. Hope to be fixed soon.

 

[bucfan]

I have exactly the same problem. I am on email communication with the company for this. It's really very odd how the fixture response when you try to light up the T5 banks separately. It does that even on demo mode when is synced with the computer.

Mine is the new model and is with the 3 led clusters and 8 54w T5. Hope to be fixed soon.

I have the same lamp. Finally heard back from ATI NA today, 2 weeks later. They offered to replace the control box since ATI Corp says that is the source of the problem. They wanted me to send mine in and they would ship a new one back. Strange! How am I supposed to keep my tank going with no light. Or they said I could pay for the new one and they would refund me once they got mine back. Luckily my LFS has stepped in and will take care of getting the new box so I don't have to pay for it. I still fear the lamp is bad and may need to be changed. We will see. I am very disappointed with ATI's customer support thus far. They respond to emails quickly but are very slow to fix a problem. I fear I have made a bad decision to switch from my PacSun which had great support to ATI which is definitely better built but with subpar support.

 

[flamron]

I just bought a 8 bulb dimmable sunpower to replace my 4 bulb PM LED. Going to miss the LEDs I think, but I need more punch to hit the bottom. It'll be here next week some time. Anyone else go back to sunpowers? Regrets?

 

[msderganc]

Inspired by Sahin, I've been thinking about this combination. I'm going for a Radium 20K look:

ATI Blue+
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue+
ATI Coral+
***LED***
ATI AquablueSpecial
ATI Blue+
ATI Coral+
ATI Actinic

What do you guys think? I am really struggling with the order of bulbs due to the two banks.

 

[CoopsReef]

I just wanted to shine some light on this thread. I started my new custom 220 gal built by coast to coast aquariums and put the 8 bulb powermodule hybrid over the tank all just 44 days ago today. I had the light over my previous 90 gal for about 8 months waiting on this tank to be built. I love the powermodule hybrid.

 

[Olivier_Fr]

I put my 7 Maxspect ramps in the trash ... they burned all my corals and came back on good old ATI T5 ! my new corals are all more beautiful.

 

[JOEYRM7]

How long did it take for them to color back up?