New ATI Lights - PAR Measurements

JohnM99

JohnM99

Premium Member
Just got my 6x54 W ATI Sunpower lights in yesterday. http://www.atiaquaristik.com/index.php?id=125,0,0,1,0,0
I put in 2 ATI Duo white, 2 ATI blue plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 blue/actinic in - and just finished taking some PAR measurements.

I used a Spectrum Technologies Quantum meter, with the above being made in the centre of the light field, with the numbers being a rough average of measurements in several positions at the same depth. There is some fall off at the edges - but not a lot. The surface measurement is a few mm below the surface. The fixture is at tank top, with the centre of the bulbs about 7" above the water surface.

Surface 980
4" 750
6" 620
8" 525
10" 485
12" 460
14" 440
16" 330
17" 290

My tank is 24" deep with a DSB and 17" is the lowest I can get my sensor. These are WAY higher than I ever got with a 4 bulb unit. ATI says the cooling fans make a difference, and their reflectors are special.

The fans are audible, but pretty quiet. The more expensive model "Powermodule" is steel instead of aluminum and apparently has more fans. This one has 2 3 inch fans mounted in the middle.

Could get even higher PAR with different bulbs - but this should be good for SPS I would think - might even shift it a bit more to the blue end. Light looks quite white now, but getting nice colours and fluorescence.

John
 
DogFather - your readings are very close to mine - this is a lot more powerful than my Sunlight 4 bulb - much more than the 50% you would expect with 50% more bulbs. My readings are almost double.

Will my corals grow so fast they will burst the tank? Or will they bleach all to hell?

Think I will shorten the cycle for a start.
 
Nice results John.
It'd be good to see if you can do a test with and without the fans on. Everybody says fans help a lot so it'd be good to see some real tests on it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15492592#post15492592 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JohnM99
DogFather - your readings are very close to mine - this is a lot more powerful than my Sunlight 4 bulb - much more than the 50% you would expect with 50% more bulbs. My readings are almost double.

Will my corals grow so fast they will burst the tank? Or will they bleach all to hell?

Think I will shorten the cycle for a start.
Click to expand...

Our new PM has only been up since last Wednesday. It's 12" above the surface now and will stay at that height for another week or so until the corals can acclimatize then I'll lower it an inch a week down to about 8" above the water surface. I have the sunrise/sunset pair on for 12 hours (9am-9pm) and the midday from 2pm until 8pm so far no bleaching.

Cheers!

-TDF
 
Hey johnm99 i was wondering if you ordered the fixture straight from ati or did you buy it from a local shop. I cant find ati products for the life of me in montral and would like to replace my giesemann matrixx with sunpower or pm. The giesemann was the biggest mistake, note to other buyers out there do not buy a fixture without active cooling, it kills performance. My giesemann will lose fifty percent efficiency after being on for three hours, due to the bulbs overheating.
 
Progressive Reef - http://www.progressivereef.com/ - relatively new shop in Victoria - just brought them in - they are really competitive on price, and seem to give very good service. LFS in Victoria previously were very high priced - I used J&L, Premium Aquatics, ReefGeek and Marine Depot before - but these guys prices are about the same or sometimes a little better.
Talk to Spencer.

John
 
How did you hang your sunpower? Mine comes in next week and I'm trying to figure out options. I don't want to hang it from the ceiling and the zero edge fixtures are a bit pricey.
 
John, thanks for sharing the measurements! I have been thinking about one of the 80" Sunpower units. This is just more support for that decision!
 
Long story on why - but I just have the fixture sitting on top of a wooden frame that used to be part of a hood. (I had a DIY T5 setup before for 2 - 3 yrs, but it kept failing, and I had to replace the bulbs every few weeks and the fixture ends every so often - I concluded it was too damp - took off the top of the hood, left it open, and put a T5 fixture on top - seemed to work fine - been there another 3 years - looked OK too.)

I am already noticing some bleaching in the tips of some SPS - will tone it down a bit.

The fixture has embedded wires in the end for being suspended - I would like to take them out - but it looks like I have to open the fixture to do that. Or cut the wires, which would be short sighted. Anyone figure out how to take them out?

The lights have one cord showing outside - which splits into two plugs, plus a DC powersupply for the fans. If your fans don't come on, take the little plug end of the powersupply apart, and reverse the polarity. Took me a while to figure that out.
 
Yes, I think they are nicer looking - made of steel instead of aluminum - but quite a bit more money.

I had been thinking I should have gotten a hybrid T5 and MH setup - but now I don't really see the need.

I have seen people put in a single LED fixture alongside the T5 to get the sparkle - anyone try that? I don't notice my moonlight when the T5s are on - so it would have to be quite a bit brighter. The moonlight does bring out some fluorescence I don't get with the T5s, mind you.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15500168#post15500168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JohnM99
Yes, I think they are nicer looking - made of steel instead of aluminum - but quite a bit more money.

I had been thinking I should have gotten a hybrid T5 and MH setup - but now I don't really see the need.

I have seen people put in a single LED fixture alongside the T5 to get the sparkle - anyone try that? I don't notice my moonlight when the T5s are on - so it would have to be quite a bit brighter. The moonlight does bring out some fluorescence I don't get with the T5s, mind you.
Click to expand...

The PowerModule is not made of steel. It's all aluminum...
 
The PowerModule is not made of steel. It's all aluminum...
Click to expand...

Sorry if I was incorrect there - but I had read it was made of stainless in several ads - like the one below - ??

ATI Power Module T5 high-output fluorescent lighting system complete with individual parabolic reflectors for each bulb made from silver-coated 98% reflective German-made aluminium, built-in electronic ballasts, active cooling system, acrylic shield, two 10 ft power-cords, sleek, adjustable hanging kit to suspend the unit and choice of ATI T 5 tubes. Superior design and high-end components produce 50% more light than most other equally sized T5 fixtures without using more energy. The Power Module is wired with 2 bulbs on one power-cord and the remaining bulbs on the other allowing for independent control and dawn-dusk simulation. Silver coloured, stainless steel body is durable and rust-proof. Runs very cool and produces virtually no noise. Recommended Tank Depth: up to 30" with carefully planned placement of corals. Warranty: 1 year. T 5 tubes sold separately. The dimmer needs a controller to operate sold separately.
Click to expand...
 
Now this is funny (and embarassing) - I ordered a Sunpower - and when I got it, I just rushed home, ripped open the box without looking at the label and put it on the tank (thought to myself - hmm - looks really nice - and has 2 fans on it)

Just went and looked at my box in the trash - I actually got a Powermodule!!! Maybe they gave me someone elses?? Hmmmmmm...... I also bought a bunch of other stuff at the same time, and as usual, I try not to notice how much this junk is costing me.............
:eek: :confused: :lol: :eek1:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15500238#post15500238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JohnM99
Sorry if I was incorrect there - but I had read it was made of stainless in several ads - like the one below - ??
Click to expand...

The AD was probably written by someone who has never seen a PM first hand. It's definitely aluminum, it's soft and can be scratched it your tried. Also, stainless steel would eventually rust if exposed to saltwater over an extended period of time...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15500261#post15500261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JohnM99
Now this is funny (and embarassing) - I ordered a Sunpower - and when I got it, I just rushed home, ripped open the box without looking at the label and put it on the tank (thought to myself - hmm - looks really nice - and has 2 fans on it)

Just went and looked at my box in the trash - I actually got a Powermodule!!! Maybe they gave me someone elses?? Hmmmmmm...... I also bought a bunch of other stuff at the same time, and as usual, I try not to notice how much this junk is costing me.............
:eek: :confused: :lol: :eek1:
Click to expand...

Hate to burst your bubble, but a PM would have 3 fans (if you have a 6 x 54) not 2. It the fixture edge rounded or angular? Post some photos...
 
Weird - it is angular - which is the Sunpower shape on the web pictures - but the box and the papers say Powermodule.

I didn't want to spend that much anyway!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Alternative Lighting for Biocube 29
Replies
0
Views
119
thommyboy12183
T
newsalt
Aqua Illumination SOL Blue problem
Replies
2
Views
177
oreo57
oreo57
K
Fluval Reef 4.0 LED Nano Power Level for 15G?
Replies
3
Views
244
kingyking888
K
P
Lighting question AI Blade.
Replies
2
Views
1K
griss
griss
L
Lighting Advise for 36 x 18 SPS
Replies
7
Views
550
Uncle99
Uncle99
Back
Top