T5 Par Question (ATI Sunpower)

[Fish Everywhere]

Hello everyone, I had a quick question regarding the 48" ATI Sunpower unit.

Assuming I have a 75 gallon standard tank (48 x 18 x 21 tall) and want to keep just SPS, a nem, and some LPS in shaded areas (maybe 2-5% of the reef will be LPS, very few), which will be better for color and growth?

ATI Sunpower 8x54 watt 48"

- ATI Blue+
- ATI Coral+
- ATI Actinic
- ATI Blue+
- ATI Actinic
- ATI Coral+
- ATI Blue+
- ATI Blue+

ATI Sunpower 6x54 watt 48"

- ATI Blue+
- ATI Purple+
- ATI Actinic
- ATI Coral+
- ATI Blue+
- ATI Blue+

If you have any other ideas, please let me know. I've been hearing that the 8x54 watt fixture will burn SPS in this tank. Is this nonsense, or true? If it is, which should I pick :crazy1: ? Thanks, help appreciated.

 

[moatdaddy]

if you can afford the 8 instead of the 6 i would do that. i did and love it.
my combo
B+b+atinicB+B+c+B+B+

next time i am just going all b+

 

[phenom5]

I would go with the 6 tube fixture for that tank. Less money to run, fewer T5 tubes to buy, and it will be plenty of light for an 18" wide tank. I ran a 6 tube on my old 75 and it worked out great.

I don't think the 8 bulb will be too much light either though. You will want to be careful acclimating new frags to the light, but they'll be okay with either light IMO.

 

[markalot]

6 bulb is plenty for an 18" (front to back) tank. 8 bulb will give you more color choices but you'll need to run the light higher due to the PAR IMO.

 

[Wiskey]

I had a 4 bulb over a 75G and it was not enough, Acros lived but grew PAINFULLY slow, Montis did okay.

I was thinking about 6 bulbs, but ended up adding LEDs between the bulbs (It is a retro) because it allows me to get more punch in smaller footprint.

If it were me I would buy the 8 bulb fixture, (assuming that it's no more than 18" wide) then if I find that it's too much I would turn off 2 of the bulbs (Assuming you can do that). Different tanks seem to need different amounts of light and this would give you more flexability if you need it.

Whiskey

 

[GSMclowns]

Are you thinking about upgrading to a bigger tank in the future or the 75 gallon is it?? no more upgrade? If the 75 gallons is it, then 6 x 54 would be perfect for that tank. The 8 bulbs is 17 inches wide and your tank is only 18 inches wide, so there will be alot of light spill outside the tank. I used to have a 6 bulbs sunpower on the standard 75 gallons and I could keep sps anywhere on the tank. But of course, if you have the money and don't mind about the spilled light, then go for the 8 bulbs.. more choices in the bulbs and just better coverage of the tank.

 

[Fish Everywhere]

Im leaning towards the 6 bulb, but am still deciding. Going to wait for at least a few more opinions.

Whiskey, I believe that a 4 bulb tek is the equivalent of a figurative "2 1/2" bulb ATI" if what I have been reading and looking at has been correct. If this is true, then that would explain your need for the LEDs. Not trying to knock Tek or anything, as I have never owned one lol, just saying based on others' experiences. A combination of active cooling, better reflectors, and better design seems to yield a good result with the ATI light fixtures as compared to others.

 

[teebone110]

6 bulb is perfect for your tank.

I ran an 8 bulb on a 90 with the same foot print, but found it too wide since the tank is only 18 inches wide

 

[Pife]

8 bulb for more options

 

[Myka]

My tank is 36 x 21 x 21" and the ATI 6-bulb fixture is 15" wide. I think two more bulbs would be a waste. Fwiw, I run my 6-bulb with channel 2 dimmed to 50%. My corals are pale though, they are starving. Hopefully when they beef up I can turn the fixture up higher.

 

[mirkus]

My vote is for the 6 bulb on an 18 inch wide tank. Save on bulbs and electricity. I ran an 8 bulb on a 30 inch deep tank (with reefbrites). With an 18 inch tank you will probably place coral over 15 inch area.

 

[gex23]

I run an 8 bulb power module hybrid on my 18" wide tank and after reading the above I feel rather idiotic for doing so ...... :clown:

 

[drummerboyevil]

T5 Par Question (ATI Sunpower)

My 6 bulb Ati dimmable throws 350 par at the sand bed on my 75... That is with one actinic bulb too! I think 8 is overkill.

I have mostly SPS, but the two chalices I have need to be kept shaded under rocks or they bleach.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Acromaniac]

I have a 36" x 18" x 18" and have a 6 bulb but wish I had the 8 bulb.

 

[swk]

6 bulb 48" dimable on my standard 75. I get almost 300 on the sandbed at the middle and 450 on the tip of my rock work. Couldnt imagine using an 8 bulb on it.

I mainly use the geisseman t5 tubes too. I like them better after using both.

 

[drummerboyevil]

6 bulb 48" dimable on my standard 75. I get almost 300 on the sandbed at the middle and 450 on the tip of my rock work. Couldnt imagine using an 8 bulb on it.

I mainly use the geisseman t5 tubes too. I like them better after using both.

Yea I honestly had to start thinking about REDUCING par on my 18" wide tank with 6 bulbs. Luckily I have a dimmable so I just do a longer ramp during the day. If I had a non-dimmable I'd be looking at using dark screening material to run 6 bulbs at 100% lol.

 

[swk]

Yea I honestly had to start thinking about REDUCING par on my 18" wide tank with 6 bulbs. Luckily I have a dimmable so I just do a longer ramp during the day. If I had a non-dimmable I'd be looking at using dark screening material to run 6 bulbs at 100% lol.

I run 2 bulbs for 1 hour in the am and pm. All bulbs are on for 8hrs during the day. I don't use any of the dimming function lol. My tank is exclusively Acropora with the exception of 2 montis, so it works out well for me.

 

[drummerboyevil]

I run 2 bulbs for 1 hour in the am and pm. All bulbs are on for 8hrs during the day. I don't use any of the dimming function lol. My tank is exclusively Acropora with the exception of 2 montis, so it works out well for me.

Mine is mostly SPS except for 2 chalices. I just want some zones of 150-200 par for things like PC rainbow that only color a certain way under lower light. I don't need 300 par at all corners of my tank haha!