TEK or ATI

[Saltwatercoral2]

I'm in the market and have been following along here. I do like the sunpowers; the only problem is that hanging them from the ceiling is NOT an option. And the fixture hangers that I've seen must be attached to the back of the stand, which would require me to take the tank down in order to get to the back. Unless these brackets can be attached to the side I am SOL as far as ATI goes.

I have a 75. Will ATI really make THAT much of a difference over Tek? And when comparing brands, are ATI and Tek the only real players when talking about top of the line lighting?

I suggest buying an ATI fixture. And if so, buy it today. Marinedepot 10% off today only.

 

[a.browning]

I'd go with ATI as everyone has said. I was making the same comparison a few months ago, after you add on the shield, legs/mounting kit, it's a very small difference between the two. I will be going ATI for sure.

 

[NyReefNoob]

if buying new get the tek elite, i have ran alot of t5 configs, owned tek fixtures, ati sunpower, ati powermodule and as much as i love the ati if i was doing it again id get the tek alite, ati uses no special magical ballast, and the reflectors have the same reflective output, the bonus on the elite is the cooling fans which help keep bulb temp down for better output and life span

 

[Froggy]

I am at about the three month mark using my original TEK on my 120.


Completely happy with the results. I am not disappointed at all in my decision. I read a lot and before I started using the TEK and I feared I would regret not going with the Sunpower. I didnt want to hang the fixture so I went TEK. Great results with the TEK so far for me.

FYI, the shield is now included so that is not an extra cost. Do not use it on the original TEK though.

Joe

 

[rtparty]

if buying new get the tek elite, i have ran alot of t5 configs, owned tek fixtures, ati sunpower, ati powermodule and as much as i love the ati if i was doing it again id get the tek alite, ati uses no special magical ballast, and the reflectors have the same reflective output, the bonus on the elite is the cooling fans which help keep bulb temp down for better output and life span

Actually ATI does use a better ballast and reflective output doesnt matter. The Tek design for their reflectors isn't as good as an ATI reflector. The bends and design have a bigger impact than the reflective value.

The Tek elite is still 20% behind and ATI for a reason. Reflectors, ballasts and cooling all play into this.

 

[jbannick18]

For my 75 gallon my Tek 6x54 puts out plenty of par, clam on the sandbed sps anywhere in the tank. That being said if I had a deeper tank such as a 90 gallon I'd use an ATI. I just couldn't pass up the deal on my tek unit, saved about $300 vs the ati

 

[OregonReefer]

For me a hanging light had a lot of obsticals... 6' left and 10' right (cable length) vaulted ceiling above the tank and a big open wall that I wanted to hang wall art on (the cables kind of distract from the artwork)

I also knew that at some point (when the price comes down) I'd probably be going LED

I picked up a very lovingly used TEK (6x54w) with bulbs for for my 120g at ~$300

My SPS are growing well down to the lower 1/3rd of my tank and my softies/LPS do great in the lower half

Would an ATI be better? - Yes!

Does my TEK do the job (for now)? - Yes!

My thinking was I'll be upgrading at some point so the TEk was my choice.

If I had decided I was T5 long term I would have gone new 8x54w ATI

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

On a 6 bulb ATI fixture, should I go with ATI bulbs, 3 blue plus, 1 purple plus, and 2 daylight (6500)? I haven't had success with macro algaes with my 260 watts of power compacts. It is a fish only tank with a couple of corals that my butterflyfish won't eat (good luck), plus macro algae. I think the macro will require at least 2 daylight bulbs (maybe 3). Thoughts?

 

[zeeter]

Ok, so let me repeat for those who didn't read my post. ATI is not an option because I cannot hang it from the ceiling and the hanging mounts they make attach to the back, where I can't get to. I'm sure there's a million ways that I could fabricate something but I'm not that guy.

So with that cleared up, on a 75 gallon tank am I doing ok with a tek light or are there other brands that I should be looking at? I have a six bulb aquatic life fixture now that has gone through two timers. Note: timer breaks and the light is useless; there's no way to turn it on. So I'm definitely looking for one that I can put on an external timer rather than built in.

 

[Retired Reefer]

Not everything your reading here is correct. I have a 60" 6 bulb 80 watt TEK. The bulbs are not split 50 50. There is 2 bulbs on one cord and 4 on the other. Also mine came with a shield so that was not an added cost. I'm happy with mine.

 

[rtparty]

Ok, so let me repeat for those who didn't read my post. ATI is not an option because I cannot hang it from the ceiling and the hanging mounts they make attach to the back, where I can't get to. I'm sure there's a million ways that I could fabricate something but I'm not that guy.

So with that cleared up, on a 75 gallon tank am I doing ok with a tek light or are there other brands that I should be looking at? I have a six bulb aquatic life fixture now that has gone through two timers. Note: timer breaks and the light is useless; there's no way to turn it on. So I'm definitely looking for one that I can put on an external timer rather than built in.

To repeat the DOZENS of threads that talk about your EXACT question, Teks are good fixtures and will be just fine. I would get the Elite version though.

 

[zeeter]

For the record, I have the flu and was a bit grumpy when I made my original post and then saw that everyone kept answering to go with ATI. Not that it's an excuse to be grumpy, just an explanation.

I know Tek Elites are a good fixture but was wondering if a Nova or Coral Life would give me the same results without the added cost. The Aquatic Life has been good -when it has worked - and once I read up on light temperatures and switched first to Geissemanne and then ATI bulbs I noticed a huge difference in the quality of my tank.

Edit: by same results I mean is Tek overkill for a 75 gallon and will one of the other brands give me the same results due to the relatively short tank. Am I buying a Cadillac when all I really need is a decent Chevy?

 

[rtparty]

For the record, I have the flu and was a bit grumpy when I made my original post and then saw that everyone kept answering to go with ATI. Not that it's an excuse to be grumpy, just an explanation.

I know Tek Elites are a good fixture but was wondering if a Nova or Coral Life would give me the same results without the added cost. The Aquatic Life has been good -when it has worked - and once I read up on light temperatures and switched first to Geissemanne and then ATI bulbs I noticed a huge difference in the quality of my tank.

Edit: by same results I mean is Tek overkill for a 75 gallon and will one of the other brands give me the same results due to the relatively short tank. Am I buying a Cadillac when all I really need is a decent Chevy?

Well let's make a fair comparison here.

A Coralife will not work. Avoid them.

A Current USA will work okay but plan on all new bulbs unless you have the bulbs already. The Current USA fixture will be a step backwards from your Aquatic Life.

Tek and Aquatic Life are equals for PAR or at least very close. I think Teks are a much better fixture in the end. I hate those timers on the Aquatic Life stuff because they constantly break as you have found out. They are a TERRIBLE design flaw.

ATI is a Cadillac and Tek is your decent Chevy.

 

[zeeter]

Got it. Thanks - that's what I wanted to know.

 

[SkullV]

Zeeter here are the readings I took on my old Nova Extreme Pro over my 75g:

It's a 48" Nova Extreme Pro 6 bulb unit with all ATI bulbs.


FRONT

Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Aquablue Special
Blue+
Blue+​

BACK

 

[zeeter]

Ted - am I reading this right? It looks like you only have one bulb that produces any white light. Is this standard practice?

I'm running right now three AB Specials, two Actinics, and one Purple (all ATI). Am I doing something wrong with that setup?

 

[zeeter]

BTW, I think I'm going to tell the landlord to take a hike and get the ATI 6-bulb fixture. Had considered the 8-bulb fixture, but placing it that high above the tank I think I'd lose some of the effectiveness of having 8-bulbs.

 

[stevedola]

Blue + bulbs have good par readings and are not considered an actinic bulb eventhough they output a blue color. actinics bulbs on the other hand have barely any par and contribute only color to the tank. from what I remember, the purple + has little par value to it too.

 

[rtparty]

Blue + bulbs have good par readings and are not considered an actinic bulb eventhough they output a blue color. actinics bulbs on the other hand have barely any par and contribute only color to the tank. from what I remember, the purple + has little par value to it too.

Purple plus bulbs have pretty good PAR actually. They dont compete with the blue plus but they don't lack PAR.

Ted - am I reading this right? It looks like you only have one bulb that produces any white light. Is this standard practice?

I'm running right now three AB Specials, two Actinics, and one Purple (all ATI). Am I doing something wrong with that setup?

Aquablue bulbs are ugly to my eye. you lose a bunch of color with them. I would pull 2 of the aquablues and 1 actinic for the ATI blue plus bulbs. I think you will be happier with color and growth.

 

[karsseboom]

You need to get the tek elite if you want good growth from sps. Stoping looking around for a alternative, that's the cheapest you'll get for good growth. Why cant you just hang the ati fixture off two plant hangers? That way it's not hanging off the ceiling.