rtparty
Raise The Reef!
You are right in the middle. Cost of bulbs every year tells me the 6x80w is the better choice.
The T5 Q&a Thread - split
- Thread starter eagle9252
- Start date
You are right in the middle. Cost of bulbs every year tells me the 6x80w is the better choice.
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
Ya 2 6x80w fixtures would be better. But honestly I would be thinking about a couple 400w halides in lumenmax large reflectors. 400w Radium bulbs are cheap compared to it's little brothers.
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Thank you Ryan for your prompt reply..........
BTW: any good bulb selection for a 10 x 80W ATI PM for an SPS dominant tank. I am coming off MH and VHO (read sig) and I am excited to go all T5's. Obviously growth is extremely important, followed directly by color. Right now I am planning (and have on order) 6-Blue+, 2-Coral+ and 2-Purple+. How does that sound?
Many thanks again for everyone's help......I am very excited for all T5 on my SPS tank, but very nervous as well......fingers crossed.
-Tony
125mph
New member
I have an 8 bulb ATI running with 5 Blue+, 1 Coral+, and 2 Purple+.. color is blue.. If you want growth, I hear the recommended is swap the coral for a GE6500. My main priority is coloration of the coral, second is growth.
I just checked my 6 x 24w ATI PM and the temp was exactly 107 degrees. I measured it with a digital thermometer holding it horizontal across three of the vents about 1/2" away. It seemed pretty good way to check temp.
BTW: the fans are set at 9v.
HTH
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Just for fun, set the fans at 7.5v and see how much it changes. When my tank was in the basement and ambient temp was 65, I used 7.5v because it ran at like 109F and 9v was 106.5F. I enjoyed the slight reduction in noise.
My new Sunpower fans are much quieter than my old. Not sure what they changed but I like it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
TropTrea
New member
As long as your using ATI fixtures you should have no problem with two Six bulb units. Your tank in 40" front to back so with 12 bulbs your covering about 3.5" inches per bulb. With the 8 bulb fixture you would have 16 bulbs covering about 2.5" per bulb. If you look a most people running 24" tanks they will either go with quality 6 bulb fistures 4" per bulb or lesser expensive 8 bulb fixtures 3" per bulb. With the higher quality ATI fixture your going to do better than either way than person with a 24" wide tank.
I wish I had room fror a 40 inch deep tank look at the fun you will have landscaping it.
DiscusHeckel
Acropora Gardener
I have found this old link on voltage setting (see post #950). It clearly shows that 7.5 v is the optimum. I also found another link in a British forum. This guy emailed ATI to find out the best voltage setting. ATI suggested the following: "The best voltage to run the fans is between 4.5 and 7.5v, this lower voltage is when the fans are most silent but depending on the ambient air temperature will determine whether you will need to run them at a higher voltage. So there is no pre set voltage, it is basically dependent on room temp as to how fast you run them". This statement is pretty vague. However, at least, ATI did not suggest 9v.
I have been running my unit at 9v since last March. :debi: My room temperature is around 66F. I am going start to run my unit at 7.5v from now on until the summer. I am going to take some PAR measurements in the morning with the new setting and will let you know.
I have been running my unit at 9v since last March. :debi: My room temperature is around 66F. I am going start to run my unit at 7.5v from now on until the summer. I am going to take some PAR measurements in the morning with the new setting and will let you know.
Catchoftheday
New member
My tank is a 70 gallon rimless i am running ATI light6X39 Watt fixture i am running all ATI bulbs
4Xblue pluss
1purple pluss
1 coral pluss
i am growing SPS
4Xblue pluss
1purple pluss
1 coral pluss
i am growing SPS
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
This is old outdated info. This is back when ATI recommended running the fans at 4.5v. Ryan's info is good. For optimal bulb life and par run the fans at 9v unless your room temp is in the 60's*f. Look up the thread by Kengym called "time to change my T5 bulbs and PAR readings" or something to that effect. Later in the thread he switches the fans to 9v (and others) and gets way better performance.
Too many people with Apogee meters to deny it nowadays.
alessandro
New member
OK, I'll go with 2x8.
In this way I can put 2 Giesemann Pure Actinic to improve colorations along with 7 Blue Plus + 7 Coral Plus.
In my current tank I have a 10x80 powermodule with 5 blueplus, 1 Giesemann Midday, 2 Purple and 2 Coral Plus but i want try to eliminate Midday e Purple.
DiscusHeckel
Acropora Gardener
Thanks. I have found the thread. As suggested in post #363, I am going to measure the exhaust's temperature and take it from there. I also have a PAR meter, but if get the right reading I am unlikely to bother using it. My expectation is that 9v will be the optimum fan speed despite rather luke warm ambient temperature because my unit has only two speed fans for six tubes.
:beer:
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
Just because the Sunpower has less fans than the powermodule doesn't mean it won't cool it as effectively. The Sunpower doesn't need as many fans because the internal housing is wide open and not as heavy as the powermodule so it transfers heat better.
I'd run 9v for best performance unless your room temp is <60*f or you just have to have it quieter. People with unheated basement tanks should experiment.
I'd run 9v for best performance unless your room temp is <60*f or you just have to have it quieter. People with unheated basement tanks should experiment.
DiscusHeckel
Acropora Gardener
I checked out the air temperature leaving my Sunpower today and it hovered between 108F and 110F. The fans were set at 9V and the room temperature was 66F.
I will continue to use 9V fan speed as normal.
Thank you for your help.
Ok everyone who's interested.........
I have a ATI PM 6 x 24w on a 60-gl Cube. I am referencing data related to the two different fan settings.....at 7.5v and 9v.
At 9v (which is the setting I have been running it at since I purchased last March) was 107-108 degrees.
At 7.5v (which I tested today just for fun) tested at 114-115 degrees.
Both setting were tested using a basic digital thermometer resting approx 1/2" from the fan slots (see attached pic). Nothing fancy with testing equipment, but at least proved there is a 7-8 degree difference between the two settings.
The test was a basic test, so take it for what it is worth.
HTH
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
^ bravo tegee!
Nice doing a T5 test that doesn't involve expensive equipment.lol
I'm wondering if its possible if a 6x24 sunpower will cool better than the powermodule, like Ryan's temp readings.
Just one question tegee - what was your room temp at?
Nice doing a T5 test that doesn't involve expensive equipment.lol
I'm wondering if its possible if a 6x24 sunpower will cool better than the powermodule, like Ryan's temp readings.
Just one question tegee - what was your room temp at?
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
^ bravo tegee!
Nice doing a T5 test that doesn't involve expensive equipment.lol
I'm wondering if its possible if a 6x24 sunpower will cool better than the powermodule, like Ryan's temp readings.
Just one question tegee - what was your room temp at?
Nice doing a T5 test that doesn't involve expensive equipment.lol
I'm wondering if its possible if a 6x24 sunpower will cool better than the powermodule, like Ryan's temp readings.
Just one question tegee - what was your room temp at?
Room temp is at 69 degrees. I am located in New England and it has been pretty cold lately, so I have traditional baseboard heating in that room.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Ok everyone who's interested.........
I have a ATI PM 6 x 24w on a 60-gl Cube. I am referencing data related to the two different fan settings.....at 7.5v and 9v.
At 9v (which is the setting I have been running it at since I purchased last March) was 107-108 degrees.
At 7.5v (which I tested today just for fun) tested at 114-115 degrees.
Both setting were tested using a basic digital thermometer resting approx 1/2" from the fan slots (see attached pic). Nothing fancy with testing equipment, but at least proved there is a 7-8 degree difference between the two settings.
The test was a basic test, so take it for what it is worth.
HTH
Nice job. 9v is definitely the way to go for you.
Realposition
New member
Hello, I have a 6x24w ati sun power over a 40breeder. I'm currently running 4 blue plus 1purple plus 1 kz new generation. I'm having some trouble with bleaching some Corals even tho I'm running a reduced light schedule. Would changing out 2 blue plus with 2 actinic look ok while reducing par a bit?
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