The T5 Q&a Thread - split
- Thread starter eagle9252
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mhucasey
Acros & wieners, oh my!
11.5 hours for the two blue bulbs, 6.5 hours all bulbs. On my sun power I have the fan speed set at 7.5v, at that voltage the cold spot temp was per specification.
Dapg8gt
New member
The fans on regular sunpower and power module have a variable voltage power supply. So the two most common points most set them at are 9v and 7.5v.
Earlier in the thread (way earlier lol) there is some references to the sweet spot to run the bulbs at temperature wise, and in most climates/homes that's running the switch at 9 or 7.5.
fun fact also that all may not know is the end of the bulb with the writing should be in line and the spot that's being directly cooled in the fixture.
Something is wrong. I have 2 ATI fixtures (4x24 and 6x54) and my PAR is easily twice that using a quantum par meter. Google up the PAR on ATI fixtures and go to the images tab. Dozen examples (in graphic form) of what other ATI users have measured at various depths and lamp configurations.
Last edited:
mhucasey
Acros & wieners, oh my!
I finally got my hands on a PAR meter and the results are pretty good. I have the 8X30W Sunpower(No dimming) with the fan speed set to 7.5V. My tank is 36" wide, 28" front to back, and 22" tall. The light is 8" above the water line and tilted so the front edge is 3cm lower than the back. With the following mix of bulbs:
KZ Superblue-Giesemann Aquapink-Giesemann Actinic Plus-ABS-ABS-KZ SuperBlue-Fiji Purple-B+
I got the following readings:
First pic is numbers up against the front glass. I took readings at the sand and halfway up the inside glass:
And the following at other points:
Red is middle(front to back), orange is to the right of specific corals
Par at the water line was 700, 1" below the center of the fixture was 1300. Bulbs are about a month and a half old except the fiji purple, which is 10 months old. I have the meter until Wednesday and I have pretty much every bulb, so I am going to collect a lot of data before then...
KZ Superblue-Giesemann Aquapink-Giesemann Actinic Plus-ABS-ABS-KZ SuperBlue-Fiji Purple-B+
I got the following readings:
First pic is numbers up against the front glass. I took readings at the sand and halfway up the inside glass:
And the following at other points:
Red is middle(front to back), orange is to the right of specific corals
Par at the water line was 700, 1" below the center of the fixture was 1300. Bulbs are about a month and a half old except the fiji purple, which is 10 months old. I have the meter until Wednesday and I have pretty much every bulb, so I am going to collect a lot of data before then...
mhucasey
Acros & wieners, oh my!
Some additional data Points:
Using the combination of bulbs I tried at the beginning of the month:
SB-Lagoon Blue-Actinic+-ATI Actinic-Fiji Purple-SB-NewGen-B+, 8" Above Water Line
The PAR at the middle center was 395 as opposed to 474 with the previous combo.
I started testing at each bulb, 1" from the bulbs and found that "Good" blue and White bulbs produce par in excess of 1100, but it turned out the Actinic+ bulb was 560 in comparison. I also had two Superblue bulbs with ~4 months use that tested at 900. I replaced the blue bulbs with ~4 month used Bule plus bulbs that all were about 1050-1100 and brought the par at the testing spot up to 450.
Why hasn't someone hasn't figured out how to produce a lower priced PAR meter? I am finding it pretty interesting and useful seeing the differences.
With this new combo I took readings with the fixture at different heights:
At a specific testing spot in center middle of tank:
8" AWL:430
7" AWL:450
6" AWL:475
5" AWL:515
4" AWL:550
Par increased a lot less than I would have thought by dropping the fixture lower. Also, PAR at 4" from the front at corals 3" above the sand were between 320 and 388 over those range of heights, so the PAR at the extremes of the tank is pretty close to the center middle of the tank. There are very few places where PAR is less than 200, usually only at places where shading is occurring.
Using the combination of bulbs I tried at the beginning of the month:
SB-Lagoon Blue-Actinic+-ATI Actinic-Fiji Purple-SB-NewGen-B+, 8" Above Water Line
The PAR at the middle center was 395 as opposed to 474 with the previous combo.
I started testing at each bulb, 1" from the bulbs and found that "Good" blue and White bulbs produce par in excess of 1100, but it turned out the Actinic+ bulb was 560 in comparison. I also had two Superblue bulbs with ~4 months use that tested at 900. I replaced the blue bulbs with ~4 month used Bule plus bulbs that all were about 1050-1100 and brought the par at the testing spot up to 450.
Why hasn't someone hasn't figured out how to produce a lower priced PAR meter? I am finding it pretty interesting and useful seeing the differences.
With this new combo I took readings with the fixture at different heights:
At a specific testing spot in center middle of tank:
8" AWL:430
7" AWL:450
6" AWL:475
5" AWL:515
4" AWL:550
Par increased a lot less than I would have thought by dropping the fixture lower. Also, PAR at 4" from the front at corals 3" above the sand were between 320 and 388 over those range of heights, so the PAR at the extremes of the tank is pretty close to the center middle of the tank. There are very few places where PAR is less than 200, usually only at places where shading is occurring.
Zacktosterone
Active member
OK so I have a 65" x 30"x 24". I was wondering what ati sunpower fixture I should go with. I'm guessing based on some of the posts I've seen, the 8bulb 60" fixture is good?
My tank is going to be sps dominant 95% of it actually.
My tank is going to be sps dominant 95% of it actually.
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
Couple questions. Yes I know this is a bulb q and a thread but alot of knowledge here. I have a 8x80 ati going over a standard 180 mixed reef with alot of sps.
What would be a good starting combo on the bulbs. Shooting for a 16 to 20 K look.
Also need to replace 2 fans and cannot find them anywhere on the internet. Anyone have a link to some aftermarket replacement fans or possibly a link to show how it's done and where to get parts.
Any help is greatly appreciated
What would be a good starting combo on the bulbs. Shooting for a 16 to 20 K look.
Also need to replace 2 fans and cannot find them anywhere on the internet. Anyone have a link to some aftermarket replacement fans or possibly a link to show how it's done and where to get parts.
Any help is greatly appreciated
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
Also what height should the light be off the water line?
Dapg8gt
New member
There is good bulb suggestions on the last 2 pages.. Most closely in my eyes to a 20k would be 6 x blue + and 2x coral + for an easy choice.but if I were you I would get a multitude of bulbs and mix it up.. It's a personal preference thing where someone likes something that another may not. Reading the last 5 pages and looking at pictures should help you a lot..
On the fan swap Reefgeek has a good amount of repair videos on YouTube just search for reef geek.. The fans used to be ordered from them easily but now you will probably have to get it on eBay or inquire into another store that sells the fixtures. EBay for sure though last time I looked.
The light can be anywhere from 4" to 10"+ so I'd start higher if I were you..
EDIT: first Google hit for ATI sunpower replacement fan came up with premium aquatics
4bruceinc
Member
For fans and other replacement parts, I would contact ATI North America.
http://www.atinorthamerica.com/parts.php
Regards,
jdraider75
Member
Yeah, ATI North America is a great place to get parts and excellent customer service.
For an 8 bulb fixture bulb combo you are gonna have to find the one you like. Lots of good ones to choose from. I am currently running 5 blue plus 2 coral plus and 1 Kz Fiji purple. I like the look and so far so do my corals.
For an 8 bulb fixture bulb combo you are gonna have to find the one you like. Lots of good ones to choose from. I am currently running 5 blue plus 2 coral plus and 1 Kz Fiji purple. I like the look and so far so do my corals.
Zacktosterone
Active member
Can someone take a stab at my post?
Hi i have a Deltec 250 liters and i use a ATI 6x39w.
Can Someone help me whit what bulbs i whould use?
I have seen one that have used this bulbs ATI blue +, ATI blue special, ATI actinic og Korallen Zucht fiji purple. I don't know how many and in what order.
What do you think of this combonation?
1 ATI Actinic 39w
2 ATI AquaBlue Special 39w
2 ATI Blue Plus 39w
1 ATI Purple Plus 39w
Does this get to blue?
Please exuse my poor english.
Regard Ronny
Can Someone help me whit what bulbs i whould use?
I have seen one that have used this bulbs ATI blue +, ATI blue special, ATI actinic og Korallen Zucht fiji purple. I don't know how many and in what order.
What do you think of this combonation?
1 ATI Actinic 39w
2 ATI AquaBlue Special 39w
2 ATI Blue Plus 39w
1 ATI Purple Plus 39w
Does this get to blue?
Please exuse my poor english.
Regard Ronny
mhucasey
Acros & wieners, oh my!
I don't think that would think that would be too blue, no. The purple plus's higher amount of red should help neutralize the big green peaks of the Aquablue Specials, resulting in a nice white light. I am using an Actinic bulb in my 8 bulb mix right now as well and it seems to be improving the colors, so I think its a good thing to have.
Personally I prefer the Fiji purple to the Purple +.
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