? ATI Sunpower
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38169
Printed Date: January 30 2025 at 4:03pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: ? ATI Sunpower
Posted By: Dion Richins
Subject: ? ATI Sunpower
Date Posted: January 24 2010 at 11:25pm
|
Looking for any experience with these fixtures. I picked up a 5' version of this light.(6x80w t-5) I'm going to replace my lights on my ray tank with it. (see sale posts) Any way I have Teck 5 units on my 200 now and have loved them. (don't tell Ryan) I picked this up new for a unbelievable deal. I'm just curious what experience any one has.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/SunPower_Fixtures/60_inch__6x80W_SunPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI - http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/SunPower_Fixtures/60_inch__6x80W_SunPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI
  ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Replies:
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 2:56am
|
Keith has the 5 foot version on his new 150g and said he loves it so far. Be careful putting this light on the tank. They are very powerful and can really shock things if not careful. The ATI Sunpowers put out about 35% more PAR than a TEK. Make sure you put the label ends of the bulbs next to the vent holes (the fan side of the fixture). My Sunpower will be here next week! I am WAY EXCITED and STOKED! (Yes I had to capitalize those words)
 |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 8:57am
|
Cool, The fans are in the center so I guess it dosent matter which end they go on then? How would you compare this 5' 6 bulb to 2x3' 6 bulbs? ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 10:06am
|
No it does matter unless the 60" colling scheme is different. Look at the first picture. On the right hand side of the fixture you will see holes right above the end caps. Put the label end of the bulbs there. A guy over on RC in the Reefgeek forum did a ton of tests with where to put the label ends in a Sunpower and found putting them how I have described, is the best way. The ATI Sunpower will put out more PAR then your two TEK's, at least it should. Plus you won't have the dead spot in the middle. Just raise the fixture up a little bit to help with spread. I would move the TEK's to the ray tank if possible. The funny thing is that 36" T5 are the worst PAR producing T5's. You would think that to a degree it would stay the same as you go up in sizes, 24", 36", 48" and 60". The wattage is a little different on each one; for exapmle, two 24" bulbs only equals 48W when a 48" uses 54W. So in theory you would think a linear formula (of some kind, not totally exact science here) could be used to at least estimate PAR levels, to a certain degree. While the 24, 48 and 60 inch T5's all fit into that estimate, the 36" bulbs fall way off. I don't think anyone has really figured out why that it is.
|
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 10:30am
|
Bummer. I use Guessman bulbs so that will help. The tek-5 units tripled my lux reading over the mh/vho combo that I was running so I'm definitely better off. The only issue I see with this unit is its silver instead of black and I cant find the color bulbs I want in the 60"..... ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 10:32am
|
Ryan can you post that link that shows PAR rating per length? I was going to buy a 36 inch fixture, but might just buy a 24 if the PAR is even close. ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 1:05pm
What bulbs are you looking for? 60" has the most limited selection but it is pretty easy to find a good combo. My favorite 6 bulb is: ATI Blue Plus KZ Fiji Purple ATI Blue Plus ATI Aquablue or GE 6500K ATI Blue Plus ATI Blue Plus
|
Dion Richins wrote:Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 1:12pm
Jeff, I am pretty sure this is the thread that discusses it all. It is somewhere in the 12 page mess but it is there. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1641235 - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1641235 What tank are you setting up? What do you want to keep? Those questions are the most important when considering a fixture. I am using a 4 bulb Sunpower over my 40 gallon. I see no need to light the whole tank, as I won't have corals clear to the back, front, or either side. When I keep the fixture about 6 inches off the tank I will get plenty of spread to cover what I need. Plus plenty of PAR for my plans. edit - Jeff it is page 3 and 4 where they really start comparing the different lengths.
|
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 3:46pm
|
Thanks Ryan. Very interesting reading. I am just looking to supplement my two MH pendants with some 3 foot T5's. I have a 65 gallon tank which is the same dimensions as your 40 but 8 inches taller. I dont have any SPS yet, but want to start when i get more light. ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 3:57pm
|
In that case I would use the 3 footers then. PAR won't be such a big deal because MH will be used. Just use some ATI Blue Plus bulbs. Don't waste money or time on the T5 actinic bulbs. PAR is terrible and the color isn't as good as the T12 VHO Super Actinics. edit - it will also be brighter when you add the T5's and may look funny using shorter bulbs. Then again I like it a little darker on the edges, adds some depth.
|
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 9:03pm
|
Ryan,
I'm saving up for the 5' 10X80 watt ATI Powermodule. I'm going to Ca this spring and stopping by Reef Geek for it. What bulb confirguration would you recommend? I like to see my coral color pop out more.
thanks,
Danh ------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 9:18pm
|
Danh, Please refer to this thread: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32851&PID=338781#338781 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32851&PID=338781#338781 I don't want to hijack Dion's thread.
|
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: January 25 2010 at 9:32pm
|
Your fine Ryan. I got to my mixture on my tek5's buy buying and buying some more. I apreciate your opinions and will follow suit. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: January 26 2010 at 1:18am
|
Ryan, Do you buy these ATI bulbs local or are you ordering them. If so from who? ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: January 26 2010 at 1:28am
| i get mine from either reef runners or usually reefgeek. |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 07 2010 at 10:10pm
| How's the Sunpower doing Dion? |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: February 07 2010 at 11:44pm
|
Love the fixture, hate the color. Its way to blue for me. Ryan (AD) has the Geismann in stock so I will start playing with bulbs. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 1:17am
| What bulbs are you running? |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 1:38am
The ones you recomended, from reef geek ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 1:41am
| What bulbs do you run on your Tek fixtures? |
Posted By: chk4tix
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 6:54am
|
I too am still working with the color of my lights. I did find if I adjust the positions of the bulbs I got a little better looking colors. I posted in the other thread what I was running on my tek and I believe on my ATI. I have had zero issues with the ATI, I am still only running my light for about 4 hours a day because when I put it on for longer my corals didnt like the extra light. I do want to note as well that my frag tank is doing great as well because the tek found its new home over it. ------------- Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2 |
Posted By: snoyce
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 7:22am
|
Personally from running T5 I think when you get to many blue plus bulbs everything just looks washed out in blue, ie to blue, for 4 bulb for me thats when I tried 3 or 2 blue plus bulbs, and in 6 bulb thats with 3 blue plus bulbs.
Personally I like getting a UVL super actinic and a daylight bulb in the mix like the aquasun, I have also liked my UVL 75/25 I think its called 15000k or something like that.
Currently I am running 2 UVL super Actinics, 1 blue plus, and the aquasun, but I don't have many sps, I am more looking at color than growth and don't need alot of Par. ------------- Scott Noyce 90G reef ready AGA display basment 20G sump, 29G fuge 4x54 watt T5 retro SLR Octopus NW150 |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 8:13am
They are Geismenn. I will have to look to see the mix but it took me a couple months messing with them till I found what was nice for me. I'm on my second set ans still enjoy the heck out of them. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 1:48pm
|
I have seen pics of your tank and it looked a white to me. I would replace 1 of the blue plus with a GE6500K or the GMann midday if Ryan has them in stock. Try just switching one and see what that does. Also move the Aquablue to the front and move a Blue Plus back. That will make the tank seem whiter too.
|
Posted By: chk4tix
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 6:34pm
|
I want to get me a GE or a midday bulb to try on my system. ------------- Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2 |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 7:41pm
|
The day bulbs like those really help pick up the yellows and greens in a tank. Just try to keep the greens and yellows under the day bulb. My Sunpower should be here this week. John should have ordered today. It is killing me waiting like this.
|
Posted By: oskrcg
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 11:36am
|
Where you I can buy ATI? I'm looking for a good place to buy it bit not sure where. ------------- I'm new in salt water aquariums |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 11:53am
| Reefgeek.com |
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 12:01pm
|
Ryan,
Have you heard about all the Power Module fail people are having now? Where some of their bulbs won't fire up and when it's plugged into wall output it would. I wonder if this is affecting te Sunpower too. People are reporting of faulty ballast. I wouldn't want to buy a 10 X 80 Power Module and have to return it for warranty. The shipping is expensive on them. I will find you the link at RC.
Danh ------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 12:13pm
|
I have seen some of the issues that people are having. It is very limited and no need to ship it back for warranty. Reefgeek has been known to ship you the new ballast so you can replace it yourself. It is a very easy DIY.
|
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 3:18pm
|
For the price of those things, there should be no DIY ever! IMO ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 3:24pm
Not every ballast and every endcap and every bulb is going to be 100% fail proof. I don't care what fixture or lighting scheme you run in this hobby, things are going to fail. The Sunpower has had better reliability than the Powermodule so far. I would still bet that 9 out of 10 people never have a single issue with the ATI stuff. It is a very small amount of people that have had any issues at all. How many people run to the computer and post threads about how great their system is working? I think the stats say that if someone has a good experience with a product/company they tell 3 to 5 people. If someone has a bad experience they tell 15 people on average! PS- You want expensive? Go look into Aqua Photon, Geisemann, and Sfiligoi units. ATI is cheap compared to them and they out perform.
|
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 3:45pm
|
I know you love ATI Ryan and im sure you will love your new fixture. As for me, im not so sold that having a fixture that puts out the most PAR and shows the best performance on some graph is what I would want. Keith just bought a sunpower and according to a recent post, can only run them 4 hours a day because its too much light and his corals dont like it. IMO, whats the good of having the light that performs the best if its off most of the time? Well, then you I guess you have to look at durability and reliability. If they all have issues, then why pay for the high end equipment? I went to a guys house in NSL the other day and he had one of those new 48 inch MH-T5 fixtures from aquatraders. $330 brand new. That thing put off beautiful light, well again IMO. I know that many people think aquatraders stuff is junk, but its funny, most of the people who use them dont seem to agree. Anyway, I forgot what my point is..LOL Anyway, I hope you post lots of pics of your new fixture Ryan and before and after pics of the amazing growth in your corals. ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: chk4tix
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 4:30pm
|
To counter Jeff's point about me only having my light on for 4 hours. I had to do the same thing when I first switched over from MH to T5's with my Tek and I had to do the same thing when I put my Tek on my frag tank. With that being said, the growth on my frag tank is amazing even with only 4hr a day. I personally think that the Tek fixtures with the active cooling system is a good option compaired to ATI, however, I needed a light and they hand not been released to stores yet. Also I got a great deal on mine and it was only $50 more than the Tek, so ATI it was ------------- Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2 |
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 7:41pm
|
Oh yeah. My point is that I would rather have a light that I can have on from the time I get up in the morning until late evening without frying the crap out of my corals =)) ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 9:13pm
I think that is WAY too long to leave lights on for. I leave mine for 8 hours at the most. Heck my MH is only on for 6.5 hours right now and has been for a couple weeks. When I get my sunpower lights will be on for maybe 10 hours including the dusk/dawn effect. You have to remember that corals only get blasted by full light for a very short period of time and that light isn't always hitting the exact same spot of the coral like it does in tanks with MH.
|
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 9:13pm
|
Ryan,
Instead of running 10 X 80 watt powermodule. Do you think 6 X 80 Sunpower be okay without frying my corals? I have a mix tank that is 50 L x 30 W x 24 h. Or do you think it's better to go with 10 x 80 watt?
Danh ------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 9:15pm
|
On a tank that is 30 inches wide you need 10 bulbs. You won't have nearly enough coverage with only 6 bulbs. At the bare minimum you will want 8. Run at least 2 actinics in your combo to help lower the PAR a little bit. PS - if your tank is only 50 inches from left to right then why are you getting a 60" fixture? You only need a 48" fixture for that tank.
|
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 10:01pm
I had the GE 6500 on my tank. Thought I didn't like it so I took it out. It will be going back in. I really like it now that I know what replacing it for another blue plus looks like. WAY to blue IMO. ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 10:11pm
|
Ryan
actually it's 60" tank. If it's 50 I would get the icecap reef illumination fixture. Marine depot has them on sale. ------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 11:52pm
You could go with a 48" fixture over that tank. You will only leave 6 inches on each end with lower light levels. Some people don't like that but I don't mind it. Unless you have rock and corals all the way to the glass there is no reason to run a fixture the whole length of a tank.
|
Posted By: jcoulter17
Date Posted: February 10 2010 at 12:47am
| I run a 5' light on a 6' tank with no problem |
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: February 10 2010 at 11:05am
My actinics come on around 6 am until 8 pm for a 14 hour cycle.
My Halides come on around 8 am until 4 pm for an 8 hour cycle.
My tank looks the best between noon and 4 when everything is fully open. I wish I could leave the halides on longer. Had some friends over for dinner the other night, and they were commenting on how good the tank looked and all I was thinking was too bad you couldnt have seen things 2 hours ago.
I have a feeling if I go to a super high power T5 fixture like TEK or ATI, I will have to shorten the light duration, and I would rather figure out a way to lengthen it. ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 10 2010 at 11:35am
|
You can run some actinics to lower the overall PAR and that will allow you to run the lights a little longer. No matter what fixture you went with you would have to acclimate the corals properly. Going from MH to T5 is a big jump for most corals. T5 puts out a much more even PAR throughout the tank. MH has hot spots and when you start getting off center the PAR drops. Even with good reflectors on the MH, T5 puts out a more even PAR. So the corals get hit with more light and from all angles instead of just one point source. I think you are too worried about it though, to be honest.
|
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: February 10 2010 at 5:34pm
|
Nah, Im not worried about it. I worry about things like power outages while im at work, or my thermostat on my heater sticking on all night and stuff like that. Lighting...not so much. ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: February 16 2010 at 9:31pm
I finally put my order in at ReefGeek for 60" 10X80 watt power module. My wife has okayed the purchase. I'm going to ReefGeek in March to pick it up. I'm excited to change out my MH for T5. I'm counting down the days. 
------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: chk4tix
Date Posted: February 16 2010 at 9:44pm
------------- Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2 |
Posted By: laynframe
Date Posted: March 12 2010 at 5:37pm
|
I'm going to be selling my ATI light that is a 60" version with 6 bulbs here shortly if anyone is interested pm me, oh also has the ati bulbs ------------- The time we enjoy wasting isn't wasted time!!!! |
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 10:00pm
|
Just got back from California at ReefGeek. What an awesome place. It was Christmas in March. I'd finally picked up my ATI Powermodule 10 x 80 Watts. It installed now and it looks awesome. I love my T5.
------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 10:03pm
|
lets see some pictures!
------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 10:24pm
Here's the picture. It's a little high because don't want to burn my coral.
 ------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 10:27pm
|
What size of tank is that? It looks nice! GOOD JOB
------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 10:29pm
|
It's 187 ish. 60Lx24Hx30W ------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |
Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 10:37pm
|
Yeah Dan that tank looks awesome =) have you posted a pic of it in the aquarium picture thread yet?
------------- http://www.reefinsanity.com" rel="nofollow - www.ReefInsanity.com http://www.facebook.com/ReefInsanity" rel="nofollow - www.Facebook.com/ReefInsanity 801-680-4676 |
Posted By: DanhNgo
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 10:42pm
|
Nick. Not yet. I need to take out my camera and take some good picture of it. Maybe I'll do it this weekend.
I'm still looking for some neting to make the top cover. I need 2 2'x2'. do you know where I can get a hold of some?
Thanks,
Danh ------------- 200 Gal Reef 25 Gal Nano Reef |