confused on t5 fixtures

kichimark · 11/02/2010, 02:20 PM

Hello everyone,

I have been doing a lot of research and I am even more confused than when I started. I have a 90 gallon mixed reef. A while back I bought a light fixture off of ebay and it is ok but now I want something with individual reflectors and an active cooling system. I do have a hood over the tank so it will be inside only giving it about 5 to 6 inches from the water surface. So with this in mind I can not raise it. I was looking into a sundial but then moved into the aquaticlife t5 fixtures then went to the ati's. I want a 4 bulb combo. I have 4 bubble tips mostly on the top with some maximas and a crocea clam. I also got a monticap on the top. The middle and lower tank I have lps's and softies and a couple pocillopora colonies. What would you folks suggest? Again I want to limit it to a 4 bulb.

fuzzyfred101 · 11/02/2010, 02:31 PM

With ati the active cooling sets their fixtures apart from everyone else. they use ducted cooling which helps extend the life of the bulbs and yeilds a higher par also. atis reflectors are also 99% reflective better then most all reflectors. i also heard from someone that the aquaticlife fixture are made with workhorse ballast which are kindof cheap but easy to fix. the ati's have program start vs. the regular electronic start of the workhorses so the ati's are easyer on your bulbs also

rtparty · 11/02/2010, 05:04 PM

ATI is the best you can get. It might be a little overkill for your situation though. I would look at the Tek fixtures, not the Elites.

Don't use an acylic shield and have an external fan blow on the fixture to help cool things down.

I HIGHLY recommend 6 bulbs. You will HATE having only 4 bulbs to get a good combo with. I have a 4 bulb Sunpower and will be upgrading to a 6 bulb soon. So far there isn't a good 4 bulb combo out there for me.

daveonbass · 11/02/2010, 05:50 PM

if you can fit 6 bulbs you will like it better for color combos...

kichimark · 11/02/2010, 06:19 PM

I was leaning toward ati sunpower. I was also looking into the teks but hear the ballasts are not the greatest and shorten the bulb life. I have a 4 bulb t5 with blue +, aquablue, blue +, fiji purple combo and i actually do like it and get good growth. I would love to have parabolic(?) reflectors and the higher grade ballast sounds nice. You folks don't think a 6 bulb ati will fry my tank?
Lets just say the fixture will be 5 inches from the water and the nearest coral is about 4 inches from the surface.

11/02/2010, 02:20 PM	#1
kichimark Μολὼν λαβέ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SFV, S. California Posts: 1,304	confused on t5 fixtures Hello everyone, I have been doing a lot of research and I am even more confused than when I started. I have a 90 gallon mixed reef. A while back I bought a light fixture off of ebay and it is ok but now I want something with individual reflectors and an active cooling system. I do have a hood over the tank so it will be inside only giving it about 5 to 6 inches from the water surface. So with this in mind I can not raise it. I was looking into a sundial but then moved into the aquaticlife t5 fixtures then went to the ati's. I want a 4 bulb combo. I have 4 bubble tips mostly on the top with some maximas and a crocea clam. I also got a monticap on the top. The middle and lower tank I have lps's and softies and a couple pocillopora colonies. What would you folks suggest? Again I want to limit it to a 4 bulb.

11/02/2010, 02:31 PM	#2
fuzzyfred101 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bburg Posts: 45	With ati the active cooling sets their fixtures apart from everyone else. they use ducted cooling which helps extend the life of the bulbs and yeilds a higher par also. atis reflectors are also 99% reflective better then most all reflectors. i also heard from someone that the aquaticlife fixture are made with workhorse ballast which are kindof cheap but easy to fix. the ati's have program start vs. the regular electronic start of the workhorses so the ati's are easyer on your bulbs also __________________ -Richard Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef with 20g sump, also have a 55g planted

11/02/2010, 05:04 PM	#3
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	ATI is the best you can get. It might be a little overkill for your situation though. I would look at the Tek fixtures, not the Elites. Don't use an acylic shield and have an external fan blow on the fixture to help cool things down. I HIGHLY recommend 6 bulbs. You will HATE having only 4 bulbs to get a good combo with. I have a 4 bulb Sunpower and will be upgrading to a 6 bulb soon. So far there isn't a good 4 bulb combo out there for me. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

11/02/2010, 05:50 PM	#4
daveonbass Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: texarkana, TX Posts: 1,364	if you can fit 6 bulbs you will like it better for color combos... __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 58g reef, 60 total gallons including rocks and sand, 36" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule, DAS skimmer, Bio pellets, 2 MP10 vortechs

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11/02/2010, 06:19 PM	#5
kichimark Μολὼν λαβέ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SFV, S. California Posts: 1,304	I was leaning toward ati sunpower. I was also looking into the teks but hear the ballasts are not the greatest and shorten the bulb life. I have a 4 bulb t5 with blue +, aquablue, blue +, fiji purple combo and i actually do like it and get good growth. I would love to have parabolic(?) reflectors and the higher grade ballast sounds nice. You folks don't think a 6 bulb ati will fry my tank? Lets just say the fixture will be 5 inches from the water and the nearest coral is about 4 inches from the surface.