Two 36 inch ati 6x39 watt t5 or 72 inch 14 bulb constellation fixture?

potpushr · 02/28/2011, 01:53 PM

I currently have a coralife elite 3x250 watt metal halide 2x96 watt pc fixture on a 180 gallon 24x24x72 inch aquarium. Looking to switch to t5 and am wondering which setup will be better for my needs. Two 36 inch ati 6x39 watt fixtures or one 72 inch constellation fixture with 14 x39 watt bulbs? All suggestions greatly appreciated.

potpushr · 02/28/2011, 04:10 PM

Forgot to say it. Will be sps dominant. Any suggestions please.

rtparty · 02/28/2011, 05:51 PM

8x80w ATI Sunpower is the best choice IMO.

With the tank being 24" front to back I would go with 8 bulbs myself.

A 60" fixture over a 72" tank is not a problem. Raise the fixture up just a little bit and you will be fine. I ran a 24" fixture over my 36" tank for about 8 months and had no problems keeping anything I wanted.

James77 · 02/28/2011, 05:54 PM

I agree with rtparty.....

The 5' ATI fixture will give you plenty of light throughout the tank, and will be cheaper to replace bulbs.

potpushr · 02/28/2011, 06:23 PM

How many inches above the water does 60 inch fixture need to be to evenly distribute light throughout tank? So 60 inch is better than 2 36 inch if I get the 8x39 watt fixtures too?

chuckreef · 02/28/2011, 06:29 PM

Listen to RT; he's correct.
I have a 72 constellation on a 240 gal and a 10x powemodule on 48 x 30 wide x 24 depth of water.
There is no comparison between the powermodules and the consetellations.
less bulbs is less $ at bulb cahnge time. 8 x 25 = 125 v. 12 x essentially the same price.

chuckreef · 02/28/2011, 06:29 PM

Listen to RT; he's correct.
I have a 72" constellation on a 240 gal and a 10x powemodule on 48 x 30 wide x 24 depth of water.
There is no comparison between the powermodules and the consetellations.
Less bulbs is less $ at bulb change time. 8 x 25 v. 12 x essentially the same price.

potpushr · 02/28/2011, 07:22 PM

This is like music to my ears if I can spend less money and achieve better with the 60 inch ati power module than a 72 inch fixture or two ati 36 inch fixtures. I have a custom canopy that is about 13 inches off the the water is why I'm concerned with how high It needs to be for 72 inches

James77 · 02/28/2011, 08:05 PM

Not sure what height it needs to be at, but 13" is more than enough to play with. You'd probably have full coverage even at 5-7" off the tank. Just be sure that the ATI can vent with that canopy. It needs to draw fresh( if possible) air in the top and blow it out one end.

potpushr · 02/28/2011, 09:21 PM

Ok I'm thinking the 60 is a the way to go since I will have less initial cost as well as bulb replacement cost and achiev my sps goals. Which 8 bulb color combo do you suggest?

rtparty · 03/01/2011, 12:07 AM

5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI aquablue and 2 ATI Purple Plus

potpushr · 03/01/2011, 06:37 PM

The representative at reefgeek told me to use 1 GE white light bulb...is there any reason you don't use 1 white bulb? Are the color combos you gave me going to look like a 20k radium or similar?

02/28/2011, 01:53 PM	#1
potpushr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 74	Two 36 inch ati 6x39 watt t5 or 72 inch 14 bulb constellation fixture? I currently have a coralife elite 3x250 watt metal halide 2x96 watt pc fixture on a 180 gallon 24x24x72 inch aquarium. Looking to switch to t5 and am wondering which setup will be better for my needs. Two 36 inch ati 6x39 watt fixtures or one 72 inch constellation fixture with 14 x39 watt bulbs? All suggestions greatly appreciated.

02/28/2011, 05:51 PM	#3
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	8x80w ATI Sunpower is the best choice IMO. With the tank being 24" front to back I would go with 8 bulbs myself. A 60" fixture over a 72" tank is not a problem. Raise the fixture up just a little bit and you will be fine. I ran a 24" fixture over my 36" tank for about 8 months and had no problems keeping anything I wanted. __________________ 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+

02/28/2011, 05:54 PM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I agree with rtparty..... The 5' ATI fixture will give you plenty of light throughout the tank, and will be cheaper to replace bulbs. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

02/28/2011, 08:05 PM	#9
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Not sure what height it needs to be at, but 13" is more than enough to play with. You'd probably have full coverage even at 5-7" off the tank. Just be sure that the ATI can vent with that canopy. It needs to draw fresh( if possible) air in the top and blow it out one end. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

03/01/2011, 12:07 AM	#11
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI aquablue and 2 ATI Purple Plus __________________ 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+

02/28/2011, 04:10 PM	#2
potpushr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 74	Forgot to say it. Will be sps dominant. Any suggestions please.

02/28/2011, 06:23 PM	#5
potpushr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 74	How many inches above the water does 60 inch fixture need to be to evenly distribute light throughout tank? So 60 inch is better than 2 36 inch if I get the 8x39 watt fixtures too?

02/28/2011, 06:29 PM	#6
chuckreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Davis, Ca. Posts: 816	Listen to RT; he's correct. I have a 72 constellation on a 240 gal and a 10x powemodule on 48 x 30 wide x 24 depth of water. There is no comparison between the powermodules and the consetellations. less bulbs is less $ at bulb cahnge time. 8 x 25 = 125 v. 12 x essentially the same price.

02/28/2011, 07:22 PM	#8
potpushr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 74	This is like music to my ears if I can spend less money and achieve better with the 60 inch ati power module than a 72 inch fixture or two ati 36 inch fixtures. I have a custom canopy that is about 13 inches off the the water is why I'm concerned with how high It needs to be for 72 inches

02/28/2011, 09:21 PM	#10
potpushr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 74	Ok I'm thinking the 60 is a the way to go since I will have less initial cost as well as bulb replacement cost and achiev my sps goals. Which 8 bulb color combo do you suggest?

03/01/2011, 06:37 PM	#12
potpushr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 74	The representative at reefgeek told me to use 1 GE white light bulb...is there any reason you don't use 1 white bulb? Are the color combos you gave me going to look like a 20k radium or similar?

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