8’ ATI Dimmable Sunpower Aurora Puck Hybrid - Page 3

Jeremy257 · 04/05/2016, 08:19 AM

How is your tank doing?

AZRippster · 04/05/2016, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoejon

Excellent build! Thanks for sharing....

I'll follow along, as I am trying to gather info for a t5 / hydra 52 hybrid

Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. Good luck in your new hybrid build endeavor.

AZRippster · 04/05/2016, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy257

How is your tank doing?

It's doing great!.....but

Prior to hanging the fixture, I took existing PAR readings from my 400W/54W MH/T5 fixtures. I tried to mimic the levels with this fixture but quickly learned last week that LED output is much different than MH output, even though I don't have lenses on the LEDs. I over stressed a hyacinth and orange digi coral on the left side of the tank. They RTN'd on me, which is a real bummer. Fortunately, I have a nice big hyacinth frag in another tank and another orange digi doing great. I have backed the LEDs WAY down and everything is now doing well. I just finished a DIY calcium reactor build this weekend so that should go online today or tomorrow. My current one is undersized. I need to get it dialed in quickly. I don't want too many changes.

uyhujb · 04/05/2016, 09:18 AM

How high above the tank will the lights be suspended?

Dapg8gt · 04/05/2016, 09:26 AM

Epic ATI build man really envious of your design and determination to get that thing looking stock. I've been contemplating adding the Aurora chips to my powermodule as well but haven't gotten around to it or thought it past the idea phase, your thread has me really thinking on tackling this as well.

I've got a spare sunpower to cover the tank during the project and I probably will copy your design if I get the cohones to actually do it..

Great job and I'll be following the thread.. Just saw your other Aurora thread and just so happened to find this one a day later =)..

AZRippster · 04/05/2016, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uyhujb

How high above the tank will the lights be suspended?

I've actually raised them a smidgen to about 8" off the water's surface.

AZRippster · 04/05/2016, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dapg8gt

Epic ATI build man really envious of your design and determination to get that thing looking stock. I've been contemplating adding the Aurora chips to my powermodule as well but haven't gotten around to it or thought it past the idea phase, your thread has me really thinking on tackling this as well.

I've got a spare sunpower to cover the tank during the project and I probably will copy your design if I get the cohones to actually do it..

Great job and I'll be following the thread.. Just saw your other Aurora thread and just so happened to find this one a day later =)..

Thanks for the compliment.

Out of curiosity, why add the Aurora Pucks to your Powermodule, isn't that a hybrid already? I think I would "hybridize" your Sunpower. With the right finesse you could integrate a Coralux Storm or Storm X into the angled portion. I almost did this but had already ordered 1 dimmable fixture. Or, just go wireless with a BlueFish.

Cohenes not required, just plan it out and take your time. It took me about 2 1/2 months, but I was only really doing much on it over weekends.

Here is a shot off the Rapid LED Aurora fixture I did along with the addition of Royal Blue multichip LED supplementation. I took the heat sinks, pucks, and Meanwell components from this build to accomplish this ATI hybrid build.

Good luck in your potential endeavor!

Dapg8gt · 04/05/2016, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRippster

Thanks for the compliment.

Out of curiosity, why add the Aurora Pucks to your Powermodule, isn't that a hybrid already? I think I would "hybridize" your Sunpower. With the right finesse you could integrate a Coralux Storm or Storm X into the angled portion. I almost did this but had already ordered 1 dimmable fixture. Or, just go wireless with a BlueFish.

Cohenes not required, just plan it out and take your time. It took me about 2 1/2 months, but I was only really doing much on it over weekends.

Here is a shot off the Rapid LED Aurora fixture I did along with the addition of Royal Blue multichip LED supplementation. I took the heat sinks, pucks, and Meanwell components from this build to accomplish this ATI hybrid build.

Good luck in your potential endeavor!

I actually have the original powermodule only t5.. It's such a better built light than the sunpower I'm contemplating finding
An 8 bulb sunpower original to mod vs hacking into my power module.

And The sunpower I have is only 36" and a 6 bulb so it will be a definite temporary situation for my tank..

Again man nice build and looking forward to following along

Jeremy257 · 04/08/2016, 08:52 AM

AZRippster, you previously had a Cebu Sun system up prior to this lighting system, correct? How high above the water was that system to cover your 31" deep tank?

AZRippster · 04/08/2016, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy257

AZRippster, you previously had a Cebu Sun system up prior to this lighting system, correct? How high above the water was that system to cover your 31" deep tank?

If I remember correctly approximately 8" off the water's surface.

Jeremy257 · 04/08/2016, 03:03 PM

Thanks. I want badly to go LED/T5 to get the good of the T5 and the shimmer of the LED but perhaps in the end MH may be the foolproof way to get growth, color and shimmer. I'll definitely continue to follow your results closely.

Jeremy257 · 04/14/2016, 01:17 PM

AZRippster, how is the tank doing these days?

AZRippster · 04/14/2016, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy257

AZRippster, how is the tank doing these days?

Great! No more losses and some nice new growth showing up. I have to honestly say I don't think the growth is the same as under MH/T5, but it's very acceptable. Color wise I feel it's the same and in some ways "maybe" even better. I have one Garf Bonsai SPS that tried to turn itself into an encrusting coral with almost no branching, little to no polyp extension, and almost entirely purple under solely LED. Under MH/T5 the branches appeared with lighter coloration, beautiful polyps popping out, and overall healthier. Now under LED/T5 it continues with this progress and growth which makes me very happy!

So far no complaints.

Jeremy257 · 04/14/2016, 02:23 PM

Awesome news. Very encouraging.

Jeremy257 · 09/29/2016, 09:47 AM

AZRippster,
I got rid of my cube a few months ago and have been out of the hobby. I just sold my house and take possession of my new home at the end of October. The time has come. I will order my new custom tank in the next few weeks.

How is the Hybrid these days? I'll need to decide on lighting very soon for the new tank.

AZRippster · 09/29/2016, 10:53 AM

Jeremy,

Things are doing GREAT! I have learned a few things though. With the ATI 8' fixtures running 6 lamps each (since having 2 lamps removed each for this mod), I need very little LED supplementation. Secondly, although the BlueFish controller is nice (especially being wireless), it doesn't ramp from 0 and back down as smoothly as my previous build using the Coralux Storm X controller. The BlueFish has a tendency to flicker allot upon initial power and again when getting close back down to zero. The Coralux did not. I wish I would have just figured out a way to retrofit the Coralux now. Secondly, the Coralux really provides plenty of control in a simplistic way. The BlueFish's is much more tedious and complex. Not impossible, but you do have to give it much more thought.

As far as SPS growth, I'm more than ecstatic. Things that were not doing so well under just LED have transformed into colors and the proper shapes I had originally hoped for. Part of that though is due to nutrient content, which I'm now having to supplement NO3. I feed pretty heavy, but my NO3 levels were always near undetectable. I attribute much of this to my ATS. Since supplementing NO3, my LPS are regaining their happy spirit and the SPS have colored up nicely.

Glad to hear you're about to pull the trigger again. Best of luck in your new endeavor.

Jeremy257 · 09/29/2016, 01:02 PM

Thank you for the update. Based on what you said about the need for very little LED supplementation I would imagine that most of the photons are being delivered via T5. With the LEDs turned down low, do you still get Shimmer from the LED pucks when the T5s are alive?

AZRippster · 09/29/2016, 02:04 PM

Admittedly the shimmer has been greatly reduced. It's still there, but not significantly. Honestly though, I'm more than happy to forego the shimmer for thriving coral. Being that we're headed back into winter, I may be rehanging the MH/T5 combo for the cool months as a nice comparison. My wife really likes the MH/T5 look and the effects it previously has had on our coral, so it's very likely that will be happening soon. Then around April '17, the LED/T5 will go back up.

Jeremy257 · 09/29/2016, 05:07 PM

Thanks for the info. Your response is kind of what I was expecting. To be honest I'm thinking I may go strictly t5 or MH/T5 with the same Cebu sun system you have.

Jeremy257 · 09/29/2016, 05:11 PM

I'd definitely still prefer LED/T5 over just T5. Just don't know that I want to pay for it

04/05/2016, 09:26 AM	#55
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	Epic ATI build man really envious of your design and determination to get that thing looking stock. I've been contemplating adding the Aurora chips to my powermodule as well but haven't gotten around to it or thought it past the idea phase, your thread has me really thinking on tackling this as well. I've got a spare sunpower to cover the tank during the project and I probably will copy your design if I get the cohones to actually do it.. Great job and I'll be following the thread.. Just saw your other Aurora thread and just so happened to find this one a day later =).. __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =).

04/05/2016, 08:19 AM	#51
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	How is your tank doing?

04/05/2016, 09:18 AM	#54
uyhujb Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 4	How high above the tank will the lights be suspended?

04/08/2016, 08:52 AM	#59
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	AZRippster, you previously had a Cebu Sun system up prior to this lighting system, correct? How high above the water was that system to cover your 31" deep tank?

04/08/2016, 03:03 PM	#61
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	Thanks. I want badly to go LED/T5 to get the good of the T5 and the shimmer of the LED but perhaps in the end MH may be the foolproof way to get growth, color and shimmer. I'll definitely continue to follow your results closely.

04/14/2016, 01:17 PM	#62
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	AZRippster, how is the tank doing these days?

04/14/2016, 02:23 PM	#64
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	Awesome news. Very encouraging.

09/29/2016, 09:47 AM	#65
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	AZRippster, I got rid of my cube a few months ago and have been out of the hobby. I just sold my house and take possession of my new home at the end of October. The time has come. I will order my new custom tank in the next few weeks. How is the Hybrid these days? I'll need to decide on lighting very soon for the new tank.

09/29/2016, 10:53 AM	#66
AZRippster Diver & Reef Aquarium Nut Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 1,127	Jeremy, Things are doing GREAT! I have learned a few things though. With the ATI 8' fixtures running 6 lamps each (since having 2 lamps removed each for this mod), I need very little LED supplementation. Secondly, although the BlueFish controller is nice (especially being wireless), it doesn't ramp from 0 and back down as smoothly as my previous build using the Coralux Storm X controller. The BlueFish has a tendency to flicker allot upon initial power and again when getting close back down to zero. The Coralux did not. I wish I would have just figured out a way to retrofit the Coralux now. Secondly, the Coralux really provides plenty of control in a simplistic way. The BlueFish's is much more tedious and complex. Not impossible, but you do have to give it much more thought. As far as SPS growth, I'm more than ecstatic. Things that were not doing so well under just LED have transformed into colors and the proper shapes I had originally hoped for. Part of that though is due to nutrient content, which I'm now having to supplement NO3. I feed pretty heavy, but my NO3 levels were always near undetectable. I attribute much of this to my ATS. Since supplementing NO3, my LPS are regaining their happy spirit and the SPS have colored up nicely. Glad to hear you're about to pull the trigger again. Best of luck in your new endeavor.

09/29/2016, 01:02 PM	#67
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	Thank you for the update. Based on what you said about the need for very little LED supplementation I would imagine that most of the photons are being delivered via T5. With the LEDs turned down low, do you still get Shimmer from the LED pucks when the T5s are alive?

09/29/2016, 02:04 PM	#68
AZRippster Diver & Reef Aquarium Nut Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 1,127	Admittedly the shimmer has been greatly reduced. It's still there, but not significantly. Honestly though, I'm more than happy to forego the shimmer for thriving coral. Being that we're headed back into winter, I may be rehanging the MH/T5 combo for the cool months as a nice comparison. My wife really likes the MH/T5 look and the effects it previously has had on our coral, so it's very likely that will be happening soon. Then around April '17, the LED/T5 will go back up.

09/29/2016, 05:07 PM	#69
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	Thanks for the info. Your response is kind of what I was expecting. To be honest I'm thinking I may go strictly t5 or MH/T5 with the same Cebu sun system you have.

09/29/2016, 05:11 PM	#70
Jeremy257 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 113	I'd definitely still prefer LED/T5 over just T5. Just don't know that I want to pay for it