Suggestions on best bulbs for ATI 48" 8x54W

A.Astore · 10/21/2015, 08:30 AM

We are in the process of getting a tank set up. Full reef is the goal once everything is established. The light fixture we decided on is the ATI 48" 8x54W SunPower T5 fixture which will allow us to have separate controls of two and the remaining on a second control. Initially it will be only FOWLR and progress to include coral. Any suggestion on the bulb combination that we should include as well as if there is a reason to run all of it considering the fish and live rock will not have the same lighting needs as once we start placing coral?

markalot · 10/21/2015, 08:40 AM

You can't go wrong using either the same number of blue+ and coral+ or replacing one coral+ with purple+ or an extra blue. I would purchase 5 blue+, 4 coral+, and 1 purple+ which gives you a good number of options.

IMO, as a FOWLR, you could run with 4 bulbs leaving 2 off and not putting bulbs in 2. Each ballast controls 2 bulbs so one bulb missing will prevent that and one other slot from starting up (hope that made sense).

A.Astore · 10/21/2015, 10:15 AM

Made perfect sense. That was how we were leaning but wanted to get some thought on it.

Do you rotate changing your bulbs out so it isn't a major intensity change or do you just do it all at the same time?

10/21/2015, 08:30 AM	#1
A.Astore Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Waynesboro, VA Posts: 418	Suggestions on best bulbs for ATI 48" 8x54W We are in the process of getting a tank set up. Full reef is the goal once everything is established. The light fixture we decided on is the ATI 48" 8x54W SunPower T5 fixture which will allow us to have separate controls of two and the remaining on a second control. Initially it will be only FOWLR and progress to include coral. Any suggestion on the bulb combination that we should include as well as if there is a reason to run all of it considering the fish and live rock will not have the same lighting needs as once we start placing coral?

10/21/2015, 08:40 AM	#2
markalot ... Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Florence, KY Posts: 3,806 Blog Entries: 3	You can't go wrong using either the same number of blue+ and coral+ or replacing one coral+ with purple+ or an extra blue. I would purchase 5 blue+, 4 coral+, and 1 purple+ which gives you a good number of options. IMO, as a FOWLR, you could run with 4 bulbs leaving 2 off and not putting bulbs in 2. Each ballast controls 2 bulbs so one bulb missing will prevent that and one other slot from starting up (hope that made sense). __________________ -- Mark 150G (72x18x27) \| 35G sump \| SRO-XP2000INT Skimmer \| ATI SunPower T5 / NanoBox LED hybrid 60" x 4 + 8 NanoBox v3.1 arrays

10/21/2015, 10:15 AM	#3
A.Astore Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Waynesboro, VA Posts: 418	Made perfect sense. That was how we were leaning but wanted to get some thought on it. Do you rotate changing your bulbs out so it isn't a major intensity change or do you just do it all at the same time?