Lets discuses the 36” Ati t5 fixture.

[mandm25254]

Ok, so it’s time to find lights that I like for my 36” 40g breeder. The only light fixture I found that is sleek, efficient and very effective seems to be the Ati, now this is what I would like to discuses it how many bulbs with would be best. They carry a 4, 6, 8, and 10 bulb all 39w. I was tossing up between the six bulbs and eight bulb fixtures. The only reason im thinking 8 are 2 will be actinic and one fiji to bring out reds then 5 bulbs will be free. How much better color and growth do you think the 8 will give me over the 6.

Ps also thought i would throw in this would be for a sps dominate and a few high end zoas.

[kretzkiller]

I strongly considered this fixture, but opted out due to the fact of it having to be hung. I don't have any way to do it. I also have a 40b and would opt for the 8 bulb (if you can afford it) because it is 17.5" opposed to the 13.5" with the 6 bulb. That said, I think you could make either work - I just picked up the 6 bulb tek.

[mandm25254]

I was thinking tek butt then read about them then looked at aquatinic (sp) for 550 with bulbs. Then i looked some more to find nothing but amazing reviews of this. I was thinking a fish tank is somthign ill have for years and why not save for a extra week for 300 and get the 8 (im a 20 year old college student.). So you dont think the 8 bulb fixture is over doing it?

[Skeptic_07]

I'm doing a tank with the same footprint 36x18 and was looking at the same fixtures. I'm pretty much settled on the 6 lamp fixture because it fits more in my budget but also because I'll be hanging the fixture and with it being so wide front to back, alot of the light from the front and rear bulbs will end up not in the tank. If i'm going to pay $900 for a fixture, all of the light better go in the damn tank!

[kretzkiller]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14962116#post14962116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Skeptic_07
I'm doing a tank with the same footprint 36x18 and was looking at the same fixtures. I'm pretty much settled on the 6 lamp fixture because it fits more in my budget but also because I'll be hanging the fixture and with it being so wide front to back, alot of the light from the front and rear bulbs will end up not in the tank. If i'm going to pay $900 for a fixture, all of the light better go in the damn tank!
you make a good point..

[mandm25254]

My 40g breader is 18 inshes wide and the fixture is 17.5 so everything will be in there.

[mandm25254]

also all the bulb is in the tank. All 36 bulbs are 36 inches. So the extra few inches are for fans and what not.

[GatorWPB]

also, remember that the real joy of t-5s is that you really dont need to go with any actinic bulbs. There are bulbs that will give you the pop of actinic but still have full spectrum par levels. Im not a t-5 expert but looking to possibly make the switch. Look into bulbs like aquablue and blue plus

[redhanded77]

i have the ati 36" 6 bulb setup on my 36x18x18 tank and the fitment is perfect. with the light hanging there is a few inches of play on the front to back, but the side to side is pretty much flush.

my light is about 4-5" above water and all bulbs seem to mix perfectly, meaning, the whole tank is lit very well.

[MarkT]

6 bulbs will be fine over a 40 breeder.

[Merfin70]

Not to complicate things but which ATI. The PM or the Sunpower. If you settle on the 6, the Sunpower comes as a 6 bulb and can save you even more $$. I'm in the process of building out a custom 36x24 and so will likely go for the 8 bulb which means a PM. From my research, the 6 would be very suitable over your width tank and the Sunpower is a good one to look at.

[ShootMe]

I have a 4 bulb 36" ATI PM over my 40 breeder. The tank is all SPS frags but I am getting great expansion. 4 bulbs will grow any sps, 6 bulbs will probably provide better color with the extra bulbs, I can not imagine 8 bulbs over a 40 breeder.