Best ATI Fixture Choice

[Felixc395]

I'm getting a fixture for my 24'' by 24'' by 24'' 60 gallon cube. I've been back and forth between MH and T5 so I thought I'd explore my T5 options. I was thinking of getting an ATI fixture, but which one's the best? I want to keep pretty much only SPS and clams so what's enough light for SPS to be placed anywhere?

Thanks Everyone!

[Felixc395]

Sorry everyone, I meant to post a pole with this. I wanted to know between the five options:

1) 4 24'' bulb ATI Sunpower
2) 6 24'' bulb ATI Sunpower
3) 8 24'' bulb ATI Powermodule
4) 10 24'' bulb ATI Powermodule
5) Other

Sorry for any troubles this causes but still try to vote by posting.

Once again thanks everyone!

[BuckeyeTodd]

Option 2 six bulb sunpower

Unless you are running a sps only tank that is the right one....if sps only, and you want to grow acros on the sand get the eight bulb

[rtparty]

8 bulbs no matter what because of the 24" front to back. You will want the coverage and also the bulb combinations are limitless when you have 8 bulbs.

[solitude127]

What kind of aquascaping will you have? If everything is 3"-4" off the glass, you can probably get buy with 6 bulbs, but if you're doing a rock wall, I'd get the 8 bulb.

[Johnny C]

I would either vote for a 6 or 8 bulb fixture (8 might be overkill, 6 should be good for everything but an SPS-Dominated tank). I just bought a Powermodule and I can tell you that it is 10x nicer than I thought. Go for it! :D

[Felixc395]

I don't want to put a whole lot of rock in the tank but still a fair amount. The tank will be SPS dominated also.

[wickedfish]

8 or more for sps growth might have to pony up for the chiller though with all the wattage or add some fans over the sump and deal with the evaporation that goes with it.

[Slim_jim989]

Go with an 8, 10 is overkill and I have a 48x24x24 tank with an 8 bulb unit and the lighting barely squeezes in my eurobraced tank. And you don't need a chiller that's the great thing about T5. Well some people might. I had mine on for 8 hours and in the hottest part of the day and temp got to82 max. It is usually 79.

[Lewy]

I have a 2' cube and just got a 8 24'' bulb ATI Powermodule for it.

Great coverage and dimmable as well. Just run them for the required 100hrs and playing with the dimming with my Profilux.

[Felixc395]

8 or more for sps growth might have to pony up for the chiller though with all the wattage or add some fans over the sump and deal with the evaporation that goes with it.

Really? I thought that T5's didn't need chiller because they run so cool. And how bad would the evaporation be?

[Gamble]

They run much cooler than metal halides for sure. I don't think that they would be the only reason you would need a chiller if your water was really that warm.

[JeF4y]

8x24 ATI PM on my 60 cube (24x24x24). great coverage and can keep literally anything. Little to no appreciable heat introduced to the tank from this fixture.

[kryptic4l]

6 bulb sunpower here on my 24x24x 18. It seems about perfect with 6 inches off water surface. 24 inch high tank might be a stretch.

[rtparty]

Really? I thought that T5's didn't need chiller because they run so cool. And how bad would the evaporation be?

You won't need a chiller on your tank because of the lights.

I have the ATI Sunpower about 6 inches off the surface of my water. There is ZERO heat transfer to the water. In the winter it can be a bummer because my heater stays on a lot to keep the tank warm.

[Felixc395]

You won't need a chiller on your tank because of the lights.

I have the ATI Sunpower about 6 inches off the surface of my water. There is ZERO heat transfer to the water. In the winter it can be a bummer because my heater stays on a lot to keep the tank warm.

That's good to hear. Is this the same case for say a 250 watt or 400 watt MH? If MH won't overheat my tank I'd rather have them as they won't be as much as a $800 ATI 8 bulb fixture. I don't want a chiller so I need to know all the aspects if my options. I'm fine with T5's and their intensity I would just like the shimmer that i've heard looks fantastic.

[raynist]

I got a 6 bulb sunpower for mine, the powermodule is just too expensive.

I will have mostly acans.