Has anyone actually seen the new Tek Elite fixtures

ExFOWLR · 02/21/2010, 10:01 PM

I will soon be upgrading my lighting to a 6x54w. fixture in the very near future and have seen the product descriptions for the Tek elite series but can't find any info from folks who have actually puchased one. hopefully someone here on RC can fill in the blanks. I have heard speculation and rumors and are not sure they have even been released yet but perhaps some of the vendors have seen one and even compared to other fixtures. I am looking at the ATI SP but would be happy to save $$$ to get somthing reasonably close if the T E fits the bill. MY questions are how do the reflectors compare to the ATI? Are thet using crappy ballasts like the rumors say? How does PAR/PUR compare to ATI? Any other info someone may have on these lights? Thanks in advance
John P

rtparty · 02/21/2010, 10:07 PM

There is pretty much zero info on them. Only speculation so far. I don't think it will keep up with an ATI Sunpower but that is just a guess. Yes they are using Workhorse ballasts and they aren't the greatest for T5 bulbs.

That is all I know about them.

mordibv · 02/21/2010, 10:25 PM

Just my 2 cents
My LFS has personally tried to get them . The company that makes them keeps saying "we don't have it in yet ". So he ordered Sunpowers . I would think the reflectors are decent . The ballast are not like the ATI . It does have two fans per 3 bulbs ?(PM 2 per bulb ) The ATI fixture pushes the air down into the fixture across ballast and across the reflectors and out of a side vent . There is no information on how the elite vents .

Johnny C · 02/21/2010, 10:30 PM

I started an identical thread about a week ago and got 0 feedback. I did however speak with a local LFS owner who played with them and he said they are very nice, similar to the Gen 1 Teks but in a dark silver color and with the added fans.

I'm in the same boat you are, I can get a Tek Elite for 1/3 the price of an ATI. Time will tell I guess...

jhoff · 02/21/2010, 11:48 PM

Iam currently on the pre-order list for the 36" 6 bulb Elite hope it's worth the wait.Sounds like it's going to be a great fixture for the $$$...I know patients is key in this hobby but come on now...

ExFOWLR · 02/22/2010, 07:42 PM

Thanks for the info, or what there is of it out there. Is that concrete about the ballasts they will be using and whats wrong with them? I saw somewhere that a workhorse 7 is for T5 HO lamps, which one does the Elite have? Also does anyone know how many fans the Sunpower 6x48" has? I also surprised that as many vendor's have the Elite advertised nobody has seen or knows anything about them. not good marketing on Sunlight supplies part even if there are some production glitches. I would at least get a few out there to show its capabilities.

luther1200 · 02/22/2010, 08:16 PM

If they are having problems with them I think its very responsable of them not to release them yet. I'm not sure they are having problems or why they are not out yet, but I would say if they are not 100% it is a wise move not to release them. There reputation would probably go down the drain if in a month there was a hundred threads of people with Tek Elite fixture that have issue's.

ExFOWLR · 02/23/2010, 06:11 PM

I was'nt suggesting thet they put the unit on the market for sale to the public. I was suggesting they make some available to some vendors, reefing club sponsors, publications etc.. I'm just thinking that if I can go online and "buy" one there would at least be more info out there.

luther1200 · 02/23/2010, 06:18 PM

The funny thing is I went to ReefGeek just to see. And I got all the way to the end of the checkout were they ask for credit card info and tthe site still had not said anything about pre-order or not in stock. So maybe they do have them, and nobody has bought 1 yet.

LS1 WS6 · 02/23/2010, 07:16 PM

Reefgeek does not have them, nobody does. I called reefgeek to check and they verified they are not out yet. I think TEK is waiting on a supplier for the reflectors (I think). I just ended up buying the ATI, no WAITING!

02/21/2010, 10:01 PM	#1
ExFOWLR Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pleasant Prairie,WI Posts: 228	Has anyone actually seen the new Tek Elite fixtures I will soon be upgrading my lighting to a 6x54w. fixture in the very near future and have seen the product descriptions for the Tek elite series but can't find any info from folks who have actually puchased one. hopefully someone here on RC can fill in the blanks. I have heard speculation and rumors and are not sure they have even been released yet but perhaps some of the vendors have seen one and even compared to other fixtures. I am looking at the ATI SP but would be happy to save $$$ to get somthing reasonably close if the T E fits the bill. MY questions are how do the reflectors compare to the ATI? Are thet using crappy ballasts like the rumors say? How does PAR/PUR compare to ATI? Any other info someone may have on these lights? Thanks in advance John P

02/21/2010, 10:07 PM	#2
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	There is pretty much zero info on them. Only speculation so far. I don't think it will keep up with an ATI Sunpower but that is just a guess. Yes they are using Workhorse ballasts and they aren't the greatest for T5 bulbs. That is all I know about them. __________________ 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+

02/21/2010, 10:25 PM	#3
mordibv Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Western Mass Posts: 1,499	Just my 2 cents My LFS has personally tried to get them . The company that makes them keeps saying "we don't have it in yet ". So he ordered Sunpowers . I would think the reflectors are decent . The ballast are not like the ATI . It does have two fans per 3 bulbs ?(PM 2 per bulb ) The ATI fixture pushes the air down into the fixture across ballast and across the reflectors and out of a side vent . There is no information on how the elite vents . __________________ It's hard to take advice from those who do not show the fruits of their labor . Current Tank Info: No tank ATM

02/21/2010, 10:30 PM	#4
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	I started an identical thread about a week ago and got 0 feedback. I did however speak with a local LFS owner who played with them and he said they are very nice, similar to the Gen 1 Teks but in a dark silver color and with the added fans. I'm in the same boat you are, I can get a Tek Elite for 1/3 the price of an ATI. Time will tell I guess... __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

02/22/2010, 08:16 PM	#7
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	If they are having problems with them I think its very responsable of them not to release them yet. I'm not sure they are having problems or why they are not out yet, but I would say if they are not 100% it is a wise move not to release them. There reputation would probably go down the drain if in a month there was a hundred threads of people with Tek Elite fixture that have issue's. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

02/21/2010, 11:48 PM	#5
jhoff Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Edison New Jersey Posts: 1,082	Iam currently on the pre-order list for the 36" 6 bulb Elite hope it's worth the wait.Sounds like it's going to be a great fixture for the $$$...I know patients is key in this hobby but come on now...

02/22/2010, 07:42 PM	#6
ExFOWLR Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pleasant Prairie,WI Posts: 228	Thanks for the info, or what there is of it out there. Is that concrete about the ballasts they will be using and whats wrong with them? I saw somewhere that a workhorse 7 is for T5 HO lamps, which one does the Elite have? Also does anyone know how many fans the Sunpower 6x48" has? I also surprised that as many vendor's have the Elite advertised nobody has seen or knows anything about them. not good marketing on Sunlight supplies part even if there are some production glitches. I would at least get a few out there to show its capabilities.

02/23/2010, 06:11 PM	#8
ExFOWLR Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pleasant Prairie,WI Posts: 228	I was'nt suggesting thet they put the unit on the market for sale to the public. I was suggesting they make some available to some vendors, reefing club sponsors, publications etc.. I'm just thinking that if I can go online and "buy" one there would at least be more info out there.

02/23/2010, 06:18 PM	#9
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	The funny thing is I went to ReefGeek just to see. And I got all the way to the end of the checkout were they ask for credit card info and tthe site still had not said anything about pre-order or not in stock. So maybe they do have them, and nobody has bought 1 yet. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

02/23/2010, 07:16 PM	#10
LS1 WS6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Spokane Wa. Posts: 92	Reefgeek does not have them, nobody does. I called reefgeek to check and they verified they are not out yet. I think TEK is waiting on a supplier for the reflectors (I think). I just ended up buying the ATI, no WAITING!