Possible to HaveToo Much Light?

bigfish14 · 05/06/2012, 08:04 PM

I am trying to decide on either a 4 bulb or 6 bulb ATI SunPower fixture. The 4 bulb would obviously be cheaper, but I am leaning towards the 6 bulb because it would give me more options for coral. My only concern is that The 6 bulb fixture would be too much light for my mainly LPS/Softie tank. I would like to have one clam and I might do SPS a few years down the road. Which fixture would be my better option?

kenith · 05/06/2012, 08:57 PM

If the budget fits, go with the 6 bulb and run it as a 4. I think resell value will be better on the 6 and you have the option of going full sps with the clams by purchasing two additional bulbs-

James77 · 05/06/2012, 09:26 PM

You could get the 6 and run lower Par bulbs.

bellis31 · 05/06/2012, 09:37 PM

The difference between 4 bulbs over your tank and 6 bulbs over your tank is more of a coverage issue. Each light if from the same manufacturer is going to have the same par per bulb.

With 4 bulbs over say a 24 inch wide tank your going to have less coverage or par in the front and rear of the tank but with a 6 bulb you would cover more of the 24 inch space giving you more equal par coverage.

I hope this make sense.

username in use · 05/07/2012, 05:27 AM

Yes but the light output of all the bulbs overlaps and 2 more bulbs will increase the overall par under the light.

I feel that no one has taken into account that this tank is LPS/Softies.

The 4 bulb is more than enough light for that tank and with the quality of the ATI reflectors 4 bulbs will get you into some sps in the future as well.

alton · 05/07/2012, 06:26 AM

If the tank is 12" wide go with 4 lamps, 18" go with 6 lamps. On my standard 40 I have 4 lamps.

shifty51008 · 05/07/2012, 06:35 AM

IMO I don't think you can have to much light you just have to acclimate the corals to the new light.

I was always told shrooms would melt with to much light, in my last tank I ran 2 400 watt MH's over my 75 gal. with shrooms at the top and they grew like mad.

just my .02

bellis31 · 05/07/2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username in use

Yes but the light output of all the bulbs overlaps and 2 more bulbs will increase the overall par under the light.

I feel that no one has taken into account that this tank is LPS/Softies.

The 4 bulb is more than enough light for that tank and with the quality of the ATI reflectors 4 bulbs will get you into some sps in the future as well.

We have taken that into account and the fact that he wants a clam and SPS in the future...

username in use · 05/07/2012, 11:03 AM

I ran a 4 bulb fixture over a 40 and had sps growing near the sand with clams. It was a cheap unit as well, the ATI's put out a lot more light. Can he use the 6 bulb? Yes he can. Does he need the 6 bulb? Probably not.

drtrash · 05/07/2012, 01:38 PM

I had a 6x24 sunpower and wished I would of bought a 4x24. I like the extra bulb combo but still too much light and heat. I think a 4 bulb t-5 with led supplement would be the ticket.

salty55 · 05/07/2012, 03:02 PM

Yes.
in my experience there is such thing as too much light. Some corals may never adapt to too much light, and will close up, or bleach and die. And the ones that can adapt, will take many months to do so, and will often not be as brilliantly colored and "expanded" if your talking LPS.

It is my opinion many reefers greatly over due it with lighting (mores law). There are soo many factors to great looking/growing corals besides lighting.

FYI, im currently growing beautifuly colored sps on the sand in a 75 gallon tank with 4 t5's supplemented by one strip of LED's, mounted 10 inches off the water.

bigfish14 · 05/08/2012, 03:02 PM

Thanks guys. I think I am going to go with the 6 bulb fixture and run 4 bulbs until I get into SPS corals. Does anyone know how the ATI 6 bulb Sunpower fixture is wired? Are 4 bulbs on one power cord, and the other two on a seperate power cord?

kc350twin · 05/08/2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfish14

Are 4 bulbs on one power cord, and the other two on a seperate power cord?

Correct!!!

Kc3

hypnoj · 05/08/2012, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salty55

Yes.
in my experience there is such thing as too much light. Some corals may never adapt to too much light, and will close up, or bleach and die. And the ones that can adapt, will take many months to do so, and will often not be as brilliantly colored and "expanded" if your talking LPS.

It is my opinion many reefers greatly over due it with lighting (mores law). There are soo many factors to great looking/growing corals besides lighting.

FYI, im currently growing beautifuly colored sps on the sand in a 75 gallon tank with 4 t5's supplemented by one strip of LED's, mounted 10 inches off the water.

This is right on the money. You can absolutely have too much light.

kc350twin · 05/09/2012, 02:55 PM

And yes I agree with the too much light statement. My favia's look super stressed if they are not shaded.

Kc3

AquaTDV · 05/09/2012, 03:38 PM

How long are you running your lights? Photo period can always be adjusted. Go for the maximum amount of light and just shorten the cycle.

hypnoj · 05/09/2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquaTDV

How long are you running your lights? Photo period can always be adjusted. Go for the maximum amount of light and just shorten the cycle.

Does this mean that if I have a weaker light that I can just lengthen my photo period and get the needed results?

AquaTDV · 05/09/2012, 04:08 PM

Case by case - Depends on the light, and what type of coral you want to grow. For this situation I'm sure it will work.

05/06/2012, 08:04 PM	#1
bigfish14 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 393	Possible to HaveToo Much Light? I am trying to decide on either a 4 bulb or 6 bulb ATI SunPower fixture. The 4 bulb would obviously be cheaper, but I am leaning towards the 6 bulb because it would give me more options for coral. My only concern is that The 6 bulb fixture would be too much light for my mainly LPS/Softie tank. I would like to have one clam and I might do SPS a few years down the road. Which fixture would be my better option? __________________ Happy Reefing Joe Current Tank Info: 40B reef tank being transferred into a 20 gallon because of apartment rules

05/06/2012, 08:57 PM	#2
kenith Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 450	If the budget fits, go with the 6 bulb and run it as a 4. I think resell value will be better on the 6 and you have the option of going full sps with the clams by purchasing two additional bulbs- __________________ Leemar 225 In Wall Starphire ATI 8x80W powermodule SRO 5000I (2) MP60W es

05/06/2012, 09:26 PM	#3
James77 Freak of Nature Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 7,017	You could get the 6 and run lower Par bulbs. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120 SPS, 75g Anemone, 46g FW Tetra

05/06/2012, 09:37 PM	#4
bellis31 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 747	The difference between 4 bulbs over your tank and 6 bulbs over your tank is more of a coverage issue. Each light if from the same manufacturer is going to have the same par per bulb. With 4 bulbs over say a 24 inch wide tank your going to have less coverage or par in the front and rear of the tank but with a 6 bulb you would cover more of the 24 inch space giving you more equal par coverage. I hope this make sense. __________________ 40g Breeder + 29g Sump GH 700 Overflow and Return + SC-150 Skimmer Eheim 1260 Return Pump + 2 Vortech MP10es 36inch 6 Bulb TEK Elite T5 Lighting + Apex Jr Controller

05/07/2012, 05:27 AM	#5
username in use Azog the Hugger Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: East Hampton, Long Island Posts: 5,458	Yes but the light output of all the bulbs overlaps and 2 more bulbs will increase the overall par under the light. I feel that no one has taken into account that this tank is LPS/Softies. The 4 bulb is more than enough light for that tank and with the quality of the ATI reflectors 4 bulbs will get you into some sps in the future as well. __________________ Joshua BrianD - "UIU asked the questions Brian was pondering" Wolverine - "Sorry, Joshua's right" Current Tank Info: 75g in wall in early stages of build

05/07/2012, 06:26 AM	#6
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 1,237	If the tank is 12" wide go with 4 lamps, 18" go with 6 lamps. On my standard 40 I have 4 lamps.

05/07/2012, 06:35 AM	#7
shifty51008 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 3,750	IMO I don't think you can have to much light you just have to acclimate the corals to the new light. I was always told shrooms would melt with to much light, in my last tank I ran 2 400 watt MH's over my 75 gal. with shrooms at the top and they grew like mad. just my .02 __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, dual 250 watt MH's icecap ballasts, XM 20k's, 2 - 110 watt super atanics, 2-tunze 6000's with a 7095 controller, ranco dual temp controller, MR2 skimmer ran with Mak 4 pump, pinpoint pH monitor, marine magic dual dosing pump, pcx 40 return pump, dual MR5 media reactors for carbon and GFO, purelyH20 optima pro RODI unit w/dual BRS Di unit, aquahub ATO fish/inverts: 2-occ. clowns, 1-banggaii cardinal, 1 tiger tail cuke, 2 RBTA, mix of nass, cerths, and Banded Trochus snails, pair of skunk cleaner shrimp corals: 1 elegance coral, 1-bubble corals, 1 green toadstool leather, 1 green with pruple tip frogspawn, 1 acans, 1 green cap, 2 Chalice

05/07/2012, 11:03 AM	#9
username in use Azog the Hugger Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: East Hampton, Long Island Posts: 5,458	I ran a 4 bulb fixture over a 40 and had sps growing near the sand with clams. It was a cheap unit as well, the ATI's put out a lot more light. Can he use the 6 bulb? Yes he can. Does he need the 6 bulb? Probably not. __________________ Joshua BrianD - "UIU asked the questions Brian was pondering" Wolverine - "Sorry, Joshua's right" Current Tank Info: 75g in wall in early stages of build

05/07/2012, 01:38 PM	#10
drtrash Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S. Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,331	I had a 6x24 sunpower and wished I would of bought a 4x24. I like the extra bulb combo but still too much light and heat. I think a 4 bulb t-5 with led supplement would be the ticket.

05/07/2012, 03:02 PM	#11
salty55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: where the wind comes sweeping down the plains Posts: 491	Yes. in my experience there is such thing as too much light. Some corals may never adapt to too much light, and will close up, or bleach and die. And the ones that can adapt, will take many months to do so, and will often not be as brilliantly colored and "expanded" if your talking LPS. It is my opinion many reefers greatly over due it with lighting (mores law). There are soo many factors to great looking/growing corals besides lighting. FYI, im currently growing beautifuly colored sps on the sand in a 75 gallon tank with 4 t5's supplemented by one strip of LED's, mounted 10 inches off the water.

05/08/2012, 03:02 PM	#12
bigfish14 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 393	Thanks guys. I think I am going to go with the 6 bulb fixture and run 4 bulbs until I get into SPS corals. Does anyone know how the ATI 6 bulb Sunpower fixture is wired? Are 4 bulbs on one power cord, and the other two on a seperate power cord? __________________ Happy Reefing Joe Current Tank Info: 40B reef tank being transferred into a 20 gallon because of apartment rules

05/09/2012, 02:55 PM	#15
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,514	And yes I agree with the too much light statement. My favia's look super stressed if they are not shaded. Kc3 __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= 2xATI SunPower 6x24 w/ ReefBrites=Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

05/09/2012, 03:38 PM	#16
AquaTDV Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 94	How long are you running your lights? Photo period can always be adjusted. Go for the maximum amount of light and just shorten the cycle.

05/09/2012, 04:08 PM	#18
AquaTDV Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 94	Case by case - Depends on the light, and what type of coral you want to grow. For this situation I'm sure it will work.