ATI dimmable T5 lighting

[Gerryd]

Rep just e-mailed me that the 8 bulb config has FOUR ballasts, which will provide more flexibility and can all dim. I will confirm but thinking 2 bulbs per ballast....if so, will be able to go 0% on some ballasts for off hours viewing...

I can most likely stagger the bulbs that are on across the two fixtures in checkerboard patterns...

Tom and I have been discussing bulb options and I will have about 5-6 different bulbs to work with...these are in addition to the gman midday and aquaflora I already have...

Red WavePoint - 6-8 tubes

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=29511&cat=0&page=1

GE Star Coat - 6-10 tubes

http://www.horticulturesource.com/g...e-6500k-3-ft-6500k-fluorescent-40-case--p491/

Coral Life Colormax - 4-6 tubes

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/1/1/14404-coralife-colormax-ho-t5-lamp.html

ATI Blue Special - 8-10 tubes

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/ATI-39W-S.html

ATI Purple Plus - 3 tubes - 1 per fixture if desired

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/ATI-1127.html

Later

 

[Tom Barr]

These are about the fav set of bulbs right now, you do not want to add much of the purple, it adds a cool effect, but too much makes it look freaky.
There are a few others I've not yet tried, many of the daylight ranges are nice, but I've not, nor plan to try every one of those.
I've tried the URI red sun, that thing is a super red bulb, a bit freaky, but the light itself is pretty good, the reflection messes with me though, too weird red.

Avoid Amazon bulb sellers, they cannot pack a bulb for the life of them, everyone I ordered were broken and poorly packed.

 

[feh]

I have a 12000k Aquablue Special and Purple+ on my reef tank paired on the same ballast. Together they're pretty nice for a daylight look. The Blue+ though are what makes things so blue in the pic I took a while back when I got my bulbs. Its not quite so blue in person though. I am curious about the mention of the Purple+ though.

 

[Gerryd]

I can't seem to determine the difference between powermodules and sunpower versions of the ATI fixture. is it performance, looks, or both?

Hi Mark.

The Sunpowers have a built-in internal controller while the Powermodules REQUIRE an external controller. They do look different as well. The sunpowers are the plug and play option...

I have pulled the trigger on two of the 36" 8x39w shown here..

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/ATI-3311.html

 

[Mark Lem]

Nice! Thanks for the info. I'm gonna go with two of those as well for my new 6 ft tank

 

[Gerryd]

Nice! Thanks for the info. I'm gonna go with two of those as well for my new 6 ft tank

Excellent...My brother is knowledgable about electrical products and consulted a subject matter expert at work. Basically described the light, capabilities, and price and they both feel the price is right for all that it does...

I will post my experiences with them when I have them in place and hope you will do the same....

I think for the long term investment these are totally worth it. The dimming function alone is worth the price. I would pay that much to have something that could control my current fixture. Just the setup and components to do so are a PITA and I really like plug and play...

How are your new tank plans coming along?

 

[Daddy-o]

Just the setup and components to do so are a PITA and I really like plug and play...

There is something to be said for simplicity. I have a 4' 4-bulb PowerModule. The ability to slowly ramp up and down two separate sets of bulbs is great, however over the past week I have been fighting with my Apex to figure out why my second set of bulbs immediately went to the low setting when the first set was turned off...

After checking the wiring harness for the umpteenth million time I was convinced I had screwed the code on the Apex up somewhere - either the variable port or the actual outlet programming. D'oh! This morning I figured out I had the ballasts plugged into the wrong outlets!

¡Ay, caramba! A little humble pie and another lesson learned.

Other than the ID-10-T error, I have been happy with the lights so far. Interested to see where general opinion lands on the mixture of T5 bulbs.

Mike

 

[Tom Barr]

¡Ay, caramba! A little humble pie and another lesson learned.

Mike

Stuff like this happens to everyone and I've had folks get really heated over it, then only later found out it was something obvious, I've done it to myself many times. Mostly with CO2.

 

[Mark Lem]

.

I will post my experiences with them when I have them in place and hope you will do

How are your new tank plans coming along?

Still in process of nailing down who I'm getting a tank from. Have quotes from miracles in Canada for a nice but heavy and $$$ rimless braceless 180gal, if I order there it'll be 6-8 weeks. Have looked into acrylic (not sure about acrylic) from several distributors, still waiting on local LFS for a quote. Will be deciding this coming week or next at latest

 

[Tom Barr]

Mark, I'd stick with glass. If you move a lot plan to soon etc........then maybe, otherwise, stick with the Glass.

 

[Tom Barr]

I'm trying to wrestle with a decent light rail bar design that lets me move the fixtures back and forth, but I do not see in the rear.
I have 2x 36" fixtures for my 180, so I can easily make 4 bars and have two in the middle, but this will not look good.

I need to make a scaffold most likely and have 4 bars(one of 2 in middle of the length) going front to back.

I want to get rid of that Coralife aqua light pro, as I only use the 4 outside PC lights and have not used the HQI since they kept blowing fuses on the old bell and loop electrical system in my old house.
I'll only use the ATI at 50%, I just cannot reason to have more than this as I know this will be even more light, say 25% more PAR but 72 watt/s less and many more color options/better light spread.

This will be the last tank to change to the ATI, maybe someday I'll do it for ADA 60 P, but I cannot justify that as the tank really is just lit for the top for the surface plants.
I have not upgraded the Glasscages tank or the stand...........I'll get a Leemar/ADA like stand for the 180 eventually, and likely a little bit different sized tank, but not that much, maybe 30" Deep and 26" High x 72".
I'll buy that once we move again.

Then sell the tank/stand combo and keep the rest.

 

[Mark Lem]

Mark, I'd stick with glass. If you move a lot plan to soon etc........then maybe, otherwise, stick with the Glass.

Yeah I've been glass really all along, but just to cover all bases did explore acrylic for comparison. Pretty sure I'm going with the 6x2x2 180 from Miracles in Canada...3/4 starphire, rimless braceless. This tank is gonna sit in the same spot for 10 years or so. The weight (425lbs) is the biggest issue, I'm good with where it sits on the floor, but getting enough strong guys to get it into house will be challenging

 

[ShadowMac]

Tom, what is your dimming schedule like for your ATI?

I'm trying to figure out how I want to run mine and I want to make sure I don't over do the lighting.

 

[Tom Barr]

Yeah I've been glass really all along, but just to cover all bases did explore acrylic for comparison. Pretty sure I'm going with the 6x2x2 180 from Miracles in Canada...3/4 starphire, rimless braceless. This tank is gonna sit in the same spot for 10 years or so. The weight (425lbs) is the biggest issue, I'm good with where it sits on the floor, but getting enough strong guys to get it into house will be challenging

You will need at least 4 strong guys and then 4 suction disc used for glass moving, a small pair of carpetted movign dollies would also be wise and some lock down nylon straps

 

[Mark Lem]

Can't recall from previous posts, do the ATI fixtures come with hanging "clips and cables" (or whatever they are referred to as).

 

[ShadowMac]

yes, they come with a mounting drum that can be screwed into the ceiling. I bolted mine into my metal conduit pipe. The wire then slides through a piece that screws into the drum and another piece that is attached to the fixture.

 

[mrkookm]

You will need at least 4 strong guys and then 4 suction disc used for glass moving, a small pair of carpetted movign dollies would also be wise and some lock down nylon straps

Resurrecting an old thread...

Tom what suction cups did you use on your tank to move your tank?

 

[Tom Barr]

Resurrecting an old thread...

Tom what suction cups did you use on your tank to move your tank?

http://www.powrgrip.com/cgi-bin/powrgrip/N6000WBP.html?page_class=glass

I have a set of 4. I keep them for moving large tanks. Including my own.

 

[mrkookm]

http://www.powrgrip.com/cgi-bin/powrgrip/N6000WBP.html?page_class=glass

I have a set of 4. I keep them for moving large tanks. Including my own.

Ordering...and thanks!