60x24x10 Frag Tank Lighting

[mitch91175]

Hey guys picking up a 60x24x10 frag tank today and trying to plan my lighting for it. I think that I am definitely going with a T5 fixture and want to keep the total cost below $1000. I have been looking at the ATI 48" Dimmable Sunpower fixture. Only do not know which would be the best to get (4, 6, or 8 bulb).

In my DT I am running Aquatic Life 60" but do not think that I need a 60" on the frag tank. What are you guys thoughts and do you have any other fixture that has good build quality and remain within my budget. Still gotta buy frags to go into the tank, so definitely want to stay below the 1K for the fixture.

I will not have a canopy, but will be monitoring with an Apex classic that I have laying around.

 

[jda]

In a shallow tank, some of the hydroponics units will be good enough. They get close to ATI in PAR, but with a 10" deep tank, it should be fine. I have a 4 bulb generic hydroponics unit with individual reflectors that is nearly the same PAR as an ATI posted online. It will also run all/any of the bulbs independently.

I would get an 8 bulb, not for penetration, but for front/back spread. You should be able to run only 6 if you want.

All of this being said, I would just get a 8 bulb regular ATI and forget about the dimming. This should be well under budget.

48 or 60 is up to you. 60" bulbs are only a buck or two more than 48" bulbs. It just depends on how full you think that your frag tank will be.

 

[mitch91175]

I like the idea of having it be 48" so I can keep stuff on the edges that do not require a lot of PAR. I found an ATI 48" SUNPOWER HIGH OUTPUT 8x54 T5 LIGHT FIXTURE that I can trade for my Apex classic that I just took off my DT so that maybe the route I am going to take.

 

[mitch91175]

In a shallow tank, some of the hydroponics units will be good enough. They get close to ATI in PAR, but with a 10" deep tank, it should be fine. I have a 4 bulb generic hydroponics unit with individual reflectors that is nearly the same PAR as an ATI posted online. It will also run all/any of the bulbs independently.

I would get an 8 bulb, not for penetration, but for front/back spread. You should be able to run only 6 if you want.

All of this being said, I would just get a 8 bulb regular ATI and forget about the dimming. This should be well under budget.

48 or 60 is up to you. 60" bulbs are only a buck or two more than 48" bulbs. It just depends on how full you think that your frag tank will be.

Which unit do you have? I see they are pretty inexpensive online.

 

[jda]

I think that it is a HTG Supply light. There are many of the same light with different names. This is a good light for a 12" deep frag/fuge, but it is not ATI. If you can get a 8x ATI, then I would do this... it is a best of breed light.

I would use this ATG light over any LED on the market, but I would an ATI over it on a real tank. I hope that this rambling makes sense...

 

[mitch91175]

So here it is. Just picked it up today and cleaned a little bit. Need to get an acrylic safe magnet scraper to finish the deal. It is Advanced Acrylic tank.