Anyone using the ATI 8 bulb T5 light?

Scott.h · Oct 23, 2016

I'm putting together another tank, a 90 (48x18x25 tall) primarily sps tank. This tank is inside 2 walls and in the basement, so looks and heat aren't as much of a concern. With ecotech bumping their head at the cost of their new radions I'm now considering the ATI sun power 48" 8 bulb t5 ho fixture. All said and done its almost half the cost. I realize it costs to replace bulbs, .. electricity, but for $800 I can buy a lot of bulbs!

The thing that I'm struggling with is when I built my frag tank I left LEDs and went with a 24" aquatic life 4 bulb ho t5, 2 white 2 blue, and just under the water with new bulbs I'm barely breaking 100 par, which isn't enough for some of the corals I'm wanting. I'm afraid if I go this route again I'm going to have a hard time getting the right par halfway down a deeper tank. This particular fixture would have to be mounted 12 inches above the tank giving me 10 inches of clearance to work in the tank without having to take it down. I've even thought hallides. I'm just not spending ridiculous money on lighting with the old school method having a proven track record at a much cheaper cost. I could add some small LED pods later for the extra effects. But does anyone have any experience with these fixtures? Par readings perhaps?

aquaman30k · Oct 23, 2016

I have a ATI dimmable Sunpower 4'x8 lamp over a frag tank and I can say that 1' under the water the par of the ATI was just over double that of a XR30 G3 pro. I wish I could remember the exact par I was getting but with the ATI at 100% the par reading was in the 400s. I'm not sure how well the light will penetrate the depth of most tanks but until the G4 fixture came out , ATI had them beat hands down IMO.

Scott.h · Oct 23, 2016

aquaman30k said:
I have a ATI dimmable Sunpower 4'x8 lamp over a frag tank and I can say that 1' under the water the par of the ATI was just over double that of a XR30 G3 pro. I wish I could remember the exact par I was getting but with the ATI at 100% the par reading was in the 400s. I'm not sure how well the light will penetrate the depth of most tanks but until the G4 fixture came out , ATI had them beat hands down IMO.

ok thanks, how far is it hanging over the water?

aquaman30k · Oct 23, 2016

I'd say 10-12" over the water and tank depth it 12".

Lonny · Oct 23, 2016

I just bought a 48" 8 lamp sunpower dimmable. 6 blue+, 1 coral+, and one purple+. It's ten inches awl on my 150gl. 60"×24"×24". I'm currently running it at 50% and slowly increasing towards 100%. Even at 50% none of my sps or lps seem to be stretching for light. Plus if you hang it using the kit it comes with, it's super easy to raise or lower the fixture for maintenance of your tank!

Brett H whitt · Oct 23, 2016

I have a new ATI 48” 8X54 dimmable fixture on my 60X22X21 tanks and
The PAR readings are so high I had to cut the Light back to 6 bulbs at 100% to keep my
PAR in the 400 to 250 range from top to bottom. The bulbs have barely broken in, so the PAR will
Drop off some. I run the other 2 bulbs to ramp up and ramp down the lights for a more even

Dusk to dawn approach.

My lights are about 9 inches off the water.

nervousmonkey · Oct 23, 2016

I use a 24" 8 lamp sunpower dimmable 11" awl and at 100% it puts out over 400 PAR below the surface at about 8"-12" and over 200 at the sandbed 21" deep. Interesting thing about it is even lower PAR corals don't burn with this light. It's well worth the money I paid for it. I added some LED's to it for the coloration, and that just makes it even better. I would definitely recommend getting the 8 bulb ATI. You have a lot of room to play with bulb combinations to tweak it exactly how you want it. Once you have what you like, just leave it alone and watch corals grow.

Scott.h · Oct 23, 2016

Wow that's really helpful. On my 48" tank maybe I should consider the 48" 6 bulb instead? I've always been one that thinks it's better to not have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.. But it sounds like if I'm anywhere near 100 par at the bottom I'm good. That fixture is dimable right out of the box or takes something extra?