ATI 6x39w on 40 breeder too much light?

[Wesley42079]

I am looking to purchase a ATI SUNPOWER 6X39 for my 40 breeder (36x18x17) I have hangers an will have the fixture about 12" from the waters surface. I am only planning to stock LPS and chalices.

I wanted to know if having all 6 bulbs fired up will bleach my corals?

I haven't thought of what bulbs to order yet, but any chance I can have all 6 on but more Actinic so no bleaching will occur?

Or will a TEK Elite 6x39w be better?

 

[-Logzor]

With that fixture and stocking LPS / Chalices I would recommend only running a single daylight bulb. The rest would have to be blues/actinics.

I think 40 breeders are fairly shallow tanks and this only compounds the problem.

Maybe:

Super Actinic
Blue+
Fiji Purple
Super Actinic
Blue+
Super Actinic

Ya that's a lot of blue but running a Aquablue Special is going to toast you corals. Think about the KZ New Generation for more white.

 

[cmcneil]

I had that exact fixture over a 57g rimless and it was great.however considering the tanks depth I would go with the 4x39w ATI,I think the 6x39w will be too much light and you will probably bleach out corals.

 

[SoCaliReefin]

I used run a Tek 4x39, I am currently running the Tek Elite 6x39 about 8 inches over the tank. Some of my LPS bleached a little but got used to the extra light and coloring back up nicely. I would recommend to start it out high at 12 inches or higher and gradually lower it over time. :bigsmile:
Hope that helps!
If youre bot keeping alot of high light sps 4 bulbs should be plenty. I ran the 4 bulb for about 6 months but have gotten into the alot of sps.. :xd:

 

[Reef UP]

I have a tek 6by 39w over a 40 breeder tank for the Acan grow out and I have these bulbs and pulling great colors here's my combo
Giesman actinic +
ati pure actinic
Ati blue +
Ati purple +
uvl 454
Ati blue +
All of my acans and chalices in the tank look great deep rich colors and getting more rainbow-E everyday! Actually most of my chalices have to be kept in the upper half of the tank

 

[Wesley42079]

Wow, that does sound like a lot of blue. I wonder how the corals will look if I they taking a picture of them?

And having to only run one bulb during the day doesn't seem too practical if I will be spending that much on the ATI fixture. Thanks for the recommendation and I will really consider purchasing a 4x39 or a Tek Elite.

With that fixture and stocking LPS / Chalices I would recommend only running a single daylight bulb. The rest would have to be blues/actinics.

I think 40 breeders are fairly shallow tanks and this only compounds the problem.

Maybe:

Super Actinic
Blue+
Fiji Purple
Super Actinic
Blue+
Super Actinic

Ya that's a lot of blue but running a Aquablue Special is going to toast you corals. Think about the KZ New Generation for more white.

 

[Wesley42079]

I am glad to hear that you are one using the Tek Elite, that is the other fixture I am looking to purchase.

I have read that the Tek Elite's tend to spread the light outwards due to their reflectors. As compared to the ATI's that tend do force more light deeper into a tank, which is why they are known for high PAR results.

Can you recommend the bulbs you are using?

I used run a Tek 4x39, I am currently running the Tek Elite 6x39 about 8 inches over the tank. Some of my LPS bleached a little but got used to the extra light and coloring back up nicely. I would recommend to start it out high at 12 inches or higher and gradually lower it over time. :bigsmile:
Hope that helps!
If youre bot keeping alot of high light sps 4 bulbs should be plenty. I ran the 4 bulb for about 6 months but have gotten into the alot of sps.. :xd:

 

[mojo]

I think the 39x 6 ati is too much light for that shallow breeder. I have had the exact same light. Had it over a 57g and and 4x2 90 and even then with the 4x2 90 being 18in tall it was hard not to bleach the corals. Hard to turn the like cycle down. I personally would choos the 4x24 ati sunpower for a 40br. IT would give great spread and not overpower. ITs still going to give pleanty of punch for a nice mixed reef.

Here are a few pics of the one I had for referance.

4ft x2ft 90

as you cansee no dark spots in the tank at all

 

[mojo]

here is the same light on the 57 with par measurements. I could only run all the bulbs 4.5 hours a day...

I hope that this helps some. I would not steer you in the wrong direction. I would get the 4x24 and run 2 ati blue plus 1 uvl super actinc and then either the ATI aquablue special or ge 6500k depending on what color you like. its amazing how much one white bulb can brighten up a tank. The ge 6500k , 2 ati blue plus and the uvl would give you a nice 14k look.

 

[Zoacoral]

I have a ati powermodule 8 x 39 over my breeder tank. No bleaching here. Im sure its a little overkill, but I plan on upgrading tanks

 

[Laborator]

I think the 39x 6 ati is too much light for that shallow breeder. I have had the exact same light. Had it over a 57g and and 4x2 90 and even then with the 4x2 90 being 18in tall it was hard not to bleach the corals. Hard to turn the like cycle down. I personally would choos the 4x24 ati sunpower for a 40br. IT would give great spread and not overpower. ITs still going to give pleanty of punch for a nice mixed reef.

Here are a few pics of the one I had for referance.

4ft x2ft 90

as you cansee no dark spots in the tank at all

Mojo, ilike the way you mounted your fixture, mind if I ask where you got the material from?

Thanks

 

[CONSTANTNE]

I had that exact fixture over a 40 breeder. It worked for me since I had 90% SPS. In your situation I would lean toward the 4 x 39 for you but so can the 6 x 39 if you raise it up high.

 

[Wesley42079]

Constantine, can you post some pictures of your tank for reference?

And when you refer to the 6x39, is that ATI or Tek Elite? I hear that the ATI's produce more PAR directly down towards the tank, but less forward to back coverage, as compared to the Tek ELITE, that has less PAR directly down, but more forward to back.

And for your 40 breeder, how high do you have the fixture to the water surface?

 

[mojo]

Mojo, ilike the way you mounted your fixture, mind if I ask where you got the material from?

Thanks

These brackets I made. Just flat stock I welded up and machined. Nothing too fancy.

 

[Wesley42079]

If i decide to only use 4 of the bulbs as compared to all 6, what would be the best bulb combo?

Remember, this will be for primarily an all LPS tank.

 

[kmaintl]

+1 for too much light, no needed for lps (chalice is an lps). but i would suggest getting the 6x39w, but only run 4x39w, not too close or too long. very, very slow in acclimating your corals to the light. if you ever get into sps or clams, or changed to a deeper tank, you have the power.

 

[kmaintl]

If i decide to only use 4 of the bulbs as compared to all 6, what would be the best bulb combo?

Remember, this will be for primarily an all LPS tank.

This isn't a bad combo
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL or KZ Fiji or ATi Purple
ATI Blue Plus