ATI 8x80 starting point?

Woodneers · Feb 7, 2021

Hoping someone with experience can help me choose a starting point with this lighting fixture. I have an ATI 8x80 60”currently mounted 18” off the water. I didn’t want to cook any corals so I kept it up high for now. I have mostly lps and zoas down low with A couple spa in the middle of the tank. Can someone give me a good starting height and possibly a bulb combo that will work well for growth. I plan on getting a par meter soon just not sure which one works with t5?

delv2323 · Feb 8, 2021

T5 is pretty bulletproof. I would eventually drop the light within 9 inches and pick a bulb combination that is pleasing to your eye. There's really no way to mess it up for the corals with a T5, assuming you don't bleach them with too much light too fast. Maybe two Coral Plus, a True Actinic, three Blue Plus, a Purple Plus, and a GE5500k?

Woodneers · Feb 21, 2021

Slowly working this light down towards the water, about an inch a week. Anyone else running one of these that can give me a better idea of par values?

A. grandis · Feb 21, 2021

Woodneers said:
Hoping someone with experience can help me choose a starting point with this lighting fixture. I have an ATI 8x80 60”currently mounted 18” off the water. I didn’t want to cook any corals so I kept it up high for now. I have mostly lps and zoas down low with A couple spa in the middle of the tank. Can someone give me a good starting height and possibly a bulb combo that will work well for growth. I plan on getting a par meter soon just not sure which one works with t5?

10 inches from the water to start with. You can drop more later if you want.
Bulb combo will be most likely dependent on your personal taste.
Among so many 8 bulb combos I like...
4 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI True Actinic and 2 ATI Coral Plus
After using this 8 bulb combo you will be able to see what bulbs you want to change, if so.
Photoperiod can start at 6 hours a day (1 hour 2 bulb Blue Plus channel only, 4 hours all bulbs on, 1 hour 2 bulb Blue Plus channel only). I don't know your aquarium and therefore this is just a rough recommendation.
Just can't go wrong with T5s. Congratulations!