ATI hybrid or ATI with reefbrite

gdemos · May 21, 2015

I have a 48" 8x54 dimmable sunpower and have been considering adding an actinic 48" reefbrite led for some extra led blue Pop.

So for those that have tried the reefbrite which seems too easy to say no ... Just screw it on the front or back (or both). And then moved to the hybrid: thoughts?

I don't expect any hybrid owners state that they're not happy with what they have now. But please let me know how superior it is to a reefbrite add on mod in terms of light on the livestock etc

Thanks

ifarmer · May 21, 2015

yes, please I would also like to hear about this as well.
I've been looking to add either Tech Model or XHO Model to the sunpower .

thanks

Kworker · May 21, 2015

I would do ATI sun power that you have with reef brite. The Hybrid is overkill and expensive IMO, since it seems everyone goes for the 48" 3x75w 8x54w version. For what its worth, I have 5 LED fixtures over my 180 and still get shadows. I only like the function of Blue LED's, other than that I think T5's give nicer color. I will be transitioning to T5's in the near future.

kschweer · May 21, 2015

I don't have any experience with the ati hybrid but I have seen them in person and they are very nice. I personally run a tek elite 6 bulb with a reefbrite tech led strip attached to the front and I am very happy with the set up. It's going to be a matter of your personal preference. The hybrid fixture has a much "cleaner" look to it when compared to a fixture with reefbrites attached. I don't mind the look but I do know some who do. I think the bracket the reefbrite comes with is a little large and not engineered to look good if that makes sense. I have seen some people make some nice brackets which really cleans up the look. I have been looking at fabricating new ones for myself just haven't had too much time to work on it.

ronnie · May 21, 2015

I went from the hybrid to a sunpower. If you go hybrid, get the 8 bulb. I only did the 4 bulb thinking it's enough (which it is for someone who knows how to use leds), but wanted the flexibility of 8 bulbs for color choice.

I'm happier now, but do miss the LEDs for the blues. So I'd do the strip before switching. I'm actually adding an LSM to my sunpower for moonlights when it arrives. I miss that aspect quite a bit.

LILBUDDHA · May 22, 2015

I don't think it in terms of this is superior vs that. It's a matter of personal preference.
I recently chatted with a fellow reefer who owns a ATI 8 bulb hybrid . He stated if he did it all over again he would do a SP and reefbrites.
His view is the lights were overkill for his 93 cube . It's odd as he used to take great pics when he had a smaller tank .He really had good color for with hisSPS . Now with the hybrid they look kinda washed out ? . @ronnie I think I may have replied to a postin the past and asked about the shading issue you were addressing .

11f150 · May 22, 2015

I dont have a ATI sunpower but I do have the Reefbrite XHO on a Tek T5 fixture. I bought the controller that they also sell for the reefbrite xho to use with an apex. Really nice LED.

The controller is the black box with a digital read out of the currently intensity of the LED.

LILBUDDHA · May 22, 2015

@11f150 .
How does that controller work?
Does it dim the reef brites automatically or is it all manual ?

ronnie · May 22, 2015

How far down does the XHO dim on the apex? I may get one of those bars and stick it on the back of my fixture since it looks like it would bolt on easily.

Gondore · May 22, 2015

I run the Sunpower with an XHO and love it. I do not have any experience with the Powermodule Hybrid though.

11f150 · May 22, 2015

LILBUDDHA said:
@11f150 .
How does that controller work?
Does it dim the reef brites automatically or is it all manual ?

ronnie said:
How far down does the XHO dim on the apex? I may get one of those bars and stick it on the back of my fixture since it looks like it would bolt on easily.

You can use the controller to manually dim it to 1%-100% or use the controller with the apex to dim it at all percentages as well. Here is a screen shot of mine on my apex.

ronnie · May 22, 2015

Where did you get the controller from?

11f150 · May 22, 2015

ronnie said:
Where did you get the controller from?

http://www.modernaquatix.com/

But many online stores have it. Search on google they pop up.

All Delight · Jun 16, 2015

I like my reef brites. But having them built in looks clean

RandomReefer · Mar 18, 2016

11f150 said:
http://www.modernaquatix.com/

But many online stores have it. Search on google they pop up.

So we need the bigger controller box to run on APEX? I'm guessing the $15 "inline" dimmer is not the one needed for Apex control...

Thanks!

Addicted2ACRO's · Mar 18, 2016

I have an ATI Sunpower 8x80w 6ft. fixture with ReefBrite Blues mounted along the side. I like this set-up very much. Not nearly as expensive as the Hybrid and does the same job