ATI Powermodule Vs ATI Sunpower

[sps4mytank]

Okay Guys, I am a fan of Metal Halides, but wanted to change it up a bit and go with T5s on my frag tank. I am still undecisive about which fixture to buy.

I would like anybody's experience with either one of these fixtures and color combinations.

Right now I know I want to do a six bulb on a 24x24x14 frag tank. The bulbs I plan to use are

3 ati blue plus
1 uv super atinic
1 ati aqua blue special
1 uvl 75-25

Now the question is: What is better to use the powermodule or the sunpower

Price for a powermodule is 599
Price for the sunpower is 419

What would you do?

 

[Jade]

From the description on ReefGeek.com the only real difference is the number of fans. Unless I missed something.......... Anyone else please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[wishntoboutside]

fans and the finish of the metal is what i recall. very nice products regardless.

 

[reefdan]

not just the finish of the metal but the type of metal as well. the PM is stainless steel. i believe the SP is made of brushed or polished aluminum. i have the PM 8x39 and it's heavy (approx 35 lbs). it's also solid as a rock. i don't know what the SP weighs but i imagine considerably less.

greg @ RG told me the performance difference due to the fans is only like 5-10%.

 

[uchin]

I just put up the sunpower 6 bulb. It looks a lot better in person than most web sites. Its brite and puts out a shimmer. Richard what kind of chalice is that?

 

[wishntoboutside]

I just put up the sunpower 6 bulb. It looks a lot better in person than most web sites. Its brite and puts out a shimmer. Richard what kind of chalice is that?

hello uchin,

the chalice is from wet thumbs it is the golden...something a it was auctions as a tyree le at the dallas cfm event. i am not a huge chalice guy but i loved the color. the feeding shot made it look off the hook.

 

[eggie]

Its a LE Tyree Golden Chalice

Power Module has more fans and its made of extruded aluminum every 2 bulbs gets a fan

Sun power is aluminum and its just a one piece frame like Tek only with fans and same PM reflectors

 

[reefdan]

* PM = stainless steel.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...module_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI

it also uses a modular type of construction. looking at the fixture you can see that each inner bank of 2 bulbs utilizes a module that is hooked to the entire system.

i believe that eggie is right in that the SP uses a one piece frame like the tek but i haven't seen one in person

 

[eggie]

I have a Power Module and i have open it a lots of time I really think its aluminum it only has 2 plate that are SS
Its extruded meaning that its a solid piece pass thru a machine to creat the piece
and every 2 bulbs has a fan and driven by one ballast

 

[JR's Reef]

The SP will work great for you needs. I change from MHs over to the SP and I lost a little growth on my SPS but gained on LPS/zoas. The colors on all my SPS have improved and LPS also so I think it was one of the better things Ive done

 

[sps4mytank]

Great comments guys.

I am still undecided but the sunpower wont be as expensive as the Pm. But then again you get what you pay for.

 

[Ike]

Other than the looks there is little reason to get a power module over ther sunpower. Also, since you've never used T5 before be very careful acclimating things as a good 6 bulb fixture will absolutely fry some corals if not acclimated properly. It's also going to be a struggle with certain low to mid light corals.

 

[dcook]

Can the bulbs in the sp or pm operate seperatly ie dawn to dust effect????

 

[crab0000]

On my 6 bulb Sunpower 2 bulbs are on one ballast and 4 on the other.