ATI POWERMODULES over SPS

RogerWilco357 · Mar 10, 2011

Ok my question is this I have an 8 bulb fixture 80watts per bulb how far from the water should the unit be ? In my other tank I have metals and they hang about 14 inches or so from the water well maybe 12 inches..and they do fine 2x250 watts metals with 2 4' vho's.
Are the t5 bulbs as strong or about the same? 8x80 watts=640 watts
2x250 watt metals = 500 . So should the t5's be higher off the tank?

divewsharks · Mar 10, 2011

Depending on the depth of you tank, likely somewhere between 8-12" above. My fixture is 8" above, anything below and i was bleaching a bunch of my corals. My tank is 25" tall. Also take time acclimating your corals to the new light. Either start higher and come down slowly, short light periods or layers of screen. The PM puts out a ton of light.
What bulbs are you going to run?

Alpha Aquaculture · Mar 10, 2011

I would say that you can and should experiment yourself with the placement of the light. Maybe start it off a lil higher like 18-20" off the water when your bulbs are brand new and their brightest. During that same beginning time you will be in and out of the tank a lot so a lil extra clearance could help out. Once your tank and its corals settle in lower it lil by lil until your happy with the results. If you see bleaching you could move the light a lil farther away. This is my philosophy many times because I prefer shallow tanks with little vertical space to move corals. If you can move your corals vertically on your rockscape then you can adjust the light they get that way and keep your fixture in one spot.