Ati Sunpower 6 or 8 Bulbs

Spyke326 · Apr 7, 2015

I am working on setting up a new tank but I cannot decide on which 48â€™â€™ ATI Sunpower fixture would work best for me, either 6 or 8 bulbs. Aquarium is a 85g ( 48x20x20 ) and I would like to go mostly SPS with a few LPS.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!!

shred5 · Apr 7, 2015

Spyke326 said:
I am working on setting up a new tank but I cannot decide on which 48’’ ATI Sunpower fixture would work best for me, either 6 or 8 bulbs. Aquarium is a 85g ( 48x20x20 ) and I would like to go mostly SPS with a few LPS.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!!

Any tank over 18" front to back I would go with more than 6 lamps, but that is odd sized tank usually the next width is 24". More lamps gives more coverage. I think either would be ok but 8 would be better.

Trex · Apr 7, 2015

With your tank being 20 inches front to back, I would go with the 6 bulb fixture. The 8 bulb one is just under 18 inches, which isn't going to leave you much room.
How are you going to mount the light? Any canopy? (( worry about light spill too )).

I have the 8*80 over my 210, and it is borderline too much light, think I could have gotten by with the 6 bulb one.

Spyke326 · Apr 7, 2015

Thanks for the replies so far

I will be hanging it over my tank.
I just do not want any dead spots so I can do SPS from top to bottom.

Trex · Apr 7, 2015

My 210 is 24 inches front to back, so I have 3 inches on the front and on the back, no dead spots. The reflectors are great.

Heck, I have 6 inches on either side and still don't have dead spots.

Spyke326 · Apr 7, 2015

Good to know!!
What types of coral do have? Good growth and color?

mr_bigl · Apr 7, 2015

I would recommend 8. You can always just run 6 if you want to and you have a fixture already if you decide to upgrade later.

Trex · Apr 7, 2015

Spyke326 said:
Good to know!!
What types of coral do have? Good growth and color?

Newly set up tank, so don't have much coral yet.

However, my blue S. haddoni anemone is doing great.

In the past I had a 6*39 TEK fixture over a 40 breeder and had great results -- used ATI bulbs. Can only imagine how good it would have been with the ATI fixture.