ATI T5 ballast/power vs Aquatic Life?

[Reefahholic]

Does anybody know how much more Power the ATI T5 fixtures would have vs the Aquatic Life T5 fixtures.?

I know a PowerModule has a big ballast, but something like the ATI Sunpower fixture you can’t see it, and I’ve never looked inside, looked up the specs, or asked about the power supply that’s actually giving the bulbs their punch. So it made me wonder how much more power the ATI might have or how weak/strong the Aquatic Life fixtures are?

If anybody knows please fill me in. Very curious.

 

[Reefahholic]

So it looks like Aquatic Life says they’re using:

• HEP Ballasts compatible with popular T5 HO lamps (including ATI and Giesemann)

ATI claims:

• High-end components for 50% more light output.

I have no doubt ATI is likely putting out more power, but I guess I need to email both companies to understand which ballasts are being used for X amount of bulbs for X watts which each fixture to see the power comparison.

ATI for has better reflectors for sure.

98% reflective miro-silver​

 

[spsick]

Same specs/wattage on the ballasts. ATI fixtures have active cooling in the hotspot of the bulb and through the whole fixture which results in higher output.

 

[reef’r]

Would installing some fans on an aquatic life fixture increase output then? Like in the space between the two banks where your led goes

 

[reef’r]

Same specs/wattage on the ballasts. ATI fixtures have active cooling in the hotspot of the bulb and through the whole fixture which results in higher output.

Or do you need cooling directly on the internal ballast

 

[oreo54]

Or do you need cooling directly on the internal ballast

The ," cooling thing" is for a fan on a very specific spot ..The printed on end of the bulb..

Another consideration

Then you got power factors, system watts ect ..

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I’m not sure of the differences in ballasts. I know when I took apartmy non-dimmable aquatic life fixture to route all the cabling to one side, I noticed it had pretty decent mean well ballasts. That was years ago though. Not sure what the dimmable versions are. I think the reflectors on the ati are probably superior to the aquatic life though.

 

[Reefahholic]

Then you got power factors, system watts ect ..

Do you think the power on the ATI is a lot more?

I’m surprised that ATI hasn’t made a Hybrid T5 fixture other than their LED PowerModule. That would sell like hot donuts.

They need to make something similar to Aquatic Life where other fixtures can be added to the middle, and we can run two tubes of T5’s on each side.