ATI T5 fixture the right choice?

Zmcclinton63 · May 30, 2015

selling my LEDs and changing back to T5s. I would like to get the best fixture I can buy under $600 bucks. I've heard a lot of great things about ATI fixtures and have always used their bulbs.
Basically what I'm wondering is ATI worth the money and where is the best place to purchase them. Looking to buy something in a day or so. If anyone has the ATI fixture I would love some feed back.

gacolt · May 30, 2015

I just bought a ati 6bulb for my 80g and I love it.best t5 fixture I have owned.look nice.i like there hanging kit works.I will be adding a reefbrite strip next.I say go for it.

blasto_master · May 30, 2015

Be careful on that reef brite because they are superstrong. I strongly suggest purchasing a dimmer with that. ATI all day!!!

Chris L · May 30, 2015

Yes ATI fixtures are the bomb! What size tank do you have? If your ever on the fence about what size to get always go for the most amount of bulbs possible. You can swap bulbs for your color taste.

mfinn · May 30, 2015

IMO, the ATI fixtures are the best.
I had one over one of my tanks for a couple years before going all led.
I just bought a new ATI 6 x 24 watt fixture and will be setting the tank up next week.

ronnie · May 30, 2015

I have the 24" 8 bulb dimmable sunpower coming from the 4 bulb T5/LED hybrid power module. I'm very happy with the sunpower. You cannot go wrong with ATI!

Zmcclinton63 · May 30, 2015

Thank you for all the feed back! Why do you recommend the dimmable? I've heard that it is pretty pointless? I'm ordering today so what's everyone's take on the dimmable option?

Zmcclinton63 · May 30, 2015

Looks like I can only get a 6bulb 24" fixture with dimmable.
So it's either that or 8 bulbs with no dimmable option witch would be they better route?

ronnie · May 30, 2015

I would do 8 bulbs over 6 dimmable just because it's more light. But I prefer the dimming for sunrise and sunset, personally.

Zmcclinton63 · May 30, 2015

Does the dimmable have a timer inside also? Or do you need a controller for off and on? And if it doesn't will it do sunrise and sunset with just a on and off timer

ronnie · May 30, 2015

It has a controller built in for on-off-dimming

Zmcclinton63 · May 30, 2015

Sweet! Do they not make a 8bulb dimmable 24"?

ronnie · May 30, 2015

They do. I have one.

Zmcclinton63 · May 30, 2015

Would you like to sell it? Haha where did you order it?

ronnie · May 30, 2015

My LFS got it for me.

gacolt · May 30, 2015

i would pass on the dimmable fixture.it a waste of money from what i have heard.

ronnie · May 30, 2015

It really isn't. I only say that because I have one though.

FoD · May 30, 2015

I have a dimmable fixture. I like the look while dimming up and down, but I believe it does harm the life of the lamps, contrary to what T5 lamp manufacturers claim. I get about 8 months out of my lamps before noticeable algae occurs (assuming spectral shift due to dimming). I get 12 months or so with not dimming, but lose the special look you get while the lamps are coming up/down.