Change from ATI T5 to....what????

luke33 · Jun 10, 2017

Ok r2r, I've been running t5's for most of my 13 yr run at sps but I have had to replace my ballasts 4 times in the last year in my ati fixture and I'm just about done. Yes my sps do great but I'm pretty annoyed as their fixtures are not impressive. So what would everyone suggest? I need cover for a 72" sps tank.
Thanks,

Luke

Scorpius · Jun 10, 2017

LED's with T5's retrofits to supplement. It the best of both worlds especially since you have SPS.

luke33 · Jun 10, 2017

Scorpius said:
LED's with T5's retrofits to supplement. It the best of both worlds especially since you have SPS.

That's what I currently run and it's a great combo. I've been thinking about two reefbreeders v2's 36" and possibly adding a 60" t5 on each side. Issue is it needs to look nice as I don't have a canopy.

Scott.h · Jun 10, 2017

Why did you need to replace your ballasts 4 times in one year??

Broadfield · Jun 10, 2017

If you are wanting something that looks impressive hanging over your tank, have you considered a Giesemann hybrid fixture? I have ran both their LED/T5 combo(Aurora) and their MH/T5 combo(Spectra). Was very impressed with both of them.

luke33 · Jun 10, 2017

Scott.h said:
Why did you need to replace your ballasts 4 times in one year??

They went bad, stopped firing up, burnt up, sent up some smoke

luke33 · Jun 10, 2017

Scott.h said:
Why did you need to replace your ballasts 4 times in one year??

I have but in all honesty don't want to drop over a grand as more than that just seems silly to me.

Scott.h · Jun 10, 2017

I meant what caused your ballasts to fail 4x in a year? Seems something else caused it. I ask because I have the 8 bulb dimable ati

luke33 · Jun 10, 2017

Scott.h said:
I meant what caused your ballasts to fail 4x in a year? Seems something else caused it. I ask because I have the 8 bulb dimable ati

I would love to know that answer! My guess is the ballasts are about good for two yrs. I run the fixture 10" above my tank, pretty normal conditions.

luke33 · Jun 10, 2017

Broadfield said:
If you are wanting something that looks impressive hanging over your tank, have you considered a Giesemann hybrid fixture? I have ran both their LED/T5 combo(Aurora) and their MH/T5 combo(Spectra). Was very impressed with both of them.

I have but in all honesty don't want to drop over a grand as more than that just seems silly to me.

N4sty T4te · Jun 11, 2017

I agree, I'd have an electrician look at your power source to see if there is some other issue causing the ballasts to go.

ATI makes a solid product. Having 4 ballasts go bad in a year seems... well ... it seems statistically very improbable.

I have their led T5 combo, and I'm pretty happy with it overall.

Bronx19 · Jun 11, 2017

If the problem isnt at your end, buy another ATI unit. Honestly, you will still need T5 and the LED will cost a fortune.

luke33 · Jun 11, 2017

N4sty T4te said:
I agree, I'd have an electrician look at your power source to see if there is some other issue causing the ballasts to go.

ATI makes a solid product. Having 4 ballasts go bad in a year seems... well ... it seems statistically very improbable.

I have their led T5 combo, and I'm pretty happy with it overall.

I had an electrician run two 20 amp circuits to my fish room. I'm not having any issues other than the light fixture. I had the fixture opened up yesterday and everything seems to be in good condition, it just seems like the ballasts need to be replaced to soon. I have an aquactinics fixture that's ten yrs old and still fires up perfectly.

luke33 · Jun 11, 2017

Bronx19 said:
If the problem isnt at your end, buy another ATI unit. Honestly, you will still need T5 and the LED will cost a fortune.

I don't see myself ever buying any ati anything after this ordeal.

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 11, 2017

If your going led and your an acro fan. Try The Sbreeflight
I'm having really good success and I'm an idiot.

luke33 · Jun 11, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
If your going led and your an acro fan. Try The Sbreeflight
I'm having really good success and I'm an idiot.

lol whatever man. I'm just a bit worried going from t5's to led. But the sbreef and rb v2's are tempting at this point. I may buy one more ballast and see what happens.

agent462 · Jun 11, 2017

I agree that something else is wrong here; wiring, power, something. ATI makes the best T5 fixtures on the market. I have 2 60" 8 bulb fixtures and I've never had an issue with ballasts in 7 years. If people had to replace ballasts like this, ATI would be out of business and definitely not be considered the best fixtures.

luke33 · Jun 11, 2017

agent462 said:
I agree that something else is wrong here; wiring, power, something. ATI makes the best T5 fixtures on the market. I have 2 60" 8 bulb fixtures and I've never had an issue with ballasts in 7 years. If people had to replace ballasts like this, ATI would be out of business and definitely not be considered the best fixtures.

You don't think a lemon is ever produced?

luke33 · Jun 11, 2017

I'm starting to think my fixture has always been bad. I purchased it new and when I received it the fixture had a few dents and half of the reflectors were damaged. ATI sent me replacement reflectors but I wonder if something had been damaged internally from the start. It's just frustrating. My tank is doing great but sheesh.

I'm really interested in hearing if anyone transitioned their sps tank from t5 to led successfully.