Thinking about doing a ATI and AI combo?

Luwe2008 · Sep 17, 2011

So I am thinking about running an ATI over my tank and adding 3 AIs in the front for shimmer. I am not totally sure yet and I wanted to get your guys' opinion. Thanks

Heres kind of what it would look like:

SoCaliReefin · Sep 17, 2011

You can save yourself a ton by adding a couple reefbrites instead of the AI..

Luwe2008 · Sep 17, 2011

SoCaliReefin said:
You can save yourself a ton by adding a couple reefbrites instead of the AI..

True, but the reason I was looking towards AI was for the simple fact of control. I would be able to run the royal blues and ramp up the white slowly with my t5 actinics coming on and then all the t5 and then the LEDs ramp down. To give a natural sunrise, sunset affect plus added shimmer to the T5s

CONSTANTNE · Sep 17, 2011

What would be holding you back from going all LEDs?

Luwe2008 · Sep 17, 2011

CONSTANTNE said:
What would be holding you back from going all LEDs?

I just really enjoy the colorations of the T5 bulb. Im not a fan of 100% LED personally but I feel the hybrid combination will give both T5 and LED what it lacks. I feel LED lacks spectrum and T5 lacks shimmer and the LED will provide stronger par.

CONSTANTNE · Sep 17, 2011

Kind of a tough spot then. Because reefbrites would be perfect for your situation but you want that dimming function. If this is going in a canopy why not do a few AI sols in the middle almost like metal halides do and 2-3 T5s on each side. That would be great.

Acroholic · Sep 17, 2011

Seems like a waste of money to have three AIs there when they'd only be lighting the back 1/3 of your tank. If you are bound to do it this way, then I'd have the three AIs angled towards the front to the tank so they hit the entire reef, or in the front of the T5 angled towards the back of the tank and use all 70 degree optics.

Luwe2008 · Sep 17, 2011

CONSTANTNE said:
Kind of a tough spot then. Because reefbrites would be perfect for your situation but you want that dimming function. If this is going in a canopy why not do a few AI sols in the middle almost like metal halides do and 2-3 T5s on each side. That would be great.

Yeah that's the only thing. I was really thinking about reefbrite but I just hate that they all have their own power source and they don't dim. It won't be in a canopy and I thought about putting them in the middle but it would be hard since I don't have a canopy and my tank is rimless so I don't really want to add a canopy on.

Luwe2008 · Sep 17, 2011

Acroholic said:
Seems like a waste of money to have three AIs there when they'd only be lighting the back 1/3 of your tank. If you are bound to do it this way, then I'd have the three AIs angled towards the front to the tank so they hit the entire reef, or in the front of the T5 angled towards the back of the tank and use all 70 degree optics.

Lol! Sorry for the bad sketch up. But they are in the front. I have an Elos tank so the black is suppose to be the front doors and the white is for the side of the cabinet. But the AIs will be in the front hitting the front of the reef.