ATI Straton LED Light - Comments, Review, PAR, Coverage, Discuss...

[buruskeee]

Hi, For a mixed reef tank with the following dimensions (LxWxH) 48.2" x 25.3" x 21.7" which straton pro do you recommend and how many do I need?

2 of the 102s.

 

[mizukage]

2 of the 102s.

Thank you boss

 

[ryshark]

I’m considering 2x 102 pros instead of 2x xr30 with a bar for my 48”x24”x24” tank. I have a canopy with an open top as seen in my pic. I’m trying to figure out a good way to mount these. My idea is to secure a 48” aluminum rod across the top of my canopy and then slip then slip the rod through the triangle shaped part of the hanging wire that’s attached to the Stratons. Think this would work? How about if I used 1/4” rod instead of 1/2” do you think it would sag?

 

[billyocean]

..

 

[Reef-Engineer]

I’m considering 2x 102 pros instead of 2x xr30 with a bar for my 48”x24”x24” tank. I have a canopy with an open top as seen in my pic. I’m trying to figure out a good way to mount these. My idea is to secure a 48” aluminum rod across the top of my canopy and then slip then slip the rod through the triangle shaped part of the hanging wire that’s attached to the Stratons. Think this would work? How about if I used 1/4” rod instead of 1/2” do you think it would sag?

Ry, a round shaft is a poor choice for this, better to use a small extrusion with a profile. Even the 1/2" aluminum shaft will bow over an inch over the 48" causign the lights to slide into each other. That is a quick calculation using 16lbs mass in the middle of the rod (not perfect but close).

 

[ryshark]

Ry, a round shaft is a poor choice for this, better to use a small extrusion with a profile. Even the 1/2" aluminum shaft will bow over an inch over the 48" causign the lights to slide into each other. That is a quick calculation using 16lbs mass in the middle of the rod (not perfect but close).

Thank you. The canopy opening is probably more like 36”, but would still probably bow and slide. I’ll look into how to mount to an extrusion or maybe just go Radions to keep it simple.

 

[buruskeee]

I’m considering 2x 102 pros instead of 2x xr30 with a bar for my 48”x24”x24” tank. I have a canopy with an open top as seen in my pic. I’m trying to figure out a good way to mount these. My idea is to secure a 48” aluminum rod across the top of my canopy and then slip then slip the rod through the triangle shaped part of the hanging wire that’s attached to the Stratons. Think this would work? How about if I used 1/4” rod instead of 1/2” do you think it would sag?

I use the Radion bar.

 

[ryshark]

I use the Radion bar.

Nice. I was thinking about using that 50.5” RMS Radion bar across the top. Maybe I’ll do that. Thanks.

 

[ryshark]

Ry, a round shaft is a poor choice for this, better to use a small extrusion with a profile. Even the 1/2" aluminum shaft will bow over an inch over the 48" causign the lights to slide into each other. That is a quick calculation using 16lbs mass in the middle of the rod (not perfect but close).

I use the Radion bar.

Do you think it would be fine to put the RMS Radion bar through the metal hanging loop coming out of the Stratons and let it hang on the bar that way?

 

[buruskeee]

Do you think it would be fine to put the RMS Radion bar through the metal hanging loop coming out of the Stratons and let it hang on the bar that way?

Well, that’s basically how it’s hanging on mine. I have it pretty tight, so the cables cut into the metal a bit, but you can cushion the wire if you care about not putting divots into your bar. My hanging kit only acts as a stop and doesn’t really secure the lights at all. It looks like you’ll basically have stops that secure the bar on top of your canopy anyways.

 

[Oldreefer44]

What about 2 separate bars running front to back? That way you could use a smaller diameter rod and could remove one at a time for any kind of maintenance etc.

 

[ryshark]

What about 2 separate bars running front to back? That way you could use a smaller diameter rod and could remove one at a time for any kind of maintenance etc.

That’s a good idea too and would cost a lot less than the RMS. However, I’m planning on using the rectangular Straton Pros, not the bigger square shaped and I “think” I want the long side of the Straton running with the long side of the tank, not front to back.

 

[ryshark]

What about 2 separate bars running front to back? That way you could use a smaller diameter rod and could remove one at a time for any kind of maintenance etc.

I just remembered that wouldn’t work anyway, even with square shaped lights, because the front of the canopy is an piano hinge that opens straight up and flips over to the back side

 

[ryshark]

Well, that’s basically how it’s hanging on mine. I have it pretty tight, so the cables cut into the metal a bit, but you can cushion the wire if you care about not putting divots into your bar. My hanging kit only acts as a stop and doesn’t really secure the lights at all. It looks like you’ll basically have stops that secure the bar on top of your canopy anyways.

Oh yeah, I see now that’s how you basically have it. I didn’t notice that properly yesterday. I think for my application I would want to flip the RMS bar over on the other side. Then it would sit better with the flat part laying on top of my canopy and also the wire probably wouldn’t cut into the rounded part of the RMS bar as much.

 

[buruskeee]

What’s everyone’s settings for “moonlight” mode?

 

[zenx2]

Well, that’s basically how it’s hanging on mine. I have it pretty tight, so the cables cut into the metal a bit, but you can cushion the wire if you care about not putting divots into your bar. My hanging kit only acts as a stop and doesn’t really secure the lights at all. It looks like you’ll basically have stops that secure the bar on top of your canopy anyways.

Hello sorry for jumping in here.. same set up I have. How did you tighten the cables from Straton to pull it up close to the radon bar??

Thank you

 

[buruskeee]

Hello sorry for jumping in here.. same set up I have. How did you tighten the cables from Straton to pull it up close to the radon bar??

Thank you

This is the best I can do with trying to explain. I just have it pulled through the holes and nipped it when it was as tight as I wanted it to be. I have the bar slipped through the hanging loops and have the units mounted sideways.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

Hi gang. Apologies that this took so long, (geez the Straton Pro Gen2 is almost out), but I wanted to post a bit of info on the Straton Pro 204. This isn't quite as detailed a look as my prior work, but it should tell most of the story.

First, Straton Pro 204 is not cheap, at $1900 MSRP (can get on sale for a bit better from time to time) it is an expensive light. That being said, it basically replaces two original Stratons, or about 3 radions, so maybe it is not so expensive for what you get. That is up to the shopper naturally.

Second, construction. The FEEL is even better than the originals. Very solid, high-quality coatings, individual LED lenses, all machined, and naturally passively cooled.

The claims:
ATI claims higher PAR - this is true as you can see from the plot.
ATI claims improved light spread - I think that this is also evident from the plot.
The App: still not the most user friendly, but I think a step forward from the last.

Power - At a max draw of 290W, it is a powerhouse. I cannot imagine someone running this thing at 100% all channels. I didn't even test that. Maybe I will in the future, but you'd be looking at ~500 PAR on your sandbed... ps. I capped the plot PAR at 1000, the 204 actually hits ~2000 PAR right at the water surface but a lot of that is then lost to reflection.

Anyhow, no more chatter, here is the plot.

Don't pay too much attention to the water surface numbers. As some of them were barely submerged. Id concentrate on 6" deep and deeper. "Front" is about 6" from my front glass, middle is self explanatory (30" front to back so middle is 15" from glass), and back is about 6" from back glass.

The Powermodule IS very smooth/diffuse/spread out coverage but at a fraction of the PAR (and I think almost double the power consumption of the 204).

This isn't quite apples to apples since I didnt have original straton measurements every 6 inches, just every foot. AND there was rock in my tank, so at greater depths it may look like there were holes in coverage, but in reality data is just missing there.

The summary here is: The Straton Pro is more of what you love about the Straton. I don't notice the lack of a diffusor plate as color mixing is excellent. Sprear, PAR, and controllability are all excellent (can still control individual portions of the light separately). The App could still use some work, to my knowledge there is no moonlight or seasonal capability present, and making small adjustments with tiny controls on a tiny screen is hard.

The price may be hard to swallow, but if you want a SILENT light that will likely last ages since the LEDs are under-driven, and offers T5 like diffuse light and spread with much higher PAR and controllability, this light may be for you. I mounted mine to 8020 extrusions, and have been running them for over 6 months.

 

[beesnreefs]

Hi gang. Apologies that this took so long, (geez the Straton Pro Gen2 is almost out), but I wanted to post a bit of info on the Straton Pro 204. This isn't quite as detailed a look as my prior work, but it should tell most of the story.

First, Straton Pro 204 is not cheap, at $1900 MSRP (can get on sale for a bit better from time to time) it is an expensive light. That being said, it basically replaces two original Stratons, or about 3 radions, so maybe it is not so expensive for what you get. That is up to the shopper naturally.

Second, construction. The FEEL is even better than the originals. Very solid, high-quality coatings, individual LED lenses, all machined, and naturally passively cooled.

The claims:
ATI claims higher PAR - this is true as you can see from the plot.
ATI claims improved light spread - I think that this is also evident from the plot.
The App: still not the most user friendly, but I think a step forward from the last.

Power - At a max draw of 290W, it is a powerhouse. I cannot imagine someone running this thing at 100% all channels. I didn't even test that. Maybe I will in the future, but you'd be looking at ~500 PAR on your sandbed... ps. I capped the plot PAR at 1000, the 204 actually hits ~2000 PAR right at the water surface but a lot of that is then lost to reflection.

Anyhow, no more chatter, here is the plot.

Don't pay too much attention to the water surface numbers. As some of them were barely submerged. Id concentrate on 6" deep and deeper. "Front" is about 6" from my front glass, middle is self explanatory (30" front to back so middle is 15" from glass), and back is about 6" from back glass.

The Powermodule IS very smooth/diffuse/spread out coverage but at a fraction of the PAR (and I think almost double the power consumption of the 204).

This isn't quite apples to apples since I didnt have original straton measurements every 6 inches, just every foot. AND there was rock in my tank, so at greater depths it may look like there were holes in coverage, but in reality data is just missing there.

The summary here is: The Straton Pro is more of what you love about the Straton. I don't notice the lack of a diffusor plate as color mixing is excellent. Sprear, PAR, and controllability are all excellent (can still control individual portions of the light separately). The App could still use some work, to my knowledge there is no moonlight or seasonal capability present, and making small adjustments with tiny controls on a tiny screen is hard.

The price may be hard to swallow, but if you want a SILENT light that will likely last ages since the LEDs are under-driven, and offers T5 like diffuse light and spread with much higher PAR and controllability, this light may be for you. I mounted mine to 8020 extrusions, and have been running them for over 6 months.

Thanks for the excellent write up! My OG Stratons are still running strong at 2.5 years old and I expect to get many more years out of them. But it sure is nice to know ATI continues to improve an already awesome product.

When the time comes, maybe I’ll get their 3rd or 4th generation light :)

 

[Reef-Engineer]

Thanks for the excellent write up! My OG Stratons are still running strong at 2.5 years old and I expect to get many more years out of them. But it sure is nice to know ATI continues to improve an already awesome product.

When the time comes, maybe I’ll get their 3rd or 4th generation light :)

Honestly my buddy Phil "ReefKPR" has one of the most epic tanks I have ever seen lit by the OG Stratons, I think that you are in great shape with those lights!