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

[ryshark]

I’ve had these lights unopened, still in the box, for a month now. Finally have some time this weekend to set them up. Im anxious now to see what they can do.

 

[buruskeee]

@Reef-Engineer can you walk us through how to program each strip individually?

I want to run a whiter spectrum in the middle section to help boost par without making my overall spectrum too white.

 

[ryshark]

Any recommendations on what % less PAR (compared to my current PAR) to start out with going from T5 to staton pro?

 

[LiquidSpace]

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.

I probably missed it, but what size is your aquarium? In thinking two 204’s over a 6 ft sps. I feel like the dimensions are somewhere in that diagram.

 

[buruskeee]

I probably missed it, but what size is your aquarium? In thinking two 204’s over a 6 ft sps. I feel like the dimensions are somewhere in that diagram.

I believe he has an 8ft … not 100% sure; but he had 2 lengths of 4ft T5s originally so that’s why I say that.

 

[LiquidSpace]

I believe he has an 8ft … not 100% sure; but he had 2 lengths of 4ft T5s originally so that’s why I say that.

dang, sounds like two 204’s would be overkill for a 6 ft.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

I probably missed it, but what size is your aquarium? In thinking two 204’s over a 6 ft sps. I feel like the dimensions are somewhere in that diagram.

Its 6’x30”x32”

I am currently running them at 55% max at 10” off the water.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

I believe he has an 8ft … not 100% sure; but he had 2 lengths of 4ft T5s originally so that’s why I say that.

You are right the original tank was 8’ long but my new system (after a cross country move) is 6’

It is probably overkill. I just wanted unbeatable coverage and no shadowing, and boy do I have that!

 

[Reef-Engineer]

@Reef-Engineer can you walk us through how to program each strip individually?

I want to run a whiter spectrum in the middle section to help boost par without making my overall spectrum too white.

I know you can adjust power section by section. Ill see if you can adjust spectrum section by section and report back.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

Any recommendations on what % less PAR (compared to my current PAR) to start out with going from T5 to staton pro?

Based on my measurements i think starting the stratons at 50% will get you in the ballpark PAR of an 8 bulb powermodule. Do you know your current PAR at the top of your rocks? If not does your reef club own a PAR meter you could borrow to compare?

 

[ryshark]

Based on my measurements i think starting the stratons at 50% will get you in the ballpark PAR of an 8 bulb powermodule. Do you know your current PAR at the top of your rocks? If not does your reef club own a PAR meter you could borrow to compare?

I don’t know my PAR, but my LFS has one for rent $15 per day and $500 security deposit. I was planning on renting it today to figure out my current PAR to start.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

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 nice review!

What do you find lacking in the app software?

How difficult is spectrum control?

For example, toning down the blue to be in the 10,000k range or less.

 

[Oldreefer44]

All 7 colors are adjustable from 0 to 100%

 

[buruskeee]

For example, toning down the blue to be in the 10,000k range or less.

Out of the box, full 100% all channels, it's probably around 6500K if I were to guess.

There are templates pre programmed for different color temperatures too. But the GUI is simply click a point and adjust the sliders for each color channel (every single diode of a specific wavelength is a separate channel).

 

[Reef-Engineer]

Thanks for the nice review!

What do you find lacking in the app software?

How difficult is spectrum control?

For example, toning down the blue to be in the 10,000k range or less.

Ill snag some screen caps and explain the App. Its not difficult, in fact very simple, i just wish it had a few more features like seasonality, moonlight, and such.

There are a TON of white, cool white LEDs on the Pro gen 1. They went more blue with the pro gen 2. It is very easy to nail a 14k look at outrageous PAR so one must be careful.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

I dont work for them so this isnt advertising, but i just saw on atinorthamerica instagram straton pro is 20% off for christmas. In case anyone on the fence.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks folks. :)

 

[spsick]

@Reef-Engineer how do these compare to the Sunpower for light spill with the increased mounting height?

I would just love to feel comfortable having 2 of these and covering as good as at5 fixture.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

@Randy Holmes-Farley and others, I did just figure out (maybe I am late to the party) that you do not need to control them via your cell phone APP. Once the lights are on your network and given a name, if you are on the local network you can simply type in HTTP://leftstraton (in my case) and the control interface comes up there. It is WAY easier to work with on a computer than the phone.

food for thought.

I am now going to reconfigure them to be controllable by segment and answer that question about whether spectrum or just output can be controlled by segment.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

Also just saw this, some good info:



So note what he says at the end you CAN independently do color AND power. So that is wicked cool. I am messing with it now.