ATI Sunpower 6 bulbs. Which bulbs though?

[Tahoe61]

Finally long last I am getting another ATI Sunpower T5 fixture.
It's been 7 yrs since I have had a T5 fixture, and I need assistance in choosing bulbs. It's a 24 inch 6 bulb fixture. I prefer a purple hue. Do I need an actinic? Any suggestions welcome.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

@Yanir34 might be able to chip in - it’s been a while since I’ve seen his build but he had a really beautiful combo over his reef. Tank is stunning.

My personal recommendation would be:

Blue+
Coral+
Purple+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+

Remember the blue+ isn’t blue like an actinic bulb, it still has a lot of white. This mix would be quite white.

If it was my tank I’d probably fit an actinic in there for pop, but according to the company itself in an old RC post, the actinic bulb doesn’t do much for growth, just colours.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Im going to do 4 Blue plus, 1 coral plus (or purple), and maybe 1 actinic. Going to figure out how to mount it soon as I have an air duct directly overhead and will have to mount it off my knotty pine wall.

 

[Tidal Gardens Verified Sponsor]

Blue+
Actinic
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+

I ran an Actinic and Blue+ on my 2-bulb channel during ramp-up and ramp-down times. I also used two LED bars mounted on the side that ran 12hrs a day.

Schedule was 10:00am LED bars ON, 11AM LED Bars and 2 bulb channel ON, 12:30 PM ALL LIGHTS ON, 8:30 PM 4 bulb channel OFF, 9PM 2 Bulb Channel OFF then 10PM ALL OFF.

Gave a really nice ramp up effect.

-Luke

 

[rtparty]

Great thing is you can pick up a couple extra bulbs to play with combos and then just hold onto them for your next bulb change in 2 years

One of the best things to do is watch this video:


Then you can decide which bulbs provide the look you want. The blue bulbs are identical from the big 3 so I’d buy the cheapest.

The actinics of Gmann and ATI are super close.

It’s the daylight and blue hybrid, as BRS calls them, bulbs that are quite different.

One of my all time favorite 6 bulb combos I ran back in the day was 4 Blues, 1 Purple, and a GE 6500k. You’d substitute the GE for the Giesemann Tropic today.

I will have my 8 bulb Sunpower next week and can’t wait for the new build to go back to T5s and get that super uniform blanket of light again

 

[Tahoe61]

@Yanir34 might be able to chip in - it’s been a while since I’ve seen his build but he had a really beautiful combo over his reef. Tank is stunning.

My personal recommendation would be:

Blue+
Coral+
Purple+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+

Remember the blue+ isn’t blue like an actinic bulb, it still has a lot of white. This mix would be quite white.

If it was my tank I’d probably fit an actinic in there for pop, but according to the company itself in an old RC post, the actinic bulb doesn’t do much for growth, just colours.

Right. Once I started looking at different videos I noticed the actinic looked more blue than the blue bulbs.
Since I can swap the bulbs I will probably get an actinic and mess around, I definitely don't want too much white.

Im going to do 4 Blue plus, 1 coral plus (or purple), and maybe 1 actinic. Going to figure out how to mount it soon as I have an air duct directly overhead and will have to mount it off my knotty pine wall.

Have you had the fixture before? How did you decide on the 4 blue plus, what did you like about them? TIA

Blue+
Actinic
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+

I ran an Actinic and Blue+ on my 2-bulb channel during ramp-up and ramp-down times. I also used two LED bars mounted on the side that ran 12hrs a day.

Schedule was 10:00am LED bars ON, 11AM LED Bars and 2 bulb channel ON, 12:30 PM ALL LIGHTS ON, 8:30 PM 4 bulb channel OFF, 9PM 2 Bulb Channel OFF then 10PM ALL OFF.

Gave a really nice ramp up effect.

-Luke

Thank you

Which LED bars did you use?

Great thing is you can pick up a couple extra bulbs to play with combos and then just hold onto them for your next bulb change in 2 years

One of the best things to do is watch this video:


Then you can decide which bulbs provide the look you want. The blue bulbs are identical from the big 3 so I’d buy the cheapest.

The actinics of Gmann and ATI are super close.

It’s the daylight and blue hybrid, as BRS calls them, bulbs that are quite different.

One of my all time favorite 6 bulb combos I ran back in the day was 4 Blues, 1 Purple, and a GE 6500k. You’d substitute the GE for the Giesemann Tropic today.

I will have my 8 bulb Sunpower next week and can’t wait for the new build to go back to T5s and get that super uniform blanket of light again

I believe you get 3 bulbs with the fixture from the vendor. Will definitely look at the Giesemann Tropic, it sounds like exactly what I am looking for.

Congrats on your new fixture. I am thrilled to get back to ATI Sunpower T5. It's really all about the fixture. You can mix and match other system components but if you don't have the light right for your tank goals it just doesn't seem as satisfying.

 

[bubbgee]

Blue+
Actinic
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+

I ran an Actinic and Blue+ on my 2-bulb channel during ramp-up and ramp-down times. I also used two LED bars mounted on the side that ran 12hrs a day.

Schedule was 10:00am LED bars ON, 11AM LED Bars and 2 bulb channel ON, 12:30 PM ALL LIGHTS ON, 8:30 PM 4 bulb channel OFF, 9PM 2 Bulb Channel OFF then 10PM ALL OFF.

Gave a really nice ramp up effect.

-Luke

Is this the secret recipe?

 

[rtparty]

Right. Once I started looking at different videos I noticed the actinic looked more blue than the blue bulbs.
Since I can swap the bulbs I will probably get an actinic and mess around, I definitely don't want too much white.

Have you had the fixture before? How did you decide on the 4 blue plus, what did you like about them? TIA

Thank you

Which LED bars did you use?

I believe you get 3 bulbs with the fixture from the vendor. Will definitely look at the Giesemann Tropic, it sounds like exactly what I am looking for.

Congrats on your new fixture. I am thrilled to get back to ATI Sunpower T5. It's really all about the fixture. You can mix and match other system components but if you don't have the light right for your tank goals it just doesn't seem as satisfying.

The Tropic is super white/yellow. Like freshwater 6500k. The video above shows all of them over a tank and you can start seeing what you do and don’t like. Certain bulbs will accent some colors but wash out others.

Did you find a brand new fixture from someone? I had to go used. The vendors I reached out to said all new Sunpowers in all sizes are now gone

 

[Tahoe61]

The Tropic is super white/yellow. Like freshwater 6500k. The video above shows all of them over a tank and you can start seeing what you do and don’t like. Certain bulbs will accent some colors but wash out others.

Did you find a brand new fixture from someone? I had to go used. The vendors I reached out to said all new Sunpowers in all sizes are now gone

https://fishtankusa.com/products/at...ywrZ4mUYzYlQBgo3LTb8W9DJRAelKIWBhkoyLP9-q4dGX
Yes.

And I will go up to an 8 bulb if I have to.
The 24 inch is not as popular. Since the tank I am looking at is a 25 gallon the 24 will work well.

 

[Tidal Gardens Verified Sponsor]

Is this the secret recipe?

It is what my corals looked the best under and I was hitting roughly 450 PAR at top with my Acropora.

If @Tahoe61 doesn't want a more white look during the day, cut out a CORAL+ for another Blue+. So it would be 3Blue+ , 2Actinic and 1Coral+.

I used Orphek LED Bars. I have not used this fixture in about 3 years since I broke down my display tank that it was powering.

-Luke

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Right. Once I started looking at different videos I noticed the actinic looked more blue than the blue bulbs.
Since I can swap the bulbs I will probably get an actinic and mess around, I definitely don't want too much white.

Have you had the fixture before? How did you decide on the 4 blue plus, what did you like about them? TIA

Thank you

Which LED bars did you use?

I believe you get 3 bulbs with the fixture from the vendor. Will definitely look at the Giesemann Tropic, it sounds like exactly what I am looking for.

Congrats on your new fixture. I am thrilled to get back to ATI Sunpower T5. It's really all about the fixture. You can mix and match other system components but if you don't have the light right for your tank goals it just doesn't seem as satisfying.

Yes-The color temp is closer to 20k for the blue plus and the fixture overall just grows coral really well. You dont have those shadows that almost all LED's have. t5 creates such a nice blanket. only thing i will change this time around is add an LED bar to bring out the colors in some corals. The PAR numbers are well documented.

 

[Yanir34]

I'm running 10 bulbs fixture with the following combo :
3 coral plus
1 KZ coral light
4 blue plus
2 actinic

 

[bubbgee]

It is what my corals looked the best under and I was hitting roughly 450 PAR at top with my Acropora.

If @Tahoe61 doesn't want a more white look during the day, cut out a CORAL+ for another Blue+. So it would be 3Blue+ , 2Actinic and 1Coral+.

I used Orphek LED Bars. I have not used this fixture in about 3 years since I broke down my display tank that it was powering.

-Luke

My setup right now is 2 T5s ATI Blue+, 2 Orphek OR4 Blue+ and one Orphek OR4 Blue Sky. I do have a Orphek Natura and a Hydra 32 in the middle. I'm debating whether to keep those LEDs or switch them to 2 more T5s (or worst because of tariffs, buy a couple of A8 SE Radion knockoffs).

I can grow corals, just lacking the colors I see on the online stores like Tidal.

 

[Tahoe61]

I'm running 10 bulbs fixture with the following combo :
3 coral plus
1 KZ coral light
4 blue plus
2 actinic

And this is exactly the reason to run T5,^ it doesn't get any better than that.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

quick question- i’m acclimating my acros and im starting them at low par at bottom- how long until i should get them into higher par?

 

[Kodski]

Blue+
Actinic
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+

I ran an Actinic and Blue+ on my 2-bulb channel during ramp-up and ramp-down times. I also used two LED bars mounted on the side that ran 12hrs a day.

Schedule was 10:00am LED bars ON, 11AM LED Bars and 2 bulb channel ON, 12:30 PM ALL LIGHTS ON, 8:30 PM 4 bulb channel OFF, 9PM 2 Bulb Channel OFF then 10PM ALL OFF.

Gave a really nice ramp up effect.

-Luke

This is pretty much what I run as well even down to how its scheduled. I'm left wanting more color POP but that's simply due to my LED bar. Currently I'm running a single Reefbrite Actinic XHO but its just not getting the POP I want. I will either trade it out for some Reefbreeders UV/Actinic bars or add another Reefbrite Actinic bar to it.

quick question- i’m acclimating my acros and im starting them at low par at bottom- how long until i should get them into higher par?

I usually acclimate them for a week or so if I feel the need. The reality is though that if they were around the same par (figure 50-75 par) it shouldn't bother them all that much to just put them in their final spot right away. If you know they were in 250 par and you put them in a spot that's 300 par, IMO its less harmful than putting them in a spot that's 150 par towards the sand bed. I find they start growing faster when I skip acclimation like that.

 

[Yanir34]

And this is exactly the reason to run T5,^ it doesn't get any better than that.

By the way I mounted the fixture 12 cm above water surface .