New ATI Straton Flex LED

[PanaReefer]

Sunpower 48" 6 bulb and an Orphek light strip.

I’m curious to see how the FLEX compares to that setup. I have the same one as you and was thinking about purchasing the FLEX as well, but I feel like I’d need two of them to cover the same area as the Sunpower—and that’s a lot of money.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Oh yeah. If you have 2 102s on a 48 inch tank, you'll never need lights again.
But I would give this new 102 a try. It might be all you need as well.

I'd like to see one in action myself.

Comparing lighting schedules - does ATI accept other lighting schemes that people maybe using when they convert to these lights? Meaning - I have 8 XR30s over my tank with 4 halides and T5s. I want to get rid of my XR30s. I was close to pulling the trigger on Mitras, but, I’ve been waiting for these to get released. My tank is 96x36 and 4 of these would fit really well along side my T5s. I’ve been using the same lighting schedule for a while and have a concern about switching lights and creating an issue with my coral. I’m curious if I can nearly mirror my existing Radion lighting plan then tweak it over time to get more performance out of the lights. Thoughts?

 

[xiaoxiy]

Comparing lighting schedules - does ATI accept other lighting schemes that people maybe using when they convert to these lights? Meaning - I have 8 XR30s over my tank with 4 halides and T5s. I want to get rid of my XR30s. I was close to pulling the trigger on Mitras, but, I’ve been waiting for these to get released. My tank is 96x36 and 4 of these would fit really well along side my T5s. I’ve been using the same lighting schedule for a while and have a concern about switching lights and creating an issue with my coral. I’m curious if I can nearly mirror my existing Radion lighting plan then tweak it over time to get more performance out of the lights. Thoughts?

There’s no direct way to import your current schedule. You’d have to try to recreate it manually in the scheduler/website.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

OK - I want to replace the 8 XR30s. I am like 90% sure I want to go with 2 runs of Straton Flex. Tank is 96x36. I am not removing the T5s or Halides. I want to figure out if I can use 4 - 36” (not a solid 6’ run though, 1 - 36” Straton would be centered on the 4’ mark). Tank is 25” deep. I am trying to see what the spread is not on the long side of the fixture, but rather on the short side. This would help me make sure I don’t need 1 -36” and 1 - 57”. I’m thinking I can get away with 4 - 36” and save some $.

 

[xiaoxiy]

OK - I want to replace the 8 XR30s. I am like 90% sure I want to go with 2 runs of Straton Flex. Tank is 96x36. I am not removing the T5s or Halides. I want to figure out if I can use 4 - 36” (not a solid 6’ run though, 1 - 36” Straton would be centered on the 4’ mark). Tank is 25” deep. I am trying to see what the spread is not on the long side of the fixture, but rather on the short side. This would help me make sure I don’t need 1 -36” and 1 - 57”. I’m thinking I can get away with 4 - 36” and save some $.

My gut says you'd be able to light that tank with just the 4x Flex 102s for that footprint even WITHOUT the use of the halides and T5s....

It's basically just twice as long as my current tank and a bit deeper. I'm using 2x 102 flexes for a 48x36 and I only run my lights at 40-65% at my peak photoperiod.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I’m not interested in only running LEDs. I may decrease the hours my T5s are on, but not my Radium’s. I’m truly in love with a full hybrid lighting system. I’ve had Acro tanks with and without halides. As long as I have bulbs, ballasts and a job to pay the electric bill, I’ll be the last man standing if I have to be. Growth is not the same. Plus, I’m feeding 12 times a day and dosing ammonia and urea, it’s been pure fun with this set up. I’m a little chicken poop to deviate, lol. Has ATI replicated the UV that halides puts out? I look forward to when that happens, if it hasn’t here (truly don’t know). I’m running the 8 XR30s at 100% all channels 100% schedule (thank you Sanjay). I’m at 600 par on the sand under the Pros and 550 under the blues (every other light is a pro/blue). My coral have just reach the half way point in the tank and are well into the 1k par range now. I hate Mobius and I’m pushing these lights past their comfort zone. I’ve killed 3 in the last 12 months alone. Another reason I really like the Stratton is the way they cool. My fish room has its own HVAC and the tank has an oversized chiller. The Radions sound like a future Starship Elon is working on, this even with 2 - 20” fans blowing across them. Below 85% the fans aren’t this annoying.

 

[xiaoxiy]

I’m not interested in only running LEDs. I may decrease the hours my T5s are on, but not my Radium’s. I’m truly in love with a full hybrid lighting system. I’ve had Acro tanks with and without halides. As long as I have bulbs, ballasts and a job to pay the electric bill, I’ll be the last man standing if I have to be. Growth is not the same. Plus, I’m feeding 12 times a day and dosing ammonia and urea, it’s been pure fun with this set up. I’m a little chicken poop to deviate, lol. Has ATI replicated the UV that halides puts out? I look forward to when that happens, if it hasn’t here (truly don’t know). I’m running the 8 XR30s at 100% all channels 100% schedule (thank you Sanjay). I’m at 600 par on the sand under the Pros and 550 under the blues (every other light is a pro/blue). My coral have just reach the half way point in the tank and are well into the 1k par range now. I hate Mobius and I’m pushing these lights past their comfort zone. I’ve killed 3 in the last 12 months alone. Another reason I really like the Stratton is the way they cool. My fish room has its own HVAC and the tank has an oversized chiller. The Radions sound like a future Starship Elon is working on, this even with 2 - 20” fans blowing across them. Below 85% the fans aren’t this annoying.

That's a lot of PAR .

Stratons will be definitely quieter than the newest generation of Radions (dang airplane engines). They have some 380nm LEDS, but actually decreased then going from Gen 1 to Gen 2 due to reefers in Europe reporting "burning" their corals due to the UV channels.

The stratons are also cool enough that I can touch the LED lenses/covering without feeling like it's hot, just warm.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

That's a lot of PAR .

Stratons will be definitely quieter than the newest generation of Radions (dang airplane engines). They have some 380nm LEDS, but actually decreased then going from Gen 1 to Gen 2 due to reefers in Europe reporting "burning" their corals due to the UV channels.

The stratons are also cool enough that I can touch the LED lenses/covering without feeling like it's hot, just warm.

The UV band sounds similar to the Mitras, I would have pulled the trigger on Mitras had I not been curious about what ATI was working on. I think I’m sold on the Flex, I just need to figure out 4 - 36” or 2 - 36” and 2 - 57”.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

That's a lot of PAR .

Stratons will be definitely quieter than the newest generation of Radions (dang airplane engines). They have some 380nm LEDS, but actually decreased then going from Gen 1 to Gen 2 due to reefers in Europe reporting "burning" their corals due to the UV channels.

The stratons are also cool enough that I can touch the LED lenses/covering without feeling like it's hot, just warm.

There are a total of 10 XR30’s in my fish room. It really does sound like I have a Cessna warming up in my living room at times.

 

[xiaoxiy]

The UV band sounds similar to the Mitras, I would have pulled the trigger on Mitras had I not been curious about what ATI was working on. I think I’m sold on the Flex, I just need to figure out 4 - 36” or 2 - 36” and 2 - 57”.

4 -36" will provide the coverage you need, even without the halide and T5s. With the halides and T5s you can probably get a nice sun tan too.

 

[PanaReefer]

@DeeBee Any updates?

 

[DeeBee]

@DeeBee Any updates?

Nope, sorry. The whole life thing always gets in the way of reefing.

 

[PanaReefer]

Nope, sorry. The whole life thing always gets in the way of reefing.

Totally get it man. I already pulled the trigger on one, so we’ll see how it goes. If it doesn’t fully cover my 48x24 I got a couple backup plans:

1. Throw on my 2 OR3 bars
2. mount it to an Aquatic Life fixture
3. not dropping another 1k for a 2nd one lol”**

My current setup. Starting new with all Frags

 

[Australian_Reef]

Having been a loyal ATI customer in the T5 era I’m sold on their LED’s. But given the multitude of offerings I’m a bit confused about which I should choose for my new tank

Tank is 72”x30x24” deep. Peninsula. SPS reef. The 18” wide of sps lighting the Stratton flex promises seems enough. But is it better than 2 x Radion xr30 pros? And would one Stratton 57” be enough?

 

[skey44]

I’d likely do two of these if it were me On that tank size based on the depth and width. I’m still waiting on real reviews of this and coverage. If one can handle my 48x24x16 mostly Acropora reef it’s likely to be my next light if they get a better tank mounting option. I think you’d be very dim at perimeters especially at the bottom of your tank with only one. I think two would be awesome. This is gonna be a way better light than Radions IMO. Radion is overpriced old tech to me. They work but not nearly as modern at this point.
I’d think you’d need at least 3 xr30s to barely cover that tank size.

 

[DeeBee]

I FINALLY have completed my prototype mounting bracket for the Flex and it is strong and works well. It takes advantage of the T-Slot in the 8020 bar to mount instead of going around the entire bar like the ATI design.

It also allows the option to mount using one parallel T-slot bar like in the picture or two T-slot bars running perpendicular to the Flex fixture depending on the setup.

So best part is that I can now get the Flex mounted above my 48"x24" tomorrow. I hope to have basic PAR numbers this weekend.

 

[skey44]

I FINALLY have completed my prototype mounting bracket for the Flex and it is strong and works well. It takes advantage of the T-Slot in the 8020 bar to mount instead of going around the entire bar like the ATI design.

It also allows the option to mount using one parallel T-slot bar like in the picture or two T-slot bars running perpendicular to the Flex fixture depending on the setup.

So best part is that I can now get the Flex mounted above my 48"x24" tomorrow. I hope to have basic PAR numbers this weekend.

Thank you so much for sharing here! Looks great and looking Forward to the final Mount and numbers! Also mainly just want to know how shading is. My current lights produce plenty of par to all reaches of the tank but the shading is significant near the edges due to the lighting style (Kessil AP9x). I’m having success and gonna run these til they die, but looking at future options is always fun.

 

[spsick]

I FINALLY have completed my prototype mounting bracket for the Flex and it is strong and works well. It takes advantage of the T-Slot in the 8020 bar to mount instead of going around the entire bar like the ATI design.

It also allows the option to mount using one parallel T-slot bar like in the picture or two T-slot bars running perpendicular to the Flex fixture depending on the setup.

So best part is that I can now get the Flex mounted above my 48"x24" tomorrow. I hope to have basic PAR numbers this weekend.

That’s really nice! Somebody needs to make this out of machined aluminum. It’s a shame ATI isn’t including this with a $1500 light.

 

[xiaoxiy]

Having been a loyal ATI customer in the T5 era I’m sold on their LED’s. But given the multitude of offerings I’m a bit confused about which I should choose for my new tank

Tank is 72”x30x24” deep. Peninsula. SPS reef. The 18” wide of sps lighting the Stratton flex promises seems enough. But is it better than 2 x Radion xr30 pros? And would one Stratton 57” be enough?

I would do 2x 153 flexes. I think that as long as you aren’t trying to hit 4-500 par at the ends you should be fine.

 

[Australian_Reef]

Thanks for the replies. Yes I think I’ll have to get two in the long run but I’m going to start with just one and see how usable that light spread is at the bottom of the tank. My rook work should be encompassed as ive left a large margin around the rank for swimming space. However when things kick off I think I’ll get shading issues.