Mohaynow Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Ok so the time has come to get a new light fixture (clap). I currently have a 4 bulb tek light, its great but could be better. I have been looking into the ATI Powermodule and the TEK Elite fixtures. At a glance they are pretty much the same thing, fancy european reflectors, fans, nice sleek design, and they both include a splash guard, and both have multiple power cords for independant controll of sets of bulbs making neato dawn/dusk features possible. The only real difference that I have noticed is that one is made 50 miles from here and the other comes from across the globe, and the $150 price difference. So a little advice and insight would be appreciated. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisriverfisherman Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Are gonna go with more bulb's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 actually I think it's more like a mile from my house where the Tek light is made but either way, are you looking to stick with T5's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohaynow Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Yes I will be sticking with t5's and I'm not too sure on increasing my bulbs, don't really think its necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I like my ATI and Grassi has an ATI. Can't beat the par but they are spendy. I haven't used TEK so cannot comment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanktop74 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 ATI also makes the sun power. Check into that, it's cheaper than the power module and gives off good light! We have Both a power module and a sunpower. I am very pleased with bothe par and color we get with the ATI units! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisriverfisherman Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 If you are gonna invest in a new light I would upgrade the bulb count to allow you to grow more lps and sps unless you are only gonna run a lps softy tank IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohaynow Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 I have been having fairly good luck with my sps and lps for the last few months, I started taking better care of my tank and got some better filtration. I may upgrade to a 6 bulb though, still havent quite decided yet. Price will have the biggest impact on that. Heres some links to the specific lights I am looking at. Powermodule Tek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I'm in the process of upgrading my tank and I might be selling my 48 ATI Powermodule 6x54w. I'm thinking about going with t5 + led spotlights for the new tank. Still torn about how to do it, so my 48 ATI could be on the market. I never tried the new Tek. The old one wasn't an impressive fixture. For sure go with ati bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 From what I hear, the TEK doesn't use a good T5 ballast like the ATI does so it can overdrive the bulbs, heating them up. Plus the tests have shown that the ATI produce about 20-25% more par than the tek elite fixtures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I've got a 6 bulb TEK over a 40b but would have the ATI if could afford it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohaynow Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 ok, looks like the ati is a better product using better components. Beth or Kim, what would you say the big difference is between the sun power and powermodule fixtures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 The difference in sunpower vs powermodule is the build quality and another fan in the powermodule line/ ie the sunpower will have 2 fans, the powermodule will usually have 3/4. The tests in light output on them show VERY little difference in light output, maybe a 5% increase from the powermodules, not worth it IMO. The powermodule is built like a tank.... the sunpower I would compare to a Hum V The sunpower line used to only go up to 6 bulbs, so the powermodule line was necessary for those who needed 8 or 10 bulb setups, now they have released the 8 bulb sunpower line so the powermodule is really only needed for 10 bulb setups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanktop74 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 The difference in sunpower vs powermodule is the build quality and another fan in the powermodule line/ ie the sunpower will have 2 fans, the powermodule will usually have 3/4. The tests in light output on them show VERY little difference in light output, maybe a 5% increase from the powermodules, not worth it IMO. The powermodule is built like a tank.... the sunpower I would compare to a Hum V The sunpower line used to only go up to 6 bulbs, so the powermodule line was necessary for those who needed 8 or 10 bulb setups, now they have released the 8 bulb sunpower line so the powermodule is really only needed for 10 bulb setups. Like mike said, there is very little difference between the two light output wise. We got the power module for the length and the bulb count. The sun power would have been fine but not available in the size we needed for the 150 Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 As said the output difference is so little that you can consider it as the same light. The only difference is that the Sunpower is a nice fixture (speaking of aesthetics) while the Powermodule is more like a design object. You decide depending on your needs. I went for the Powermodule, but I'm an euro arty-farty metrosexual kind of guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I'm not an arty farty metrosexual so I would have gone with the sunpower if it had been available in the size we wanted. I have a sunpower over the new frag tank and think it works just as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohaynow Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Sounds like I will probably go with a sun power. I do like things to look nice but the extra $200 for a nice design is the deciding factor on that one. Now I just need to decide if I really want to upgrade to a 6 bulb... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 ATI is far superior over Teklights. Better reflectors, better construction, and better ballasts. There is a price difference though. It really depends on what you can afford. If ya got the money you will be more than happy with an ATI fixture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanktop74 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 go the 6 bulbs, you won't be disappointed, more options for bulb combo's and you have the nice feature of just 2 bulbs coming on and then the other 4 later, kinda dusk/dawn affect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohaynow Posted April 29, 2011 Author Share Posted April 29, 2011 Ok, I am ordering my 6 bulb sunpower fixture today and now have a question about bulb combo's. I know this has been explained to extreme lengths befor and I have done some research. I just wanted to get an opinion on what I have decided on. I was thinking Front of tank ATI Blue Plus ATI Aquablue Special ATI True Actinic ATI Purple Plus ATI Aquablue Special ATI Blue Plus Back of tank I have been debating on wether I should swap out one of the Aquablue Specials with another Blue Plus. A lot of the stuff that I have read says that the Blue Plus has a nice blue hue to it ans throws out a lot of light at the same time. But I kinda like the nice crisp look of the Aquablue Special. Anyone else with a similar fixture have any input? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I run a 6 bulb sunpower fixture Blue + blue + Fiji Purple Fiji new gen Blue + blue + This is more of a 18-20k look to it. I would swap out your true actinic, no real need for them with these T5s as the blue + does almost the same thing and puts out a TON of par. With 2 aquablue specials (very similar to the KZ new gen in my setup) you will get a good 14K or so color. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohaynow Posted April 29, 2011 Author Share Posted April 29, 2011 So swapping the true actinic for another blue plus would put out better par and do esentially the same thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I run this combo now and I like it. It is the same suggested on the Ati website 1. Blue Plus 2. Aquablue Special 3. Purple Plus 4. Blue Plus 5. Aquablue Special 6. Blue Plus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennmac415 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I'm getting ready to decide my bulb combo too, Madmike and Grassi... do either of you have pics somewhere of your tanks running your respective combos??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 You can see it in action here: http://www.pnwmas.org/forums/showthread.php?13252-Grassi-s-65g/page13 You can see the difference with a Maristar running 14k Phoenix 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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