ATI Sunpower for a 120g

[Rickyrooz]

Will a 6 bulb 48" ATI Sunpower be enough light for a 4'x2'x2' SPS dominated tank? I don't need the entire tank lit (this should help prevent algae from growing on the glass). My main concern is if the 6 bulb will be strong enough for the 42"x18" area that I need lit for 90% SPS corals and 10% LPS corals. My other option is to stick with what I have (Two 250 watt MH's and two 54 watt T5's) or wait for the new 8 bulb ATI Sunpower to release in one to two months. I saw a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower at the LFS and the light spread from front to back isn't great, the 6 bulb fixture is 13.5" wide and will probably only give me a 15" width of good light coverage. I really don't want to use the 8 bulb because bulb replacement will be as much as what I currently have and the power usage is creeping up to what I use now. On the other hand, the acrylic sheild and the metal exterior of the Sunpower was cool to the touch when I saw it, this is a big plus! If anyone has pictures of the ATI Sunpower or ATI Powermodule over a 120 gallon tank please post your pics.

 

[NYreefNoob]

ricky i have a 3x2x22" tank with the ati 6 bulb and have good coverage, 8 would be better but i ont have any dark spots with the 6 bulb

 

[Rickyrooz]

ricky i have a 3x2x22" tank with the ati 6 bulb and have good coverage, 8 would be better but i ont have any dark spots with the 6 bulb

How are your SPS colors/growth with the 6 bulb? Would they be better if you went with the 8 bulb?

 

[NYreefNoob]

wouldnt say better with 8 bulb just more coverage on complete tank, i do keep my clam on the sand and is right up front and not directly under the bulb and does well, as for sps they do well, my tank is finally starting to come back around from a salt situation i had so just starting to put sps back in tank

 

[batt600]

It is recommended by Ati to us a 10bulb 54w for a sps tank 120 to 150g.
8b is for sps tank 90 to 110 gallon. When i upgrade to my 120 ill be getting to 10b Ati power module

 

[Rickyrooz]

It is recommended by Ati to us a 10bulb 54w for a sps tank 120 to 150g.
8b is for sps tank 90 to 110 gallon

Reef Geek says 10x54w for 180 gallon SPS and 8x54w for 145 gallon SPS. The 6 bulb is for a 110 gallon SPS dominated tank.

 

[batt600]

That for a mix tank not full sps tank here the link

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_504_561&products_id=3219

 

[NYreefNoob]

a 110 is alot taller then a 120. ricky i have basic same tank as a 120 except a foot shorter and have always done well with sps on a 6 bulb fixture the extra bulbs arent really going to raise par in the middle as the reflectors work to aim the light down it will raise the par on the outer edge of the tank though, great if every inch to the glass is packed

 

[Rickyrooz]

a 110 is alot taller then a 120. ricky i have basic same tank as a 120 except a foot shorter and have always done well with sps on a 6 bulb fixture the extra bulbs arent really going to raise par in the middle as the reflectors work to aim the light down it will raise the par on the outer edge of the tank though, great if every inch to the glass is packed

Yeah, I don't like that look anymore, I want to have an open aquascape and have a good border of sand between the glass and rocks. I'm going to make it look like this!
http://robertus-reeftanks.nl/album.php?cat=Robertus 100G

 

[batt600]

Wooo that going to look nice like to see pics when done.

 

[NYreefNoob]

6 bulb will be fine, if ya got the extra $ then go for the 8 bulb though, the extra $50 a year replacing bulbs wont kill you

 

[strendo]

I have the 10 bulb ati w/ a Reefbrite LED and sometimes wished I had a little more light on my custom 175