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ATI Sunpower T5 + LED Retro - Initial Impressions


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Back Story;

 

I wanted to add T5 supplementation to my then current light set up as I was experiencing quite severe shadowing on my Acros but my options were either going to look bad or would require me to build a hood, neither of which I wanted. So I gave Dave a shout and chatted to him about possible options from his side, the Duo / T5 Hybrid being one of them potentially but he replied letting me know that he was working on something that would be perfect for my tank, an ATI Sunpower Retro. It took all of 30 seconds to convince me and here we are. :)

 

Unit;

The unit is a 4 bulb ATI 24W Sunpower, resprayed white and retro'd to have 2 x T5 and LEDs. The quality of the job is excellent, the paint job is neat, wiring looks sexy, overall it looks very sleek and fits my build perfectly.

 

Set Up;

The unit shipped with a Storm Controller and set up was really easy, within 10 minutes I had everything up and running. LEDs run off the Storm Controller and T5s are on a timer. Just follow Dave's instructions and all will be OK.

 

Pictures;

 

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Initial impressions good, all my corals seem happy, the light spread is fantastic and the unit runs flawlessly. I really am happy with the upgrade. I'll report back in a few months with an updated review.

 

If you're looking to get your older T5 or MH unit retro'd I wouldn't hesitate to give Dave a shout, he's a cool guy who does good work.

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Correct.

 

I really stick with my standard array on 99% of builds. I believe it looks better than others and creates a crisp color. I can do custom arrays however I firmly believe it is not needed.

 

-Dave

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I just added t5 to my LEDs as well (mine don't look nearly as sexy as your fixture). I'm interested in seeing how much the t5s help.

 

What bulbs are you using?

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I just added t5 to my LEDs as well (mine don't look nearly as sexy as your fixture). I'm interested in seeing how much the t5s help.

 

What bulbs are you using?

1 ATI Coral + & ATI 1 Blue +

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I have two ATI Coral+ on mine. They are a bit purple, but they only run during the day so I don't see them for long. I didn't want 2 different bulbs bc my tank is a peninsula and one side of the rock would be one color and the other side another

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I have two ATI Coral+ on mine. They are a bit purple, but they only run during the day so I don't see them for long. I didn't want 2 different bulbs bc my tank is a peninsula and one side of the rock would be one color and the other side another

There was only 1 Coral + at the store when I went to get new bulbs else I'd probably have 2 as well. :lol:

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Would you say T5 and LEDs are the better combination over either by themselves? I have to admit, I love my AI Hydra 52 and Vega but there is some intangible quality to T5s that just makes me drool and I don't see that in LEDs by themselves.

 

Your tank is gorgeous and was one of the inspirations for me to go with a shallow build and I definitely think the T5s add that intangible quality to the display that I haven't quite been able to find with my LEDs no matter how much I tinker with the spectrum.

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That is a beautiful light, and tank. The more I think about things, and see people doing T5/LED combos, I really feel like it is the way to go.

I think it's a good combo.

 

Would you say T5 and LEDs are the better combination over either by themselves? I have to admit, I love my AI Hydra 52 and Vega but there is some intangible quality to T5s that just makes me drool and I don't see that in LEDs by themselves. Your tank is gorgeous and was one of the inspirations for me to go with a shallow build and I definitely think the T5s add that intangible quality to the display that I haven't quite been able to find with my LEDs no matter how much I tinker with the spectrum.

I'm not a lighting guru by any means but I think it's been proven you can get good results with either and both. I've not had this unit long enough to make any judgements but so far so good. :) T5s do add a nice soft glow to the tank and a more even spread which is really beautiful, but do I love that more than the light my Kessil put off? I love them equally. :) But this isn't about me, it's about the corals and I'm hoping the more even light will improve colour.

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Would you say T5 and LEDs are the better combination over either by themselves? I have to admit, I love my AI Hydra 52 and Vega but there is some intangible quality to T5s that just makes me drool and I don't see that in LEDs by themselves. Your tank is gorgeous and was one of the inspirations for me to go with a shallow build and I definitely think the T5s add that intangible quality to the display that I haven't quite been able to find with my LEDs no matter how much I tinker with the spectrum.

I'm not sure light is intangible. It's very much something that is pleasing to your eye whether it is the all blue all the time look, a hybrid or whatever. With a hybrid light you get the best of both worlds IMO. The corals have a much better all round color than using LEDs alone because of the narrow focus point of LEDs. I personally can't imagine a tank without a hybrid. Personally I need both LEDs and T5s in my tank.

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I'm not sure light is intangible. It's very much something that is pleasing to your eye whether it is the all blue all the time look, a hybrid or whatever. With a hybrid light you get the best of both worlds IMO. The corals have a much better all round color than using LEDs alone because of the narrow focus point of LEDs. I personally can't imagine a tank without a hybrid. Personally I need both LEDs and T5s in my tank.

 

Yeah I didn't really mean the light was intangible. I guess I was referencing whatever quality to the light that I can't quite figure out. There's something about the look of T5s that appeals to me but I can't tell you exactly what that is. The corals appear vibrant but the light isn't blinding.

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