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4x36 vs 6x24 ati 40B


TotesMaGoat

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Picked up a 40B at petco for the 1$/G sale, planned on a 20 but they were out so i said to heck with it. I am debating between a 4x36 and 6x24 ati. color combo with the 6 bulbs is great, but with 6" of tank hang on each side of the light, would the 24" cover it adequately? I am looking to keep more lps/softies with a few sps like a birdsnest towards the center (thinking a peninsula build). Or would it be better to have the 36" light to cover the tank end to end. I think the 6x36 is overkill for what I am looking to do in terms of par. Would love an led, but not crazy for the point source of light most of these have

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Why not an ATI 24" 4 bulb or a aquaticlife 4 bulb? Either would suite your needs. As far as LED's go, you can get a number of great LED fixtures for what you will pay for the ATI with $0 ongoing costs: ATI bulb will cost you $75 every 6-9 months.

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Picked up a 40B at petco for the 1$/G sale, planned on a 20 but they were out so i said to heck with it. I am debating between a 4x36 and 6x24 ati. color combo with the 6 bulbs is great, but with 6" of tank hang on each side of the light, would the 24" cover it adequately? I am looking to keep more lps/softies with a few sps like a birdsnest towards the center (thinking a peninsula build). Or would it be better to have the 36" light to cover the tank end to end. I think the 6x36 is overkill for what I am looking to do in terms of par. Would love an led, but not crazy for the point source of light most of these have

 

I just got a 6x39 ATI for my 36" tank and LOVE it. I switched from Radions. Had growth with the Radion for sure but I'm seeing explosive growth in 2 weeks. Had a few acros put on 1/8 inch of growth in a week. VERY noticeable difference.

 

A 24" would work on that tank. A 36" will be much better.

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jedimasterben

For an LPS and softie Reef, I'd do a 4x24. This will cover the tank with a little less power on the edges for the stuff that doesn't need a lot of light, and in the middle you will still get a LOT of PAR.

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I've used there fixtures, and if I was to run T5's again I'd get the 24" 6 bulb for 36x20x22. Good coral placement and a four bulb would work to.

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jedimasterben

A 40B is only 36"x18"x16", not 36x20x22.

 

This is the PAR from four 36" lamps in a Sunpower at 26" distance. The only difference in 36" vs 24" lamps is that with 36" the PAR on the outer edges is a bit higher, but in the middle is almost the same since they emit almost the same amount of light per inch.

 

t5ho%252520par.png

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A 40B is only 36"x18"x16", not 36x20x22.

 

This is the PAR from four 36" lamps in a Sunpower at 26" distance. The only difference in 36" vs 24" lamps is that with 36" the PAR on the outer edges is a bit higher, but in the middle is almost the same since they emit almost the same amount of light per inch.

 

t5ho%252520par.png

At what depth?

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jedimasterben

At what depth?

Like I mentioned, 26" distance. I think it might actually have been 28", but I can't find my spreadsheet with the data.

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I wasn't clear, my tank are those dimensions, sorry for the confusion. I owned the four bulb 36" ATI on a 36" tank. That was 36x24x12".good coverage but would have rather had the 24"6 bulb.

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jedimasterben

I wasn't clear, my tank are those dimensions, sorry for the confusion. I owned the four bulb 36" ATI on a 36" tank. That was 36x24x12".good coverage but would have rather had the 24"6 bulb.

OH! Lol gotcha :D

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A 40B is only 36"x18"x16", not 36x20x22.

 

This is the PAR from four 36" lamps in a Sunpower at 26" distance. The only difference in 36" vs 24" lamps is that with 36" the PAR on the outer edges is a bit higher, but in the middle is almost the same since they emit almost the same amount of light per inch.

 

t5ho%252520par.png

 

Those levels are surprisingly low. Mine is 18 inches above my tank. My tank is 14" total depth. So 32" from light to sand. 6 bulb. I need a PAR meter.

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jedimasterben

Those levels are surprisingly low. Mine is 18 inches above my tank. My tank is 14" total depth. So 32" from light to sand. 6 bulb. I need a PAR meter.

175 PAR in the center at 26-28" distance is damned good for only four lamps. PAR is an inverse square, so as you go closer to the light, the PAR increases significantly, not linearly.

 

Plenty of light in the center, and less light on the edges for lower light LPS like brain corals.

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175 PAR in the center at 26-28" distance is damned good for only four lamps. PAR is an inverse square, so as you go closer to the light, the PAR increases significantly, not linearly.

 

Plenty of light in the center, and less light on the edges for lower light LPS like brain corals.

 

I really would have thought it would be in the low 200s at peak. Obviously I know it increase the closer you get.

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jedimasterben

I really would have thought it would be in the low 200s at peak. Obviously I know it increase the closer you get.

No, not from four lamps at that distance.

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really leaning towards the 6x24, just a little concerned about dark spots on the end. Theres a hydra 52 for sale here locally as well, think that would provide decent coverage as well

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jedimasterben

really leaning towards the 6x24, just a little concerned about dark spots on the end. Theres a hydra 52 for sale here locally as well, think that would provide decent coverage as well

Not a 40 breeder, it won't.

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I have always been happy with 4 bulbs over that size tank. I have 4 bulb over my 34 which has breeder foot print and it does ok I guess lol. I wish my tank was little taller and I would use same light.

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Get the 6x39w. You can always hang it a little higher to drop the intensity, if you get a 4x24w and it's shadowing or too weak you're outta luck. Bear in mind how hard it is to get a good mix with only 4 tubes.

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Get the 6x39w. You can always hang it a little higher to drop the intensity, if you get a 4x24w and it's shadowing or too weak you're outta luck. Bear in mind how hard it is to get a good mix with only 4 tubes.

get the 6 bulb, I have one over my 40b and I can grow anything! best fixture I've ever owned!!!

Why not a 4x39? I have had some good setups running just 4 bulbs. Spread over my 18 inch wide tank very even. You get more light spill on that size tank with 6 bulb and if raise it as said your gonna light up your room.......Check out the current totm and it has sps top to bottom under 4 bulb. ;)

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It's not a great one, especially for as much as they cost.

not a ton more than a 4x36 ati, with the benefit of a mh, granted the t5s are not on the same level as the ati, like the way it looks on this guys tank

 

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