TotesMaGoat Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 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 Link to comment
fishphi784 Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 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 $75 every 6-9 months. Link to comment
braaap Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Picked up a 40B at petco for the 1$/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. Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
Nanofreak79 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. At what depth? Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
Nanofreak79 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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 Link to comment
braaap Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. 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. Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
braaap Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
TotesMaGoat Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 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 Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
plainrt Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
xmas_one Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
duncan-junkie Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 get the 6 bulb, I have one over my 40b and I can grow anything! best fixture I've ever owned!!! Link to comment
plainrt Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 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. Link to comment
TotesMaGoat Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 nice tank plainrt any thoughts on this fixture? Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 It's not a great one, especially for as much as they cost. Link to comment
TotesMaGoat Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 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 Link to comment
Horerczy Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 nice tank plainrt any thoughts on this fixture? for that cost I'd rather buy an oddesea one off of eBay. Far cheaper and the poor components (ballasts) could be switched out for relatively little cost. Link to comment
TotesMaGoat Posted October 13, 2015 Author Share Posted October 13, 2015 Found a tek elite 6x39 locally im going with Link to comment
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