ATI Sunpower: (Dimmable or Not) and (6 or 8 bulb)?

[ghbrewer]

K, looks like I will be swapping my Maxspect Razor out for an ATI fixture. Doesn't look like you can get the Power Modules any more, that's a shame. Sunpowers seem to do well though from what research I have done. I have a couple of questions tho...

1. Does anyone run the dimmable version of the SunPower? I saw a pretty recent thread on Reef Central that looks like the dimmable ones have been having issues. Would I be better off getting the non-dimmable version? I would like to have the control and a single plug, but performance and reliability take the front seat on this one. So, if it looks like the non-dimmable is more reliable then I will go that direction.

2. For a 54" Long x 24" Wide x 19" Tall tank, I know that I will need a 48" long fixture. But, what should I be looking at for width/bulb count? I was thinking that the 6 bulb seems sufficient given it is a shallower tank, but wondering if the coverage of an 8-bulb fixture might be what I need to look at? I would like to get away with just the 6 bulb fixture, and might add a 48" reefbrite actinic or two later on down the road..

What's your opinion?

 

[dball711]

Grant, I have a 6 bulb SunPower (non-dimable) over an 18" wide tank. I would go whit an 8 bulb unit, its only $100 more. Don't see the benefit for the dimable unit, I just raise or lower mine as needed. I have used one of these for 6-7 years and they are GREAT!!!

 

[tonymission]

I would go 8 bulbs too unless you're going to run the reefbrites as supplements.
One of my units is dimmable but I just run them at 100% all the time and control on/off with Apex.

 

[ghbrewer]

How high are you guys running these AWL?

 

[dball711]

I run mine about 7"-10" from the water surface.

 

[fishlips]

ghbrewer;1015580 wrote: How high are you guys running these AWL?

Grant, When I had my standard 90 gal.I had a 4 bulb Sunpower fixture over it 5" AWL.I know its sounds weak covering 18"wide,But it grew sps and lps great.Did nt have acros at the time.Point is,Im sure 6 bulb would work.Just would not give you different options of bulbs.

 

[tonymission]

ghbrewer;1015580 wrote: How high are you guys running these AWL?

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16" tanks. 8 bulb on the left. Not sure I have them dialed in yet par-wise.

 

[ghbrewer]

Considering this fixture too:

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[ghbrewer]

It is available in white...lol

 

[dball711]

ghbrewer;1015911 wrote: It is available in white...lol

That's going to be hard to beat...sexy!

 

[ghbrewer]

Yeah, been talking with Chris over at CoralVue about it.
He seems to think that the 48" 6 bulb fixture should work well considering the design and quality of the reflectors and cooling system.