6x18w T5 bulb Configuration tips & advice

[mr.r8rfan]

I have a 20" 6 bulb (6x18w) Nova Extreme light fixture over a 30 gallon 24x24x12high tank. I want to have mostly SPS and I'm trying to figure out what the best way to set up my bulbs is. I'm realizing this size lamp is very limited because only current usa makes them in a 460nm Actinic Blue, 12,000K Power White, and 420nm Purple. I want to know what the best way to set them up would be for SPS, currently they are;

front to back
460 actinic
460 actinic
460 actinic
12,000k power white
12,000k power white
460 actinic

 

[Chuck H.]

I'm not saying this is the "best" way, but this is how I have mine configured over my 28 Nanocube, from F to B:

460
12k
460
12k
420
460

I like the look and my 3 Montis seem to be doing fine and I have two T. maximas on the sandbed that have okay growth. Just my 2 pennies.

Chuck

 

[mr.r8rfan]

Thanks Chuck, figured somebody had to have the same fixture. I like the blue look towards the front and the white towards the back but I don't like that you can tell the difference just by looking at it. How does that 420 look/work for you? I just ordered my 2 460's from my LFS and I asked for a 420 too but they told me they couldn't get it. I've seen it on line and I'm asking if its worth geting or are the 460's just fine in your opinion?

 

[jarrodsanborn]

Uvl sells 18" bulbs as a special item through nano customs only. They have the full line up of uvl stuff just in sizes that fit 12" and 18". They also are designed to be overdriven to 20w and 30w depending on length.
My friend buys them for his odyssea 4x18w. The par is considerably higher.

I was going to buy them but i went halide.
I have no direct exp, just trying to help out

sent with my fat thumbs typing on a stupid damn smartphone

 

[Chuck H.]

Thanks Chuck, figured somebody had to have the same fixture. I like the blue look towards the front and the white towards the back but I don't like that you can tell the difference just by looking at it. How does that 420 look/work for you? I just ordered my 2 460's from my LFS and I asked for a 420 too but they told me they couldn't get it. I've seen it on line and I'm asking if its worth geting or are the 460's just fine in your opinion?

I think the 460's will be fine and I just wanted to try something different with the one 420. I like the way the 420 looks, I have it as one of the two bulbs that I use for dawn/dusk. I've got good growth from a M. digitata that it is over, but I can't say it has anything specifically to do with that.