8 bulb ATI combo

[m0nkie]

Hi guys.. I'm about to change up the ATI bulb patterns. What's your opinion on ATI Purple + and Coral +? Do these bulbs make corals grow faster?

I currently have:
4 ATI Blue+
2 ATI Coral +
1 ATI Purple
1 ATI Actinic
4 Reefbrite XHO

I want to try either:
5 ATI Blue+
1 ATI Coral+
1 ATI Purple
1 ATI Actinic
4 Reefbrite XHO

or

6 ATI Blue+
1 ATI Coral +
1 ATI Actinic
4 Reefbrite XHO

what do you guys think? will extra blue bulbs grow corals or are they simply for looks to bring out color?

 

[m0nkie]

also anyone tried directly swapping out all 8 bulbs without "burning in" period? or without swapping them 1 by 1?

it's a PITA to remove the powermodule heat shield.. so I was hoping to swap out all 8 bulbs together

 

[hawaiian_boi]

A few long time t5 users told be to run all blue plus. Jason fox also runs all blue plus. I just changed over 3 days ago to all blue plus so i cant say personally if it works.

Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk

 

[m0nkie]

Can you post picture of your tank? Im having a hard time picturing the color. Is your tank pretty much all blue? Any distinct/or lack of pops for coral colors?

 

[hawaiian_boi]

Its blue but its the same as if you were to run your radions on all blue. Corals still have pop. Its definitely better with leds but i want my corals to grow. You could just use 2 blue plus on channel one to see the color on you tank.

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[isseym328]

Tony I actually just updated my ATI 8 bulb with new bulbs and new pattern. I felt my tank with the old bulb pattern was too purple and want to try to imitate as much of the MH color as possible (still miss my MH pendants).

New bulbs: 4 blue, 3 coral +, 1 actinic.

Looks much better more white and crisp! Next year I might try two actinics and see how that go.

 

[isseym328]

I also did not do the burn out period same reason as yours. I raised my ati up and actually kept it there since I also updated my schedule to just run full 100% for 8 hours instead of partially blues only and full.

Colors on the sps and also the tank in general has gotten much better including growth!

 

[hersheyb]

although i switched to leds, i was running t5 for some time and had great success with C+ bulbs, I would be keep at least 2 C+ on your combo, I'm sure actinic+ has some sort of benefit to the corals, but in my opinion i'll rather have a purple + or a blue+

so i would do...

5 blue+
2 coral+
1 puple+

or

4 blue+
2 coral+
2 puple+

 

[pga7602]

although i switched to leds, i was running t5 for some time and had great success with C+ bulbs, I would be keep at least 2 C+ on your combo, I'm sure actinic+ has some sort of benefit to the corals, but in my opinion i'll rather have a purple + or a blue+

so i would do...

5 blue+
2 coral+
1 puple+

or

4 blue+
2 coral+
2 puple+

Plus one...

Actinic plus is redundant to your blue plus and reefbrites. If you want pop, do purple plus which helps with coloring up your corals in the red spectrum.

 

[Smite]

I swapped to LEDS for my 180. I got great growth and color on my 100g from
6 b+
1 p+
1 c+
1 reefbrite tech

I tried all B+ but it looked really washed out to me. With your xho strips I'd add some more "white" bulbs for sure unless you like that really blue look. I've been tempted to go back to t5 for some time now, get great color with the radions but my growth hasnt been all that great so far.

 

[m0nkie]

I really like the white crisp look of my tank right now. But i have heard Jfox and some discuss B+ grow corals faster. Im at the stage of waiting for sps to grow..

Sacrafice couple yrs of look for speed.. hmm..

 

[pga7602]

I really like the white crisp look of my tank right now. But i have heard Jfox and some discuss B+ grow corals faster. Im at the stage of waiting for sps to grow..

Sacrafice couple yrs of look for speed.. hmm..

Blue plus!!! My frag tank is 100 percent blue plus. I think purple plus can cut through a lot of the mucky feel to it. So 1 purple for every 3 to 4 bulbs should do.

 

[wishntoboutside]

Going to throw a curve ball as you. I think either of the choices you would be happy with as it is a more personal preference. I have jumped on the Giesemann bulb wagon. I like the blue much better as to me it makes the ati blue plus look a little green. I no longer have ati blue plus bulbs laying around. however if you do like you can borrow a pair of the Giesemman blue from me at the next meeting and let me know your thoughts. its a crisper blue to me.

 

[m0nkie]

Going to throw a curve ball as you. I think either of the choices you would be happy with as it is a more personal preference. I have jumped on the Giesemann bulb wagon. I like the blue much better as to me it makes the ati blue plus look a little green. I no longer have ati blue plus bulbs laying around. however if you do like you can borrow a pair of the Giesemman blue from me at the next meeting and let me know your thoughts. its a crisper blue to me.

nice! I have a few Giesemann bulbs that i didn't use from previous project. I will put them on my nem tank and compare the blues. thanks

 

[m0nkie]

Going to throw a curve ball as you. I think either of the choices you would be happy with as it is a more personal preference. I have jumped on the Giesemann bulb wagon. I like the blue much better as to me it makes the ati blue plus look a little green. I no longer have ati blue plus bulbs laying around. however if you do like you can borrow a pair of the Giesemman blue from me at the next meeting and let me know your thoughts. its a crisper blue to me.

which Giesemann bulb do you have?

 

[solitude127]

I've been running this combo for YEARS. lol..
Front
B+
P+
B+
GE6500
B+
B+
Geissmann Aquablue Azure
B+

Gives me about a 16k look. When I change my bulbs out, I change them out all at once but I lower my photoperiod to 1/2 and then each week I add 30 minutes till back to normal schedule. I'm using a T5 only PM.

 

[wishntoboutside]

which Giesemann bulb do you have?

I have actinic blue. I am also using a few aquablue coral which is more of an actinic color. I am not a fan of the purple blubs I know it brings the red out more on corals but to me it appears to turn brown things browner.

 

[m0nkie]

I have actinic blue. I am also using a few aquablue coral which is more of an actinic color. I am not a fan of the purple blubs I know it brings the red out more on corals but to me it appears to turn brown things browner.

do you like the Actinic blue more than their Azure blue? I have a couple of those in hand along with purple.

 

[m0nkie]

I've been running this combo for YEARS. lol..
Front
B+
P+
B+
GE6500
B+
B+
Geissmann Aquablue Azure
B+

Gives me about a 16k look. When I change my bulbs out, I change them out all at once but I lower my photoperiod to 1/2 and then each week I add 30 minutes till back to normal schedule. I'm using a T5 only PM.

thanks Mike. What made you switch to a GE bulb?

 

[solitude127]

thanks Mike. What made you switch to a GE bulb?

The GE 6500 really brightens the tank and I feel it gives me good growth. I've never really liked the "Tidy Bowl" look with a lot of B+ bulbs so it's a good balance to my eyes.

I think if you're going for straight growth, go with all B+ and maybe throw a GE 6500 in there just to give another spectrum. The bad thing about the GE6500, I think it only comes in 48".