ATI bulb combo opinion

[wbdevers]

I'm going to order a new set of bulbs for my tank and having read all of the great things about ATI bulbs, I'm going to go with them. I'm using a Hagen-Glo retro kit so each bulb has its own reflector. My tank is a 55 gallon and 17" deep. I've got soft, LPS and SPS in the tank as well as an RBTA that has quadrupled in size since I've gotten it. I've mixed my current bulb combo around checking color and such. I've run two whites/ two blues. Two whites/ two purples. One white, two blue, one purple and finally Two whites and one purple, one blue. I'm currently looking at the Blue Plus, the 12000k Aquablue Special, and the Purple Plus. My question is what combination would you all recommend? I want my corals that fluoresce to do so, but I also want my tank to be daylight bright when all of the lights are on.

Thanks in advance.

 

[cubsFAN]

2 blue plus, 1 purple plus, 1 aqua blue special.

 

[wbdevers]

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually found a previous thread about ATI bulbs and this combo seems to be pretty popular. Is this what you run by chance? If so would mind posting a FTS. I would really like to see the tank coloration.

Again, thanks for replying.

 

[cubsFAN]

I run 6 bulbs. I'm running 4 blue plus, 1 purple plus, and one actinic. It's very blue. I liked it at first, but I think I'll take out a blue plus and add a aqua blue special.

 

[wbdevers]

So the aqua blue will "whiten" the tank more? From the description I read about the bulb this seems so. I don't want too blue of a tank, but I don't want it too white as well and wash out coloration.

 

[gldnegle76]

The aquablue special is too white for my taste. I replaced it with a KZ new generation which imho looks better.
2 blue plus
1 kz new gen
1 kz fiji purple (will replace with ati purple plus)

 

[wbdevers]

I wish I could find a color rendition chart somewhere for the ATI bulbs. I guess I could just go with the first recommendation and if it's too bright for my taste I could get a replacement color.

As a side note, given your handle, did you go to USM? I graduated in '97 from there.

 

[gldnegle76]

I wish I could find a color rendition chart somewhere for the ATI bulbs. I guess I could just go with the first recommendation and if it's too bright for my taste I could get a replacement color.

As a side note, given your handle, did you go to USM? I graduated in '97 from there.

Sure did. Only a few years before you, lol. Seriously, the aquablue special just washes out the colors of the other bulbs imo. But some folks like that look I guess.

 

[wbdevers]

Cool. Baseballs doing great--hope football does better this year.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[wrathofgod4]

I agree 2 blue plus one purple one aquablue