Best T-5 and Hallide Bulbs

[aaronlp]

So im sitting here looking on a website looking at lamps to get, and i cant decide which ones are the best. They all have a great explanation for what they do and prices are great, but my question is which ones are best for color and photosynthiesis within the corals and will give them a better chance of surviving?

(Not really to worried about color just making the corals happy!)

 

[TruespeedEM1]

if you're not worried about color then 10k bulbs will be the best for Halides.

For T5, you cannot go wrong with ATI.

Are you using a combo? How many halides, what wattage? How many T5?

Im no expert, others will chime in way more advanced than me, but if you're looking for T5 specifics post in the T5 Q&A thread.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

IMHO color is somewhat a personal preference thing, and reactions from corals will vary from coral to coral so it's hard to talk generally.

As far as intensity, there are a few good threads on here for T5 (I don't have links) and you can look here for MH lamps:

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

 

[aaronlp]

if you're not worried about color then 10k bulbs will be the best for Halides.

For T5, you cannot go wrong with ATI.

Are you using a combo? How many halides, what wattage? How many T5?

Im no expert, others will chime in way more advanced than me, but if you're looking for T5 specifics post in the T5 Q&A thread.

ive been told the 10k hallides will brown the corals...currently i have 2 250w 20k hallides, and 2 giesman blue actinic t-5's

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

What brand of lamp do you have? What reflect and which ballast?

Look at the link I listed - click "compare lamps" then drill down through the tree and select your current lamp/ballast combo, plus any new lamps you are considering. It'll plot a spectral graph (which will show you color) and give a little table showing intensity (PPFD). This will let you determine intensity of different lamps.

 

[aaronlp]

What brand of lamp do you have? What reflect and which ballast?

Look at the link I listed - click "compare lamps" then drill down through the tree and select your current lamp/ballast combo, plus any new lamps you are considering. It'll plot a spectral graph (which will show you color) and give a little table showing intensity (PPFD). This will let you determine intensity of different lamps.

aqua traders 250w halide and giesman t-5...the fixture is great and along with the bulbs too. I dont run the 10ks beacuse i like the 20k hallides. But being told the 10k browns the coral dosnt seem right. i have ran the 10ks before when i first started using hallides and saw no difference. But that being said i guess im looking more into t-5s and just having 2 over a 75 id like to find some that will penetrate depth be brights and give of good PAR values and last long.

 

[TruespeedEM1]

aqua traders 250w halide and giesman t-5...the fixture is great and along with the bulbs too. I dont run the 10ks beacuse i like the 20k hallides. But being told the 10k browns the coral dosnt seem right. i have ran the 10ks before when i first started using hallides and saw no difference. But that being said i guess im looking more into t-5s and just having 2 over a 75 id like to find some that will penetrate depth be brights and give of good PAR values and last long.

I suggested 10k because in your first post you said color didnt matter. A lot of things lead to corals browning and 10k used to be the staple MH bulb in this hobby.

If you like the 20k then color does matter!! haha

To clarify, you're saying you only have two T5 and asking about suggestions for them but you still want to use MH bulbs right?

 

[oneradtek202]

ati super blues have good color and par value

 

[Eastamherstbias]

Phonenix Bulbs are nice or move up to LED for your operation.

 

[pascal32]

Phoenix 14k for halide. Radion if you can do the full setup with the correct ballets (google).

For t5 ATI and geismann are my favorites with on kz mixed in

For t5 only one for every 3-4" front to back on your tank

 

[MD Ocean Girl]

I personally like Geismann bulbs for T5's....in a 4 bulb fixture, I run two Aquablue+ (15k), one actinic+ (22k), and one pure actinic.

In the 6 bulb fixture which will over the 75 gallon once it's set up, I run two Aquablue+, two actinic+, one pure actinic, and one kz fiji purple.

 

[Dan49]

I also like the 14000k phoenix bulbs for mh, but I also run a reefbrite actinic for more color

 

[redreef85]

I prefer phoenix 14K MH bulbs. I just really like the color. I seem to get pretty good growth under them as well.

 

[boosted chemist]

IME blue the ati blue plus adds more "pop" than the giessman blue bulb (460 nm).

 

[mr86mister]

If you can't tell Aaron. There is no "one" answer to your question. It is all about the eye of the beholder...lol.