Gillundr
New member
I recently set up a Solana 34 gallon tank. The dims are 20x20x20.
I have a Current Outer Orbit 24 inch fixture on the tank. It hangs off a couple inches on each side but doesn't look bad in my opinion. I'm waiting to pull the trigger on LEDs because I have seen a big jump in the technology in the last few months with the addition of mutiple colors to fixtures and all that. So the bulbs in this fixture need to be changed and I'm wondering if I can get some help. I always ran 250w DE pheonix along with ATI or Giesman actinics on my large reef.
This fixture is 150 watt of DE HQI mh and has 4x24 inch T5s. I know it's not a ton of light and many people would say I need a 250 watt to keep sps in the tank. But I'm going to try to do it with the 150. The total wattage is still 250 if you figure 150 of MH and 4x24 T5s.
I'm trying to figure out the best bulb combo for the almighty color and par combo.
I looked at Sanjays site but he doesn't have a par reading of the 150 watt phoenix bulb so I can't compare it to any other bulbs. I was considering either using a 150w de 14k phoenix, or a 150w de 20k radium. I know both are quality bulbs and I am familiar with phoenix. Not familiar with the radium however. Anybody know if their par lvls are comparable? How about color? I know the 250 watt phoenix produces a pretty blue light and does good with par. I also know that bulbs can change from 150 to 250.
Will it even matter much? The phoenix is significantly lower cost than the radium..
OR is there a different bulb I should be considering? Maybe I should run a 10k bulb and go heavy on the actinic since I have 4 T5s on the fixture?
In my experience with the 250watt bulbs though a 14k phoenix produces similar par values of 10k bulbs so it was a no brainer.
Also any suggestions on the T5 combo would be appreciated.
I'm thinking about going with 1 KZ purple plus, 1 or two true actinic, and then 1 or two of the blue/actinic mix bulbs like the Giesman actinic plus that has a 60/40 mix of actinic blue mix or the ATI comparable bulb.
I will most likely stick with either ATI or Giesman bulbs for the T5s since I have used them before and and familiar and like their quality. Outside of the KZ purple plus which I haven't used before, I have used ATI purple plus and want to see the KZ.
So the combo would be something like Actinic+, KZ purple plus, (150w MH phoenix maybe radium or other) true actinic, Actinic+.
Or I could go with the ATI blue plus rather than Giesman Actinic Plus. I think they are pretty much the same bulb right? Both produce a blend of blue and purple I think.
Or am I way off. I am open to any suggestions. Thanks everybody.
I have a Current Outer Orbit 24 inch fixture on the tank. It hangs off a couple inches on each side but doesn't look bad in my opinion. I'm waiting to pull the trigger on LEDs because I have seen a big jump in the technology in the last few months with the addition of mutiple colors to fixtures and all that. So the bulbs in this fixture need to be changed and I'm wondering if I can get some help. I always ran 250w DE pheonix along with ATI or Giesman actinics on my large reef.
This fixture is 150 watt of DE HQI mh and has 4x24 inch T5s. I know it's not a ton of light and many people would say I need a 250 watt to keep sps in the tank. But I'm going to try to do it with the 150. The total wattage is still 250 if you figure 150 of MH and 4x24 T5s.
I'm trying to figure out the best bulb combo for the almighty color and par combo.
I looked at Sanjays site but he doesn't have a par reading of the 150 watt phoenix bulb so I can't compare it to any other bulbs. I was considering either using a 150w de 14k phoenix, or a 150w de 20k radium. I know both are quality bulbs and I am familiar with phoenix. Not familiar with the radium however. Anybody know if their par lvls are comparable? How about color? I know the 250 watt phoenix produces a pretty blue light and does good with par. I also know that bulbs can change from 150 to 250.
Will it even matter much? The phoenix is significantly lower cost than the radium..
OR is there a different bulb I should be considering? Maybe I should run a 10k bulb and go heavy on the actinic since I have 4 T5s on the fixture?
In my experience with the 250watt bulbs though a 14k phoenix produces similar par values of 10k bulbs so it was a no brainer.
Also any suggestions on the T5 combo would be appreciated.
I'm thinking about going with 1 KZ purple plus, 1 or two true actinic, and then 1 or two of the blue/actinic mix bulbs like the Giesman actinic plus that has a 60/40 mix of actinic blue mix or the ATI comparable bulb.
I will most likely stick with either ATI or Giesman bulbs for the T5s since I have used them before and and familiar and like their quality. Outside of the KZ purple plus which I haven't used before, I have used ATI purple plus and want to see the KZ.
So the combo would be something like Actinic+, KZ purple plus, (150w MH phoenix maybe radium or other) true actinic, Actinic+.
Or I could go with the ATI blue plus rather than Giesman Actinic Plus. I think they are pretty much the same bulb right? Both produce a blend of blue and purple I think.
Or am I way off. I am open to any suggestions. Thanks everybody.
