Opinions on lighting a standard 29

[fishdoc11]

Thanks Brian, coloration looks nice on those pieces.

FWIW I am very close to deciding on T5's and using 1 ATI aquablue, 1 ATI blue plus, I UV(URI) atinic white and 1 UV superatinic. What does everyone think about that bulb combo?
I have never used T5's and I've used all the other types so why not try. I did the math and it turns out they won't be significantly more expensive than either of the other options.

4 24" T5 TEK retro with bulbs and shipping = $282
4 bulb 110 VHO retro from Hellollights with bulbs and shipping(no reflector) = $250 -w- reflector = $285
2 VHO's and 2 T5's with a VHO harness I allready have with bulbs and shipping = $247 -w- a little nicer VHO ballast $312

Still very interested in other peoples experiences and constructive comments

thanks, Chris

 

[kysmith]

I can't believe no one has first hand experience with this setup.

Fishdoc LMK how this works out if you go with the 4 T5's. I'm tired of the heat issues with my MH over my 29G and want to go T5's sometime soon.

 

[ctreefer]

I've got a 3 bulb retrofit from reefgeek overdriven with an Icecap 430 ballast on my 29 sps. My first bulbs were 1 GE 6500, 2 actinic +. As mentioned previously, the GE's are way too much and most of my corals really lightened up. (This could also be due to a barebottom tank so I can't say for certain its just the bulb)

Now I have 1 aquablue, 1 uvl actinic and 1 actinic +. The color of the lighting is a pretty blue white. The corals are also a little bit better colorwise.

As to zoos. I only had a few and they didn't like the daylight at all (at least not overdriven) They looked much happier with the bluer bulbs. I would definitely get a UVL. they really made the zoo colors pop like my old vho actinics.

 

[fishdoc11]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll post when I get things going which will be sometime over Christmas break. Any more input is allways welcome.
thanks, Chris

 

[LionfishFinatic]

don't meam to steal the thread but i am dealing with the same issue. i guess i am going t-5 retro from reefgeek and i want to know what bulbs to get for it. i guess i wanna go some LPS like frogspawn and torch maybe some brains and some zoos and maybe a couple softies. do you recommend all blue or should i do something like a mix aof blue and day??? again i am sorry for stealing thread, but just want some input.

 

[Phyxius]

Same as LionfishFinatic here for a reply on this. Running 4 VHOs over my 29 tank now and really not impressed with it.
Great information so far and T5s may be the way to go for me also.

 

[GSMguy]

blue and day

 

[fishdoc11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8570928#post8570928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
blue and day

The T5 daylights(at least some brands) really wash out the colors in softies and SPS from what I have seen/read. Blue and day doesn't really help much.......... that could be any bulb by allmost any manufacturer.

Chris

 

[fishdoc11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8570876#post8570876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LionfishFinatic
don't meam to steal the thread but i am dealing with the same issue. i guess i am going t-5 retro from reefgeek and i want to know what bulbs to get for it. i guess i wanna go some LPS like frogspawn and torch maybe some brains and some zoos and maybe a couple softies. do you recommend all blue or should i do something like a mix aof blue and day??? again i am sorry for stealing thread, but just want some input.

If you want a standard blue look that works 2 atinic blue and 2 blue plus works well from my research. I am thinking about the other configuration because I have had good luck with VHO's in the past. I figured a mix might be an option but that's just my thinking and it could be off. "True atinics", like ctreefer stated, are the best when it comes to fluorescing your corals which is why adding one of those(and possibly a 50/50 URI) might be a good idea.

thanks, Chris

 

[LionfishFinatic]

ok thanks you guys. i guess i will try the 2 actinic blue and 2 blue plus look. if i don't like the best thing is i could try different bulbs so that is a plus with T-5. thanks for the input this thread really helps!!!
Lionfishfinatic

 

[GSMguy]

what about the pink bulb with three blue