With the blue bulbs you do not need to run an actinic. It all comes down to personal preference on colour. 4 bulb unit run 3 blue bulbs and a purple. No reason for actinic. You will lose par. Kz super blues are more 20 k than ati blue plus. Kz Fiji purple is a nicer colour than ati purple plus. All these bulbs are great. I just prefer the richness and softness of the kz over the ati. Again personal preference. Do not use aqua blue they will wash out all the colour.
Recommended T-5 bulbs
- Thread starter davidadelp
- Start date
uscharalph
New member
I love the ATI bulbs. I run ATI T5 HO 54 Watt 4' Aquablue Special and Blue Plus & ATI T5 HO 39 Watt 32" - Blue Plus and Purple Plus
Skynyrd Fish
Member
order up 3 blue plus and a purple plus. check reefgeek.
davidadelp
New member
I definetly intend to order ATI after the holidays are over with. Ive read some things and some ppl think that you dont need purple or pink bulbs and its on the other end of the spectrum from what youd need on a softie and LPS tank. What does the purple bulbs do for you? I intended to do 2 blue+ and then one coral+ and a purple if it was needed.
I also had a question on the time lights need to be on. right now I still have stock bulbs and the blue lights come on at 7 am and the white lights come on at 7:30am. then the white lights go off at 7pm and the blue lights go off at 10pm. The 4 moonlights stay on 24/7 simply because I cant program them to come on and off.
any suggestions?
I also had a question on the time lights need to be on. right now I still have stock bulbs and the blue lights come on at 7 am and the white lights come on at 7:30am. then the white lights go off at 7pm and the blue lights go off at 10pm. The 4 moonlights stay on 24/7 simply because I cant program them to come on and off.
any suggestions?
Throw a purple plus in. I really suggest you use a kz Fiji purple instead of the purple plus. I have used both and the Fiji purple has better colour. Not as white as the purple plus. People will try to ram ati blue plus but I am telling you that the kz super blue has a much nicer, softer blue look and about the same par as the ati blue plus. If you like a bluer looking tank go with the super blues. You will be much happier. If you like a more white colour go with the ati blue plus. As I said earlier the super blues are more 20k and the ati blue plus more 14k. Both will give you good par but it all depends what you are looking for. The kz Fiji purple is a little softer than the ati purple plus and not as white. I have tried both ati and kz in a four bulb fixture. If you want more of a 14k look go with ati blue plus times 3 and ati purple plus. More of a 20 k look(more blue) 3 super blues and kz Fiji purple. Have fun. Try different combos until you get what you like. Either way you will get good growth.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Blue plus is 14k??? What are you on???
Same factory makes both bulbs. The super blue may be SLIGHTLY different but it is not 14 to 20k different.
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
Lol.
KZ are great bulbs, I like my Fiji purple a lot, but it cost $28 for one 24" bulb. Is it $8 better, no. Not to most people.
If the blue plus is more blue and the purple plus is lighter than the Fiji, the ATI combo is close to the KZ anyway because you said the super blue is less blue and the Fiji is softer/less white than the purple plus than it should NEARLY equal out in the end...except for the extra $20 out of your pocket (in a 4 bulb combo) and all the softness.lol (rim shot, and crickets)
I'm up for trying a super blue, I bought GIESSEMAN ACTINIC PLUS (equivalent to blue plus & super blue) but reefgeek sent me ATI ACTINIC instead, I never would have bought actinics if they didn't screw up but I needed less PAR anyway ( hence the Actinic plus purchase) and I like the mix of the actinic/blue plus combo for dawn/dusk much better, not as much washing out from the blue.
Merry Christmas everyone ! Happy Reefing to all, hope you get some Reefing goodies!
KZ are great bulbs, I like my Fiji purple a lot, but it cost $28 for one 24" bulb. Is it $8 better, no. Not to most people.
If the blue plus is more blue and the purple plus is lighter than the Fiji, the ATI combo is close to the KZ anyway because you said the super blue is less blue and the Fiji is softer/less white than the purple plus than it should NEARLY equal out in the end...except for the extra $20 out of your pocket (in a 4 bulb combo) and all the softness.lol (rim shot, and crickets)
I'm up for trying a super blue, I bought GIESSEMAN ACTINIC PLUS (equivalent to blue plus & super blue) but reefgeek sent me ATI ACTINIC instead, I never would have bought actinics if they didn't screw up but I needed less PAR anyway ( hence the Actinic plus purchase) and I like the mix of the actinic/blue plus combo for dawn/dusk much better, not as much washing out from the blue.
Merry Christmas everyone ! Happy Reefing to all, hope you get some Reefing goodies!
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You are correct was thinking aqua blue special lol. Drinking too much rum and egg nog. By softer I meant a richer blue and still think it is bluer than the blue plus. Have fun everyone with whatever bulbs you go with. Merry Christmas.
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
I think that maybe you got the Geissman as ordered. Please double check the Bulb as my ATI Actinic looks nothing like yours. I will have to post a picture for you to see.
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
So is the the KZ Bluer than ATI or not?
I almost bought them just because you said they would make my Tank more Blue that Blue Plus. I am glad I caught this before I ordered them.
I want my Aquarium to be "Frag Swap Blue" if you know what I mean. I want my Corals to POP like no other. As Blue as Possible.
I ordered ATI Actinics from Bulk Reef Supply and they are Pink/Purple in color. (Totally different and nowhere near as Blue as my two ATI Blue Plus Bulbs.
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
How Blue are the Geissmann Bulbs?
It seems that everyone buys these three brands only so I want to get the "Bluest" of the three.
ATI
KZ
Geismann
It seems that everyone buys these three brands only so I want to get the "Bluest" of the three.
ATI
KZ
Geismann
kissman
Active member
got this off of ATI as I am looking to replace my bulbs. I love ATI and will not change
Here's a some of our customer's favorite combinations. We have found most folks prefer a bluer look to their tank as it helps to bring our more colors in their corals. Please remember that bulb choice is ultimately a matter of personal preference and what works for one, may not work for another.
16K - 20K - Bluish white with a noticable blue and red under-tone
4-Bulb combination "¢3 ATI Blue Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
6-Bulb combination "¢4 ATI Blue Plus
"¢1 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
8-Bulb combination "¢5 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
10-Bulb combination "¢6 ATI Blue Plus
"¢3 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
12K - 16K - Cool white with a noticable blue and red under-tone
4-Bulb combination "¢2 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Coral Plus
6-Bulb combination "¢3 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
8-Bulb combination "¢4 ATI Blue Plus
"¢3 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
10-Bulb combination "¢5 ATI Blue Plus
"¢4 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
10K - 14K - Crisp white with just a hint of blue
4-Bulb combination "¢2 ATI Blue Plus
"¢1 ATI Aquablue Special
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
6-Bulb combination "¢3 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Aquablue Special
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
8-Bulb combination "¢4 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Aquablue Special
"¢2 ATI Purple Plus
10-Bulb combination "¢5 ATI Blue Plus
"¢3 ATI Aquablue Special
"¢2 ATI Purple Plus
Here's a some of our customer's favorite combinations. We have found most folks prefer a bluer look to their tank as it helps to bring our more colors in their corals. Please remember that bulb choice is ultimately a matter of personal preference and what works for one, may not work for another.
16K - 20K - Bluish white with a noticable blue and red under-tone
4-Bulb combination "¢3 ATI Blue Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
6-Bulb combination "¢4 ATI Blue Plus
"¢1 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
8-Bulb combination "¢5 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
10-Bulb combination "¢6 ATI Blue Plus
"¢3 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
12K - 16K - Cool white with a noticable blue and red under-tone
4-Bulb combination "¢2 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Coral Plus
6-Bulb combination "¢3 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
8-Bulb combination "¢4 ATI Blue Plus
"¢3 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
10-Bulb combination "¢5 ATI Blue Plus
"¢4 ATI Coral Plus
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
10K - 14K - Crisp white with just a hint of blue
4-Bulb combination "¢2 ATI Blue Plus
"¢1 ATI Aquablue Special
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
6-Bulb combination "¢3 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Aquablue Special
"¢1 ATI Purple Plus
8-Bulb combination "¢4 ATI Blue Plus
"¢2 ATI Aquablue Special
"¢2 ATI Purple Plus
10-Bulb combination "¢5 ATI Blue Plus
"¢3 ATI Aquablue Special
"¢2 ATI Purple Plus
mordibv
Active member
I dunno why people scoff at the HexArc bulbs .
I am presently using the HexArc 460 blues n the true actinic's n my mix .I cannot see a difference in the blue + , actinic plus or the 460 blue . It was worth my time trying them out and quite a savings .
Sent from my Moto HD on Jelly Bean
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
They are all identical.
If you only run blue bulbs, your colors will eventually suffer. Corals need more than just straight blue.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
How will they suffer? Will they die off, loose color, not grow anymore, etc?
I know alot of people who ONLY use ATI Blue Plus Bulbs X4.
I have never seen any problems with their corals.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
When I've run just blue before my growth was stunted and color suffered after a couple months. Any color that doesn't fluoresce will fade away IME.
If you've seen their tanks then you will know how blue the blue bulbs are.
Yes I believe the super blues are bluer. Personally I like the super blue over the blue plus. My opinion only. Nicer shade of blue to me.
Follow these recommendations for your colour choice now just pick your brand and be done.
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
Ok so I took a picture.
Please click on it to make it larger.
From Left to Right.
ATI Actinic, ATI Blue Plus, ATI Actinic, ATI Blue Plus
As you can see the Actinics are not Blue at all.
They are a not as Pink/Purple as they look in the Picture.
They are a tad bit Darker in color that the ATI Purple Plus Bulb.
Why does yours have that Deep Blue?
I bet your Corals really really pop with that color.
Please click on it to make it larger.
From Left to Right.
ATI Actinic, ATI Blue Plus, ATI Actinic, ATI Blue Plus
As you can see the Actinics are not Blue at all.
They are a not as Pink/Purple as they look in the Picture.
They are a tad bit Darker in color that the ATI Purple Plus Bulb.
Why does yours have that Deep Blue?
I bet your Corals really really pop with that color.
Attachments
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
They look actinic to me. They shouldn't be deep blue really. Actinic is 420nm and should be violet.
People often confuse purple and violet. Purple plus bulbs have a pink hue to them. I will try to grab a picture of mine tomorrow. One of the best ways to photograph bulbs is to use the reflection off the water. For me, the camera sensor doesn't seem to have such a hard time picking up the true color.
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