T5 Bulb Color Combo

[Darth_Tater]

Hi all,

My T5 bulbs are approaching a year old so I'm starting to plan what color combination I want to buy. I've got a 5 bulb fixture over my 40 Breeder. It's currently got the following ATI bulbs in it:

Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
Actinic
Blue Plus
Aquablue Special

I want coral and fish colors to pop some more and have this proposed selection (again all ATI bulbs):

Aquablue Special
Actinic
Purple Plus
Actinic
Aquablue Special

I have two main concerns:
1: I don't mind a more blue look, but is this combo going to look decent, or is it overkill with the blue?
2: I've read that Actinics produce a lower PAR. Is this combo going to significantly lower the usable PAR for the corals?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

[gus6464]

That second choice won't be blue at all. Aquablue special is a white bulb.

5 bulb is a weird number. Ballasts power bulbs in pairs 90% of the time. If you want to stick with 5 bulb I would do:

2x Blue+
2x Coral+
1x True Actinic

That will be a solid 15-16K look with fluorescence from the true actinic.

 

[scooter31707]

Blue+
Blue+
Coral+ or Purple+
True Actinic
Blue+

 

[sjfishguy]

Never heard of 5 bulb fixture but if it's true, and judging by the look you say you want, I would do:

Blue+
AB special
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+

That might still be too white
Blue

 

[jayball]

If you take your existing combo and replace the ABS with coral+ it will appear significantly bluer and your fluorescent response will increase. For less effect you could keep the same combo and replace one ABS with a Purple+, that will cut out a good bit of green and yellow out of the spectrum.

 

[Darth_Tater]

If anyone cares, I went with this setup and it looks pretty good. I'd like a little less blue and a little more purple, so next time I may skip the Actinic and get another Purple. And by the way, it's been a few years since I graduated college with my math minor, but I CAN count to 5 The fixture is an Aquactinics TX5.

Purple +
Blue +
Actinic
Blue +
Coral +

 

[AgeDynasty]

I get great color over my 40breeder,

Blue+
Aqua special
Blue+
Purple
Blue+
Aqua speical

 

[Mark426]

Anything other than Aquablue Special. IMO...worst lamp ever (unless it one of 8) for color rendering. Gus has a pretty good combo, Darths is good too. Check out the T5 Q&A thread.

 

[wildman926]

Anything other than Aquablue Special. IMO...worst lamp ever (unless it one of 8) for color rendering.

Could you explain why?

 

[triscene]

Hello guys, keeping the thread live after few years

what kind of 6combo are you using? i like blue look but doesnt want to limit corals in growth.

my bulbs are running for 12 months so thinking of switching them.

I have new:
3x ATI Blue Plus
3x ATI Coral Plus
3x ATI Blue Special
3x ATI Actinic

I am currently using ATI True Actinic and love my lighting when just 2 middle lamps are on: True Actinic plus one i dont know, need to check.

Is there a way to make blue and good lightining with my stock or what would u buy?

 

[ontop27]

Personally not a fan of aqua blue special it washes stuff out (i like blue) here is 4 blue plus, 1 purple plus, and 1 actinic

 

[JohnnyHildo]

if a bluer look (14k-20k) is what you're after than i have to agree that removing the aquablue special is what you need to consider.
i personally have an 8 bulb sunpower dimmable and am considering dumping my aquablue in favor of another actinic to tint things down while still retaining a little par.