T5 bulb help!!

[noplis18]

i am getting 4 x 24 watt T5's & was wondering what bulb setup to have for my 37 gallon?

i would like to have polyps, shrooms, maybe LPS or SPS...

 

[pjf]

Here's what was recommended to me by www.reefgeek.com and by The Grim Reefer (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...ghlight=That+should+be+a+good+mix#post9465580):

ATI AquaBlue
ATI Blue Plus
UVL AquaSun or ATI SunPro or GE Daylight
UVL Super Actinic

 

[Justin74]

Thats a good combo suggested, but if aesthetics is equally important as growth to you Id steer away from the GE.

With 4? Id go with
2 aquablue's(Geismann)
1 actinic +(Geismann) or 1 blue+(ATI)
and
1UVL superblue

The aquablues will give you the growth juice you need as well as the other 2 as there all high in PAR values, but the UVL will help slip a lil bit more purple than the Geismann or ATI wich helps add more depth and richer colors as the Geismann and ATI are extremely blue.
Just my 2 cents though, spend it as you will

-Justin

 

[noplis18]

thanks for the info

 

[noplis18]

what is the difference from actinic +(geismann) to blue + (ATI)?

 

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9909547#post9909547 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noplis18
what is the difference from actinic +(geismann) to blue + (ATI)?

Similiar color but the ATI has more output. Personally, between those 2 bulbs, I'd go with the ATI .

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9909589#post9909589 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DarG
Similiar color but the ATI has more output. Personally, between those 2 bulbs, I'd go with the ATI .

How much more output?

-Justin

 

[Justin74]

NM, found it

ATI
Sun Pro 357
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137

D&D/Giesemann
Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264
Pure Actinic 157

The blue+ seems to be the only one with a significant difference. ATI's total PAR sum is 1141 and Geismann's is 1070. So if both are an option go with the ATI's. Wasnt the case when I was shopping though as they were out of the ATI's, but am very happy with the results from the Giesmann bulbs.

-Justin

 

[noplis18]

Thats a good combo suggested, but if aesthetics is equally important as growth to you Id steer away from the GE.

With 4? Id go with
2 aquablue's(Geismann)
1 actinic +(Geismann) or 1 blue+(ATI)
and
1UVL superblue

The aquablues will give you the growth juice you need as well as the other 2 as there all high in PAR values, but the UVL will help slip a lil bit more purple than the Geismann or ATI wich helps add more depth and richer colors as the Geismann and ATI are extremely blue.
Just my 2 cents though, spend it as you will

-Justin


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howcome you didnt recommend all ATI to me?

 

[mikedege]

Thats a good combo suggested, but if aesthetics is equally important as growth to you Id steer away from the GE.

With 4? Id go with
2 aquablue's(Geismann)
1 actinic +(Geismann) or 1 blue+(ATI)
and
1UVL superblue

I disagre with this, i feel 2 aquablues makes it look too white. But really, it more up to the individuals taste, rather than a concensus. A good place to look is this thread, there is alot of talk about different configs. Check it out.

good luck, Mike

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1070612&perpage=25&pagenumber=39

 

[Reef Sponger]

If you want a nice blue to pop out off the colors, and still have growth.
Back ATI Blue Plus (blue)
Mid Back ATI AquaBlue (white)
Mid Front UVL Super Actinic (lavender)
Front ATI Blue Plus (blue)

If you want to focus more on growth, but still have good coloring.
Back ATI Blue Plus (blue)
Mid Back ATI AquaBlue (white)
Mid Front ATI AquaBlue (white)
Front ATI Blue Plus (blue)

Yep, I agree with mikeedge that you should ask the question on a lighting thread, or read through the hundreds of posts on configurations.

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9917478#post9917478 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noplis18 how come you didnt recommend all ATI to me?

Couple reasons. First off, I was using D&D's back when they were D&D ATI's(D&D being the manufacturer). Since then, ATI broke from their manufacturer for whatever reason and Geismann picked them up, so I used them, also at that time ATI wasnt as accessable during that transition as they are now. So I continued to use D&D's under there new Geismann carrier, same performance same exceptional results. I havent personally tried the new ATI's, so it would be very irresponsible for me to recommend them as I cant personally vouch for their quality and bulb life. Secondly, it's taken me over 2 and half years to finally fine tune bulb combinations to winning results in my corals. Ive done 10ks, GE's, blue, blue+, actinic, actinic+, aquablues, and superactinic+; what I recommended is what I personally have found to provide me with the best in growth and coloration.

On another similar note, just because one bulb is higher in PAR doesnt necessarily make it more usefull, and in some situations can even be detrimental. There is too much emphasis on PAR and PAR alone in this hobby IMO. An example of this would be: Why not light your tank with (2)GE 3000k's and (2)GE 6500k's? Certainly these bulbs would do circles around all other bulbs listed in terms of PAR, but would it look good? Would the majority of your corals thrive? No. Not in a mixed reef anyway. Heaven save any softies you may have in that display and half of your LPS as well. But it could really bring out the blues, pinks and reds.....and browns

Thats why in a nutshell anyway.

-Justin