T5 bulb recommendations?

[loyalty]

Can anyone recommend a good T5 bulb spread for a 5 bulb fixture? I mainly keep zoos and softies, but I'm really getting into cap corals and I'd like to provide better lighting for them. This is for a 58, so it's a pretty deepish tank compared to what I'm used to working with.

much thanks

 

[crumbletop]

I recommend getting 6 bulbs so you can experiment with them to get the look you like. I'd get 1 aquablue, 1 6500K daylight, 2 blue+ and 2 Actinics. Geissemann and ATI are my favorite brands.

For your 5 bulb setup, I'd start with:

-BACK-
B+
AB
6500K
B+
Actinic
-FRONT-

With the extra actinic, you can swap out the AB or 6500K or what have you to get slightly different looks.

 

[loyalty]

that's not a bad idea..do you think 2 65k daylights would be too much light?

 

[crumbletop]

2 6500k lights would be _way_ too yellow for me. If you want a yellow look, then that would be fine.

 

[crumbletop]

Oh, and if this is the first time these corals have been blasted by this fixture, make sure you acclimate the tank to the light. I use layers of screen to acclimate -- maybe 7 layers or so, and every few days I peel off a layer.

 

[DMBillies]

Honestly, I think the 6500K's are way too yellow period. Maybe 1 in an 8 bulb fixture, but they seem to give a yellow color you just can't seem to get rid of no matter how many actinics or blues you put in there (I aim for a crisp white color with all lights on).

Since you are running zoas and softies, light output is less of an issue and I'd tend toward a bluer tank (zoas really pop under actinics and bluer lights). In any case, I can't entirely disagree with crumbletop if you want to try some different mixes. Shipping is a killer, so it seems better to get an extra or two now rather than have to re-order later. I have to dig a littlle, but I think I have some older 4' bulbs that I could loan you if you want to try something out before you order.

 

[NeveSSL]

The ATI Blue+ are absolutely awesome bulbs.

What look are you wanting? More blue? More white?

Great advice so far. Definitely order more than you need. You'll have bulbs leftover either way so you're much better off only paying shipping once.

I believe a 58 is a 3' tank, isn't it? If it is, we can trade bulbs in and out.


Personally, I'm running the following combo:

[Back]
UVL Super Actinic (needs to be moved)
ATI Aquablue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
[Front]

I like this combo quite a bit. If I had five bulbs, I'd add another Blue Plus most likely.

Here's a pic:

This is fairly accurate too. I think its approximately overall around 12k or so.

Brandon

 

[lotsoftats]

I don't really now if this will help you or not but here is the recommendation of bulbs for an 8 bulb unit I am looking at purchasing. these are from Greg Morgan over at reefgeek. he from what I was told is the man when it comes to t5's.

ATI Blue Plus
UV Lighting Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
UV Lighting Aquasun
ATI Pro Color
ATI Aquablue
UV Lighting 75/25
ATI Blue Plus


hope this helps you some how. or you could just email him like I did and he will send back a recommendation if you ask.

mike

 

[crumbletop]

Greg is a great guy. MTRC members can also get a discount if you reach certain #s with reefgeek. Those bulbs are pretty good, but personally I don't like the UVL bulbs. The SuperActinics look good but don't last very long, IME, and I cannot stand the look of the Aquasuns.