T5 Light Bulbs suggestions!!

[danielcassar]

Hi all,

Currently i have a T5 light fixture with 4 T5 54 watts each.
soon i need to replace the bulbs....can someone tell me what is the best combination (as in light colour and wavelength) to have for the new bulbs?

Thanks
Daniel

 

[psyrob]

Post on the T5 Q&A thread in this forum...you will get a fast response and an answer from Grim Reefer, the buddah of the T5

 

[SkullV]

All ATI:

Blue+
Purple+
Aquablue Special
Blue+

Some feel that the Aquablue Special washes out colors. I don't feel that way but if you do then you can try a KZ New Generation. If you like a LOT of blue you can use another Blue +.

 

[rtparty]

All ATI:

Blue+
Purple+
Aquablue Special
Blue+

Some feel that the Aquablue Special washes out colors. I don't feel that way but if you do then you can try a KZ New Generation. If you like a LOT of blue you can use another Blue +.

If you use the Aquablue Special with spec T5 ballasts it will burn its correct color and be really white. If you use Current USA ballasts or other ballasts that underdrive the bulb, it will be a lot bluer than normal.

I really like 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Generation.

 

[danielcassar]

All ATI:

Blue+
Purple+
Aquablue Special
Blue+

Some feel that the Aquablue Special washes out colors. I don't feel that way but if you do then you can try a KZ New Generation. If you like a LOT of blue you can use another Blue +.

If you use the Aquablue Special with spec T5 ballasts it will burn its correct color and be really white. If you use Current USA ballasts or other ballasts that underdrive the bulb, it will be a lot bluer than normal.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

reagrds to ballasts i dont know...i bought this light fixture complete with tubes etc (2 20,000K blue and 2 10,000K white) its a chinese brand...so dont know the quality of it

thanks



I really like 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 KZ New Generation.

 

[danielcassar]

thanks for all your suggestions reagrds to ballasts i dont know i bought this light fixture complete with tubes etc (2 20 000k blue and 2 10 000k white) its a chinese brand so dont know the quality of it.

thanks

 

[Chapster]

I just replaced the bulbs in my 4 bulb fixture this week after 9 months of use. The recommended replacement period is 9 to 12 months. I am glad I didn't wait till the 12 month mark as I notice a big improvement in brightness and detail. I opted for the following combination of which I am very happy with:

UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue +
ATI Purple +
Geisemann Powerchrome Aquablue+

My previous set-up was all ATI however I prefer my new combo which seems to be more balanced. I feel the Geisemann Aquablue + is more of a full spectrum bulb than the ATI Aquablue Special and
will help bring out the pinks and reds in your corals while not appearing to white/yellow...the GE AB + presents a natural crisp slightly blue hue around
11,000k. Lastly the UVL Super Actinic is the best actinic bulb out there....all
together the combo appears well balanced with a crisp, slightly blue tone.

Also, interesting point from rtparty above regarding the Current ballasts...since I am running a Current Sundial that is probably why I prefer the GE Aquablue + over ATI AB Special.

 

[rtparty]

I just replaced the bulbs in my 4 bulb fixture this week after 9 months of use. The recommended replacement period is 9 to 12 months. I am glad I didn't wait till the 12 month mark as I notice a big improvement in brightness and detail. I opted for the following combination of which I am very happy with:

UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue +
ATI Purple +
Geisemann Powerchrome Aquablue+

My previous set-up was all ATI however I prefer my new combo which seems to be more balanced. I feel the Geisemann Aquablue + is more of a full spectrum bulb than the ATI Aquablue Special and
will help bring out the pinks and reds in your corals while not appearing to white/yellow...the GE AB + presents a natural crisp slightly blue hue around
11,000k. Lastly the UVL Super Actinic is the best actinic bulb out there....all
together the combo appears well balanced with a crisp, slightly blue tone.

Also, interesting point from rtparty above regarding the Current ballasts...since I am running a Current Sundial that is probably why I prefer the GE Aquablue + over ATI AB Special.

Same thing goes for the Gmann Aquablue. It is slightly bluer than normal when under driven but the Gmann is slightly more white than an ATI Aquablue to begin with.

 

[Chapster]

Ryan,

So I guess that Current ballasts are crap? Are you using the Ecoxotic Panorama fixture exclusively?

Thanks.....Mike

 

[rtparty]

Ryan,

So I guess that Current ballasts are crap? Are you using the Ecoxotic Panorama fixture exclusively?

Thanks.....Mike

I think they are garbage. Every Current fixture I have owned had ballast failure within 14 months or so.

I use strictly LED anymore. I am using Panorama PROs currently in the stock hood but will have the Ecoxotic Panorama fixture in the next little bit.