T5 Lighting for best coral pop

[IXA1929]

Hello, I currently have a 36 inch coralife fixture with two led moonlights and 4 slots for bulbs. I am currently running 4 actinic bulbs in it. I tried runing 3 actinic and 1 white but the white is way to strong. I currently have 1 damsel , 2 snowflake clowns, a scarlett cleaner shrimp, hermit carbs, purple and green branching hammer coral, armor of god zoas(purple and blue, and GSPs. I will add more in the future. I am looking for the best possible bulb combination to produce the best pop in colors, isnt to white, and wont contribute to a ton of algae growth?

I was debating on doing a Korallen-Zucht Fiji Purple High Output T5 Lamp, two actinics and maybe a darker blue or a pink bulb ?

I want the option that will mostly give the best pop how do people do it and What do you guys think ?

 

[IXA1929]

the white is a 10k

 

[jayball]

T5 Lighting for best coral pop

If you are looking for the dark blue look than yes, use a purple bulb as your white. If you want better non fluorescent rendition than use something like the ATI coral+ bulb (50% blue, 40% 12k, and 10% purple) at about 15k.

 

[IXA1929]

what about the reds / pinks do they give you the lighter look but keep the flourescent ? I want a set up that brings out the florescence and gives definition as well the ability to take pics. I see people taking pictures all the time of there tanks and things look great but when i take a picture of mine it all turns out blue because of the actinics.

 

[jayball]

what about the reds / pinks do they give you the lighter look but keep the flourescent ? I want a set up that brings out the florescence and gives definition as well the ability to take pics. I see people taking pictures all the time of there tanks and things look great but when i take a picture of mine it all turns out blue because of the actinics.

You are not going to be able to take point and shoot pics of any overly blue tank. Two ways people get away with it are using amber filters and post processing to set a white balance.

The Rosette (pink) bulbs are for freshwater to help plant and warm the color temp of a regular white bulb.

Many people do not like the look of 10K bulbs in a 4-bulb fixture. I would give the coral plus a try. one C+ and three blue or actinic bulbs is still going to give you crazy florescent response and you will still have a blue tank.

Look here to see some of the recommended combo's. http://www.atinorthamerica.com/faq.php

 

[twon8]

Ditch at least 2 actinics and get ati blue plus bulbs instead

 

[IXA1929]

Thanks that helps alot I will try it out , This is a link to the look of the color that I am going for


http://www.*********.com/threads/reef-spotlight-april-2013-pmrg.114373/

 

[IXA1929]

http://www.*********.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi694.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv301%2Fswannyson7%2FPmRg%2520Spotlight%2FFTS_Side_1_zps2d1c777d.png&hash=4d72d525c6105908481117bdbbc4cd57

 

[IXA1929]

Sorry ... this is the link to what I am looking for

http://http://www.*********.com/threads/reef-spotlight-april-2013-pmrg.114373/

 

[Superpuma]

I am also swapping bulbs around to get " pop " and the 18-20k look. Has anyone tried , front to back, ATI Blue plus, G.Mann Actinic, ATI Purple plus, ATI Blue plus?

 

[IXA1929]

Sorry for whatever reason it blocks the link if you go under this google search its the first tank that shows up in the images from reef 2 reef below is the link

https://www.google.com/search?q=tru...dn3g7OGyQIVhJeICh2w4gDg#imgrc=DhZejBY9Xv8ZWM:

 

[IXA1929]

after looking at this guys setup I was thinking 2 KZ super blues 1 KZ new gen and ether one fiji purple or one actinic

 

[scooter31707]

Once you decide on the combo, make sure you acclimate your corals to the new bulbs. ATI and the other bulbs have higher PAR, especially the Blue+ bulb.

 

[d2mini]

Giesseman's Super Actinic gives some of the best pop for a T5.