t5 question for you local guys

[ahullsb]

I am about to replace my t5's. I use them for actinics and it's a 4 bulb setup. Should I stick to 2 blue plus 2 purple (or super actinic)? I've read the t5 question answer thread and am still not sure of the brand I should go with. What would you recommend between ATI, KZ, UVl or giesemann? Or does it even matter much? Thanks in advance

 

[shiveley]

for blues I'd go with Giesemann: 2 - 420's and 2 - 450's?

 

[MrMikeB]

Assuming your main lighting is full spectrum or mid range, I would go with the true actinic Giesmann bulbs. To my knowledge, these are the few T5 bulbs out there that can reach that 420 nm wavelength to really pull out the fluorescence in your corals.

 

[Justin74]

In terms of PAR ATI's blue+ is the leader opposed to Geismann's actinic+, both visually identical in coloration and spectrum combination. With the very few making a true actinic, Geismann's true actinic beats ATI's version. So the best of both worlds youd run:
(2)true actinic Geismann's (2)ATI's blue+

I believe this combo would give you excellent actinic supplementation and coral coloration.

I personally added a UVL superactinic but when I got it, it just hit the market so was unable to see any PAR measurements for it. But have been happy with it myself adding it to my 2 act+ and 1 true actinic, for a 4:2 ratio on my 6 bulb combo.

But if your a PAR monger, you may want to go more blu+'s, but is pretty overbearingly blue IMHO and the flourescing of different colored corals arent balanced.

-Justin

 

[Nuuze]

If I remeber reading on RC, folks were talking about this combo that looks good:

-Giessmann Pure Actinic-
-ATI Blue Plus-
-UVL Actinic White-
-Giessmann Pure Actinic-

That is, if you are running halides.

Here are some PAR readings from Grim:

ATI

Sun Pro 357
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137

D&D/Giesemann

Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264
Pure Actinic 157

UVL

Aqua sun 345
Actinic White 293
Super Actinic 210

AquaZ

Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266

Helios

Daylight 309
Super Blue 225

Current Sun Paq

Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252

GE Daylight 340

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=918935

 

[Justin74]

Good stuff Nuuze, thanks

-Justin

 

[eagleONE]

I'd recommend ATI or KZ

 

[ahullsb]

Yes thanks for the info. I am running 2 150 watt mh's with Ushio's 14k right now. They look more like a 10k to me right now, but I've heard they have decent par. So for supplementation you think 2 ATI blue+ and 2 Giesemann super actinics? Does anyone sell these locally? What about the UVL super actinic listed above. It seems like it has quite a bit more par than the rest listed there. Is it a true actinic? I'm assuming the super actinics appear purple right?

 

[ahullsb]

Nuuze that's an interesting combo as well. I'm not sure I know what the actinic white looks like though.

 

[Nuuze]

I'm kinda in the same boat you are ahullsb.

My fixture is currently running 2 - 250w DE 10k BLV bulbs that are said to be just like the Ushio and 4 Sylvania Coral Star bulbs. (Bulbs came with the fixture)

I really like the results of the 10k but not sure about the T5's. So when I upgrade I'm thinking of:

-Giesemann Pure Actinic-
-ATI Blue Plus-
-ATI Blue Plus-
-Giesemann Pure Actinic-

or

-Giesemann Pure Actinic-
-ATI Aquablue-
-ATI Blue Plus-
-Giesemann Pure Actinic-

Looking at the chart the ULV Super Actinic looks tempting too. Wonder how those look compared to the Giesemann Pure Actinic.

 

[Justin74]

Looking at the chart the ULV Super Actinic looks tempting too. Wonder how those look compared to the Giesemann Pure Actinic.

Side by side visually if I had to describe it, the UVL is like a mix between act+ and pure act. Overall its close to the act+ but with a pinch more purple, visually making it also slightly more subdued than the act+, or blu+ respectively.

allshub: Giesman doesnt make a super actinic. But would be a great supplementation bulb if instead of mixing 2 blus and 2 purples, and just use 4 UVL superactinics the over all output on the tank would be very similar visually.

Nuuze:The G aquablue+ is a day bulb. Its advertised and sold as an 11k, but if you ever get the box by the manufacturer they mark it as a 15k bulb. Would not recommend it for any supplementation, unless to brighten a 20k MH bulb.

-Justin

 

[ahullsb]

Thanks Justin and Nuuze. So the Giesemann pure actinic is more of a purple or blue? I was thinking of trying 2 ATI blue plus, and want to make sure that the other two bulbs make the colors pop a little. Would the giesseman pure actinic fit that profile or should I try something like the "Fiji purple" that I've been reading about. I guess I am more concerned with the overall color more than a slight difference in par. All of this is going over a 55 gallon tank anyways.

 

[chem-e]

I currently have the blue+ with UVL actinic. When the bulbs need to be replaced, I'm going to try the blue+ with the fiji purple next.

 

[ahullsb]

Sounds like a good combo. I'll try it and let you know how it looks! Do any of our LFS's carry the ATI blue+ or the fiji purple? And the fiji purple is a KZ bulb? If not locally can anyone recommend a good place online? Something tells me it's the shipping that is going to crank the price up quite a bit.

 

[ahullsb]

I see both of the bulbs at aquarium specialty, but it's over 126.00 for 4 bulbs...ouch. I'm really hoping I can find them around here...

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11689504#post11689504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ahullsb
I see both of the bulbs at aquarium specialty, but it's over 126.00 for 4 bulbs...ouch. I'm really hoping I can find them around here...

You wont

All the good ones are online only atm.

-Justin

 

[jamesdawson]

The only decent T5 bulbs I have seen locally are the Hagen ones (they are chinese made). I got some at AquaWorkz (8125 Belvedere Av--off of PowerInn) for like $20/each.

There are no PAR #s yet on them that I'm aware of but I run one each of the MarineGlo (Blue bulb) and PowerGlo (full spectrum daylight bulb) in my 8 bulb PowerModul. I really like the looks they give off. The MarineGlo is somewhat like a Blue Plus with a little more white added in.

If you want to make a trip to Davis, I could sell you some Sfiligio Super Actinics (I have new and slightly used ones) I also run this bulb and like it alot.

Good luck,

James

 

[ahullsb]

So I just added 2 KZ Fiji Purple's and 2 ATI blue + bulbs. It looks a lot better than before, but the KZ bulbs seem very red. My dusk/dawn effect makes everything much more of a reddish color than I was expecting. I'll get some pics up shortly. Anyone else running anything similar?

 

[eagleONE]

That is how they're suppose to look.The KZ FP bulb is pink in colour. The KZ CL bulb has about a 3% redness in colour.

 

[Nuuze]

That would be great ahullsb! I'm about to get the same bulbs...