T5 retro compare.

Nemo

After the Ice Cap fixture forum do you really think you are one to lecture on posting manners:D

If you are going to quote me get it right "Having ran about every combination of T5 lamp available it is my opinion that the 50/50 mix sux"

Based on feed back from people who are running T5's the majority of people experienced with T5 agree. I can't think of a post from someone who has removed a sun lamp and replaced it with an Aquablue unless they had multiple sun lamps to begin with. In fact I haven't seen a post from anyone running the 50/50 mix in ages. The aquablues wash out the color of the corals. It is pitiful (dare I say SUCKS) compared to a mix including actinic and sun lamps. Like I said opinions vary.

I am done here.
 
i dont get why you are so violently opposed to the "50/50" mix?

look into the large reef forum and youll see plenty of posts by iwan and the like talking about his "sucky lit" tank.

seriously man, whats is up with all the harsh vibes? dude, just cuz you have posted a bunch of par numbers doesnt make you the end all be all of t5 lighting.

and if you are going to say something "sucks" why not tell us why? obviously coral growth and color are excellent, so wheres the beef?

do we all have to have our tanks lit and colored like yours? and if theyre not, they suck?

dude, have some prozac (or viagra) and relax and let the guy , and other people, make up their own minds as to what is to their liking. or not.

for better or worst, you need to be aware that there are going to be noobs that know nothing and have no experience just do what people tell them without trying different options themselves.

just post some pictures of your tank lit your way and let everyone decide if thats how they want theirs :thumbsup:
 
grim, now you are reaching. keep things relevant, no need to grasp at straws. (i did nothing in that thread or any other that lacked any decorum. andy didnt like what i had to say, that doesnt mean i said something wrong or poorly. but i digress...).

hff, good call. grim, just post some pics of your tank and let poeple compare your tank to iwans, dananos, and others, and let them select their own bulb combos accordingly.

theres no need to become a t5 natzi and tell people their color sucks just cuz you dont like it, geesh.

i dont like long narrow tanks like a 125g and prefer shorter and wider like the 120g, doesnt mean the 125g sucks.

so, in the imortal words of frankie goes to hollywood "relax, dont do it, when you want to go to it ..."

:D
 
jdoe,

it would be better if you give your question some parameters. this way you can get better advice and attempt to avoid biased personal preferences.

for example, if you ask "what car should i buy" or "what pasta is the best" you are going to be bombarded with personal preferences which chances are you will not share.

better method is to start with what you want: whether it is:

A. the color of the light
or
B. to bring out certain colors on corals
or
C. to get best coral growth
or
D. something else.

this way can get advice to achieve your desired result.

heres some objective info regarding your questions to at least put those to rest as i see they have gone unanswered:

1. a v b comparisons
- the more blue the bulb is the less par
- icecap reflectors are more efficient at reflecting light
- icecap reflectors are larger so fewer bulbs can be used
- icecap overdrive bulbs which can be good and bad
- yellow bulbs have more par but make the tank less "marine like"
- tek ballasts, triad, made specifically for t5, should get the best bulb life
- and tons more info, so better to know your application

2. best bulb setup?
- depends what you want as i mentioned earlier

3. cheaper?
- depending on your specific application, could go with a tek retro and use icecap reflectors, unless you want to use more bulbs down the road or now stick to the tek reflectors. as ive mentioned ad nauseum, dont worry about $100-200 in lighting. get what you want now are leave it be. youll waste tons more money are perishables (food, media, test kits) than the difference in the light you want and the one you get to save some beanos.

4. peoples experiences.
- just a word of advice, learn to wade through experience of others and be able to ascertain knowledge with opinion and objective recommendations from biased preferences.
 
unless you have a bunch of different t5 bulbs already, it would be best to look around at different t5 lit tanks and find the one to your liking and then find out the bulb combo used.

instead of getting a consensus of opinions of what others like to only order those bulbs and then find out its not what you like.

thats why i showed you iwans tank. at least now you know what one combo looks like, and you can go from there.

bon chance
 
this thread now "sux" LOL

while grim may occasionally add a not so proper comment, he means well, and knows a lot about t5ho.

he knows more than I do, and that's saying something.
 
don't be so touchy. this is a forum for god sakes, grim is still a person and can say sux if he wants to.

I had a combo with
UVL Super actinic
d+d 6k daylight
D+D Actinici plus (blue)
D+D Aquablue
gave me white with just a hint of blue. growth was great.
 
if your gonna post a bulb combo, why not attach a pic? kinda useless to know what bulbs you use without seeing what it looks like?

bulb combos without pix is what sux :lol:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8173530#post8173530 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hey fishy fishy
if your gonna post a bulb combo, why not attach a pic? kinda useless to know what bulbs you use without seeing what it looks like?

bulb combos without pix is what sux :lol:

well, when you post pictures of bulb combos, you will get beaten down by the "white balance" police:lol:

seriously, every camera will depict the colors differently, and different monitors depict colors differently as well. so the true color of what you see may be different than what they really are.

and thats not even taking in to effect the level of color blindness people can be. LOL
 
DSC_0561.gif

Which color combo do you like better?
 
i am not answering anymore questions on here. Just want to put on my two cents and my post sux haha. I have pix but don't post them because the pic itself sux. it does not accuratly represent the true color in person or to the naked eye.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8181923#post8181923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdoenumber2
i like the white look best. It seems to be more life like. What are the bulb combos in both?
Bulb combo is exactly the same. Just a white balance setting change on the camera. Just to show how how difficult it is to get a true representation of lighting color.
 
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