T5 users, please post you bulb combination!

[A. Grandis]

So are you saying that the PAR on the ATI Actinic is still 137 and it did NOT increase like was said previously?

Yes, by what the ATI representative told me, yes, they didn't have any changes since the beginning. That was only a rumor.
What does that mean? That particular comparison of PAR numbers is still the same and wasn't changed.
In regards to the old ATI actinic, that number is still the same. Now, the new actinic wasn't measured, so I don't know what is the PAR for that particular new ATI actinic bulb. But the rest is the same. I'll check on that!
One can actually look at those numbers and be able to choose the best deal for any particular system in regards to the PAR and spectrum, at least.

The more bulbs per area, the more options of spectrum and mixing bulbs.
:thumbsup:

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

I should also mention that although certain corals I have like my prizm favia and yellow orange zoas need that 10k bulb.... my acros started bleaching under the 10k.... they are doing better further back in the tank under the blue plus & coral plus & actinics

I strongly believe that some of the corals, zoas and so on... need a specific part of the spectrum to maintain their pigments "active". Therefore the combination of bulbs is very important and many times vital for such beauty. That's one of the big pluses for the T5 fixtures.

Bleaching is a matter of adaptation/sudden changes/shock.
I wouldn't think that a 10.000K bulb is the reason for Acros to bleach, but can't help to say it's because of the difference between the bulbs (intensity/spectrum/PAR), after a sudden change or a "too fast" adaptation process. I've seen beautiful tanks with MHs and T5s with 10.000K bulbs full of Acroporas.

Not to get argumentative here, but to remind us of what may happen when we expect things to get good very fast!

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

When I had an aquactincs t5x fixture (Nice unit by the way, I heard the company is gone), I used:
Front
Blue+
UVL actinic white
UVL actinic
GE 6500K
Blue+
Back
Worked well for me

That was a beautiful fixture, and I didn't have a chance to get one.
Nice bright combo!

Grandis.

 

[bhsgk]

6x39w Tek Light Elite over a 40 breeder

True Actinic
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[A. Grandis]

TekLight Elite fixture was a nice way to save some money and still have a decent cool quality light. Those reflectors were so good.
I just don't understand why those good fixtures are gone.

Look like you've got a deepwater set up with those bulbs, bhsgk. Blue, blue, blue...and a little red.

Grandis.

 

[bhsgk]

I love my Tek. I got it last June from Reefgeek for $350 shipped to my door with the same bulb combo I have now except for no true actinic and a coral plus in its place. I didn't like how the coral plus washed out all the other bulbs. I figured I had enough par with all the blue plus bulbs that I didn't "need" the daylight bulb so I didn't get it when I replaced all my bulbs.

I will however be using either a GE 6500, aqua blue special, or a coral plus in the near future on my 156 with either an 8 or 10 bulb setup.

 

[A. Grandis]

You could also try the the KZ New Generation.
Another bright bulb that I like is the Giesemann 6000K.

Grandis.

 

[moondoggy4]

Any guess what would be a good combination for a Maristar II with two 250 phoenix bulbs I will need 4 T-5's.

 

[A. Grandis]

Any guess what would be a good combination for a Maristar II with two 250 phoenix bulbs I will need 4 T-5's.

I don't know how the Phoenix bulbs are. But generally speaking...

Would be good if they are 10000K. Then you can have 4 Blue Pluses.

For 14000K+ MHs I would use something like 2 X Aquablue specials and 2 X Blue Pluses as a supplement. The blue pluses would be on extremes of the fixture and the Aquablue specials would be close to the MHs, towards the center.

It really comes down and depends on your personal preferences and on what you have in your tank.

Perhaps someone that actually has that same setup will reply and hep you to choose...

Grandis.

 

[Michigan Mike]

3 blue plus & 1 purple wasn't much bluer than my 150w Phoenix I last tested. Adding a ge6500 to the Phoenix doesn't whiten it up as much as you think as the halides are powerful.
I guess it depends on if you want to use the t5 for dawn/dusk or just add more punch and whiten the look up a little bit.

 

[moondoggy4]

Sorry for the lack of info I will run the T-5's separately from the MH. More of a dawn/dusk effect.

 

[A. Grandis]

Sorry for the lack of info I will run the T-5's separately from the MH. More of a dawn/dusk effect.

All Blue Pluses then.
If you want actinic bulbs you will loose the PAR from the Blue plus bulbs.

This year I decided to go back to the actinics and tried one of the best (Giesemann Actinic Plus). Never again! Not worthy!
The Blue Plus has plenty actinic already and you take advantage of the wonderful PAR number.
I have them side by side and they look so similar that you can't tell them apart.

Go with the 4 Blue Pluses.

Grandis.

 

[zaheda]

Can someone recomend a 4 t5 bulb combination with 2x250w BLV 14k? At the moment I have from front to back Blue Plus, Special, Special, Blue Plus. Im using a Sfiligoi unit and the light just looks crap with just t5 running and also metal halides running with t5. I have a Giesemann Actinic, Actinic Plus as spares which I could maybe swop around.This unit freaking heavy so changing bulbs everytime not easy, have to get it right this time. Forgot to add the BLV 14k 1 month old but looks yellow so thinking of using all blue t5.

 

[A. Grandis]

Can someone recomend a 4 t5 bulb combination with 2x250w BLV 14k? At the moment I have from front to back Blue Plus, Special, Special, Blue Plus. Im using a Sfiligoi unit and the light just looks crap with just t5 running and also metal halides running with t5. I have a Giesemann Actinic, Actinic Plus as spares which I could maybe swop around.This unit freaking heavy so changing bulbs everytime not easy, have to get it right this time. Forgot to add the BLV 14k 1 month old but looks yellow so thinking of using all blue t5.

Is that too blue?
That will depend on what you have in the tank and how do you want it to look like.
Grandis.

 

[zaheda]

The current bulb setup not at all blue, more yellow. I have sps corals and looking more for a crisp white colour with a bit of blue. Will the tank look better with Special, Special, Blue Plus, Blue Plus?

 

[YoungREEFA]

Theres usually never no reason to have more than 1 special in a 4 bulb.
If using mh, try phoenix 14k or possibly a radium if u have an hqi ballast. And a actinic plus from ge and a blue plus

 

[Big E]

The current bulb setup not at all blue, more yellow. I have sps corals and looking more for a crisp white colour with a bit of blue. Will the tank look better with Special, Special, Blue Plus, Blue Plus?

2 blue+ and 2 coral + will give you the ambient look you want and colors like this----

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[YoungREEFA]

There ya go ^^^

 

[zaheda]

Big E that looks great. Do you have 2 Blue in the front and the Coral Plus in the back. With my t5 just on the colour looks not right. Big E do you think the 2 Special in the front and the Blue Plus be better?

 

[Firegrant]

I love how the Coral+ and Blue+ look together. Do you have a dawn/dusk unit like the Aquaticlife? Would you set your combo

Front
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Rear

And have the coral+ and Blue+ on for the day and just the blue+ on for dawn?