T5 watts per gallon
- Thread starter squirmy
- Start date
CaptainDave
New member
This might have been answered before, but what kind of color are you looking for? The bulbs you have listed aren't going to give you a blue look at all, although maybe that's what you're going for. My personal favorite bulb combination I have seen is two blueplus and two aquablues for a 4 bulb configuration, and three blueplus, two aquablues, and one GE for a 6 bulb. If you're looking for a bluer look, you might considering swapping one of those daylight bulbs out for another blue bulb.
Just my 2 cents.
CaptainDave
New member
Well, others may chime in with a different opinion, but I think having equal numbers of daylight bulbs and blue/actinic bulbs will give you a nice, crisp, blue/white look. If I was doing 6 bulbs, I would have, from front to back:
[front]
Aquablue
Blueplus
GE daylight
Blueplus
Aquablue
Blueplus
[back]
Although, supposedly URI (or whatever they changed their name to) is releasing a T5 Super Actinic sometime this month, and if that turns out to be as nice as the VHO Super Actinic, I would think about subsitituting at least one of those for a Blueplus.
Ha, I just finished writing this, and looked up and saw that is exactly what ChemE suggested, just flip-flopped.
[front]
Aquablue
Blueplus
GE daylight
Blueplus
Aquablue
Blueplus
[back]
Although, supposedly URI (or whatever they changed their name to) is releasing a T5 Super Actinic sometime this month, and if that turns out to be as nice as the VHO Super Actinic, I would think about subsitituting at least one of those for a Blueplus.
Ha, I just finished writing this, and looked up and saw that is exactly what ChemE suggested, just flip-flopped.
CaptainDave
New member
oh, and FWIW, I believe the Blueplus bulbs have very good PAR for a blue bulb, so if you're worried that giving up a daylight bulb will hurt the brightness, that should make you feel a little better about it.
Horace
New member
Captain....That bulb config is what most people, including myself use. Its a very high PAR setup and it does have a tint of blue to it but not much. It is pretty darn white, but nice 
. I am actually considering adding another blue+ but I am waiting to see if the URI bulb is released. I will probably then run the following:
URI
AB
B+
AB
B+
URI
Pending on the look of the new bulb, it should make the tank a bit bluer than it is now (which like i said, isnt very blue). My PAR is more than enough as it is. Most of my coralline is toast
. I am actually considering adding another blue+ but I am waiting to see if the URI bulb is released. I will probably then run the following:URI
AB
B+
AB
B+
URI
Pending on the look of the new bulb, it should make the tank a bit bluer than it is now (which like i said, isnt very blue). My PAR is more than enough as it is. Most of my coralline is toast
CaptainDave
New member
yup, I have four bulbs (2 T5s, 2 VHOs) over my 55, and coralline only grows in the shadows. I'm excited about the T5 actinic too, I'll probably switch over to all T5s if it turns out nice.
shoddy, it's anyone's guess as to who will get them first, but I would watch reefgeek and premium, and maybe the big boys like marinedepot or drsfostersmith.com
shoddy, it's anyone's guess as to who will get them first, but I would watch reefgeek and premium, and maybe the big boys like marinedepot or drsfostersmith.com
Bathypelagic
New member
First let me say I know nothing about T5's, just repeating what I have read. According to TGR (Grim), who seems to be an advocate for T5's formerly here and now on another forum, he stated that a lighting engineer friend of his does not hold out a lot of hope for a good true actinic T5 bulb. Said something about the geometry of the bulb itself will not allow it.
Like I said I no nothing about T5's myself, just trying to figure it all out.
Horace
New member
Well the people at Icecap say different....
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=788754
Though I totally respect TGR...he has tought me much, I dont think he can speak for a bulb that is not even available. URI is the best in flourescents for VHO, it only stands to reason they may make top quality T5s as well...But I guess we will just have to wait and see.
ChemE
New member
Wow, we've been creeping along at 1-2 posts per day on this thread, and then when I'm tied up in a trade show all day long...BANG 20 posts today!
Yeah, like I said overdriven is overkill.
shoddyk: you're setup looks perfect. Horace had been using the WH ballasts to light T5's for a while and no black rings, so you're safe in using non-T5 spec ballasts to drive T5 bulbs. You bulb selection looks nice as well. It will shake out to be 11,00Kish looking but LOADS of PAR.
I like the 14,000K look so I'm planning a 120 w/ 50% blue+ 50% aquablue. Little less PAR little more blue.
As for the URI (not anymore but can't remember what now) T5 actinic, frankly, I like the look of D&D's blue+ so much, unless it slaughters the blue+ in BOTH looks (pop) and PAR I'm not going to switch. I know others who love their VHO are champing at the bit, but those look purple and fake to my eye. I like the blue of the blue+. Just my opinion there, YMMV.
Anyway, this shaped up to be a very good thread. We did a good job of distilling the information in some MUCH longer threads down into a scant 54 posts (so far). Thanks.
Chris
Yeah, like I said overdriven is overkill.
shoddyk: you're setup looks perfect. Horace had been using the WH ballasts to light T5's for a while and no black rings, so you're safe in using non-T5 spec ballasts to drive T5 bulbs. You bulb selection looks nice as well. It will shake out to be 11,00Kish looking but LOADS of PAR.
I like the 14,000K look so I'm planning a 120 w/ 50% blue+ 50% aquablue. Little less PAR little more blue.
As for the URI (not anymore but can't remember what now) T5 actinic, frankly, I like the look of D&D's blue+ so much, unless it slaughters the blue+ in BOTH looks (pop) and PAR I'm not going to switch. I know others who love their VHO are champing at the bit, but those look purple and fake to my eye. I like the blue of the blue+. Just my opinion there, YMMV.
Anyway, this shaped up to be a very good thread. We did a good job of distilling the information in some MUCH longer threads down into a scant 54 posts (so far). Thanks.
Chris
CaptainDave
New member
actually, the Aquablue has the highest PAR of any of the T5 bulbs. GE is a close second, I believe.
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