T5HO... whatcha think about this bulb selection?
- Thread starter NeveSSL
- Start date
for those interested, I found this information on another site:
PAR readings
ATI
Sun Pro 357 no longer available
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137 no longer available
D&D/Giesemann
Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264 (latest version appears to have better output)
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
GE 3000K (was slightly higher than the Daylight in a different test)
KZ Coral Light appears to be the same lamp as the ATI Aquabue in color and PAR output
KZ Fiji Purple Looks like a aquablue style lamp with red spectrum added so the hue is slightly purple. PAR output is between an Aquablue and Blue Plus ATI.
Aquascience 15000K Duo appears to be close to Giesemann Aquablue
Aquascience 22000K Blue seems to be very close to the G-Mann Actinic Plus
Aquascience 15000K Special lamp is Ice white and has PAR slightly less than an Aquablue. (Both Aquascience and Giesemann lamps are made by Narva)
PAR readings
ATI
Sun Pro 357 no longer available
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137 no longer available
D&D/Giesemann
Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264 (latest version appears to have better output)
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
GE 3000K (was slightly higher than the Daylight in a different test)
KZ Coral Light appears to be the same lamp as the ATI Aquabue in color and PAR output
KZ Fiji Purple Looks like a aquablue style lamp with red spectrum added so the hue is slightly purple. PAR output is between an Aquablue and Blue Plus ATI.
Aquascience 15000K Duo appears to be close to Giesemann Aquablue
Aquascience 22000K Blue seems to be very close to the G-Mann Actinic Plus
Aquascience 15000K Special lamp is Ice white and has PAR slightly less than an Aquablue. (Both Aquascience and Giesemann lamps are made by Narva)
interested in seeing pics of those actinic whites also...
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Ok, guys... I finally got everything in. Unfortunately one of my ballasts has died, so I've only got two bulbs running so here's what I've noticed so far:
ATI Blue Plus... HOLY COW! That is some SERIOUS blue! I love it, though! It pretty much makes EVERYTHING pop. A keeper for sure. Kinda surprised me how much I liked it, to be honest... can't wait to see it with some more colors. It will almost definitely stay.
UVL SuperActinic: This one really made my leather and candy canes GLOW! Very nice... I was actually thinking of getting rid of the leather... not now!
UVL Actinic Whites: Thanks so much for suggesting these, Chris R. as they'll probably stay. These were the color I was after have a bit of actinic in them as well... nice!
AquaSun: Only worked for a few minutes before my ballast died, but looked pink like Brian had mentioned. It may balance out the Blue Plus well... but we'll see.
AquaBlue: Another more white bulb that I like a lot. I'm hoping it works well with some other bulbs because as of right now I'm considering keeping it.
As is I'm wanting to run (from front to back) ATI BluePlus, UVL Actinic White, ATI AquaBlue, and UVL Super Actinic. I also got one (but ended up with two... maybe I ordered two? heh) of the clearance $10 actinic bulbs they had because the sales guy said it was exactly the same as an ATI something or other, but I can't remember right off which one it was. I fired it up with the UVL Actinic Plus and it looked more purple than blue... so it may be added.
Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts so far before RC's backups start.
Brandon
ATI Blue Plus... HOLY COW! That is some SERIOUS blue! I love it, though! It pretty much makes EVERYTHING pop. A keeper for sure. Kinda surprised me how much I liked it, to be honest... can't wait to see it with some more colors. It will almost definitely stay.
UVL SuperActinic: This one really made my leather and candy canes GLOW! Very nice... I was actually thinking of getting rid of the leather... not now!
UVL Actinic Whites: Thanks so much for suggesting these, Chris R. as they'll probably stay.
These were the color I was after have a bit of actinic in them as well... nice! AquaSun: Only worked for a few minutes before my ballast died, but looked pink like Brian had mentioned. It may balance out the Blue Plus well... but we'll see.
AquaBlue: Another more white bulb that I like a lot. I'm hoping it works well with some other bulbs because as of right now I'm considering keeping it.
As is I'm wanting to run (from front to back) ATI BluePlus, UVL Actinic White, ATI AquaBlue, and UVL Super Actinic. I also got one (but ended up with two... maybe I ordered two? heh) of the clearance $10 actinic bulbs they had because the sales guy said it was exactly the same as an ATI something or other, but I can't remember right off which one it was. I fired it up with the UVL Actinic Plus and it looked more purple than blue... so it may be added.
Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts so far before RC's backups start.
Brandon
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Yeah, I received 3. 
I thought for a moment you may have ordered two, but obviously when I double checked it was only one.
BTW John... I HIGHLY recommend at least trying out a Blue Plus. I even have an extra one you can borrow (or possibly buy if I don't use both of mine) if you'd like. They make a HUGE difference!
Brandon
I thought for a moment you may have ordered two, but obviously when I double checked it was only one. BTW John... I HIGHLY recommend at least trying out a Blue Plus. I even have an extra one you can borrow (or possibly buy if I don't use both of mine) if you'd like. They make a HUGE difference!
Brandon
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Well, guys, I'm back to square one. 
The Actinic White just seems to put out this pinkish color that drives me crazy. However, replacing it with a Blue Plus is too blue.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a good white bulb? Maybe the AquaSun, but I've heard its rather pink so it may be worse.
Any thoughts? John, exactly which bulbs did you get? They may be more what I'm after at 12k rather than 10k.
Thanks!
Brandon
The Actinic White just seems to put out this pinkish color that drives me crazy. However, replacing it with a Blue Plus is too blue.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a good white bulb? Maybe the AquaSun, but I've heard its rather pink so it may be worse.
Any thoughts? John, exactly which bulbs did you get? They may be more what I'm after at 12k rather than 10k.
Thanks!
Brandon
crumbletop
New member
How about either the ATI AquaBlue or the Geissemann AquaBlue. I like both of them (the Geissemann a little better). I think I may have mentioned it a bit earlier in the thread, but I can't stand the UVL T5s. The SuperActinic is okay, but doesn't last very long IME.
DMBillies
Active member
FWIW I had two UVL super actinics crap on me within 2 months of install. And I don't mean just a slight decrease in output, I mean I had to turn the lights off in the room to tell that one of them was on at all. I got a replacement for the first one from hellolights with no questions asked. After the second one went out, I just bit the bullet and switched back to the old actinics. They need some work by the looks of it...
I got a UVL aquasun (green end) with the UVL superactinics. It was so pink I literally took it back out within an hour. If you have a lot of actinic, you can cover up a slightly yellow spectrum, but the UVL bulbs seem to get really heavy in the red area of the spectrum as you head toward a lower K bulb. So, if you think the UVL Actinic White is too pink, odds are the aquasun is not the way to go.
I really like the Geissemann Aquablue+'s that I am using (in combo with Geissemann Actinic+ and Pure Actinic). That said, the different shorthand names of all of these bulbs make my head spin... so maybe you're already saying Aquablue+'s are too blue?
I got a UVL aquasun (green end) with the UVL superactinics. It was so pink I literally took it back out within an hour. If you have a lot of actinic, you can cover up a slightly yellow spectrum, but the UVL bulbs seem to get really heavy in the red area of the spectrum as you head toward a lower K bulb. So, if you think the UVL Actinic White is too pink, odds are the aquasun is not the way to go.
I really like the Geissemann Aquablue+'s that I am using (in combo with Geissemann Actinic+ and Pure Actinic). That said, the different shorthand names of all of these bulbs make my head spin... so maybe you're already saying Aquablue+'s are too blue?
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
I have one ATI AquaBlue, Jack, but maybe two would be good. Maybe I could get the Critter to order me a Geissemann and give it a shot. Any particular reason you like the Geissemann?
I really wish I had room for more than 4 bulbs.
I heard about those crap-outs, Brian. Mine has been good so far. I also have some of the Sgfoli (or however its spelled) actinics.
I agree on the Aquasun. I realized afterward.
Maybe I should just join the rest of MTRC and switch to Geissemann. I do enjoy the Blue Plus, though. Everything else I'm up for changing around and seeing what I can do.
Oh, and I also just noticed the Actinic White (which I'm using) is a 50/50, not a 75/25, so maybe a 75/25 would be more of what I'm after.
Thanks guys!
Brandon
I really wish I had room for more than 4 bulbs.
I heard about those crap-outs, Brian. Mine has been good so far. I also have some of the Sgfoli (or however its spelled) actinics.
I agree on the Aquasun. I realized afterward.
Maybe I should just join the rest of MTRC and switch to Geissemann.
I do enjoy the Blue Plus, though. Everything else I'm up for changing around and seeing what I can do. Oh, and I also just noticed the Actinic White (which I'm using) is a 50/50, not a 75/25, so maybe a 75/25 would be more of what I'm after.
Thanks guys!
Brandon
crumbletop
New member
I have heard the ATI's referred to as "the next iteration" of the Geissemann. The bulbs look almost identical to me, and the Geissemann's have been great for me (last long, no muss, no fuss, good color) so I guess I stick with what I know. I have some ATI's as well that are fine. The ATI AquaBlue and the Geissemann AquaBlue look the same to me in terms of color. I also like the blue Plus bulbs from either ATI or Geissemann. I'm not sure which brand I have in my setup right now. I would probably order which ever one is cheaper.
Brian -- interesting you have had similar issues with the SuperActinic. UVL's were fine for VHO's but I have been underwhelmed with their T5s.
Brian -- interesting you have had similar issues with the SuperActinic. UVL's were fine for VHO's but I have been underwhelmed with their T5s.
