RedEyeReef
Active member
johns said:
thanks.
T5's: A cautionary note
- Thread starter gregt
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thanks.
johns
Premium Member
Got my Helios SUperblues and I have to agree with Codeman - they look A LOT like ATI Blue Plus bulbs to me. Maybe I detect a very, VERY slight difference in color, but I might be stretching it a bit. Granted, the Blue Pluses and the Superblues are in different fixtures and over different tanks. Also, the Blue Pluses are over a year old. When I have more time (maybe this weekend), I can try putting both bulbs in the same fixture and see if I notice anything.
But if anything, it has to be very slight. Grim- you made it sound like a very obvious difference, right? I wouldn't miss it by just looking at the bulb color, would I?
If you could, please again explain how they looked different to you. Especially just in terms of the color of the bulb itself and the color of the light it emits. Not so much in terms of how they do or dont fluorese different colors in the tank, because you and I may have different types of colors and corals, some which fluorese and some which dont.
But if anything, it has to be very slight. Grim- you made it sound like a very obvious difference, right? I wouldn't miss it by just looking at the bulb color, would I?
If you could, please again explain how they looked different to you. Especially just in terms of the color of the bulb itself and the color of the light it emits. Not so much in terms of how they do or dont fluorese different colors in the tank, because you and I may have different types of colors and corals, some which fluorese and some which dont.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
My wife better describes the color as a little tourquoise which is closer to blue with a touch of green while aquablue is closer to green blue mix.
As far as just the color of the light produced they are not much different than a blueplus. Where I see the difference is the color of the corals. It is very obvious. The blueplus didn't come close to fluorescing the corals like this does.
Towards the end of my T5 run I got some submersible blue lights from drs foster and smith.com for night lights and decided to also use them as supplimental because they did so much better than my blueplus lamps at fluorescing the corals.
Here is a pic of the frogspawn under the sub blue, remember my bluepluses didn't look this good
a single Superblue
Different shot under the superblue which show the color more accuratly than the close up.
Favia under Sub Blue lamp
Favia under superblue
So you guys were getting colors like either of these with your bluepluses?
I just went back through my old computer files and I was never happy enough with just the blueplus lamps to even take a picture of anything under just them running.
As far as just the color of the light produced they are not much different than a blueplus. Where I see the difference is the color of the corals. It is very obvious. The blueplus didn't come close to fluorescing the corals like this does.
Towards the end of my T5 run I got some submersible blue lights from drs foster and smith.com for night lights and decided to also use them as supplimental because they did so much better than my blueplus lamps at fluorescing the corals.
Here is a pic of the frogspawn under the sub blue, remember my bluepluses didn't look this good
a single Superblue
Different shot under the superblue which show the color more accuratly than the close up.
Favia under Sub Blue lamp
Favia under superblue
So you guys were getting colors like either of these with your bluepluses?
I just went back through my old computer files and I was never happy enough with just the blueplus lamps to even take a picture of anything under just them running.
jasondaven
New member
T5
T5
Does anyone have any idea of were to find the best deals on t5's(retro systems)? I am looking to set up t5's on a zooanthid propagation system. What kind of bulb spread would I need over a 24" wide trough that is 18" deep to get the optimum growth out of the zoo's? Any idea of a bulb combo(wavelength)? Thanks for any help!
Jay
T5
Does anyone have any idea of were to find the best deals on t5's(retro systems)? I am looking to set up t5's on a zooanthid propagation system. What kind of bulb spread would I need over a 24" wide trough that is 18" deep to get the optimum growth out of the zoo's? Any idea of a bulb combo(wavelength)? Thanks for any help!
Jay
johns
Premium Member
I didnt really think I detected green in the bulb. Maybe if I look at it again (cant see it right now.)
For now I guess I am just talking about the color of the bulb itself and the color of the light coming out of it. To me they look very similar to the Blue Plus.
But it sounds like you are saying the same thing. I guess that means I really need to try these bulbs on the same fixture to see how they compare in the colors of the corals that are fluorescing.
I was under the impression from previous posts that the color of these bulbs and the light were going to be very different.
For now I guess I am just talking about the color of the bulb itself and the color of the light coming out of it. To me they look very similar to the Blue Plus.
But it sounds like you are saying the same thing. I guess that means I really need to try these bulbs on the same fixture to see how they compare in the colors of the corals that are fluorescing.
I was under the impression from previous posts that the color of these bulbs and the light were going to be very different.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Jasondavid
Check out Aqualux lighting. They have computer designed reflectors that are less $$$ than the Tek and do a better job. They are wider but in your case that is no biggie assuming your "tank" is 24" front to back.
Is your trough 18 tall, 24 deep and X long? If that is the case I would use the longest lamps that will fit and run 6 of them. I'd probably run a 50/50 mix of blueplus and aquablue lamps, plenty of PAR for zoos and enough actinic to color them up well.
Check out Aqualux lighting. They have computer designed reflectors that are less $$$ than the Tek and do a better job. They are wider but in your case that is no biggie assuming your "tank" is 24" front to back.
Is your trough 18 tall, 24 deep and X long? If that is the case I would use the longest lamps that will fit and run 6 of them. I'd probably run a 50/50 mix of blueplus and aquablue lamps, plenty of PAR for zoos and enough actinic to color them up well.
johns
Premium Member
Let me also say that I am not unhappy with these bulbs. The color is very nice. I do want to try them soon on my display tank. Right now they are only over a prop tank that in in the setup stages. So not much of anything to see in there.
These bulbs cost $20 each. Commodity Axis has some ludicrous shipping charge that amounts to $22 for 2 bulbs ($15 packaging fee plus shipping charges!). So in the end you pay $31 for each bulb. Now an ATI Blue Plus bulb (assuming these are pretty similar, just for arguments sake) cost around $27 each. Shipping from some place like Reef Geek costs about 7 or 8 bucks to ship 4 or 6 bulbs. In the end the ATIs might be a bit cheaper, but not too far off. If the bulbs are really different enough I would pay the exta price (which, in fact, I did). I'm just not convinced how different they are yet.
These bulbs cost $20 each. Commodity Axis has some ludicrous shipping charge that amounts to $22 for 2 bulbs ($15 packaging fee plus shipping charges!). So in the end you pay $31 for each bulb. Now an ATI Blue Plus bulb (assuming these are pretty similar, just for arguments sake) cost around $27 each. Shipping from some place like Reef Geek costs about 7 or 8 bucks to ship 4 or 6 bulbs. In the end the ATIs might be a bit cheaper, but not too far off. If the bulbs are really different enough I would pay the exta price (which, in fact, I did). I'm just not convinced how different they are yet.
jasondaven
New member
Do you think that the par output from the t5's is on the high side for the zoo's with comparisson to VHO's? Thanks for your advise!
Jay
Jay
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
jasondaven said:
Most of the supercolored zoos I've seen for sale are under pretty intense halides so I don't think the T5's would be too much. 4 lamps might be enough but I think I would stick with 6 if you are trying to cover 24".
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
johns said:
Yeah, CA is just a outlet store for the manufacturer so it isn't the greatest place to order stuff from. Trouble is they are the only place I know of to get the stuff right now.
Do your blueplus lamps pop the coral colors like the pics I posted? I want to find out what the deal is here. I don't want to be pointing people towards the superblues if the blueplus is as good and like you pointed out, cheaper to get. Could be that the 60" bluepluses are not the same as the shorter ones.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
www.aqualuxlighting.com
I've measured the PAR from SLS, Ice Cap and Aqualux reflectors. Ice Cap is the best, then Aqualux then Tek. The downside to the Aqualux reflector is they are wider than the other 2, about 3 1/8" compaired to 2 1/2 for IC and 2 1/4 or so for Tek. Depending on the tank size the Aqualux reflector might be too wide for a lot of applications.
I've measured the PAR from SLS, Ice Cap and Aqualux reflectors. Ice Cap is the best, then Aqualux then Tek. The downside to the Aqualux reflector is they are wider than the other 2, about 3 1/8" compaired to 2 1/2 for IC and 2 1/4 or so for Tek. Depending on the tank size the Aqualux reflector might be too wide for a lot of applications.
johns
Premium Member
Do your blueplus lamps pop the coral colors like the pics I posted? I want to find out what the deal is here. I don't want to be pointing people towards the superblues if the blueplus is as good and like you pointed out, cheaper to get. Could be that the 60" bluepluses are not the same as the shorter ones.
This is not an easy question for me to answer as I have trouble looking at others photos and comparing to what I see with my own eyes. But yes, I believe that the Blue Plus does pop out the fluorescence of some corals, especially in the green and orange colors and some blue.
How that compares to the Super Blue I'll have to check out. If that is where the difference lies with the SuperBlue bulbs I'll have to get them over my display tank to see what differences I see there. Frankly, I am hoping they are better/different.
Once again the similarites I am talking about are in the color of the glowing bulbs themselves when they are on and in the color of the light that appears to output from the bulbs. They look very similar to me.
This is not an easy question for me to answer as I have trouble looking at others photos and comparing to what I see with my own eyes. But yes, I believe that the Blue Plus does pop out the fluorescence of some corals, especially in the green and orange colors and some blue.
How that compares to the Super Blue I'll have to check out. If that is where the difference lies with the SuperBlue bulbs I'll have to get them over my display tank to see what differences I see there. Frankly, I am hoping they are better/different.
Once again the similarites I am talking about are in the color of the glowing bulbs themselves when they are on and in the color of the light that appears to output from the bulbs. They look very similar to me.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Post back once you try it. My stuff looks more vivid in person than in the pics but not a huge difference.
I just had another thought. I have always overdriven my T5 lamps. I wonder if that takes away from the actinic effect of the blueplus. My blueplus lamps made the frogspawn look nice but it didn't glow under them. The centers of the favia did glow fairly well but the tips of the torch did nothing.
Anyone have pics just under T5 blueplus lamps?
I just had another thought. I have always overdriven my T5 lamps. I wonder if that takes away from the actinic effect of the blueplus. My blueplus lamps made the frogspawn look nice but it didn't glow under them. The centers of the favia did glow fairly well but the tips of the torch did nothing.
Anyone have pics just under T5 blueplus lamps?
Codeman00
Premium Member
Like John said, its tough to compare what I see in my tank with the pics that you took of the superblues. I too was expecting something radically different...and I really didn't see anything. The oranges and greens in corals flouresce nicely with the bluepluses..and I'm not running reflectors with them due to lack of room. I am using the short sections of MH reflector though. I'll try to get some pictures this week....although its so hard to capture what I see because of aquarium lighting. I'll try to take pics of all my lighting setups...MH, VHO, T5 and combinations. Dang that will take awhile. I never did get pics of the Superblues...Im not sure there was enough difference anyway.
Commodity Axis agreed to take them back although I had to pay the $18 shipping FedEx. At least I'll only be out $30.
Commodity Axis agreed to take them back although I had to pay the $18 shipping FedEx. At least I'll only be out $30.
johns
Premium Member
I ordered 45 3/8" (excluding pins). The order form came saying 46". When I actually measure them, they are 45". But no matter, they fit perfectly into the Tek Light.
I dont know...maybe there is a slight differnce in the color of the light coming out of the superblues. If you just look at the color of the glowing bulb, I cant see any difference at all. I might be splitting hairs here, but after looking at the color of the light a bit more, I would say the color of the environment (water) in the tank with just these bulbs on as sort of a cool sky blue. It's very bright. The only thing in this prop tank right now are some green star poyps and a galaxia. Both of these definitely glow more with the superblues on than not.
How much more or less they glow with the Blue Plus I still dont know. The color of the light from the blue plus might be just a bit darker, more blue, less white. Again, could be the age of the bulbs, the shading in this other tank, any number of things.
I dont know...maybe there is a slight differnce in the color of the light coming out of the superblues. If you just look at the color of the glowing bulb, I cant see any difference at all. I might be splitting hairs here, but after looking at the color of the light a bit more, I would say the color of the environment (water) in the tank with just these bulbs on as sort of a cool sky blue. It's very bright. The only thing in this prop tank right now are some green star poyps and a galaxia. Both of these definitely glow more with the superblues on than not.
How much more or less they glow with the Blue Plus I still dont know. The color of the light from the blue plus might be just a bit darker, more blue, less white. Again, could be the age of the bulbs, the shading in this other tank, any number of things.
johns
Premium Member
OK. This past weekend I swapped the ATI Blue Plus bulbs off of the maristar fixture over my display tank, and replaced with the Helios Superblues to get a more direct comparison.
So now I think there is a VERY slight difference in the color of the light, with the Helios bulbs giving a slightly whiter and brighter look (like a 'sky blue' color). Both bulbs fluoresce corals about the same. I might be getting VERY slight better colors out of the Helios. But honestly, it's far from a NIGHT-DAY difference. In fact, the difference is so slight it's almost subjective and I could EASILY just be looking at the difference between brand new bulbs and bulbs that are over a year old.
Dont get me wrong - I like the Helios bulbs, glad I bought them. I needed a couple new bulbs anyway and the price is roughly the same as ATI Blue Plus. But just dont expect to buy these bulbs and find some MAJOR difference in color. If you like the Blue Plus bulbs you would like these. That's about it.
Grim- When you have the time, maybe you could revisit the Super Blues or get some newer ones to see if you still find this huge difference between the 2 bulbs. I dont see it.
So now I think there is a VERY slight difference in the color of the light, with the Helios bulbs giving a slightly whiter and brighter look (like a 'sky blue' color). Both bulbs fluoresce corals about the same. I might be getting VERY slight better colors out of the Helios. But honestly, it's far from a NIGHT-DAY difference. In fact, the difference is so slight it's almost subjective and I could EASILY just be looking at the difference between brand new bulbs and bulbs that are over a year old.
Dont get me wrong - I like the Helios bulbs, glad I bought them. I needed a couple new bulbs anyway and the price is roughly the same as ATI Blue Plus. But just dont expect to buy these bulbs and find some MAJOR difference in color. If you like the Blue Plus bulbs you would like these. That's about it.
Grim- When you have the time, maybe you could revisit the Super Blues or get some newer ones to see if you still find this huge difference between the 2 bulbs. I dont see it.
Obi-dad
Active member
I am thinking the reason I noticed a difference is that my blue+ bulbs are down on output. Significantly down after less than a year, which will be the subject of a different thread at some point. I think I am not keeping my bulbs cool enough, so that they are aging prematurely.
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