The T5 Q&a Thread - split

I think a good combo would be 3 blue plus, 2 coral plus, and one Purple plus. thats a pretty common combo and you can add more blue using the reefbrites.
 
ReeferSteve78 said:
What are the best bulbs to grab. I have the ati blue+ but should I get the gieseman purple plus? Heard they work better
Click to expand...

For Purple Bulbs, the KZ Fiji Purple is my favorite, you can get them at BRS. Ive heard good things about the Giesemann Super purple but I haven't used it yet myself. My least favorite Purple bulb is the Purple Plus(but I'm very picky)

Lots of people rave about the Coral Plus, it gives you nice colors without being pink. I like Giesemann AquaBlue Azure and KZ New Generation bulbs for very pure white bulbs.

All these are personal viewing preferences - any of the ATI, Giesemann, or KZ bulbs will give you good results, whether you go heavily white or heavily blue.
 
I finally tried several combinations and decided with the following from front-back: B+P+B+C+B+C+. With this combination i found that my Reds, Greens and Yellow seems more natural.

I liked a lot the 3B+ and C+ suggested by Ed but found it in the little white side.

Hope that helps...
 
I ended up ordering the following 24 watt bulbs:

5 Blue plus
3 Coral Plus
2 Giesemann Super Actinic
1 Purple Plus

Suggestions for an 8 bulb combo and order of placement? I also have a blue xho Reefbrite on the fixture I'm currently only using for dawn/dusk
 
Ok I am getting a fixture Aquatic Life Light T5 HO 4-Lamp for $150.00 and I want to replace the bulbs. For one is it worth that price since I need to replace the bulbs? It will go on a 75 gallon tank. I want to have a clam probably a mixed reef but more soft corals and lps. I was looking at my options and either a t5 fixture or buildmyled light the 20k version is nice but expensive. What you think is better?
 
No way no how am I going to get through 240+ pages so figured I would simply ask.

I am new to T5 as I will be ordering my ATI 48" 6 bulb fixture tomorrow to go over my 60" 150 gallon. I have no idea on what bulbs to get though. I will have 2 Kessils working in conjunction with the ATI on each end pointing inwards so I can play with their color a bit to add more blue/white to the tank as needed I guess.

That said I am mainly an acan guy and LOVE to have the yellows, oranges, greens and such pop. I am more on the bluish side of color so everything pops out to me but I am not into the total blue blacklight look some have. So please what bulbs do you guys recommend and order in the fixture.

Thanks a bunch as this bastion for LEDs starts his conversion to the T5 darkside...
 
soulpatch said:
No way no how am I going to get through 240+ pages so figured I would simply ask.

I am new to T5 as I will be ordering my ATI 48" 6 bulb fixture tomorrow to go over my 60" 150 gallon. I have no idea on what bulbs to get though. I will have 2 Kessils working in conjunction with the ATI on each end pointing inwards so I can play with their color a bit to add more blue/white to the tank as needed I guess.

That said I am mainly an acan guy and LOVE to have the yellows, oranges, greens and such pop. I am more on the bluish side of color so everything pops out to me but I am not into the total blue blacklight look some have. So please what bulbs do you guys recommend and order in the fixture.

Thanks a bunch as this bastion for LEDs starts his conversion to the T5 darkside...
Click to expand...
http://www.atinorthamerica.com/faq.php
 
Should of posted here before buying, but I went with;
3 Blue+, 2 Coral+, 1 True Actinic

Is this going to be too blue? Should I think about adding a Purple+ instead of the the Actinic?
 
greaps said:
Should of posted here before buying, but I went with;
3 Blue+, 2 Coral+, 1 True Actinic

Is this going to be too blue? Should I think about adding a Purple+ instead of the the Actinic?
Click to expand...

Yes, I would do that. The two coral plusses will not have enough red to balance the blue.
 
soulpatch said:
Doh. Never thought to look in their FAQ.

So that said this is the common bulb layout for those who dont want it overpoweringly blue?

-Bulb combination
3 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

What order would I put the bulbs or does it not matter?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's a common combination for a neutral white tank with a bit of blue. You should place blue bulbs in position 2 and 5 for dawn and dusk, the purple in one of the center two positions and one coral plus in the last spot. Then if you like it brighter, put the other coral plus in position 1, otherwise put the third blue bulb there for a bluer cast.
 
I am going to run a 4 bulb retro setup, and I was thinking of going with either of the two combinations:

#1 - ATI
Blue +
Coral +
Purple +
Blue +

#2 - ATI
Blue +
Coral +
Blue +
Coral +

The look I am really going for is somewhere in the 12k-14k range...I like the idea of the purple + to help the reds pop, but I don't want it to look too pink. I've been seeing some folks say they wouldn't run a pink bulb on a set up with less than 6 total bulbs.

Any thoughts on the combinations or order I have them set up?
 
i like your second better but i wouldn't run 2 coral pluses. looks violet. i would use an actinic if you have one and see how you like it.
 
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