The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[AugustWest]

Almost time to change out my bulbs on ATI 8x24 Watt Sunpower. And looking for suggestions. Currently running front to back all ATI bulbs:
Blue +
Coral +
Actinic
Aquablue Special
Blue +
Actinic
Coral +
Blue+

Pretty happy with the look and very happy with the Actinic bulbs , which I hadn't tried until my last bulb change.

Want to definitely keep the 2 Actinic but was wanting to maybe get a purple bulb in there somewhere. Any suggestions on which bulb to change to purple?

Also thinking of trying the new Giessman bulbs but not real familiar with them. What would be a good Giessman combination Similar to what I listed above ? I see they have an Actinic and a super-actinic bulb, what's the difference?

 

[bucfan]

Almost time to change out my bulbs on ATI 8x24 Watt Sunpower. And looking for suggestions. Currently running front to back all ATI bulbs:
Blue +
Coral +
Actinic
Aquablue Special
Blue +
Actinic
Coral +
Blue+

I have been running this combo since the new tank got set up:

ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
Giesemann Aquablue Azure
Giesemann Tropic
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Aquablue Azure
Giesemann Actinic Blue
ATI Blue+

The new Giesemann bulbs are really nice IMO. In fact I may go all Giesemann next time around. I prefer a white look for midday and that's what I achieve with all 8 bulbs on. Then a blue look before and after. Been running it only 2 weeks and see some acro growth and overall corals look good and color up well compared to my previous 4 bulb set up of 2 ATI Blue+, Actinic and KZ Superblue.

 

[heritage]

Thank you! I'm really enjoying it. Still a wip. I tore my meniscus in half 20 minutes after transferring the livestock so I have been working on it as I can. Sand, some huge foam blocks for the closed loop, and more rock to come soon. I wanna get the lighting right before anything though.

Most of the reflectors come with the clips these days, given the space restraints I don't think angling them will work. I could get maybe 10 degrees. I'd have to investigate the angle issue some more tomorrow to see what would be possible. I'm icing my knees for the remainder of the evening ...

The list of bulbs reefgeek has are

Aquamedic-
Reef Blue
6500k
10000k
15000k

Coralife -
Colormax
6700k

Fiji Purple

Of these bulbs the Aquamedic 15k or 10k looks like the best choice. I am not against ordering bulbs somewhere else if I go t5 if there is a specific bulb you folks think would look better and have higher par.

Sorry been working 12 hour days.
I feel your pain. I was hurting after a recent move to a new house.

Have you given any thought to using an Ati coral plus? You'll get some of the day light your looking for with some blue/actinic and not wash out the color you have.

By the way reefgeek is out of business.

 

[mhucasey]

I have been running this combo since the new tank got set up:

ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
Giesemann Aquablue Azure
Giesemann Tropic
ATI Actinic
Giesemann Aquablue Azure
Giesemann Actinic Blue
ATI Blue+

The new Giesemann bulbs are really nice IMO. In fact I may go all Giesemann next time around. I prefer a white look for midday and that's what I achieve with all 8 bulbs on. Then a blue look before and after. Been running it only 2 weeks and see some acro growth and overall corals look good and color up well compared to my previous 4 bulb set up of 2 ATI Blue+, Actinic and KZ Superblue.

+1 on this as well, the new Giesemann(not DD-Giesemann) bulbs are really nice. The Aquablue Azure is my new favorite pure white bulb and For actinic I'm using their Super Actinic. For blue I'm trying their Actinic Blue, which has a richer blue/purple color than a Blue Plus.

 

[AugustWest]

+1 on this as well, the new Giesemann(not DD-Giesemann) bulbs are really nice. The Aquablue Azure is my new favorite pure white bulb and For actinic I'm using their Super Actinic. For blue I'm trying their Actinic Blue, which has a richer blue/purple color than a Blue Plus.

What 8 bulb combo would you suggest using all new Giessman bulbs? I like using 2 Actinic for dawn/dusk and I really like the combo i'm using now ( listed a couple of posts up ) but I was thinking I needed to get a purple bulb in there somewhere.

 

[mhucasey]

If you like two actinics, The following:
Front to back:
Blue Plus
Aquablue Azure
Super actinic
Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
Super Actinic
Actinic Blue
Aquablue Azure

 

[jdraider75]

Mhucasey do you prefer the geismann super actinic over the ati true actinic bulb? If so what's the difference? I run a couple ati actinics over an lps tank and have never tried the geismann line of bulb. The ati is pretty flat color wise, to my eyes I thought it would flourece colors a little better than it does.

I run a 6 bulb sunpower over a 40 breeder. All lps. 3 blue plus 3 actinic. I run a blue and actinic for 4 hours then they shut down and 2 blue and 2 actinic kick on for 3 hours then the 1 blue 1 actinic kick back on for 3 hours till lights out. I had to hang fixture like 24 inches above tank or my corals bleach. I know I only needed a 4 bulb but I picked this up really cheap from someone shutting their tank down.

I guess if it was your tank what bulbs would you run in an all lps tank. I have acans, chalices, leptos, favias, scolys, and acanthophylias, a torch and a pectina in there. Looking for a good combo for coral color. The brand of bulbs doesn't matter just color of coral. I have only run ati bulbs and recently started running a kz Fiji purple on my sps tank, so I don't have any experience with the geismann line yet. Looking for suggestions.

Thanks in advance. Jeremy.

 

[mhucasey]

Based on testing the old ATI had a very low output for actinic. I had one, but it was pretty old when I swapped it out for a new Giesemann super actinic. The giesemann was much more powerful to the eye but it wasn't a good comparison. Based on spectral plots the Giesemann seems to have a fuller spectrum in the actinic region. I don't have a good reccomendation for an all LPS tank, the few that I have are tucked back in corners and such.

 

[jdraider75]

Ok. Thanks.

 

[AugustWest]

If you like two actinics, The following:
Front to back:
Blue Plus
Aquablue Azure
Super actinic
Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
Super Actinic
Actinic Blue
Aquablue Azure

Thanks , any reason why you included the 2 ATI bulbs ? May give this a try. What kind of look will it have with all 8 bulbs on ?

 

[mhucasey]

Thanks , any reason why you included the 2 ATI bulbs ? May give this a try. What kind of look will it have with all 8 bulbs on ?

The Blue+ is a bright Blue bulb because it has a large green peak. I like to mix different blue bulbs if they cover different portions of the spectrum, so one of these and the Giesemann Actinic Blue and you pretty much hit all the spectrum for "Blue". The overall look will be pretty white, with a very slight blue tint, no yellow cast. Yellows will not look greenish, reds will look red, not brown. Lots of fluorescent "Pop" as well.

 

[AugustWest]

Awesome, thanks for your help.

 

[mhucasey]

This is a picture of my tank with a similar combination. The only difference is that there is one Aquablue Azure, the second Azure was replaced by a KZ New Gen, which is very similar.:

 

[AugustWest]

Looks great , beautiful tank btw. Looks like I'd have to order the Fiji Purple separately from the others. What are your thoughts on the Purple Plus or the Super Purple instead ?

 

[tkeracer619]

Yea I meant hellolights... I miss reefgeek

I ordered the stuff frol hl to put another set of t5 bulbs into the fixture. I went with the aquamedic 15000k bulb. a 6500k was a little too yellow.

 

[mhucasey]

Looks great , beautiful tank btw. Looks like I'd have to order the Fiji Purple separately from the others. What are your thoughts on the Purple Plus or the Super Purple instead ?

Thanks

I have a Purple plus and a Super Pink(DD-Giesemanns purple bulb) but not the Super Purple yet. Im a big fan of the Fiji purple but I do not like the Purple plus. Their Spectral charts are very similar but the Purple plus has a weird red-pink that I can't get past. You can get the Fiji purples from BRS, I bought two bulbs from them recently and I don't remember any special handling charge for only two bulbs....

 

[txnavy]

ok so I need help picking bulbs for my 90 gal mixed reef with no sps but I have a feeling it will happen very soon im picking for an ATI SunPower 6 48" 54w I was thinking 2 ATI true blue actinic 1 purple plus 1 coral plus. Plus I need 2 more to fill out the lamp.

 

[jdraider75]

I am about due for bulb change and I am going to try some of the new geismann bulbs along with some ati and Fiji purple. Looking for a 8 bulb combo for all sps tank. I have 8 bulb sunpower non dimmable. Tank is a 120 dimensions are 48x24x24. Current combo 5 blue plus 2 coral plus 1 Fiji purple. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[mhucasey]

I am about due for bulb change and I am going to try some of the new geismann bulbs along with some ati and Fiji purple. Looking for a 8 bulb combo for all sps tank. I have 8 bulb sunpower non dimmable. Tank is a 120 dimensions are 48x24x24. Current combo 5 blue plus 2 coral plus 1 Fiji purple. Any suggestions appreciated.

Definitely try the Giesemann Aquablue Azure, its a really nice white blue bulb. The Actinic blue bulb is a nice variation on the Standard "Blue plus" type bulb, with added actinic wavelengths.

Do you like the overall color Pure white(no yellow cast at all), Bluish, Purplish, etc.? How bright do you prefer the tank. Let me know and it will make recommendations easier

 

[wicz101]

6 bulb combo suggestions

6 bulb combo suggestions

Currently running a ATI T5 sunpower 6 bulb w/ the following:
4-ati blue+
1-GE 6500
1-ati coral+

Looking for suggestions on a combo that is a bit bluer w/ some "pop" that I hear actinic bulbs give.

wide open to suggestions... thanks in advance

FYI-I do have an extra aqua blue special bulb that i have never used