whats the best 4 T5 bulbs to use?

[seagirl]

i have a 4 bulb fixture for t5ho's. what 4 bulbs would you put in it? each set of 2 has a switch, so i wanted actinics on one switch, and whatever other 2 bulbs on the other switch. open to all suggestions, thanks.

 

[theatrus]

I'm partial to the following bulbs,

ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Act
ATI Blue Plus
GE 3000k

How blue of a look are you shooting for?

 

[seagirl]

well, i have 2 11k, 1 actinic+ and 1 pure actinic. when they are all on together, it is a little too white for me. so i guess i would say a little more blue than yeloow/white.

 

[seagirl]

of the 4 you listed, which 2 would you put on the actinic switch.

 

[HowardW]

I have run this combo with good results and color

UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue+
UVL Super Actinic (or UVL Actinic White)

 

[seagirl]

any pics howard? so in that combo i would put the 2 UVL Super Actinics on one switch, correct? Any downsides to having my 2 actinics be the same bulb? would it look better with 2 different actinic bulbs?

 

[HowardW]

Yes, you can use 2 Super Actinics on 1 switch, or 1 Super Actinic and 1 Blue+ bulb. Most people use 2 actinics together on one switch to simulate a dawn / dusk effect before and after their daylight bulbs. You can use 2 420 nm. true actinics together or 1 420 and 1 460 nm. actinic bulb together, the difference being a lighter blue hue with the 460 nm. and more PAR.

 

[barjam]

I have:

1 11k
2 blue plus
1 actinic

The actinic is next to worthless though as the blue plus bulbs totally dominate it.

 

[yeldarbj]

I tend to agree with barjam on the actinic. I just swapped my UVL Super Actinic for an ATI Blue Plus and am now running 2 ATI Blue Plus bulbs for my dusk/dawn with no loss of flourescence. For day bulbs I'm running an AquaBlue, BluePlus, and GE 3000K. The GE 3000K bulb really puts a yellowy tint into the tank. I just put it in and am not sure if I will keep it or not. I may go back to my Gman Midday or get a UVL Aquasun for a crisper blue/white look.

 

[ibmgeek]

Post in the T5s Q & A Thread but i would suggest
(blue+,Ge Midday,Uvl Super Actinic,Blue+)

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The UVL Super Actinic is kind of a compromise between a real actinic and a blue plus. What a real actinic will do for you that a Blue lamp wont is pop green fluorescing corals way better. If you have softies a actinic should make a huge difference.

 

[barjam]

Yea thats true you lose a lot of the pop with the blue plus bulbs. My actinic sits right on top of the more fluorescing corals so that helps a bit.

I wonder if the UVL Super Actinic would be an upgrade to my generic actinic.... I will have to pick one up next bulb order.

 

[seagirl]

Grim suggested I try this combination. I'm going to order them, but if anyone uses this combination now and has a pic that would be awesome.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

 

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10433123#post10433123 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seagirl
Grim suggested I try this combination. I'm going to order them, but if anyone uses this combination now and has a pic that would be awesome.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

Just keep in mind that setup will have a definate blue look to it.

 

[seagirl]

thanks HowardW, ihave 2 of the 11k geissman bulbs now, so i figure if its too blue i'll try some different combinations. thanks for the input tho, i'll take all i can get.

 

[bogg]

I really like this combo IMO

uvl super actinic
korallen coral light w/red
korallen fiji purple
uvl super actinic

 

[seagirl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10433336#post10433336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bogg
I really like this combo IMO

uvl super actinic
korallen coral light w/red
korallen fiji purple
uvl super actinic

got a pic?