Which is the best T5 HO bulb?

[kj5432]

I am currently running 2 of the 400w 14K Ushio bulbs which are pretty yellow. I really like the brightness of the bulb so to drwon out the yellow I am running 4 blue VHOs on my 120gal. I bought 2 Geisemann T5HO pure actinic bulbs and was not blown away by them. As far as coral growth and health I have enough light so I am not trying to improve that. I am strictly looking for coloring and flourescence. I need more blue and I am trying to accomplish it with out going to a 20k bulb and giving up PAR.

I would like so opinions on what people think are the best T5HO's to produce my desired effect. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DarG]

Most would agree that for the 420nm super / pure actinic, UVL makes the best one.

ATI has a T5 lamp called the blue plus that has the highest par of any of the similar spectrum lamps from any of the well known/regarded T5 manufacturers.

 

[cashman95]

I had the same problem with my Iwasaki 15k's and decided to go with the URI/ULV T-5 actinics to try and richen up the tank, and was also disappointed, so I ordered a set of Geisemann Actinic +. I am finally happy with my lighting setup and beleive that the actinic + are about twice as bright in the blue spectum than the regular actinics are.

Hope this helps!!
Brian

 

[horkn]

the uvl SA is not as powerful as you might expect. compared to the B+ its pretty weak

the ATI blue+ is the best bet.


I have a 3x39 on my 35g, and I have 1 uvl SA, 1 ati aquablue, and 1 ati B+. I wish I got 2 B+ since the uvl is droned out pretty bad by the aquablue. now if I had 4 bulbs, then 2 B+, 1 AB, and 1 UVL SA would be really nice

 

[DarG]

The UVL super actinics do have a lower par than the Actinic Plus, 210 to 264. But they are the higest par pure actinic out there in T5. The ATI Blue plus would have given you close to as much more par as opposed to the Geissman Actnic Plus as the Actinic Plus did vs the UVL Super actinic, with similiar color (between the two ATI and Geissman lamps).

If you want a pure actinic, UVL is the one to get.
If you want blue with par to blue up your halides, then ATI blue plus.

I am using 2 ATI Blue Plus and 2 UVL SA.