new T5 owner need help please

[why?]

I have a T5 light fixture that I just bought ( 1st time T5 owner) and would like to know what brand of bulbs to buy, where to buy them that has good pricing and and the type of bulbs to make my tank glow like some of the pictures Ive been seeing

The tank is 18g and the fixture holds 4 bulbs.

Thanks alot

[Reefman29]

I use Oddysea bulbs in my Oddysea fixture. Most T5 bulbs will be the same. Might check ebay for a good price. I use 2 12,000 K daylight bulbs and 2 True blue actinics. The actinics bring out the white and green flourescent colors.

[greech]

ATI, Giesemann, KZ and UVL are all good bulbs. Some are better than others when it comes to a particular bulb but all are good. It really depens on the look you want. I run 2 ATI Blue+, 1 ATI Aquablue Special and a UV Superactinic. Some like by the KZ Figi Purple bulb similar to the UVL I run.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Bulbs/

[PGUY1]

Reefgeek.

[Rich1427]

check out the grim reefers page not all bulbs are the same he explains t-5 bulbs colors and everything there is to know about them

[rtparty]

First off I would avoid ANYTHING ebay and especially Odyssea bulbs.

Stick with the proven companies that know what they are doing. ATI, KZ, UVL and Geisemann are the best brands out there.

Here are a few sites for reference;

http://sites.google.com/site/tfivetesting/

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarsen00/site/?/home/

For 4 bulbs I would run:

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ New Generation
ATI Blue Plus

Reefgeek is my favorite place to order bulbs from.

[R33f3r]

For 4 bulbs I would run:

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ New Generation
ATI Blue Plus

Reefgeek is my favorite place to order bulbs from.

That would be a little bluer and crisper instead of

B+
Fiji
AB special
B+

?

Are the new gen bulbs better looking than the ab's? I have never seen one. Thanks!

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by R33f3r

That would be a little bluer and crisper instead of

B+
Fiji
AB special
B+

?

Are the new gen bulbs better looking than the ab's? I have never seen one. Thanks!

On my 40 breeder I run the combo of 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Fiji Purple.

I am switching out my Aquablue for a New Generation. The Aquablue washes out colors for me. A buddy of mine has the New Generation and it is bluer than an Aquablue. I am hoping this will add some color for me.

[R33f3r]

Originally Posted by rtparty

On my 40 breeder I run the combo of 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Fiji Purple.

I am switching out my Aquablue for a New Generation. The Aquablue washes out colors for me. A buddy of mine has the New Generation and it is bluer than an Aquablue. I am hoping this will add some color for me.

One more ponder.....

What do you think of this combo? It's kind of odd imo, but looking at the pictures, it doesn't look to bad. However, Im thinking it might be too pinkish.







48" 4x54w retro

Front

fiji
blue +
aquasun
blue+

back

What do u think?

[why?]

just read an articel the ATI bulbs arent as good as aqua science. Any truth to this?

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by why?

just read an articel the ATI bulbs arent as good as aqua science. Any truth to this?

Hmmm was that the "test" that showed Aqua Science beating the ATI in growth?

If so, that study is totally and completely skewed. You can't just put one set of lights over a part of your tank and another brand on the other side and then say one is better than the other. There are WAY too many variables. Flow, toxins from neighbors, and other things that you can't control.

The only real way to identify which bulb may be "better" is to use a PAR meter. The ATI's have the highest PAR in the industry. Sanjay Joshi ran some tests a while back and found the ATI Blue Plus to be the highest PAR T5 bulb you can buy. (Don't ask for the link because I don't have one. Sanjay gave a presentation to a local club and shared his results.)

Aqua Science does make good bulbs but I wouldn't use them over ATI unless you get some killer deal on them.

[4GvnSnr]

I know you weren't asking me but I think it looks pretty good.

[why?]

thanks for the info ryan