MH & T5 bulb combo?

andrewsky · 01/30/2013, 08:08 PM

I have a 10k MHx150watt along with a 2x39watt T5 setup. What color bulbs should I get for the T5.
I was thinking:
1 10k MH with 2xblue plus t5 bulbs

Im looking for a clear crisp color

any suggestions?
thanks

ImNotLion · 01/30/2013, 08:23 PM

Go with ATI coral plus

tst400 · 01/30/2013, 08:31 PM

I would definitely get the the blue plus ... Are stuck on the 10k??? I personally run 3 Phoenix 14k and currently two cheap blues and two giesmann true actinics... Am however waiting on two blue plus one coral plus and one actinic plus.here is my tank as it sits

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

Sethjamto · 01/30/2013, 09:25 PM

Check out the purple plus too combo'd with a blue plus. Just another option.

andrewsky · 02/08/2013, 05:29 PM

yes i am stuck on the 10k because my lighting fixture is aquatic life t5 mh combo and the MH ballast only supports 10k i think, unfortunately.
what could i mix for a clear crisp look?
sorry for late reply, thanks for the info!

Palting · 02/08/2013, 06:13 PM

I have 150w MH and T5's as well (Marineland). I've tried 10K (XM brand) and 14K (Ushio) MH in combination with either True actinic or Blue Plus (ATI brand). 14K came out too blue with either of the T5's (Windex blue LOL !!). 10Kwith True actinic looked crisp, good fluorescence. but the blue corals looked a little washed out. 10K with the Blue plus looks pretty good, with better balance and florescence. I may try the Purple Plus next time, see if the reds pop out more. Or maybe a combination, since there are 8 bulbs in this darn fixture.

As far as the ballast is concerned, it is my understanding that only has to do with the wattage, not the bulb temperature. You can try any temp.

andrewsky · 02/10/2013, 11:18 PM

so my lighting fixture is an aquatic life 1 MHx150 watt and 2 t5x39 watt. But the temperature of the bulb wouldnt affect the fixture and would still work? as long as wattage is the same?
thanks

Palting · 02/10/2013, 11:25 PM

Yup.

keithhays · 02/11/2013, 09:34 AM

get the bluest you can, I have 10k halides and it takes a lot from the T5's to have even a slight effect.

Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

bshow24 · 02/11/2013, 09:57 AM

I agree. I have a 70 watt MH on my 8 gallon and I have a 12500k bulb and a 14k bulb. The 12500 was way too white for me, which is why I switched to the 14k, although that is still not as blue as I would want it.

Because you have the t5 lighting on the side, you can get it even more blue, which will bring out the colors of everything really great. I run 2 blue plus with a purple and coral plus light on my 28 gallon. The corals seem to pop, but when its only te blue plus on (running them as actinic) the corals just seem to flourish. Because you would be using them the same way, I think you would like the blue plus lights with a 14k MH bulb.

As for the bulb, yes it is about wattage. Look into getting a 14k and depending on how much blue you like maybe even a 20k bulb. But 10k will take over your actinic lighting and not allow you to see much of that blue.

Palting · 02/11/2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithhays

get the bluest you can, I have 10k halides and it takes a lot from the T5's to have even a slight effect.

I wish there was a cheap way to try things out, but there isn't. Best way is to ask other people if they've tried the color combo, and then trust that their taste will match yours.

So, Keith, have you tried the "bluest MH" to go with your T5's and liked it? Or do you just not like the 10KMH and T5 combo? Well, based on similar advice, I replaced my aging 10K MH with the next "bluer", 14K. Three 0f them, not cheap. The tank was blue, alright. Looked like dilute Windex! I ordered another set of 3 MH bulbs, this time back to 10K. So, I bought a total of 6 MH bulbs to replace 3. NOT cheap. That advice cost me money.

01/30/2013, 08:08 PM	#1
andrewsky Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 253	MH & T5 bulb combo? I have a 10k MHx150watt along with a 2x39watt T5 setup. What color bulbs should I get for the T5. I was thinking: 1 10k MH with 2xblue plus t5 bulbs Im looking for a clear crisp color any suggestions? thanks

01/30/2013, 09:25 PM	#4
Sethjamto Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 845	Check out the purple plus too combo'd with a blue plus. Just another option. __________________ 8ft 300g, Reeflo Dart Gold return, MRC 48" High-flo reef sump, MRC MR4 dual beckett Skimmer, (2) Reefbreeders Photon 48's, Reef Angel, LMIII continuous water change/ATO setup..

02/08/2013, 06:13 PM	#6
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I have 150w MH and T5's as well (Marineland). I've tried 10K (XM brand) and 14K (Ushio) MH in combination with either True actinic or Blue Plus (ATI brand). 14K came out too blue with either of the T5's (Windex blue LOL !!). 10Kwith True actinic looked crisp, good fluorescence. but the blue corals looked a little washed out. 10K with the Blue plus looks pretty good, with better balance and florescence. I may try the Purple Plus next time, see if the reds pop out more. Or maybe a combination, since there are 8 bulbs in this darn fixture. As far as the ballast is concerned, it is my understanding that only has to do with the wattage, not the bulb temperature. You can try any temp. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

02/10/2013, 11:25 PM	#8
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Yup. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

01/30/2013, 08:23 PM	#2
ImNotLion Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 88	Go with ATI coral plus

01/30/2013, 08:31 PM	#3
tst400 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: phoenix az Posts: 184	I would definitely get the the blue plus ... Are stuck on the 10k??? I personally run 3 Phoenix 14k and currently two cheap blues and two giesmann true actinics... Am however waiting on two blue plus one coral plus and one actinic plus.here is my tank as it sits Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

02/08/2013, 05:29 PM	#5
andrewsky Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 253	yes i am stuck on the 10k because my lighting fixture is aquatic life t5 mh combo and the MH ballast only supports 10k i think, unfortunately. what could i mix for a clear crisp look? sorry for late reply, thanks for the info!

02/10/2013, 11:18 PM	#7
andrewsky Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 253	so my lighting fixture is an aquatic life 1 MHx150 watt and 2 t5x39 watt. But the temperature of the bulb wouldnt affect the fixture and would still work? as long as wattage is the same? thanks

02/11/2013, 09:34 AM	#9
keithhays Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,259	get the bluest you can, I have 10k halides and it takes a lot from the T5's to have even a slight effect. Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

02/11/2013, 09:57 AM	#10
bshow24 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 584	I agree. I have a 70 watt MH on my 8 gallon and I have a 12500k bulb and a 14k bulb. The 12500 was way too white for me, which is why I switched to the 14k, although that is still not as blue as I would want it. Because you have the t5 lighting on the side, you can get it even more blue, which will bring out the colors of everything really great. I run 2 blue plus with a purple and coral plus light on my 28 gallon. The corals seem to pop, but when its only te blue plus on (running them as actinic) the corals just seem to flourish. Because you would be using them the same way, I think you would like the blue plus lights with a 14k MH bulb. As for the bulb, yes it is about wattage. Look into getting a 14k and depending on how much blue you like maybe even a 20k bulb. But 10k will take over your actinic lighting and not allow you to see much of that blue.