6 bulb combo and lighting?

9campbec · 06/07/2016, 07:56 AM

6 Blub combo
Hi All,

I'm building my first reef tank and could use some help. After much debate I picked T5 for my lighting and purchased an 6X80watt ATI sunpower light. My tank is a 125 and I was looking at different Bulb combos and how i should run them.

This is the current combo I'm looking at getting
blue+
true actinic
coral+
purple+
true actinic
blue +

Any feedback would be great on the combo and how long to run the lights. I know the ATI sunpower has 2 channels which i planed on putting the 2 actinic bulbs on one channel to run morning to evening with the other main bulbs coming on during the day.

Thanks in advance

cham · 06/07/2016, 08:51 AM

Great bulb choice, I run pretty much identical bulbs in mine.

The two channels that are sunrise/sunset I run for about 12 hours (8am to 8pm). And the others as a mid day on 5 to 6 hours. Some run all the lights longer, but IMHO reefs never see more than a few hours of full sun, granted our lights aren't as powerful as full sun, but the ATI fixture with ATI bulbs on our shallow tanks is quite powerful.

When I started the hobby, getting enough light was a real concern. With todays T5 & LED tech it has become very routine.

9campbec · 06/07/2016, 08:57 AM

sounds great, do you know which bulbs are on each of the channel's? I tried to look online and the only thing i could find was the second and second to last was the second channel which is why i put the actinic bulbs there for sunrise and sunset.

cham · 06/07/2016, 09:00 AM

I have the 8 bulb and it's #3 & #6

Purely a guess but I would think the 6 bulb would be #2 & #5

9campbec · 06/07/2016, 09:04 AM

ok I will just have to get it set up and find out for sure, as for time do you think running the Actinic lights from noon-10pm and the other main lights from 2pm-8pm would be good? I also picked up a neptune apex which i will be running the lunar module for night time in the tank

cham · 06/07/2016, 09:12 AM

Should work just fine

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mark9 · 06/07/2016, 07:00 PM

I'd replace one of the actinic's with a blue+

Bpb · 06/07/2016, 07:20 PM

I think it's a fine bulb selection. I enjoy the look of true actinics and think they're underused currently. Yes most other bulbs will touch on that end of the spectrum a little, but none of them will have almost all of their wattage going into it. What sort of coral stock are you aiming for? That'll be a pretty blue looking color overall.

Mark9 · 06/08/2016, 08:55 AM

For viewing pleasure, yes, go with the actinic's.
Having 1/3 of your light actinic may not be the best for growth.

scooter31707 · 06/08/2016, 11:31 AM

my combo is as follows:

blue+
blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Purple+
blue+

Bpb · 06/08/2016, 11:35 AM

You can also use a Giesemann tropic or GE 6500k in place of the coral+ to boost par a hair more. It's a pretty dang white bulb. I use 1 in my 8 bulb combo and it easily competes with the rest of the bulbs to whiten up the look.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06/07/2016, 07:56 AM	#1
9campbec Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 16	6 bulb combo and lighting? 6 Blub combo Hi All, I'm building my first reef tank and could use some help. After much debate I picked T5 for my lighting and purchased an 6X80watt ATI sunpower light. My tank is a 125 and I was looking at different Bulb combos and how i should run them. This is the current combo I'm looking at getting blue+ true actinic coral+ purple+ true actinic blue + Any feedback would be great on the combo and how long to run the lights. I know the ATI sunpower has 2 channels which i planed on putting the 2 actinic bulbs on one channel to run morning to evening with the other main bulbs coming on during the day. Thanks in advance

06/07/2016, 09:00 AM	#4
cham Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 3,632	I have the 8 bulb and it's #3 & #6 Purely a guess but I would think the 6 bulb would be #2 & #5 __________________ The more I learn about reefing the less I know. Current Tank Info: -SPS-120g Rimless Starfire, Garage sump/equip room with rimless frag tank, reefkeeper & Apex Jr, Reeflo Super Dart Gold return, ATI Powermodule, four Vortech MP40's, SRO XP3000 cone w/self cleaning head, two reefbrite LED, AF three part balling

06/07/2016, 08:51 AM	#2
cham Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 3,632	Great bulb choice, I run pretty much identical bulbs in mine. The two channels that are sunrise/sunset I run for about 12 hours (8am to 8pm). And the others as a mid day on 5 to 6 hours. Some run all the lights longer, but IMHO reefs never see more than a few hours of full sun, granted our lights aren't as powerful as full sun, but the ATI fixture with ATI bulbs on our shallow tanks is quite powerful. When I started the hobby, getting enough light was a real concern. With todays T5 & LED tech it has become very routine. __________________ The more I learn about reefing the less I know. Current Tank Info: -SPS-120g Rimless Starfire, Garage sump/equip room with rimless frag tank, reefkeeper & Apex Jr, Reeflo Super Dart Gold return, ATI Powermodule, four Vortech MP40's, SRO XP3000 cone w/self cleaning head, two reefbrite LED, AF three part balling

06/07/2016, 08:57 AM	#3
9campbec Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 16	sounds great, do you know which bulbs are on each of the channel's? I tried to look online and the only thing i could find was the second and second to last was the second channel which is why i put the actinic bulbs there for sunrise and sunset.

06/07/2016, 09:04 AM	#5
9campbec Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 16	ok I will just have to get it set up and find out for sure, as for time do you think running the Actinic lights from noon-10pm and the other main lights from 2pm-8pm would be good? I also picked up a neptune apex which i will be running the lunar module for night time in the tank

06/07/2016, 09:12 AM	#6
cham Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 3,632	Should work just fine Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ The more I learn about reefing the less I know. Current Tank Info: -SPS-120g Rimless Starfire, Garage sump/equip room with rimless frag tank, reefkeeper & Apex Jr, Reeflo Super Dart Gold return, ATI Powermodule, four Vortech MP40's, SRO XP3000 cone w/self cleaning head, two reefbrite LED, AF three part balling

06/07/2016, 07:00 PM	#7
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	I'd replace one of the actinic's with a blue+

06/07/2016, 07:20 PM	#8
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	I think it's a fine bulb selection. I enjoy the look of true actinics and think they're underused currently. Yes most other bulbs will touch on that end of the spectrum a little, but none of them will have almost all of their wattage going into it. What sort of coral stock are you aiming for? That'll be a pretty blue looking color overall.

06/08/2016, 08:55 AM	#9
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	For viewing pleasure, yes, go with the actinic's. Having 1/3 of your light actinic may not be the best for growth.

06/08/2016, 11:31 AM	#10
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	my combo is as follows: blue+ blue+ Coral+ Blue+ Purple+ blue+

06/08/2016, 11:35 AM	#11
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	You can also use a Giesemann tropic or GE 6500k in place of the coral+ to boost par a hair more. It's a pretty dang white bulb. I use 1 in my 8 bulb combo and it easily competes with the rest of the bulbs to whiten up the look. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk