What bulbs

[rbarb1111]

I have a 4 bulb t5 fixture over a 30 gallon tank. The bulbs a split between 2 ballasts. I have sps corals. What type bulbs should i use.

Thanks

[george1098]

that's a good question, and you will get a variety of answeres. It all depends if you want to run actinics which will make your corals look really pretty (brings out the flourescent colors like a black light) or if you want to go for a bulb configuration that will give you more coral growth.
If you want a nice blue looking tank that will give you medium coral growth, I would go with 2 x actinic and 2 x 10,000k. You can put your acninic bulbs so they run a little longer and give you a sunrise sunset thing. nothing looks cooler than a tank with allot of corals under just actinic lighting before lights out.

if you want more growth, you could go with 2 x 10,000k and 2 x 6500 k, or just streight up 4 x 6500k. this will give your tank kindof a yellow look, which is not really asthetically pleasing, but your corals will like it.

you could also go somewhere in the middle. Most ready made t-5 fixtures come with 2 x 6500k and 2 x actinics.
I have a 24 gal lagoon tank plumbed into my main display, and it has (or will soon) 2 x 10,000k and 2 x actinic.

[rbarb1111]

Is one brand better than another