need help choosing t5 bulbs

Surfer Boy · 02/18/2007, 09:45 PM

i have been researching like crazy and cant make up my mind. i ordered the tek 48 inch 4 bulb t5 fixture (total of 216 watts). i decided to go with 2 x 15k, 1 x 22k (both from aquascience, i read these are the best) now for the 4th bulb i was thinking about a pure arctinic or a blue actinic for max color. what do you think? i want my tank to have a slight blue coloration as well. any suggestion and which brand bulb should i choose? thank you Peter

Surfer Boy · 02/19/2007, 03:15 AM

anyone?

Surfer Boy · 02/19/2007, 12:18 PM

bump

The Grim Reefer · 02/19/2007, 12:44 PM

If you are going to judge the quality of a lamp based on PAR output Aquascience are not the best.

As far as your lamp selection goes which 15000K lamps are you talking about? For some reason they call two different lamps 15000K.

The 15000K Special is an Ice white lamp.
the 15000K Duo is about the same as an Aquablue. Bright white with blue tint.
I would run 1 of each and throw in a UVL Super Actinic or Geisemann Pure atinic for the 4th lamp.

michaeldaly · 02/19/2007, 12:55 PM

I've read that ATI bulbs are very good. I would go for the pure actinic, it will couse your corals colours to show up best.

Surfer Boy · 02/19/2007, 02:00 PM

ok so the the UVL Super Actinic or Geisemann Pure atinic, peak at 450 nm or 420nm? are they blue or purple? i do want a blue tint to my tank so i guess these will be good as long as it doesnt make my tank look purple and i do want my corals to glow. i was also reading that the ATI t5 actinic 03 blue are extremely good. what do you think?

ok so from your advise i am mostly going to go with

1 x aquascience 15k special
1 x aquascience 15k duo
1 x aquascience 22k
and then either uvl super artinic, geisemann pure artinic , ati t5 actinic 03 blue or a ATi pure actinic

i do want the tank to have a blue tint and no yellow at all but i dont want it to look purple either. which do you think would be my best choose?

The Grim Reefer · 02/19/2007, 04:08 PM

I would go with the UVL. On its own it looks violet/blue but ran with the blue you will see blue, or at least I do. You shouldn't see yellow at all. The Special lamp didn't have a hint of yellow to my eye and I am very good on colors. I would say overall you will have a crisp white look with a blue hue.

02/18/2007, 09:45 PM	#1
Surfer Boy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 11	need help choosing t5 bulbs i have been researching like crazy and cant make up my mind. i ordered the tek 48 inch 4 bulb t5 fixture (total of 216 watts). i decided to go with 2 x 15k, 1 x 22k (both from aquascience, i read these are the best) now for the 4th bulb i was thinking about a pure arctinic or a blue actinic for max color. what do you think? i want my tank to have a slight blue coloration as well. any suggestion and which brand bulb should i choose? thank you Peter

02/19/2007, 12:44 PM	#4
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	If you are going to judge the quality of a lamp based on PAR output Aquascience are not the best. As far as your lamp selection goes which 15000K lamps are you talking about? For some reason they call two different lamps 15000K. The 15000K Special is an Ice white lamp. the 15000K Duo is about the same as an Aquablue. Bright white with blue tint. I would run 1 of each and throw in a UVL Super Actinic or Geisemann Pure atinic for the 4th lamp. __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

02/19/2007, 04:08 PM	#7
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	I would go with the UVL. On its own it looks violet/blue but ran with the blue you will see blue, or at least I do. You shouldn't see yellow at all. The Special lamp didn't have a hint of yellow to my eye and I am very good on colors. I would say overall you will have a crisp white look with a blue hue. __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

02/19/2007, 03:15 AM	#2
Surfer Boy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 11	anyone?

02/19/2007, 12:18 PM	#3
Surfer Boy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 11	bump

02/19/2007, 12:55 PM	#5
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	I've read that ATI bulbs are very good. I would go for the pure actinic, it will couse your corals colours to show up best.

02/19/2007, 02:00 PM	#6
Surfer Boy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 11	ok so the the UVL Super Actinic or Geisemann Pure atinic, peak at 450 nm or 420nm? are they blue or purple? i do want a blue tint to my tank so i guess these will be good as long as it doesnt make my tank look purple and i do want my corals to glow. i was also reading that the ATI t5 actinic 03 blue are extremely good. what do you think? ok so from your advise i am mostly going to go with 1 x aquascience 15k special 1 x aquascience 15k duo 1 x aquascience 22k and then either uvl super artinic, geisemann pure artinic , ati t5 actinic 03 blue or a ATi pure actinic i do want the tank to have a blue tint and no yellow at all but i dont want it to look purple either. which do you think would be my best choose?