T5 Bulb Choices-Intimidating!!!

[acrouse]

I have been wanting to upgrade to a t5 fixture, and I think it will be the Aquatinics 72" Constellation Series 7 Row T5HO. The problem is-I have no idea about bulbs and would like to know if there is a good reference thread or book anyone knows about where I can learn about the bulbs..
There are so many awesome threads that I have read the last few months, but I get lost because I don't even know the basics. I have caught on that some of the differences are just the brand name of the bulb and not necessairly a different bulb.

I am looking for basic information like:
-what bulbs are just for color
-what bulbs are necessary
-what is PAR-and what is necessary to have
-what do the different ballasts do
-difference between actinic and super actinic
-12,oook or special 12,oook differences
-what difference is blue light& blue pulse
-what order do you put these bulbs in and why
-what watts are necessary
-etc, etc, etc, etc,

I need like a bulb basic 101 class.
I feel like I need to know as much as I can before choosing 14 bulbs!! YIKES

If anyone knows of any threads for basics or books-please let me know. I will continue to read on RC
thanks for any input-it will be greatly appreciated
jolene

[pIankton]

Do a google search for PAR levels of T5 lamps. Grim did a comparison on the levels and posted them here.

I made my decisions based on his findings and color combo based on a friend's set-up.

From what I remember, ATI's and UVL's are the best. Geisemann coming in right behind.

[seagirl]

check this out

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1159820

HTH

[acrouse]

pIankton-thanks for the reply-I have read all 32 pages of the T5 question thread and the PAR level comparisons. The problem is-the numbers mean nothing to me. I will try the google approach.
thanks
seagirl-I will check out the thread-thank you also

jolene

[afelder]

PAR is jargon for amount of light the bulb puts out the higher the more light.(simplified) Finding a bulb combo can be tough and I personally went through several combos until I found the one that I currently run and am still not 100% sure I like this one. If you have any reefer friends who are running t-5 look at their tanks and if you see a light combo you like go with that.

My set up is
2X geissman aquablue+(told by someone I trust they are the same as the ATI bulbs)
2X super actininc(UVL)
2X aquasun(UVL)

I feel that it is a little too far into the red spectrum but as the bulbs are burning in they are settling into a less red/pink color so I am waiting and watching

HTH
Ariel

[acrouse]

Thank you afelder for the suggestions--

Is there a( target PAR #) that one should try to obtain? All of the rest of our tank parameters have a target goal but during all of my reading, I have yet to find an ideal/target Par #.

I read the above thread that seagirl suggested. Grim did an excellent job on all of the lighting pictures and par #'s-. The pictures really helped me out because the bulbs were all named so now when I read the other threads where people list their bulbs (I have an idea what they are referring to).

Question is-do you try and buy the highest PAR # in each bulb-or do you focus more on the color you desire?


thanks again
jolene

[pIankton]

I kind of did both. I wanted an actinic dawn / dusk effect, but the PAR levels on the actinics were way too low so I went with the Blue+ bulbs.

Afelder's right. I would try to visibly see the combo you want before going for it. I did and it helped a lot. Also, my combo looked a little more red / pink then about a week or so later, everything balanaced out nicely to a 12 - 14k look.

[Boca Kris]

I just want someone to tell me what bulbs to put in a Aquactinics TX5 unit!!! Someone who knows what they are talking about!

I want it to look cool, nice colors, and I want it to be able to support some minor stuff like softies, - zoos, shrooms, maybe an anemone, etc!

Someone just give me alist of 5 bulbs to use!

I'll learn all this stuff later....when Im basking in the soft glow of the T5's!! ha ha!!!!!

[pIankton]

Originally posted by Boca Kris
I just want someone to tell me what bulbs to put in a Aquactinics TX5 unit!!! Someone who knows what they are talking about!

I want it to look cool, nice colors, and I want it to be able to support some minor stuff like softies, - zoos, shrooms, maybe an anemone, etc!

Someone just give me alist of 5 bulbs to use!

I'll learn all this stuff later....when Im basking in the soft glow of the T5's!! ha ha!!!!!

Nice.

My color combination, or Grim's or anyone else's color combination may not be what you like. Time to step outside the box a little and make the decision yourself. There is a wealth of knowledge out there on T5's not just here, but also on almost any sponsor page you visit here too. Maybe instead of learning all this stuff later while basking under the soft glow of T5's you should take the time to do it right and make the decision yourself.

Barging in on someone else's thread the way you did is not cool at all.

[CruzinKim]

Boca Kris & Acrouse, Grim Reefer is the resident T5 expert... he's the one to ask.

Acrouse, PM you a question and a suggestion.

[Boca Kris]

sorry mr. plankon, sir. didnt realize you were so serious. i have been reading for a week and a half, and everything i read contradicts something else I just read.

one thing i know is that he knows what he is talking about and is willing to help people.

sorry to barge in on your thread.

[seagirl]

Originally posted by pIankton
Nice.

My color combination, or Grim's or anyone else's color combination may not be what you like. Time to step outside the box a little and make the decision yourself. There is a wealth of knowledge out there on T5's not just here, but also on almost any sponsor page you visit here too. Maybe instead of learning all this stuff later while basking under the soft glow of T5's you should take the time to do it right and make the decision yourself.

Barging in on someone else's thread the way you did is not cool at all.

not to mention i have seen you(boca kris) ask this question in several threads. that is not the way to get your answer. take the time to learn now, you will be better off that way imo.

[Boca Kris]

i am taking time to learn and read in every forum possible. i know 10x what i knew several weeks ago thanks to RC people! I am asking as many people as I can that have experience what they recommend, thats all.

I will stop asking questions.

[Boca Kris]

another reason I was in a hurry is because Tom from Aquactinics told me that on Monday the prices of that unit were going up. I just wanted to know what bulbs to order because I might have gotten free s/h...but you can relax now.....I wont be asking any more questions or hijacking anymore threads.

sorry for the trouble

[ahullsb]

Dude don't worry about it. If your question is on topic with the thread then I don't see the harm in jumping in. Chances are that if you posted a new thread with the same question, someone would just tell you read the other thread. Or link you to it. PM me if you want and I can try and find a combo for you.

[Boca Kris]

Thanks bro...that actually has happened a coupla times....I will PM you for some advice....appreciate it!

[atvdave]

Boca Kris

This is what I use on my 14 bulb 72" Aquactinics T-5 fixture. Hope it helps.

Here's my set up now: from front to back same on both sides.

(1) switch 1 on first, (2) switch 2 on second, (3) switch 3 on last.

(1) ATI Blue Pluse
(3) ATI Aquablue Special 12,000K
(2) UVL Aquasun 10,000K
(1) UVL Super Actinic
(2) UVL Aquasun 10,000K
(3) ATI Aquablue Special 12,000K
(1) UVL Super Actinic

[Boca Kris]

Wow! 14 bulbs!
My head is spinning from trying to decide on 5!
You think I should try 1 actinic, 2 daylight, and maybe a high PAR blue bulb? or two?

Thanks!

[atvdave]

Originally posted by Boca Kris
Wow! 14 bulbs!
My head is spinning from trying to decide on 5!
You think I should try 1 actinic, 2 daylight, and maybe a high PAR blue bulb? or two?

Thanks!

If I was you I'd go with

2 ATI Blue Pluse (front & back row)
1 UVL Super Actinic ( center)
2 UVL aquasun 10,000K (2nd and 4th rows)

[Boca Kris]

Thanks! I'll write that down!

[yeldarbj]

I'm running 5 bulbs and like the current color I have.
Blue Plus, UVL AquaSun, Blue Plus, ATI AquaBlue, Blue Plus

[Boca Kris]

Ive gotten several suggestions similar to that one. I am curious what something like that would look like....is it too much blue? How blue is the Blue Plus bulb? And is the AquaBlue really blue? Do you miss not having an actinic?

[yeldarbj]

I think the overall look is bright white. The blue plus bulb is bright blue. The aquablue looks almost white to the eye, hint of blue. The aquasun has a hint of pink. I used to run a UVL super actinic but replaced it with another blue plus. The blue plus is a much brighter bulb than the actinic, and I didn't notice any loss of color "popping" that you are supposed to get with the actinic.

[Boca Kris]

That sounds like a great combo then!

[Potsy]

Here's my aquactinics 5 x 39 watt combo:

3 aquablue (2 giesemann and 1 ATI) Lots of PAR
- the giesemann are closer to white and the ATI have a trace of blue tint

1 UVL Aquasun - One of the highest PAR t5 bulbs
- leans toward a cool pink and brings out the reds and yellows in your corals

One Giesemann actinic plus - very low PAR
- This is being switched out for a Blue Plus bulb.

If you want a 20k looking tank, go with a blue plus and a super actinic; if you want more of a 14k or 10k look, go with more aquablues.

With my configuration, my aquarium looks like about 12k - white with a hint of blue. I'm very happy with the look, but I'm switching out the actinic for the added par and color punch of the blue plus. My montipora grow rapidly under this lighting.

Remember though, this is a matter of aesthetics and thus subjective in nature