Time to replace T5 bulbs. Suggestions?

tonybologna000 · 12/18/2007, 06:33 PM

Hi everyone. I know nothing about the various types of T5 bulbs available. Can you guys just suggest to me which type/brand of bulbs to choose for my 4x48" t5 ballast? I currently have 2 daylight and 2 actinic bulbs and I think it looks good, but I read that if I used 3 daylight and 1 actinic it would be beneficial to my corals. I want bulbs that will be available online to the USA.

Thanks!

tonybologna000 · 12/18/2007, 08:24 PM

How would this look?

Two of these: 54W 6000K Midday Sun T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann

One of these: 54W 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann

And one of these: 54W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann

I want to provide as much "usable" light for my corals while still maintaining a bluish tint to the light (not washed out). Will this get me close? Am I going in the wrong direction?

Thank You.

Mark75 · 12/18/2007, 08:33 PM

This will be a 10-12K look.

ATI Blue plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Pro color
ATI Blue plus

For more of a 14-16k look,

ATI Blue plus
ATI Aqua blue
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue plus

If you have a lot of LPS in the tank you may want to substitute a UVL Super Actinic for one of the Blue plus.

atvdave · 12/18/2007, 08:34 PM

If you have corals I'd go with a high PAR rated bulbs.

I'd suggest
2 - UVL Aquasun 10,000K, or ATI Aquablue Sp 12,000k

Then

2 - ATI Blue Plus.

Here's a link to a old PAR thread.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=918935

tonybologna000 · 12/18/2007, 08:37 PM

Thanks guys.

Could you please describe the "10-12k look" and the "14-16k look".

Mark75 · 12/18/2007, 08:44 PM

Lower spectrum (10-12k) will be more white looking, higher spectrum (14-16K) will be blue like the ocean at depth. It really is a matter of preference. Based on the questions you are asking I would advise you take some time and read through this thread;http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...eadid=1256520.

It is a long thread so take your time, it has a huge amount of information about T5 lighting. A proper understanding of lighting will allow you to choose bulbs that YOU will like and not have to rely on what some one else likes on their tank.

tonybologna000 · 12/18/2007, 10:40 PM

I think I've decided to do this:

Blue Plus
Sun Pro
Aquablue
Blue Plus

Will that be balanced at all?
Will it have a blue tint while all all running?
Anybody think this would be a bad idea?

Thanks!

atvdave · 12/18/2007, 10:52 PM

I think you will get a good mix.

The blue plus will make your corals pop out and still give high PAR's

and the brights whites will cover the other light spectrum.

12/18/2007, 06:33 PM	#1
tonybologna000 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 37	Time to replace T5 bulbs. Suggestions? Hi everyone. I know nothing about the various types of T5 bulbs available. Can you guys just suggest to me which type/brand of bulbs to choose for my 4x48" t5 ballast? I currently have 2 daylight and 2 actinic bulbs and I think it looks good, but I read that if I used 3 daylight and 1 actinic it would be beneficial to my corals. I want bulbs that will be available online to the USA. Thanks!

12/18/2007, 08:24 PM	#2
tonybologna000 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 37	How would this look? Two of these: 54W 6000K Midday Sun T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann One of these: 54W 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann And one of these: 54W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann I want to provide as much "usable" light for my corals while still maintaining a bluish tint to the light (not washed out). Will this get me close? Am I going in the wrong direction? Thank You. Last edited by tonybologna000; 12/18/2007 at 08:35 PM.

12/18/2007, 08:33 PM	#3
Mark75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East Tenn. Posts: 740	This will be a 10-12K look. ATI Blue plus ATI Aquablue ATI Pro color ATI Blue plus For more of a 14-16k look, ATI Blue plus ATI Aqua blue UVL 75/25 ATI Blue plus If you have a lot of LPS in the tank you may want to substitute a UVL Super Actinic for one of the Blue plus.

12/18/2007, 08:34 PM	#4
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	If you have corals I'd go with a high PAR rated bulbs. I'd suggest 2 - UVL Aquasun 10,000K, or ATI Aquablue Sp 12,000k Then 2 - ATI Blue Plus. Here's a link to a old PAR thread. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=918935

12/18/2007, 08:37 PM	#5
tonybologna000 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 37	Thanks guys. Could you please describe the "10-12k look" and the "14-16k look".

12/18/2007, 08:44 PM	#6
Mark75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East Tenn. Posts: 740	Lower spectrum (10-12k) will be more white looking, higher spectrum (14-16K) will be blue like the ocean at depth. It really is a matter of preference. Based on the questions you are asking I would advise you take some time and read through this thread;http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...eadid=1256520. It is a long thread so take your time, it has a huge amount of information about T5 lighting. A proper understanding of lighting will allow you to choose bulbs that YOU will like and not have to rely on what some one else likes on their tank.

12/18/2007, 10:40 PM	#7
tonybologna000 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 37	I think I've decided to do this: Blue Plus Sun Pro Aquablue Blue Plus Will that be balanced at all? Will it have a blue tint while all all running? Anybody think this would be a bad idea? Thanks!

12/18/2007, 10:52 PM	#8
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	I think you will get a good mix. The blue plus will make your corals pop out and still give high PAR's and the brights whites will cover the other light spectrum.