Supplement AB 13000K????

platax88 · 03/07/2008, 11:57 AM

Hello, on my 125 gal (6' long) ... I currently run 175 X 3 - 20,000K XM bulbs on M57 ballasts which give me roughly 51 in PAR. I do not supplement and actually i am getting tired of the blue these give out.

I was thinking of switching bulbs to the Aqualine AB 13,000K bulbs which would bump my PAR up to 73.

My question is, do you guys think that i should run supplemental T% to add blue back in or will they give me a nice color on their own? Lets say compared to the color see using Hammilton 14K.

If so, how much supplementation? will 2 36" actinic suffice?

Also, does anyone have experience with these bulbs?

Thanks!

Tennsquire · 03/07/2008, 06:12 PM

Are you talking about the AB 10k's (which are more like 13-14k)? I run 2 250 watt 10k's over my tank, and I do supplement. It doesn't change the color that much, but allows for a gradual lighting of the tank instead of just the halides. I have 3 110 watt vho's over my 75 (2 actinic, 1 50/50). I've always liked the AB bulbs; crisp white with some blue.

platax88 · 03/07/2008, 06:28 PM

Yup those bulbs exactly!

Awesome, i guess i will try them out and worst case i can just add some T5 actinics

03/07/2008, 11:57 AM	#1
platax88 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,961	Supplement AB 13000K???? Hello, on my 125 gal (6' long) ... I currently run 175 X 3 - 20,000K XM bulbs on M57 ballasts which give me roughly 51 in PAR. I do not supplement and actually i am getting tired of the blue these give out. I was thinking of switching bulbs to the Aqualine AB 13,000K bulbs which would bump my PAR up to 73. My question is, do you guys think that i should run supplemental T% to add blue back in or will they give me a nice color on their own? Lets say compared to the color see using Hammilton 14K. If so, how much supplementation? will 2 36" actinic suffice? Also, does anyone have experience with these bulbs? Thanks!

03/07/2008, 06:12 PM	#2
Tennsquire Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,399	Are you talking about the AB 10k's (which are more like 13-14k)? I run 2 250 watt 10k's over my tank, and I do supplement. It doesn't change the color that much, but allows for a gradual lighting of the tank instead of just the halides. I have 3 110 watt vho's over my 75 (2 actinic, 1 50/50). I've always liked the AB bulbs; crisp white with some blue. __________________ Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile.... Current Tank Info: 75 reef (2x 250 ReefOptix IIIs, AB 10k bulbs w/ 330 watt VHO, EuroReef RC135 skimmer, multicontrolled Tunze 6095's X2); 40 sps prop tank (Outer Orbit Pro 150, Euroreef CS6-1+ skimmer); 20 softie prop tank

03/07/2008, 06:28 PM	#3
platax88 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,961	Yup those bulbs exactly! Awesome, i guess i will try them out and worst case i can just add some T5 actinics