T5HO bulb mix and general lighting?

Chago09 · 12/15/2008, 08:24 AM

OK I have a few questions about lighting.

I am looking to perhaps make some changes to my bulbs. I have a 48" T5HO 4 bulb system. It came with two Aquablue+ which are white lights and two Actinic+ which I don't believe are totally actinic, I think there like a hybrid, you guys will know more than me.

1.) What do actnics do for corals? Do we need them?

2.) What do white lights do for corals? Do we need them?

3.) When all four bulbs are on the colour is pretty much white. I want it a bit bluer, how do I go about doing this without making any poor decisions for coral health?

crvz · 12/15/2008, 09:20 AM

You don't "need" actinics, you can get more PAR out of lower kelvin bulbs, but they are nice for aesthetics. Same thing with the lower kelvin ratings, you don't need any particular rating (such as 10000K, 15000K, 6500K, etc.). Without having access to a PAR meter, it's hard to say which bulbs are best for your case, but I run mostly ATI blue plus and aquablue. They're more in the 12000-15000K rating, and they work very well for all my SPS coral.

Based on the listing of corals in your signature, I think you could pick almost any 4 bulbs and the corals will be fine (you don't have a lot of high-light demanding corals). I really like that ATI brand, and would recommend those.

Chago09 · 12/16/2008, 09:26 AM

well the Aquablue+ is 15,000k and the actinic+ is 22,000k. I have two of each. So I am assuming that my rating should be somewhere in between the two correct? would a average of the two be a far estimate?? Although the light looks very white so I can't believe its that high.

12/15/2008, 08:24 AM	#1
Chago09 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgetown Posts: 1,132	T5HO bulb mix and general lighting? OK I have a few questions about lighting. I am looking to perhaps make some changes to my bulbs. I have a 48" T5HO 4 bulb system. It came with two Aquablue+ which are white lights and two Actinic+ which I don't believe are totally actinic, I think there like a hybrid, you guys will know more than me. 1.) What do actnics do for corals? Do we need them? 2.) What do white lights do for corals? Do we need them? 3.) When all four bulbs are on the colour is pretty much white. I want it a bit bluer, how do I go about doing this without making any poor decisions for coral health? __________________ Currently no tank!

12/15/2008, 09:20 AM	#2
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	You don't "need" actinics, you can get more PAR out of lower kelvin bulbs, but they are nice for aesthetics. Same thing with the lower kelvin ratings, you don't need any particular rating (such as 10000K, 15000K, 6500K, etc.). Without having access to a PAR meter, it's hard to say which bulbs are best for your case, but I run mostly ATI blue plus and aquablue. They're more in the 12000-15000K rating, and they work very well for all my SPS coral. Based on the listing of corals in your signature, I think you could pick almost any 4 bulbs and the corals will be fine (you don't have a lot of high-light demanding corals). I really like that ATI brand, and would recommend those. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

12/16/2008, 09:26 AM	#3
Chago09 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgetown Posts: 1,132	well the Aquablue+ is 15,000k and the actinic+ is 22,000k. I have two of each. So I am assuming that my rating should be somewhere in between the two correct? would a average of the two be a far estimate?? Although the light looks very white so I can't believe its that high. __________________ Currently no tank!