Good T5 Bulb Combination With MH

gio28 · 08/24/2009, 07:52 PM

i just got a 2 month old phoenix 14k (150 watt) MH to go over my 36 bowfront tank. i like the color it gives but my tank is kinda dim and nothing really pops when i look into my tank. i wanted to add 2 T5HOs in my canopy, one on each side of the MH. this way my tank will be much brighter and the center brace shadow will be gone. i have no idea what color or type of T5 bulbs to get to give my tank a nice look....+plenty of PAR for corals.

so far the only idea i have is:
- T5HO Giesemann Pure Actinic Bulb -
- Phoenix 14K MH -
- T5HO ATI Pro Color Bulb-

i figure the pure actinic would bring out the fluorescence in the corals, and the pro color bring out the non fluorescence...

any other ideas..or would this combo work good. thanks.

Ti · 08/24/2009, 08:10 PM

Try Blue+

gio28 · 08/24/2009, 08:25 PM

i looked into those. from what i've heard the ATI ones give better PAR than the other brands blue pluses. IYO do you think that the blue plus would pair well with the pro color? thanks.

harthag12 · 08/25/2009, 10:04 AM

You have a brace in the center w/ the MH right over it, how's that working out? I have a 28 bow & a spare Outer Orbit 250w w/ 4 T-5's but I've been afraid to use it over the brace as I'm concerned about it melting or blocking to much of the light to be worth it.

gio28 · 08/25/2009, 12:30 PM

the brace does not even get that hot...with that being said my light is 9" above the water. the brace only blocks a very small portion of light in the very center...here is a pic of my tank:

it not like the entire lights power is lost because of the brace...just in the shadowed area...i would think.

08/24/2009, 07:52 PM	#1
gio28 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 50	Good T5 Bulb Combination With MH i just got a 2 month old phoenix 14k (150 watt) MH to go over my 36 bowfront tank. i like the color it gives but my tank is kinda dim and nothing really pops when i look into my tank. i wanted to add 2 T5HOs in my canopy, one on each side of the MH. this way my tank will be much brighter and the center brace shadow will be gone. i have no idea what color or type of T5 bulbs to get to give my tank a nice look....+plenty of PAR for corals. so far the only idea i have is: - T5HO Giesemann Pure Actinic Bulb - - Phoenix 14K MH - - T5HO ATI Pro Color Bulb- i figure the pure actinic would bring out the fluorescence in the corals, and the pro color bring out the non fluorescence... any other ideas..or would this combo work good. thanks.

08/24/2009, 08:10 PM	#2
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Try Blue+ __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

08/24/2009, 08:25 PM	#3
gio28 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 50	i looked into those. from what i've heard the ATI ones give better PAR than the other brands blue pluses. IYO do you think that the blue plus would pair well with the pro color? thanks.

08/25/2009, 10:04 AM	#4
harthag12 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 118	You have a brace in the center w/ the MH right over it, how's that working out? I have a 28 bow & a spare Outer Orbit 250w w/ 4 T-5's but I've been afraid to use it over the brace as I'm concerned about it melting or blocking to much of the light to be worth it.

08/25/2009, 12:30 PM	#5
gio28 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 50	the brace does not even get that hot...with that being said my light is 9" above the water. the brace only blocks a very small portion of light in the very center...here is a pic of my tank: it not like the entire lights power is lost because of the brace...just in the shadowed area...i would think.