need guidance for my lighting combo

lucidheights · 10/04/2009, 01:07 PM

any suggestions for my 8 x 54w t5bulb combo. not sure which bulbs i should go with to get a good combination of color and growth. thanx

schneijt · 10/04/2009, 01:18 PM

It depends what you'd like the final color to be. I like a bluer look, around 20K, and here's my 6-bulb 54w combo right now:

Front

Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus

Back

It's right around 20K, and all my sps have great color. With two more bulbs, you could use the mix I have, and add a couple bulbs that would balance out a bit of the blue and give a bit more pop to the colors, or you could stick with more blue plus or aquablue special bulbs, etc... It really depends on what you want your tank to look like. Finally, I think you should spend a few hours on the T5 Q&A thread, since Grim Reefer and others will have TONS of info for you, and you can see lots of pictures of other peoples' setups.

-Joe

tgray3 · 10/04/2009, 01:22 PM

I'm running half and half Giesemann Aquablue+ and Actinic+ on a 4 bulb set up and my SPS are doing good. I heard that the KZ Fiji purple bulbs produce more PAR but personally i didn't like the color. If you don't want to run Giesemann, ATI makes a nice bulb also.

lucidheights · 10/04/2009, 01:26 PM

cool thanx i'll do that

dan223 · 10/04/2009, 01:37 PM

what ever you decide I would get atleast 1 if not 2 extra bulbs so you can play around, If you get say an extra blue plus and an extra actinic white to play with even if you dont use them you can when you change them out in the future so its not a waste and lets you balance the blue in person on your tank. That said I think you will like schneijt selection.Id get maybe another 12kish bulb incase its too blue for you. The ge is a great bulb and is very powerful in balancing out the blue.

lucidheights · 10/04/2009, 04:35 PM

what do you guys think of the Sunlight Supply Tek Light?

rtparty · 10/04/2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgray3

I'm running half and half Giesemann Aquablue+ and Actinic+ on a 4 bulb set up and my SPS are doing good. I heard that the KZ Fiji purple bulbs produce more PAR but personally i didn't like the color. If you don't want to run Giesemann, ATI makes a nice bulb also.

ATI makes the best bulbs! LOL That is my opinion at least and most numbers agree.

Nanook · 10/04/2009, 08:30 PM

This thread has been moved to the current forum.

rtparty · 10/04/2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucidheights

what do you guys think of the Sunlight Supply Tek Light?

What size tank? What do you plan to keep?

I would look at the ATI Sunpower in the 6 bulb version if that is a possibility.

For 8 bulbs:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus

lucidheights · 10/04/2009, 10:10 PM

its a 48" x 48" x 25". I'm planning to keep some sps.

rtparty · 10/05/2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucidheights

its a 48" x 48" x 25". I'm planning to keep some sps.

48" from front to back?!?!? Or is it 48" from top to bottom?

10/04/2009, 01:07 PM	#1
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	need guidance for my lighting combo any suggestions for my 8 x 54w t5bulb combo. not sure which bulbs i should go with to get a good combination of color and growth. thanx

10/04/2009, 08:30 PM	#8
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	This thread has been moved to the current forum. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

10/04/2009, 01:18 PM	#2
schneijt Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 497	It depends what you'd like the final color to be. I like a bluer look, around 20K, and here's my 6-bulb 54w combo right now: Front Blue Plus Blue Plus Actinic White Blue Plus GE 6500K Blue Plus Back It's right around 20K, and all my sps have great color. With two more bulbs, you could use the mix I have, and add a couple bulbs that would balance out a bit of the blue and give a bit more pop to the colors, or you could stick with more blue plus or aquablue special bulbs, etc... It really depends on what you want your tank to look like. Finally, I think you should spend a few hours on the T5 Q&A thread, since Grim Reefer and others will have TONS of info for you, and you can see lots of pictures of other peoples' setups. -Joe

10/04/2009, 01:22 PM	#3
tgray3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 258	I'm running half and half Giesemann Aquablue+ and Actinic+ on a 4 bulb set up and my SPS are doing good. I heard that the KZ Fiji purple bulbs produce more PAR but personally i didn't like the color. If you don't want to run Giesemann, ATI makes a nice bulb also.

10/04/2009, 01:26 PM	#4
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	cool thanx i'll do that

10/04/2009, 01:37 PM	#5
dan223 Custom User Title Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: WI Posts: 675	what ever you decide I would get atleast 1 if not 2 extra bulbs so you can play around, If you get say an extra blue plus and an extra actinic white to play with even if you dont use them you can when you change them out in the future so its not a waste and lets you balance the blue in person on your tank. That said I think you will like schneijt selection.Id get maybe another 12kish bulb incase its too blue for you. The ge is a great bulb and is very powerful in balancing out the blue.

10/04/2009, 04:35 PM	#6
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	what do you guys think of the Sunlight Supply Tek Light?

10/04/2009, 10:10 PM	#10
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	its a 48" x 48" x 25". I'm planning to keep some sps.