Bulb configuration for 8X54 T5ho

ambergris caye · 10/31/2009, 07:44 PM

Fixture came with 4 actinic and 4 10K.
I'd like to use some of these bulbs but add something better. Thinking I don't need 4 actinics, maybe mix in some ATI- Blue Plus instead to get a higher par. This fixture goes over a 75g. SPS dominant. I'd like to get more light in the 14K range. May be placing an order from reefgeek soon, so ATI, UVL and Guiseman are some choices. Any suggestions?

ambergris caye · 10/31/2009, 08:19 PM

Thinking of replacing all 4 actinics with 2 ATI- aquablue and 2 ATI- blue plus. Keep all 4 10K. Comments?

nikon187 · 10/31/2009, 10:09 PM

the ati aquablues are a white daylight bulb so i would think 6 daylights would be quite white/yellow and wash out all the actinic. Do you prefer a more white tank or more blue? For a 14k look i would run 5 ATI blue +, 2 ATI aquablue, 1 KZ figi purple ( Also found at reef geek)

Henry Bowman · 10/31/2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ambergris caye

Thinking of replacing all 4 actinics with 2 ATI- aquablue and 2 ATI- blue plus. Keep all 4 10K. Comments?

Too yellow for me but the corals will probably like it.

My preference would be 6 ea ATI Blue+. 2 ea Figi purple or
5 Blue+, 2 Fiji's and 1 10K

ambergris caye · 11/01/2009, 10:15 AM

I'd prefer more blue, but want a high par. I suppose I could get a lot of blue and mix in a 10K if I don't like it. Does the Fiji have a low par? I'd like the color it would give me.

Henry Bowman · 11/01/2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ambergris caye

I'd prefer more blue, but want a high par. I suppose I could get a lot of blue and mix in a 10K if I don't like it. Does the Fiji have a low par? I'd like the color it would give me.

The ATI Blue + have good par. I cant remember the exact numbers and my copy of the GrimReefer's par results are not on this computer. The daylights (GE 6500K's) have the best par of all the T5 bulbs. The figi is not bad, just not nearly as powerful as the GE's.

You can revuew the T5 Q&A thread for the details.

nikon187 · 11/01/2009, 01:51 PM

I believe the figi purple par rating is 319 and the blue + 326..Not much difference there for growing power. I wouldn't use any 10k bulbs.

Goodwood · 11/01/2009, 02:17 PM

I only have experience with ATI & KZ bulbs and would suggest them for an SPS tank.

I currently use:
5 Blue +
2 Aquablue Special
1 Fiji Purple

I feel it's around the 14K look.

ambergris caye · 11/01/2009, 08:21 PM

excellent thoughts... thank you.

rtparty · 11/02/2009, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry Bowman

The ATI Blue + have good par. I cant remember the exact numbers and my copy of the GrimReefer's par results are not on this computer. The daylights (GE 6500K's) have the best par of all the T5 bulbs. The figi is not bad, just not nearly as powerful as the GE's.

You can revuew the T5 Q&A thread for the details.

Actually according to Grim and Sanjay the ATI Blue Plus is the highest PAR bulb you can get in T5.

To the OP,

I would keep the Current Blue bulbs. Nice color but PAR suffers.

I would run all 4 of them and add 2 ATI Blue Plus and 2 Fiji Purples. Also order in an extra ATI Aquablue in case the above combo is too blue for your tastes.

solitude127 · 11/02/2009, 01:13 PM

Here's what Grim recommended on the T5 thread.
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

CooperAtl · 11/02/2009, 02:34 PM

Solitude - is that list of bulbs top to bottom the way the bulbs are arranged front to back in the fixture?

solitude127 · 11/02/2009, 02:39 PM

Cooper...Correct.
Here's the post. He even talks about what the colors of the lamps do.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

The Purple lamp is the Fiji Purple. When running just 4 lamps they are good but when you have more you can get the same effect running the pink UVL lamps. All you are doing is bumping the red spectrum some. In this case you have a slightly pinkish 75/25 as part of your dusk dawn which will make your pink and purple critters show up better than having just blue/actinics running. The actinic White will bump it even more with the rest of the lights on and the GE will bring in more yellow. WHat you end up with is a nice blue look but with enough red and yellow light to make all your colors show up nice. I don't know if you have ever seen a tank lite with just blue lamps but it tends to make yellow and pink colors look crappy.

CooperAtl · 11/02/2009, 03:22 PM

Thanks.

fasteddie99 · 11/02/2009, 06:13 PM

My 4 bulb, 48" T5 light came with 2 10k and 2 actinic. I always thought the over all appearence was too white for me. I just replaced them all with 2 actinic, 1 10k, and 1 14k.

I believe this is about the same color scheme as u were looking for and I must say, I really like the slightly bluer, more colorful look.

10/31/2009, 07:44 PM	#1
ambergris caye Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Waterloo, iowa Posts: 116	Bulb configuration for 8X54 T5ho Fixture came with 4 actinic and 4 10K. I'd like to use some of these bulbs but add something better. Thinking I don't need 4 actinics, maybe mix in some ATI- Blue Plus instead to get a higher par. This fixture goes over a 75g. SPS dominant. I'd like to get more light in the 14K range. May be placing an order from reefgeek soon, so ATI, UVL and Guiseman are some choices. Any suggestions?

11/02/2009, 01:13 PM	#11
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	Here's what Grim recommended on the T5 thread. ATI Blue Plus UVL 75/25 ATI Blue Plus GE 6500K Daylight ATI Blue Plus UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple ATI Blue Plus ATI Blue Plus __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

11/02/2009, 02:39 PM	#13
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	Cooper...Correct. Here's the post. He even talks about what the colors of the lamps do. Front ATI Blue Plus UVL 75/25 ATI Blue Plus GE 6500K Daylight ATI Blue Plus UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple ATI Blue Plus ATI Blue Plus The Purple lamp is the Fiji Purple. When running just 4 lamps they are good but when you have more you can get the same effect running the pink UVL lamps. All you are doing is bumping the red spectrum some. In this case you have a slightly pinkish 75/25 as part of your dusk dawn which will make your pink and purple critters show up better than having just blue/actinics running. The actinic White will bump it even more with the rest of the lights on and the GE will bring in more yellow. WHat you end up with is a nice blue look but with enough red and yellow light to make all your colors show up nice. I don't know if you have ever seen a tank lite with just blue lamps but it tends to make yellow and pink colors look crappy. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1 Last edited by solitude127; 11/02/2009 at 02:49 PM.

11/02/2009, 06:13 PM	#15
fasteddie99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,028	My 4 bulb, 48" T5 light came with 2 10k and 2 actinic. I always thought the over all appearence was too white for me. I just replaced them all with 2 actinic, 1 10k, and 1 14k. I believe this is about the same color scheme as u were looking for and I must say, I really like the slightly bluer, more colorful look. __________________ 125 gal LED lighting Super Reef Octopus XP-3000 SSS Current Tank Info: 125

10/31/2009, 08:19 PM	#2
ambergris caye Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Waterloo, iowa Posts: 116	Thinking of replacing all 4 actinics with 2 ATI- aquablue and 2 ATI- blue plus. Keep all 4 10K. Comments?

10/31/2009, 10:09 PM	#3
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	the ati aquablues are a white daylight bulb so i would think 6 daylights would be quite white/yellow and wash out all the actinic. Do you prefer a more white tank or more blue? For a 14k look i would run 5 ATI blue +, 2 ATI aquablue, 1 KZ figi purple ( Also found at reef geek)

11/01/2009, 10:15 AM	#5
ambergris caye Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Waterloo, iowa Posts: 116	I'd prefer more blue, but want a high par. I suppose I could get a lot of blue and mix in a 10K if I don't like it. Does the Fiji have a low par? I'd like the color it would give me.

11/01/2009, 01:51 PM	#7
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	I believe the figi purple par rating is 319 and the blue + 326..Not much difference there for growing power. I wouldn't use any 10k bulbs.

11/01/2009, 02:17 PM	#8
Goodwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Destin, Florida Posts: 700	I only have experience with ATI & KZ bulbs and would suggest them for an SPS tank. I currently use: 5 Blue + 2 Aquablue Special 1 Fiji Purple I feel it's around the 14K look.

11/01/2009, 08:21 PM	#9
ambergris caye Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Waterloo, iowa Posts: 116	excellent thoughts... thank you.

11/02/2009, 02:34 PM	#12
CooperAtl Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2	Solitude - is that list of bulbs top to bottom the way the bulbs are arranged front to back in the fixture?

11/02/2009, 03:22 PM	#14
CooperAtl Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2	Thanks.