Help! T5 combo

M Woodhill · 10/24/2011, 04:09 PM

i like somewhat white and bright color with tint of blue, not too blue just like the feeling of scuba

and here come the bulbs i'm gonna arrange

thanks in advance and a little bit urgent cuz my rocks are already in.

F---->B

KZ 10000K
ATI Actinic
KZ 10000k
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ 10000k
ATI Actinic
KZ 10000k

will it be enough for sps and a decent growth? won't it be yellow or washed white?

please help.

solitude127 · 10/24/2011, 04:28 PM

B+
P+
B+
GE6500
B+
B+
KZ New Gen
B+

This is my current config. It gives me about a 15k look. Not too white and not too blue

gonpostal · 10/24/2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Woodhill

KZ 10000K
ATI Actinic
KZ 10000k
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ 10000k
ATI Actinic
KZ 10000k

IMO your tank will probably look too white with that many 10k bulbs. Actinic bulbs don't put out much PAR, so most people use ATI Blue+ instead. I would replace the actinics with Blue+ and replace 2 of the 10ks with KZ New Gens.

M Woodhill · 10/24/2011, 06:38 PM

if so, how about this combo

F------->B

Aquablue Special
Blue+
Aquablue Special
Actinic
Purple+
Aquablue Special
Blue+
Aquablue Special

gonpostal · 10/24/2011, 08:04 PM

I used to use Aquablue Special, but now I use KZ Coral Light instead. The Aquablue Special is mainly white with a hint of blue. IMO the Coral Light bulbs bring out colors better. If you definitely want an actinic bulb, you may as well use it for dusk/dawn.
I don't like my tank too blue either, and here's what I use. It's mostly white with a little blue, and the colors look great IMO.

Front > back

Blue+
New Gen
Purple+
Coral Light
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+
New Gen

My situation is different than most though; I have 2 4-bulb fixtures, so your dusk/dawn bulbs may be different. if your #2 bulb is for dusk/dawn, you can switch the New Gen and Purple Plus (#2&3) bulbs around.

M Woodhill · 10/24/2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonpostal

I used to use Aquablue Special, but now I use KZ Coral Light instead. The Aquablue Special is mainly white with a hint of blue. IMO the Coral Light bulbs bring out colors better. If you definitely want an actinic bulb, you may as well use it for dusk/dawn.
I don't like my tank too blue either, and here's what I use. It's mostly white with a little blue, and the colors look great IMO.

Front > back

Blue+
New Gen
Purple+
Coral Light
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+
New Gen

My situation is different than most though; I have 2 4-bulb fixtures, so your dusk/dawn bulbs may be different. if your #2 bulb is for dusk/dawn, you can switch the New Gen and Purple Plus (#2&3) bulbs around.

will the corals grow slowly without 10000k or 6500k bulbs?

gonpostal · 10/24/2011, 09:37 PM

I'm getting good growth with this combo, and the Coral Light is the only 10000k bulb I have. I've tried a GE 6500k bulb in the mix and I liked the color of the tank. The only thing I didn't like was that it seemed to promote algae growth, so I use a Coral Light instead.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 10/24/2011, 09:43 PM

I agree on swapping the GE6500K for the KZ Coral Light. Both are good options though.
I recently added the KZ Coral Light and KZ New Gen to my all ATI mix.
-ATI Blue+
-ATI Blue+
-KZ Coral Light
-ATI Blue+
-ATI Purple Plus
-KZ New Gen

It is a great combo, I replaced an ATI AB Special in slot #3 with the KZ Coral Light and removed one Blue+ and replaced it with the KZ New Gen. This gave a guesstimated ~15-20% jump in perceived brightness and it provides a whitish blue overall color. Not an ice white with blue tint. I love it though! To get the ice white with blue tint you would have to eplace another blue + with another coral light - imo.

M Woodhill · 10/24/2011, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E-A-G-L-E-S

I agree on swapping the GE6500K for the KZ Coral Light. Both are good options though.
I recently added the KZ Coral Light and KZ New Gen to my all ATI mix.
-ATI Blue+
-ATI Blue+
-KZ Coral Light
-ATI Blue+
-ATI Purple Plus
-KZ New Gen

It is a great combo, I replaced an ATI AB Special in slot #3 with the KZ Coral Light and removed one Blue+ and replaced it with the KZ New Gen. This gave a guesstimated ~15-20% jump in perceived brightness and it provides a whitish blue overall color. Not an ice white with blue tint. I love it though! To get the ice white with blue tint you would have to eplace another blue + with another coral light - imo.

how about this combo? i read in the t5 thread

ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
GE 6500k
ATI Blue+
GE 6500k
ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+

it seems 2 achieve the light i want. or probably one purple+is enough?

fishcraze_1 · 10/24/2011, 11:38 PM

Why don't u guys post pics of your tanks to get ideas of how they look like over Corals

jennmac415 · 10/25/2011, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishcraze_1

Why don't u guys post pics of your tanks to get ideas of how they look like over Corals

YES.... pics help a lot.... even with the idea that cameras can't capture the color exactly, it is very helpful to see your tanks with these combos none the less. PLUS... I just like to see other peoples tanks!

I am going to be setting up a 120 gallon tank and will be using a 10 bulb T5 fixture... any ideas on bulb combo? I really like a bluer tank with all colors popping.

Thanks!

GSMguy · 10/25/2011, 08:46 AM

My suggestion

Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Blue +
Ge6500
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+

rtparty · 10/25/2011, 09:13 AM

Pictures are pointless for what a tank will look like. I can make any combo look however I want with a little editing. I can make it look just like it does in person on my monitor and everyone here will see something different.

Pictures NEVER have and NEVER will show you what a tank really looks like.

jennmac415 · 10/25/2011, 10:28 AM

I know that, Ryan...but for me I like to see tanks with T5 lighting anyway... : )

jennmac415 · 10/25/2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSMguy

My suggestion

Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Blue +
Ge6500
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+

Ummmmm.... that is only 8 bulbs...

M Woodhill · 10/25/2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSMguy

My suggestion

Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Blue +
Ge6500
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+

i've visited a friends and like his combo:

blue+
blue+
6500k
purple+
6500k
blue+
blue+
blue+

bright, ice white with tint of blue, just like the scuba feeling in saipan or seychelles

rtparty · 10/25/2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennmac415

Ummmmm.... that is only 8 bulbs...

Well....the OP is asking for an 8 bulb combo so it makes sense.

rtparty · 10/25/2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Woodhill

i've visited a friends and like his combo:

blue+
blue+
6500k
purple+
6500k
blue+
blue+
blue+

bright, ice white with tint of blue, just like the scuba feeling in saipan or seychelles

Run that combo then. Seeing in person is always nice because you get the true color. That is pretty good combo.

M Woodhill · 10/25/2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtparty

Run that combo then. Seeing in person is always nice because you get the true color. That is pretty good combo.

i'll share my experience, makin up my mind gettin the combo.

thank u all guys for sharin experiences

guess lighting is really a personal affair, some prefer blue to white, some don't.

ive decided to go ahead and then share what i'll be gettin.

10/24/2011, 04:09 PM	#1
M Woodhill Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York Posts: 1,219	Help! T5 combo i like somewhat white and bright color with tint of blue, not too blue just like the feeling of scuba and here come the bulbs i'm gonna arrange thanks in advance and a little bit urgent cuz my rocks are already in. F---->B KZ 10000K ATI Actinic KZ 10000k ATI Blue+ KZ Fiji Purple KZ 10000k ATI Actinic KZ 10000k will it be enough for sps and a decent growth? won't it be yellow or washed white? please help.

10/24/2011, 08:04 PM	#5
gonpostal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 550	I used to use Aquablue Special, but now I use KZ Coral Light instead. The Aquablue Special is mainly white with a hint of blue. IMO the Coral Light bulbs bring out colors better. If you definitely want an actinic bulb, you may as well use it for dusk/dawn. I don't like my tank too blue either, and here's what I use. It's mostly white with a little blue, and the colors look great IMO. Front > back Blue+ New Gen Purple+ Coral Light Blue+ Purple+ Blue+ New Gen My situation is different than most though; I have 2 4-bulb fixtures, so your dusk/dawn bulbs may be different. if your #2 bulb is for dusk/dawn, you can switch the New Gen and Purple Plus (#2&3) bulbs around. __________________ Current tank: 40 breeder, 20 long sump, Eheim Compact+ 3000 return pump, Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT skimmer, 2x Koralia Evolution 600, Viparspectra T300 LEDs. Last edited by gonpostal; 10/24/2011 at 08:11 PM.

10/24/2011, 09:37 PM	#7
gonpostal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 550	I'm getting good growth with this combo, and the Coral Light is the only 10000k bulb I have. I've tried a GE 6500k bulb in the mix and I liked the color of the tank. The only thing I didn't like was that it seemed to promote algae growth, so I use a Coral Light instead. __________________ Current tank: 40 breeder, 20 long sump, Eheim Compact+ 3000 return pump, Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT skimmer, 2x Koralia Evolution 600, Viparspectra T300 LEDs.

10/24/2011, 09:43 PM	#8
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	I agree on swapping the GE6500K for the KZ Coral Light. Both are good options though. I recently added the KZ Coral Light and KZ New Gen to my all ATI mix. -ATI Blue+ -ATI Blue+ -KZ Coral Light -ATI Blue+ -ATI Purple Plus -KZ New Gen It is a great combo, I replaced an ATI AB Special in slot #3 with the KZ Coral Light and removed one Blue+ and replaced it with the KZ New Gen. This gave a guesstimated ~15-20% jump in perceived brightness and it provides a whitish blue overall color. Not an ice white with blue tint. I love it though! To get the ice white with blue tint you would have to eplace another blue + with another coral light - imo. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

10/25/2011, 08:46 AM	#12
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	My suggestion Blue+ Blue+ Purple+ Blue + Ge6500 Purple+ Blue+ Blue+ __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

10/24/2011, 04:28 PM	#2
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	B+ P+ B+ GE6500 B+ B+ KZ New Gen B+ This is my current config. It gives me about a 15k look. Not too white and not too blue __________________ 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

10/24/2011, 06:38 PM	#4
M Woodhill Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York Posts: 1,219	if so, how about this combo F------->B Aquablue Special Blue+ Aquablue Special Actinic Purple+ Aquablue Special Blue+ Aquablue Special

10/24/2011, 11:38 PM	#10
fishcraze_1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 284	Why don't u guys post pics of your tanks to get ideas of how they look like over Corals

10/25/2011, 09:13 AM	#13
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	Pictures are pointless for what a tank will look like. I can make any combo look however I want with a little editing. I can make it look just like it does in person on my monitor and everyone here will see something different. Pictures NEVER have and NEVER will show you what a tank really looks like. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

10/25/2011, 10:28 AM	#14
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	I know that, Ryan...but for me I like to see tanks with T5 lighting anyway... : ) __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

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