Acro guru’s vs T5 bulb combination

[Reefahholic]

Looking to switch up my lamp combination and need some fresh ideas.

Anybody running actinic only?

Anybody have intensity or photo periods that are yielding excellent results?

Trying to dial in my T5 PowerModule, but don’t wanna run too much light. Anybody care to share a graph of their lighting details?

 

[Rick.45cal]

I run a powermodule with a 50/50 mix of the Giesmann actinic and their super actinic bulbs I then have the powermodule LED’s emulate the ATI coral plus bulb. My powermodule is a 60” so the T5’s are on 100%. I run the LED’s at 75%. I’d show you my graph but I’ve misplaced my cable to hook up the ballast to the computer

 

[Reefahholic]

I run a powermodule with a 50/50 mix of the Giesmann actinic and their super actinic bulbs I then have the powermodule LED’s emulate the ATI coral plus bulb. My powermodule is a 60” so the T5’s are on 100%. I run the LED’s at 75%. I’d show you my graph but I’ve misplaced my cable to hook up the ballast to the computer

What a stunning tank! I wish you had that cable!
I think you got it figured out.

Anybody else care to show off their T5’s? Or post up a graph and discuss PAR and Photo Periods?!

 

[Bpb]

You have to be so careful when getting pictures of t5 tanks (or any tank for that matter) when requesting bulb combo examples. For instance the above tank looks great, but either the white leds are cranked so high, or the color temp was edited post process because having run a blue/actinic combo before, it looks NOTHING like the above picture to the naked eye.

That being said. If I were to run an 8 bulb combo again.

2 6500k
2 true actinics
4 blue+

would be my combo

 

[TX_Punisher]

You have to be so careful when getting pictures of t5 tanks (or any tank for that matter) when requesting bulb combo examples. For instance the above tank looks great, but either the white leds are cranked so high, or the color temp was edited post process because having run a blue/actinic combo before, it looks NOTHING like the above picture to the naked eye.

That being said. If I were to run an 8 bulb combo again.

2 6500k
2 true actinics
4 blue+

would be my combo

Man, I got terrible algae growth with the addition of the 6500 Giesemann.

I'm running 4bp, 1 actinic, 2 cp, and 1 giesemann tropic (about 10k) to balance out the blue. Tons of par. Over 700 at the top of my rock work.

If you were to run all actinic, I'd imagine you'd be replacing them every 6 months if you ran 10-12 hours a day.

 

[Reefahholic]

You have to be so careful when getting pictures of t5 tanks (or any tank for that matter) when requesting bulb combo examples. For instance the above tank looks great, but either the white leds are cranked so high, or the color temp was edited post process because having run a blue/actinic combo before, it looks NOTHING like the above picture to the naked eye.

That being said. If I were to run an 8 bulb combo again.

2 6500k
2 true actinics
4 blue+

would be my combo

Bpb do the 6500k’s appear yellowish or more white.

I had a mid day bulb I really liked one time. It really brought natural color to the tank.

 

[jda]

4 bulbs?

I am a huge fan of GE 6500k and Actinic pairs - they have spectrum that you don't get in abundance with other T5 bulbs (they have some).

With 8 bulb fixture, then I would use 2 of these pairs and then blend in other bulbs like Blue+, Coral+, Hamilton, Giesemann, UVL, etc. until you find a color that you like.

Since you have LEDs, you can change them to tune the color of the tank as you please so you don't have to be as on the money with bulb selections.

6500k are more yellow. They make the coral get great color and growth, but do not illuminate well. This is why you have to balance with Actinic or other "bluer" bulbs.

 

[Bpb]

Honestly I haven’t really had any issues with algae in years.

I attribute it to having a healthy population of herbivores. When I ran t5ho previously I finished using it with
3 6500k
1 actinic
1 purple+
3 blue+

15 ppm NO3 and 0.1 ppm PO4

Not a spec of nuisance algae to be found anywhere.

I presently run 2x250 watt year old 14,000k mh, with par levels in the 300-700 range throughout. Still not a spec of nuisance algae with similar parameters.

Everyone’s results will vary, but for me, having herbivores will impact algae levels most of all. In their absence there will be algae, I. Their presence, there will be little to none. That’s just how it has worked out for me.

On the subject of how do the 6500k look? To me they are bright white. Some may call them yellow, in the planted tank and horticultural world, they’re literally known as “blue”. Just depends on your perspective. I really like how they look. And the spectrum they provide between 450-550nm is lacking in nearly every other bulb out there (save the ati aqua blue special), which contributes heavily to pink, red, and orange pigment development. You may love them, you may hate them. I saw fantastic results in growth and color long term. I’ll admit. I tried one years ago and found them to brown out everything immediately and ditched them. Second try I held out longer and colors really became super vibrant after 6 months or so. This is an accurate white balance and overall aesthetic of the above bulb combo a couple months prior to the MH switch over

The 14k mh I run now are a lot bluer. That warm daylight shallow water look is gone. A lot colder in appearance

 

[TX_Punisher]

Honestly I haven’t really had any issues with algae in years.

I attribute it to having a healthy population of herbivores. When I ran t5ho previously I finished using it with
3 6500k
1 actinic
1 purple+
3 blue+

15 ppm NO3 and 0.1 ppm PO4

Not a spec of nuisance algae to be found anywhere.

I presently run 2x250 watt year old 14,000k mh, with par levels in the 300-700 range throughout. Still not a spec of nuisance algae with similar parameters.

Everyone’s results will vary, but for me, having herbivores will impact algae levels most of all. In their absence there will be algae, I. Their presence, there will be little to none. That’s just how it has worked out for me.

On the subject of how do the 6500k look? To me they are bright white. Some may call them yellow, in the planted tank and horticultural world, they’re literally known as “blue”. Just depends on your perspective. I really like how they look. And the spectrum they provide between 450-550nm is lacking in nearly every other bulb out there (save the ati aqua blue special), which contributes heavily to pink, red, and orange pigment development. You may love them, you may hate them. I saw fantastic results in growth and color long term. I’ll admit. I tried one years ago and found them to brown out everything immediately and ditched them. Second try I held out longer and colors really became super vibrant after 6 months or so. This is an accurate white balance and overall aesthetic of the above bulb combo a couple months prior to the MH switch over

The 14k mh I run now are a lot bluer. That warm daylight shallow water look is gone. A lot colder in appearance

I run about the same parameters. Now hat I think of it, it was bubble algae that popped up like crazy. I’d be willing to try that 6500 again when it’s all gone.

 

[Rick.45cal]

You have to be so careful when getting pictures of t5 tanks (or any tank for that matter) when requesting bulb combo examples. For instance the above tank looks great, but either the white leds are cranked so high, or the color temp was edited post process because having run a blue/actinic combo before, it looks NOTHING like the above picture to the naked eye.

That being said. If I were to run an 8 bulb combo again.

2 6500k
2 true actinics
4 blue+

would be my combo

I agree with this, I use my cell phone and and an orange filter, and don’t hide that fact. But what I can say is that this tank has always been photographed with that combination with no post processing, if you look at the photos in my tank thread you can see the increase in fluorescence that changing from a more 14,000-17,000K to an all actinic spread has made on this tank (with these particular corals). Another thing lots of folks don’t consider is not all corals achieve this fluorescence and these were picked partly based on that factor. Of course all of this is also based on nutrient levels, nutrition, PAR, and water movement. These corals in particular have responded incredibly well to the limited white light and heavy actinic. Mileage will vary of course.

I will say this, next year I will be buying the same bulb spread again.

 

[Reefahholic]

Are you saying you like the ABS or don’t like it?

Honestly I haven’t really had any issues with algae in years.

I attribute it to having a healthy population of herbivores. When I ran t5ho previously I finished using it with
3 6500k
1 actinic
1 purple+
3 blue+

15 ppm NO3 and 0.1 ppm PO4

Not a spec of nuisance algae to be found anywhere.

I presently run 2x250 watt year old 14,000k mh, with par levels in the 300-700 range throughout. Still not a spec of nuisance algae with similar parameters.

Everyone’s results will vary, but for me, having herbivores will impact algae levels most of all. In their absence there will be algae, I. Their presence, there will be little to none. That’s just how it has worked out for me.

On the subject of how do the 6500k look? To me they are bright white. Some may call them yellow, in the planted tank and horticultural world, they’re literally known as “blue”. Just depends on your perspective. I really like how they look. And the spectrum they provide between 450-550nm is lacking in nearly every other bulb out there (save the ati aqua blue special), which contributes heavily to pink, red, and orange pigment development. You may love them, you may hate them. I saw fantastic results in growth and color long term. I’ll admit. I tried one years ago and found them to brown out everything immediately and ditched them. Second try I held out longer and colors really became super vibrant after 6 months or so. This is an accurate white balance and overall aesthetic of the above bulb combo a couple months prior to the MH switch over

The 14k mh I run now are a lot bluer. That warm daylight shallow water look is gone. A lot colder in appearance

 

[Reefahholic]

I agree with this, I use my cell phone and and an orange filter, and don’t hide that fact. But what I can say is that this tank has always been photographed with that combination with no post processing, if you look at the photos in my tank thread you can see the increase in fluorescence that changing from a more 14,000-17,000K to an all actinic spread has made on this tank (with these particular corals). Another thing lots of folks don’t consider is not all corals achieve this fluorescence and these were picked partly based on that factor. Of course all of this is also based on nutrient levels, nutrition, PAR, and water movement. These corals in particular have responded incredibly well to the limited white light and heavy actinic. Mileage will vary of course.

I will say this, next year I will be buying the same bulb spread again.

So a 50/50 mix of Giesemann Actinic and Super Actinic? How would you describe the colors of these two bulbs? Would you say they put out lower par valves than a blue+ bulb?

 

[Reefahholic]

@PSXerholic can you post up your bulb combination again. I can’t seem to find it in my notes.

 

[Rick.45cal]

So a 50/50 mix of Giesemann Actinic and Super Actinic? How would you describe the colors of these two bulbs? Would you say they put out lower par valves than a blue+ bulb?

The “super actinic” is basically their blue plus bulb. As for PAR I didn’t do a comparison, my old set of bulbs was significantly passed their prime at the end. They were much brighter (to me) than I anticipated. I’ve also always have been a fan of the more “white light” tanks, I cut my teeth on 6500K Iwasaki bulbs back in the late 80’s, I was afraid I’d hate it, so much so that I ordered a second set of KZ bulbs more like what I had before. After giving it a shot, I found out I REALLY liked the extra pop that it gave the tank, and with the LED’s emulating the ATI coral plus bulb, it’s not obnoxiously blue in any way. I say give it a shot! If you hate it you can always swap a few out for different bulbs.

 

[Reefahholic]

I like a more white/purple tank myself. I’m running a lot of KZ right now (for that reason) and feel I got better growth from the ATI line. Figured I’d at least try KZ because I like some of the colors they provide and never really tried them before. I think I’m gonna pick up more Giesemann and ATI and see if I get more growth.

 

[Reefahholic]

The KZ coral light new gen’s are very white. Like a white/violet look.

I have one in the front and back. You can see how white they look.

 

[Bpb]

I agree with this, I use my cell phone and and an orange filter, and don’t hide that fact. But what I can say is that this tank has always been photographed with that combination with no post processing, if you look at the photos in my tank thread you can see the increase in fluorescence that changing from a more 14,000-17,000K to an all actinic spread has made on this tank (with these particular corals). Another thing lots of folks don’t consider is not all corals achieve this fluorescence and these were picked partly based on that factor. Of course all of this is also based on nutrient levels, nutrition, PAR, and water movement. These corals in particular have responded incredibly well to the limited white light and heavy actinic. Mileage will vary of course.

I will say this, next year I will be buying the same bulb spread again.

I feel like my post came across as attacking which it wasn’t. I believe your full disclose and wasn’t being critical if it came across that way. I know that what often looks pleasing to the eye can be difficult to photograph and often need that filter to make any sense of it. Especially with a cell phone.

For me I just frankly prefer a whiter look. If I had 150 watt ballasts or were able to get my pendants at 18-24” up, I’d run 10k bulbs. Maybe even 6500k halides. I just like the natural look

 

[Bpb]

Are you saying you like the ABS or don’t like it?

I like it on paper, But I don’t like the aesthetic. Doing a 6 blue+, 2 ABS would look absolutely identical to what you’d see diving or snorkeling down to about 10-15 feet. It’s turquoise. Blue/green/cyan. There’s red and violet in there, it’s just swallowed up visually by all the 475-525nm present at that depth, and that bulb combo represents that really well also. Works well I just find it ugly. 6500k bulbs have those wavelengths heavily represented, but have so much more “orange” and shallow red 600-650 that it warms up the aesthetic so much and is more pleasing to the eye, in my opinion.

 

[Rick.45cal]

I feel like my post came across as attacking which it wasn’t. I believe your full disclose and wasn’t being critical if it came across that way. I know that what often looks pleasing to the eye can be difficult to photograph and often need that filter to make any sense of it. Especially with a cell phone.

For me I just frankly prefer a whiter look. If I had 150 watt ballasts or were able to get my pendants at 18-24” up, I’d run 10k bulbs. Maybe even 6500k halides. I just like the natural look

Don’t worry I didn’t think you were attacking my post/tank/photo-fu it’s all important considerations when dealing with this topic!

 

[Reefahholic]

I like it on paper, But I don’t like the aesthetic. Doing a 6 blue+, 2 ABS would look absolutely identical to what you’d see diving or snorkeling down to about 10-15 feet. It’s turquoise. Blue/green/cyan. There’s red and violet in there, it’s just swallowed up visually by all the 475-525nm present at that depth, and that bulb combo represents that really well also. Works well I just find it ugly. 6500k bulbs have those wavelengths heavily represented, but have so much more “orange” and shallow red 600-650 that it warms up the aesthetic so much and is more pleasing to the eye, in my opinion.

I’ve had the most growth with ATI bulbs.

I was running a B+, ABS, P+, & C+ combo on 8 bulb fixture. Can’t remember how many of each though. The corals seemed to like that ABS bulb for sure. They always like the B+ too.