Any suggestions on 2 foot t5 fixture?

[pbrano97]

Like the title says. I was using 2 full spectrum par 38's on my 2 foot fluval m60. Colors looked great but i felt the amount of light was a little lacking and for some reason i've had a problem growing ricordea. I bought a coralife 24 inch 4x24 watt 10,000k and 460nm actinic fixture, set it up, and the tank looked like poop. Colors looked like a petco tank...the tank was well lite but just white washed. Resembled a 10k halide even with the actinics. Any suggestions? At this point i may just stick with LEDS

 

[pbrano97]

anyone have any help?

 

[vic67]

You could try new bulbs. I know a lot of reefers like the ATI brand but there are others. The color combo would be up to your personal tastes though.

 

[franciscosalazar]

Get various actinic bulbs of differing spectrum and a couple blue stunner strips or the like for added pop.

 

[pbrano97]

hmm. didn't even think about just changing out bulbs. This may be a long shot but does anyone know if there's a "Lighting" thread that shows various setups?

 

[NorthGaHillbilly]

decent guide marine depot put out
http://www.f3images.com/IMD/UserManuals/ATI_T5.pdf

 

[Jayellul]

Try this combo
Blue
Pure actinic
White (14000k or higher)
Blue

 

[franciscosalazar]

[video=youtube_share;Y-TbkPJhHkY]http://youtu.be/Y-TbkPJhHkY[/video]

 

[pbrano97]

awesome info! thank you so much!

 

[CoralHut]

Front of fixture
Blue Plus
Coral Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Back of fixture

Is a great blend

 

[Jayellul]

Purple plus is puss

 

[pbrano97]

i found this video as a second response to the one posted above
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OSS_PoUX6o

I know i like the 7th combo but that's just the coral plus and actinic (I think that's what it is but forget)...still figuring out if i should just add two blue plus' with those or not

 

[pbrano97]

what i'd really like to do is match the exact lighting i get from my full spectrum PAR 38 led fixture

 

[Jayellul]

Coral plus has red in it so purple tube is not required.

 

[Jayellul]

i found this video as a second response to the one posted above
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OSS_PoUX6o

I know i like the 7th combo but that's just the coral plus and actinic (I think that's what it is but forget)...still figuring out if i should just add two blue plus' with those or not

That's what I would run with

 

[pbrano97]

think that's what i'll do! hopefully it comes close to the par 38's! For some reason these leds grow everything except ricordia.