ATI bulb combination suggestions!

[zmcclinton6301]

Trying to find out what others on this forum use for there T5 combinations over their reef tanks.
My tank is a sps primary tank and am looking to get great color but more so great growth.
I just ordered a 24" 8 bulb ATI sunpower fixture. So what would you guys recommend for 8 bulb combos? And if you have pictures id love to see them.

 

[that Reef Guy]

I would do 8 ATI Blue Plus Bulbs.

 

[zmcclinton6301]

All 8 blue plus?

 

[that Reef Guy]

All 8 blue plus?

Yes, I only use Blue Lighting.

White Light Makes Coral look Ugly and who wants to look at Ugly Coral?

 

[zmcclinton6301]

What about growth?

 

[that Reef Guy]

What about growth?

Corals utilize the Blue Spectrum more than any other Color.

 

[zmcclinton6301]

Oh okay!

 

[zmcclinton6301]

Thank you for your advice! Any other suggestions?

 

[duncangweller]

Quite often people use 6 blue+, coral plus and a Fiji purple (or something similar) You get a little white without going crazy. Also the purple bulb shows some of the reds in corals.

 

[zmcclinton6301]

Alright I'll try that combo also!

 

[zmcclinton6301]

I would still love more feedback

 

[-Logzor]

I've experimented with just about every T5 combo. I like running 1 white, 2 blue, and the rest pure actinic. I use a 7 bulb fixture. I've had great growth and color using this combo.

The benefit is that the corals pop insane color from all the actinic, but the aquarium is not overwhelmed by blue light, which can wash out the unique colors of your corals. The single white bulb is enough to balance things out.

 

[jeremy]

http://www.atinorthamerica.com/faq.php
Link for ATI combos. The new giesman line of bulbs is supposed to be good to. I can't say haven't tried them yet. I run 5 blue plus 2 Fiji purple and 1 GE6500K on an all sps tank. Good growth and color.

 

[wangspeed]

I don't like the look of just BP. It looks like Windex. Something about it does not sit well with me. It is far less attractive than royal blue LEDs, IMO. I like more "white" in there, like the 3 BP, 2 CP, 1 PP suggestion from ATI. I actually run 3BP, 1 CP, 1 ABS, 1 PP, with royal blue LEDs front and back of my 6 bulb fixture.

 

[ronnie]

I run four B+, two AB Specials, and two actinics. It's a nice 14k look.

 

[swk]

I run a 6 bulb currently and am using mostly gman bulbs. Front to back

Blue+
Gman actinic blue
Gman super purple
Blue +
Gman aqua blue azure
Gman actinic blue

I get higher par with this combo than with the Ati equivalents fwiw

I like the actinic blue better than blue+. It's a little darker blue with less of a greenish tint. The azure is pretty much the same as the ABS bulb from Ati

 

[Tabasco1]

You will likely have to play around with bulbs as they are really individual preference. I have a 6 bulb ATI sunpower & started with:
4 b+
1 C+
1 P+

It was WAYYY tooo blue for me. I have ordered a couple more bulbs and switched them around and am currently using:
2 b+
2 C+
1 P+
1 Actinic

 

[Smashville]

4 b+, 3 c+ & 1 p+

 

[RIReefer]

I run ati bulbs in this order for my sps tank
blue +
Purple
blue +
blue +
Coral
blue +
coral
blue +

 

[ifarmer]

Here is my combination
5 blue +
Aquable speçial
Purple +
Coral+

But on my next bulbs chsnge, i think i am going to go with the following
2 coral+
Purple+
2 Actinic+
3 blue plus