Congrats on the pickup!
I love the flexibility in terms of bulb choice offered by an 8 bulb, but for power and bulb cost efficiency nothing beats a classic 6
For most 6 bulb units I spec what I call the 3 -2 -1 combo. 3 Blue Plus, 2 True Actinic, 1 Purple Plus - Excellent full spectrum color rendering with the option of running 2 true actinics by themselves for the sunrise and sunset look.
Another great choice is the 4-1-1. 4BP, 1TA, 1PP This is for those ultra blue spectrum lovers. Still full spectrum with a bit more blue pop.
Aquablue Special is a potent daylight bulb, but unless you want that bright sunny look the Blue plus will cover your primary PAR needs. If you do want a shallow water looking spectral profile an AB special is a great choice. Most people seem to go for the blue heavy look since we're all so used to LED blues nowadays.
Really any combo will work as long as it looks good to your eyes. Most every ATI bulb will work well over corals. It's just not advisable to run all Purple, or all True actinic for obvious spectral and of course visual reasons.
