ATI Sunpower 8 Bulb Combo Suggestions

[nova65ss]

Ati actinic are very green its an ok look but only for a bit then I get tired of it.

 

[shred5]

Anybody else using ATI Actinics ? Seems like with the Blue Plus bulbs nobody bothers with actinics anymore.

I do I like they give more pop... Blue plus have a hazy color kind of washed out by themselves.. Personal opinion..

Ati actinic are very green its an ok look but only for a bit then I get tired of it.

Green? you sure it was actinics or not a bad bulbs...

 

[Rob&Gab]

I do I like they give more pop... Blue plus have a hazy color kind of washed out by themselves.. Personal opinion..

try the red sea 22k Actinic. its way better then ATI Aticnic IMO.

 

[nova65ss]

I do I like they give more pop... Blue plus have a hazy color kind of washed out by themselves.. Personal opinion..



Green? you sure it was actinics or not a bad bulbs...

Yep def ati actinics

 

[CUNAReefer]

Going out on a limb here and going to give a couple of Actinic bulbs a try. Haven't used them in years but always liked the look of them. They are low PAR but I'm hoping I can make it up with the other 6 bulbs. I wouldn't mind giving up a little coral growth if it improves color.

Thanks for your help to those who responded.

Hi Jimbo,

I have an ATI 8x80 Sunpower. I always use two actinics. I tried two blue + and didn't like the blue look. That is my personal opinion though. I find that the ATI Actinic have a solid purple color that resembles a blacklight. Really makes your corals pop. I replaced my bulbs a week ago. With 2 ATI Actinic, 4 ATI Aquablue, 1 ATI Blue Plus, and 1 ATI Coral Plus, 13 inches above the water line, 9 inches below the water line... At the very center of the fixture, I am getting PAR of 580. Hope that helps!

Warmest Regards,
James

 

[nova65ss]

Agree with cuna that it does look similar to a black light and things do pop but it turned almost everything the same shade of green when just running the two at night by themselves. It was neat to me for a few days but grew old if it.

Right now in my ati hybrid I use five blue plus two coral plus and one purple plus. All personal preference really. I would get one of each of and try them out yourself and see how you like them.

 

[TwistedTiger]

UVL has been making super actinic bulbs forever it seems. Still like them the best although I use ATI for all other bulbs.

 

[shred5]

UVL has been making super actinic bulbs forever it seems. Still like them the best although I use ATI for all other bulbs.

I used the uvl bulbs too and actually like the look of them better, only issue is they degraded to fast... They dimmed and the ends got real black, I used them for years too,,,

 

[Jimbo]

Hi Jimbo,

I have an ATI 8x80 Sunpower. I always use two actinics. I tried two blue + and didn't like the blue look. That is my personal opinion though. I find that the ATI Actinic have a solid purple color that resembles a blacklight. Really makes your corals pop. I replaced my bulbs a week ago. With 2 ATI Actinic, 4 ATI Aquablue, 1 ATI Blue Plus, and 1 ATI Coral Plus, 13 inches above the water line, 9 inches below the water line... At the very center of the fixture, I am getting PAR of 580. Hope that helps!

Warmest Regards,
James

Thanks for the info on your PAR readings, guess I have nothing to worry about there. I went with 3 Blue Plus, 2 Coral Plus, 1 Aquablue and 2 True Actinics. I grabbed a couple of extra bulbs to play around with just in case.

Thanks everybody for all the help. I appreciate it.

Jim

 

[Rob&Gab]

what extra bulbs did you get?

 

[Jimbo]

I got an extra Blue Plus , Coral Plus and Purple Plus just in case.

 

[LAX Noob Reef]

Perfect combo for Color, Growth, Visual look, and for us its Working really well.

For the 24" ATI sunPower 8 Bulb we have going

Tried this spec, my eyes are blind. Last time was blinded by radion at 100%..........

 

[Rob&Gab]

Tried this spec, my eyes are blind. Last time was blinded by radion at 100%..........

Was that a good saying?

Did you like the color? !?! More info please lol

 

[Rob&Gab]

Lax we replaced te 2 inner blue+ with Red Sea reef spec 22k actinic bulbs .


And the growth and color for coral output was amazing with that combo you brought up from my picture.

Ill deff go back to that combo when i get bored.

 

[LAX Noob Reef]

Lax we replaced te 2 inner blue+ with Red Sea reef spec 22k actinic bulbs .


And the growth and color for coral output was amazing with that combo you brought up from my picture.

Ill deff go back to that combo when i get bored.

What....... now I need to replace the blub >.>

Still trying to find a hanger for the fixture. Maybe a DIY project <3

Wait, so the old combo is better for growth? or your new combo is better for growth?

 

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

IMO too many blue plus give the tank a baby blue look. Replacing a couple with true actinics give more of the old MH XM 20k look.

e


Right! Starting to feel like a relic here but I couldn't imagine running any fluorescent fixture with out actinics. At least two but in an eight bulb I'd even go four!

B

 

[nova65ss]

e


Right! Starting to feel like a relic here but I couldn't imagine running any fluorescent fixture with out actinics. At least two but in an eight bulb I'd even go four!

B

Hey Adam what would be your other 4? And how would they be aligned front to back?

 

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

Hey Adam what would be your other 4? And how would they be aligned front to back?

Hi there!

I'd go something like This. Actinics on the second channel on for 12 hours Although my attention has been turned to the new geisman line coming out. I'll be trying them out real soon and doing some comparing


Actinic
Blue plus
Actinic
Purple plus
Blue plus or aqua blue special
Actinic
Blue plus
Actinic

 

[MattinIdaho]

I think your current combination is going to be tough to beat. You could run 6 blue plus and only one coral plus but I have always gone back to the exact combo you are running now.

 

[shred5]

In my 8 bulb I run 2 coral plus and 2 actinics and 4 blue plus.

My two 6 bulb units I run 2 actinic 2 blue plus and a coral plus and a purple plus..
I used to run a purple plus and a GE daylight...

I am going to be trying the new Giesemann lamps...