Best T5 6 bulb combo for sps?

deepseasurfer · Aug 8, 2015

Meant 27 1/2 not 21 1/2

Touring · Aug 10, 2015

Does anyone have par level data they can provide? Would love to see where everyone is at.

MontiFanatic402 · Aug 10, 2015

I took par readings from my ATI 6 bulb 24" sunpower when all bulbs were new and was getting around 450-470 Par in the middle of my tank......lights are 12" from the water, tank is 18" deep....These sunpowers pack some major punch, I bleached a few acros in the process......but I love my ATI!!!
Front
B+
C+
B+
B+
P+
B+
Back

Sahin · Aug 17, 2015

For an SPS dominated tank use 4xB+ & 2xC+
For mixed reef 4xB+ 1xC+ 1xP+
For LPS dominated use 3xB+ 2xActinic 1xP+ = great pop

reefndude · Aug 17, 2015

I use 4 b+ and 2 c+
Also have 2 royal blue led bars to supplement

deepseasurfer · Aug 25, 2015

Sahin said:
For an SPS dominated tank use 4xB+ & 2xC+
For mixed reef 4xB+ 1xC+ 1xP+
For LPS dominated use 3xB+ 2xActinic 1xP+ = great pop

In what order like front to back?

ReefTankRebel · Aug 25, 2015

Front to back b+ b+ b+ P+ b+ c+ love this look

deepseasurfer · Aug 25, 2015

I have insane sps pieces with great color just want to switch it up to see if I can get better growth I run 4 b+ 1 giesemann super purple and 1 giesemann 6500k tropic which I'm not a fan of has anyone thought about running KZ

Myka · Aug 25, 2015

deepseasurfer said:
Maybe swap the Giesemann 6500 k don't like the 2 bulb start up at all and maybe push growth a little more

I'm surprised you have your bulbs in this order. For my 2-bulb start up I have 2 Blue+. Most people use blue bulbs for the sunrise/sunset effect.

I don't care for the KZ bulbs. I find there is a visual color shift quicker than with ATI bulbs. Just anecdotal.

deepseasurfer · Aug 25, 2015

Myka said:
I'm surprised you have your bulbs in this order. For my 2-bulb start up I have 2 Blue+. Most people use blue bulbs for the sunrise/sunset effect.

I don't care for the KZ bulbs. I find there is a visual color shift quicker than with ATI bulbs. Just anecdotal.

This is the order I got recommended from my club the 6500 k in the morning looks more like a sunset than sunrise that's for sure I am due to replace all the bulbs about 9 months in so that's why I want to research the best for my sps so I can change it up

Sahin · Aug 25, 2015

deepseasurfer said:
In what order like front to back?

That depends on what you like as dawn/dusk etc. Generally I try and place any what I call daylight tubes (Coral+, ABS, Purple+) etc equally apart in any combo which serves to light the whole tank evenly and not have too much white at rear and only blue near front for example. When looking from the side it tends to look a little weird lol.

jeremy · Aug 25, 2015

I like the 6500k in an 8 bulb combo. I would not run it in a 6 bulb since it is usually recommend to run with a couple purple bulbs. I do same as Sahin for placement of daylight bulbs and I run them close to middle of fixture.
I like 4 blue 1 coral 1 purple for 6 bulb combo. That's my personal preference.

http://www.atinorthamerica.com/faq.php
Popular ATI bulb combos in the link. Giesemann bulbs are good to.