Best t5 light

edc_aquarium · Jan 20, 2018

What is the best 48in t5 bulb ?

JOKER · Jan 20, 2018

I would say one with MH, but ATI makes good fixtures, geissmann make good fixtures, I think Hamilton has some nice ones, It is really according to how many bulbs you want. Best in lighting is just like anything else. The best will be what you like the best. I prefer MH T5 combo, and it doesn't really cost that much more to run them.

edc_aquarium · Jan 20, 2018

JOKER said:
I would say one with MH, but ATI makes good fixtures, geissmann make good fixtures, I think Hamilton has some nice ones, It is really according to how many bulbs you want. Best in lighting is just like anything else. The best will be what you like the best. I prefer MH T5 combo, and it doesn't really cost that much more to run them.

I just need one bulb I already have the fixture

cracker · Jan 20, 2018

I have an ATI T5 fixture,no led supplement though . I'm pretty sure They have led additions that bolt right up . I'm very pleased with it .

JOKER · Jan 20, 2018

edc_aquarium said:
I just need one bulb I already have the fixture

Oh ok. The title said light. I missed the bulb sorry. How many bulbs is fixture? I like ATI bulbs blue+, coral plus, actinic mixed makes a really good combo. If I only chose one it would be hard.

edc_aquarium · Jan 20, 2018

JOKER said:
Oh ok. The title said light. I missed the bulb sorry. How many bulbs is fixture? I like ATI bulbs blue+, coral plus, actinic mixed makes a really good combo. If I only chose one it would be hard.

I’m about 100% going with the true actinic I also have other fluorescent lights that I already have I was also thinking of doing a hybrid of the t5 and led

Skynyrd Fish · Jan 21, 2018

ATI blue plus.

dohc97 · Jan 21, 2018

Different combos for different tastes. It boils down to your color preference. Best ati bulbs in my opinion are blue plus, coral plus and purple plus. You mix and match until you find a combo that works for you. I'm currently running a 6 bulb fixture with 3 blue plus, 2 coral plus and 1 purple plus. It gives me a look of around 14-16k with really good color rendition, blues, yellows, greens, reds all look good. If you are one of the ones that prefers very blue light you would go about it differently

wattson · Jan 21, 2018

JOKER said:
I would say one with MH, but ATI makes good fixtures, geissmann make good fixtures, I think Hamilton has some nice ones, It is really according to how many bulbs you want. Best in lighting is just like anything else. The best will be what you like the best. I prefer MH T5 combo, and it doesn't really cost that much more to run them.

please elaborate on some products of light fixtures that you like per your recommendation..

JOKER · Jan 21, 2018

wattson said:
please elaborate on some products of light fixtures that you like per your recommendation..

I have tried T5 alone, T5 MH combo, LED, LED T5 combo, and I can say I like MH T5 combo the best. I run a Hamilton Cebu sun 6' over my 7' tank now, and love it. I will go with the same combo when I set up frag tank. I may try a different fixture, but I am not sure. the geissmann MH T5 combo is great too.