Choice for T5

[A. grandis]

Blue does not necessarily mean actinic. Actinic is a very narrow range of the total blue wavelengths/spectrum, and actually appears closer to purple to the human eye.
I said blue, not actinic.

Having said that, look at Jason fox's 400g cube, run only on blue reef brites and actinic blue t5s, one of the nicest tanks I've ever seen. Any blue bulb from a reputable manufacturer in today's aquarium industry contains sufficient spectrum to maintain and grow coral on its own (like the most popular, the blue plus).

I'm sorry, I guess I should be more specific in regards to make newbies confused.
Most of us kinda know the differences between the actinic only and the blue bulbs nowadays...
I was referring specifically to what people call blue, but it's actually the actinic bulbs.
Thanks for complementing the message...
Yes, Blue Plus has wonderful ability to grow corals specially because of it's PAR number and spectrum.
Actinic bulbs lack in PAR.

Grandis.

 

[A. grandis]

To illustrate a good blue tank, here is what BigJohnny was talking about:
Jason Fox's 400g cube. He has 5 Reef Brites and 6 blue actinic T5s over this one:
... and the 700 gal with the 20K/ 250W halides, Blue actinic T5s and some blue Reef Brites too.
Jason uses a combination of metal halides, T5s and LEDs. He doesn't run LEDs only.
The LEDs are supplemental, but for longer periods of time. His main lights are the halides and T5s.
He says that he likes the T5/LEDs, not only LEDs.
The 250w 20K halides are on for only 3 or 5 hours a day.
The blue actinic T5s are on for 10 hours a day.
The blue LEDs are on for 12 hours a day.
But he does use some "white" approach couple hours a day, he says.
One of the vats has a Hydra 52 that he runs with whites, greens and reds for like 5 hours a day.
He didn't say anything about using true actinic bulbs, but blue actinics instead.
He does uses some "pink" bulb in one of the vats, I guess, but I'm not sure what bulb that is.
Have a great weekend!
Grandis.

 

[BigJohnny]

I'm sorry, I guess I should be more specific in regards to make newbies confused.
Most of us kinda know the differences between the actinic only and the blue bulbs nowadays...
I was referring specifically to what people call blue, but it's actually the actinic bulbs.
Thanks for complementing the message...
Yes, Blue Plus has wonderful ability to grow corals specially because of it's PAR number and spectrum.
Actinic bulbs lack in PAR.

Grandis.

Actinic bulbs may lack par (even though a lot of it doesn't register on a par meter due to wavelengths) but they have very high pur. I agree though, i personally wouldn't run only actinic

 

[rtparty]

It's a total myth that Actinic bulbs don't register good PAR. We believed that for years but BRS's third party tester proved an ATI Actinic bulb has 50 less PAR than an ATI Blue Plus after burn in. Its PUR will be basically 100% though.

 

[BigJohnny]

It's a total myth that Actinic bulbs don't register good PAR. We believed that for years but BRS's third party tester proved an ATI Actinic bulb has 50 less PAR than an ATI Blue Plus after burn in. Its PUR will be basically 100% though.

Well it's not entirely a myth, they put out less par than other bulbs (like ati blue plus) but people thought it was a lot worse due to hobby grade par meters not picking it all up. Sall bout that PUR anyway though

 

[A. grandis]

Actinic bulbs may lack par (even though a lot of it doesn't register on a par meter due to wavelengths) but they have very high pur. I agree though, i personally wouldn't run only actinic

It's a total myth that Actinic bulbs don't register good PAR. We believed that for years but BRS's third party tester proved an ATI Actinic bulb has 50 less PAR than an ATI Blue Plus after burn in. Its PUR will be basically 100% though.

Well it's not entirely a myth, they put out less par than other bulbs (like ati blue plus) but people thought it was a lot worse due to hobby grade par meters not picking it all up. Sall bout that PUR anyway though

Yes, it's 50 less or around that...
They lack PAR, but still have it, of course.
The PUR is what gives good results when you use those true actinic bulbs, besides the look.
Is an amazing truth!

Link for the BRS tester please?
Grandis.

 

[Potatohead]

The actinics did put out far less par, around 200, but after 100 hours increased to 300. The blue+ was around 340 or something.

It's one of BRS's T5 videos, from probably last year.

 

[A. grandis]

The actinics did put out far less par, around 200, but after 100 hours increased to 300. The blue+ was around 340 or something.

It's one of BRS's T5 videos, from probably last year.

Was it a blue actinic or a true actinic bulb?
I'll try to find the video when I find some time...

Grandis.

 

[rtparty]

See if this works

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WHuol0uRn2W7Jk-rxYWmtNgUF-lkY_VlUpAiNsMwME4/pub

 

[Potatohead]

Was it a blue actinic or a true actinic bulb?
I'll try to find the video when I find some time...

Grandis.

It was the ATI actinic. They only make one.

 

[A. grandis]

It was the ATI actinic. They only make one.

So that was the ATI True actinic bulb then.
Thanks,
Grandis.