Choosing t5 bulbs for a 6x39

[subielover]

Thinking of trying this combo next.
Bulbs are listed in front to back order.

ATI Blue Plus
Giessman Actinic Plus Powerchrome
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
Giessman Actinic Plus Powerchrome
ATI Blue Plus


What do you folks think about that?oh:

 

[joelq]

I think that combination will look great, but I'm wondering about the Actinic+ bulbs. Any particular reason you're including them? Reason I hesitate on them is the Actinic portion of the bulb drastically reduced the PAR output of the bulb.

I think instead, you could replace the two Actinic+ with another Blue Plus and add a daylight bulb like the GE 6500K, and still have a somewhat blue look, but with lots of PAR.

Grim's testing has found the Actinic+ to have a PAR of 264, whereas the Blue Plus bulbs output 311. The GE 6500K outputs 340. So with the two Actinic+ you'd have 264*2 = 528 PAR, versus the Blue Plus and GE 6500K combo with 651, and I think your colors would be similar.

Not too coincidentally , I run the combination I'm suggesting over my 90g - 4 Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K, and 1 Fiji Purple. FTS is below:

 

[subielover]

I am also considering the UVL Super actinic, instead of the Giesseman actinics. I should have stated in the beginning that this is over a 40 breeder, which is only 16" or 17" deep. I am trying to get a 14-20k look, maybe more towards the 20k end of the spectrum,