Do you HAVE to use a Blue Plus or equivalent T5 bulb?

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

I have a 6 bulb fixture and I'm struggling to get good color. I really dislike the over-blue look. I tried:

3x Blue Plus
1x AquaBlue Special
1x Purple Plus
1x Coral Plus

But it was WAY too blue. Even with just 2 Blue Plus (running 5 bulbs) there was still way too much blue -- even with just one!

1x AquaBlue Special
1x Coral Plus
1x Purple Plus

Gave a more natural / pleasing look to my eye, although it was missing a bit of the purple and green I think?

So I'm considering adding in a true actinic and a midday bulb or another coral plus or another purple plus. Not really sure yet. I do think a true actinic would help with coral color though (I have mainly LPS).

Do I have to use a blue plus style bulb or are they just popular? I don't want to harm my corals or deprive them.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

No. Just popular.
I HIGHLY reccomed looking at the ati site , the geissman site and their YouTube videos. Very very good representation of inperson colors and combinations to get there.

Personally I’m not huge on the too blue look myself. But the 2B+ 2 C+ was pretty good to me. I probably have put in one 5600 powechrome to even it out