E5 opinions needed.

[40B Knasty]

I was looking to maybe get a little more pop from the fluorescence on a coral like we all see at the LFS with the heavy blue LED lighting. So I would like to hear your opinion or experience with the E5.
I am coming up on "that time" to change out the 2 ATI Blue Plus. I am currently running ATI Blue+, Coral+, Blue+, & True Actinic. In that order.
Let me explain a little preference I like and need. First would be no washed out look. I like a crisp white/blue, but want more fluorescent pop. The Coral+ & True Actinic I like. The Coral+ for the whitening. The True Actinic for the health and growth.
Would a Blue+ and Euroaquatics blue pop give me that still white/blue look and give the fluorescent a little more pop?
I was wondering would I get the shimmer from the E5 Blue Pop like a normal LED or would it be washed out from the 3x T5 bulbs and need to have 2 E5 Blue Pop along side with the Coral+ & True Actinic to "maybe" pull a shimmer and more of the fluorescents?
Thanks for your input. All is welcome for this thread. Pics and personal videos are also welcome. I have seen all the ones online. Remember I have only 4 bulbs.

 

[40B Knasty]

Are E5 bulbs any good? I seen on one place the 24", 36", and 48" were discontinued.

 

[A. grandis]

Forget E5s. Get some substantial serious light in that slot. Blue Plus or True actinic.
Just my opinion...
Grandis.

 

[Rakie]

I spent a lot of time playing with a lot of bulb configs, giving each setup a month or more to see how everything adjusted to it. Geisemann Super Actinic are pretty great, they give a good amount of pop.

And if you watch the Jason Fox reef builders visit, he lights all his tanks with 100% ATI Actinic bulbs. Literally *just* actinic bulbs.

 

[A. grandis]

I spent a lot of time playing with a lot of bulb configs, giving each setup a month or more to see how everything adjusted to it. Geisemann Super Actinic are pretty great, they give a good amount of pop.

And if you watch the Jason Fox reef builders visit, he lights all his tanks with 100% ATI Actinic bulbs. Literally *just* actinic bulbs.

Those are called by him " blue actinic", not ATI True Actinic.
Some people think he is actually using ATI Blue Plus and he is calling " blue actinic".
Grandis.

 

[Rakie]

Those are called by him " blue actinic", not ATI True Actinic.
Some people think he is actually using ATI Blue Plus and he is calling " blue actinic".
Grandis.

Gotcha. I prefer Geisemann Super Actinic myself, great color enhancer even noticeable with a single bulb to me.

 

[40B Knasty]

Just picked this bad boy up yesterday. So now I really want that pop.
Has anyone ever used the EU E5 Blue Pop?

 

[SaltLifer]

I'm in your same boat. I currently have Blue Plus, Actinic, Coral Plus, Actinic. My plan is to add a reef brite strip to my T5 in 420-440nm actinic blue. Thats what my LFS runs and their corals always look a little better in their tanks than mine. Also, I think when my next bulb change comes around, I'm gonna ditch the actinic and just go blue plus x3 and 1 coral plus.

 

[40B Knasty]

I'm in your same boat. I currently have Blue Plus, Actinic, Coral Plus, Actinic. My plan is to add a reef brite strip to my T5 in 420-440nm actinic blue. Thats what my LFS runs and their corals always look a little better in their tanks than mine. Also, I think when my next bulb change comes around, I'm gonna ditch the actinic and just go blue plus x3 and 1 coral plus.

Just watched a video for the reef brite strip. Thanks for the idea with that. I find the cost of that to much in comparison to the E5. Hope it works well for you and gives you the corals the pop that you are looking for.

 

[A. grandis]

Gotcha. I prefer Geisemann Super Actinic myself, great color enhancer even noticeable with a single bulb to me.

I heard many say good things about the Giesemann's line of bulbs, both T5s and MHs...
Grandis.

 

[A. grandis]

Just watched a video for the reef brite strip. Thanks for the idea with that. I find the cost of that to much in comparison to the E5. Hope it works well for you and gives you the corals the pop that you are looking for.

His suggestions are better than E5s.
When you add the Reef Brite LEDs to the T5 fixture you don't loose the quality of T5 light in exchange.
I wouldn't remove any T5 bulb to put LEDs instead. Adding the Reef Brite strip on the side will give you that "pop" you're looking for and still give them good quality light. Doing that you add.
This video shows the difference between the ATI Blue Plus and those terrible blue E5s.

Grandis.

 

[40B Knasty]

His suggestions are better than E5s.
When you add the Reef Brite LEDs to the T5 fixture you don't loose the quality of T5 light in exchange.
I wouldn't remove any T5 bulb to put LEDs instead. Adding the Reef Brite strip on the side will give you that "pop" you're looking for and still give them good quality light. Doing that you add.
This video shows the difference between the ATI Blue Plus and those terrible blue E5s.

Grandis.

Like I said,"I have seen all the ones online." I have also looked at every site. I honestly don't even think I can get these bulbs even if I did choose to get this. I seen the Blue Daylight, but not the Blue Pop.
Also I am not looking to spend $200+ more for a reef brite strip on top of another $40+ for two more ATI Blue+. Just looking for opinions on the bulb options. Also my JBJ Trinity 36" setup would not work with that option due to 2 modifications already done to it.

 

[Rakie]

I had a ReefBrite XHO -- Complete waste of money.

 

[40B Knasty]

I had a ReefBrite XHO -- Complete waste of money.

That puts a little consideration into just having one E5 bulb since it would be the same thing, but 1 T5 bulb less to overpower the LED in a fixture.

 

[Rakie]

I say this all the time and people don't seem to understand it.

Basics of how color works: You ever see something blue? The reason it's blue to our eye is because it doesn't absorb blue light, it reflects it. That's why something is "blue", because it's rejecting blue light.

But I use blue lights and see my corals: Yes. Because blue is a very wide spectrum. But under LED blue only lights, many corals fail to show color.

Then why does everyone say Blue makes everything POP?: Because people don't have, or use, their eyes.

Prove it: Okay.

So here's my frag rack under full lighting with my ATI T5 fixture;

So here's what MOST people see. A coral spewing color due to blue light (RB XHO only);

Here's what I see.

Notice how all those colorful corals just disappeared?

Then.... Why does everyone say "Blue Pop"?: Marketing, and people not having or using their eyes. LED's make corals pop, nobody disputes that -- But full spectrum LED's are what make all corals pop, some colors respond specifically to some spectrums. As you can see in my above picture, many of the blue / lavender color frags completely disappeared under blue light.

You want ground breaking true POP?

Make ReefBrite make a full spectrum LED bar. That will make EVERYTHING pop for real. Not just the highlight colors.

 

[40B Knasty]

My Blueberry Gorgonion under 2 ATI Blue +, Coral+, & True Actinic. I see blue

 

[Z-man]

Sounds to me like you made up your mind on buying this particular bulb.

Your last picture might show the polyps as blue, but the color of the branches shows brown.

I love my Reef Bride XHO as a my blue or "actinic". They compliment the 14k MH lights fantastically. None of that matters as long as you like how it looks and grows your corals.

 

[Rakie]

Yep. ATI Blue+ has a lot more going on than just blue, as does C+. It's specifically blue LED's that that fail to make *all* colors pop

 

[40B Knasty]

I like the full spectrum of my tank's colors. Just wondering if the EU E5 Blue Pop T5 LED retrofit bulb would give the other colors that fluorescent pop for the oranges, reds, greens and yellows missing for the frogspawns and Zoas.
Honestly I have not decided on the bulb, because no one here has said,"yes, it works and still gives you what you described that you want from your opening statement."
No one has said it will give me a slight shimmer either.
And honestly it seems like no one has ever bought one. The videos online are so washed out like what an LED would give a person when you crank up the blues from an all LED fixture.
The color of the branches are brown.

 

[A. grandis]

I think it's time for you to get the E5 and let us know what you think then.
"Pop" from LEDs are so artificial and ugly IMO. There is nothing like that in the ocean!
Just my opinion.

Grandis.