Going bluer with my T5 light fixture.

[cracker]

Hello , It's time to change bulbs on this ATI 48 inch 6 bulb fixture . I use ATI bulbs also They offer 3 differing selections . I like to just order the suggested bulbs instead of picking & choosing my self . I'm using the mid range package now . I want to go with the bluest selection this time. Will this mess with my corals? I'll be changing one or 2 bulbs at 2 week intervals. Thanks

 

[GoVols]

@Rick.45cal

Which blue t5's did you go with?

 

[Rick.45cal]

@Rick.45cal

Which blue t5's did you go with?

Mine are a 50/50 mixture of Giesmann Actinic+ and their Pure Actinic bulbs. Which both have been renamed to something else now.

 

[cracker]

Hello Rick. I'm going by the ATI selections. They have 3 choices , white with a hint of blue less white more blue & the 3rd is blue with a hint of white . I'm not experienced with picking & choosing differing color bulbs.

 

[GoVols]

Hello Rick. I'm going by the ATI selections. They have 3 choices , white with a hint of blue less white more blue & the 3rd is blue with a hint of white . I'm not experienced with picking & choosing differing color bulbs.

Cracker,
If you want all blues the ATI Blue Plus are great t5's

 

[TX_Punisher]

4bp
1coral plus
1purple plus will get you something nice looking.

 

[DSC reef]

@cracker look into the geismann super blue actinic. It's like the blue plus but to me it was a bit bluer and brighter. I really preferred the look over the ATI blue plus. Ran the blue plus for many years but I was really impressed with the geismann bulb.

 

[cracker]

@DSC reef thanks for the reference, I admit to being shy about trying differing bulbs. I just don't know enough about this lighting subject . I surely don't want to end up with really blue colors . But again maybe I'll like it !

 

[DSC reef]

I'm with you. The ATI is an excellent bulb so you can't go wrong. It's not that dramatic of a difference but it was enough to bring a welcoming new look to the tank.

 

[GoVols]

@cracker look into the geismann super blue actinic. It's like the blue plus but to me it was a bit bluer and brighter. I really preferred the look over the ATI blue plus. Ran the blue plus for many years but I was really impressed with the geismann bulb.

Yep,
That "super blue actinic" puts out some nice pur and makes your corals pop.
It's the only actinic that I really liked.

 

[cracker]

Ok I'm about to hit the order button for new bulbs . I ordered 4 blue plus ,1 coral plus & 1 purple plus . This is the bluest selection offered by ATI . I have no" idea "if it will be that bluer than what I have or too blue ?
I won't know until I mash the order button & wait a week ! LOL

 

[SeaJay]

Ok I'm about to hit the order button for new bulbs . I ordered 4 blue plus ,1 coral plus & 1 purple plus . This is the bluest selection offered by ATI . I have no" idea "if it will be that bluer than what I have or too blue ?
I won't know until I mash the order button & wait a week ! LOL

I wanna see it when you get them. As soon as the new aquatic life hybrids are out I’ll have one coming. They said it should be within a month. Need to decide what bulbs I want to run in it. Just got my first nem and have already found that turning up the blues and down on the whites makes him much happier.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Cracker,
If you want all blues the ATI Blue Plus are great t5's

Agree with this. I run all ATI Blue+ in my fixture

 

[cracker]

@SeaJay I can do that for Ya . This bulb color & what pleases my eye is a tuff choicefor me .
@ crabsmjones That's only 2 bulbs difference & at 25 bucks each , I can make the change. In fact I'm sure I have 2 Blue plus bulbs left over from the last change. Didn't think of that ! Thanks
Iv'e been to people's home where the tank is so blue , the only thing I can see is fluorescing corals . Either way here I go !

Ok done deal, I ordered some other stuff too. However 222.65$ later, I'm not happy as I "hate" spending money ! How in the world did I let You Folks talk me into this ?

 

[SeaJay]

@SeaJay I can do that for Ya . This bulb color & what pleases my eye is a tuff choicefor me .
@ crabsmjones That's only 2 bulbs difference & at 25 bucks each , I can make the change. In fact I'm sure I have 2 Blue plus bulbs left over from the last change. Didn't think of that ! Thanks
Iv'e been to people's home where the tank is so blue , the only thing I can see is fluorescing corals . Either way here I go !

That’s what I’m afraid of. I see the benefits of blue light, but at the same time, I don’t want a tank that looks like it has blue dye in it.

 

[cracker]

I got my bulbs today ! I have plenty to do before I even break them out, I need to take a par reading before replacement . I'm considering swapping them all at once & just raising the light 3 or 4 inches . Any Op's on this plan ?

 

[Steve Erekson]

I've done a lot of ATI bulb combos over the years including that one. If a very blue tank appeals to you, that's exactly what you want. It's very dramatic.

 

[mfinn]

when I change out my t5 bulbs, I do 2 at a time, a week apart.

 

[cracker]

I hope it's not too blue ! We shall see very soon !
Hey mfinn reason I was asking if I could change them all at one was it's difficult for me to install the bulbs while it's hanging & I need somebody to help me take it down . It becomes a hassle . other wise Iv'e always done 2 at a time a week like You.
Is it a bad idea to do them all at once ? I'm about to take par readings of the 1 year old bulbs then check the new ones. If brighter, I can raise the fixture for a while.

 

[mfinn]

I hope it's not too blue ! We shall see very soon !
Hey mfinn reason I was asking if I could change them all at one was it's difficult for me to install the bulbs while it's hanging & I need somebody to help me take it down . It becomes a hassle . other wise Iv'e always done 2 at a time a week like You.
Is it a bad idea to do them all at once ? I'm about to take par readings of the 1 year old bulbs then check the new ones. If brighter, I can raise the fixture for a while.

When replacing used bulbs the jump in intensity can be pretty high, depending on the length of time the old bulbs have been used.
Light shock can hurt corals.
I've done it before.
So, maybe if you just took the fixture down, replace all the bulbs.
Then cover your tank with 3+ layers of window screen and after 4 days remove a layer and so on.
Some cut back on the hours they are on, but imo, the corals are still getting much higher light levels, even if it's on a shorter schedule.
It's what many of us used to do in the metal halide days, before all these programmable lights.