Help with new t5 bulbs

[tactical_XJ]

Hello, I’ve been looking around for new t5 bulbs for my 36” wavepoint t5 light, I don’t know when was the last time the last owner changed the bulbs and I’m just going to change them to get the doubt out of the way, I have sps in the tank now but I want to put some gsp on the back wall to make it look better, I do want it for coral growth but I also want it to look good, the wavepoint does not have an ability to have moon lighting but I will be making a few blue strips for that.

 

[Mal11224]

You can pick up a few actinic bulbs for your lamp. ATI bulbs are decent.

 

[pshootr]

I am in the same boat as you, but with a 24-inch wavepoint fixture. Looking forward to seeing some suggestions.

 

[pshootr]

Hello, I’ve been looking around for new t5 bulbs for my 36” wavepoint t5 light, I don’t know when was the last time the last owner changed the bulbs and I’m just going to change them to get the doubt out of the way, I have sps in the tank now but I want to put some gsp on the back wall to make it look better, I do want it for coral growth but I also want it to look good, the wavepoint does not have an ability to have moon lighting but I will be making a few blue strips for that.

How many bulbs does your fixture use? Mine has four.

 

[Mal11224]

If you have 4 light lamp, then you can do 3 actinic and one coral plus or 4 actinic bulbs if you like the bluer look. I personally use 4 actinic bulbs for my tank. I love it. I also have an AP700 as a combo.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

IMO, the two best bulbs for growing corals are the ATI Blue Plus and ATI Coral Plus. After that, it's just blending until your aquarium looks the way you like it best. I have an 8 bulb fixture, so run 4 B+, 2 C+, 1 Purple+, 1 Actinic. The actinic I feel adds some pop that you lose going to T5 from LED. The purple plus balances the bright white and blue colors. But really, it comes down to what looks best to you. Most anything from Giesemann or ATI are going to grow corals.

 

[pshootr]

If you have 4 light lamp, then you can do 3 actinic and one coral plus or 4 actinic bulbs if you like the bluer look. I personally use 4 actinic bulbs for my tank. I love it. I also have an AP700 as a combo.

I see, with the ap700 I can see why you use so many at actinic. Since I don't have any LED strictly using T5 eyes only, I was thinking to Blue Plus one Coral plus and one actinic.

Or two blue Plus with two Coral Plus.

 

[pshootr]

IMO, the two best bulbs for growing corals are the ATI Blue Plus and ATI Coral Plus. After that, it's just blending until your aquarium looks the way you like it best. I have an 8 bulb fixture, so run 4 B+, 2 C+, 1 Purple+, 1 Actinic. The actinic I feel adds some pop that you lose going to T5 from LED. The purple plus balances the bright white and blue colors. But really, it comes down to what looks best to you. Most anything from Giesemann or ATI are going to grow corals.

I like the idea of having that little extra pop from the actinic, however I remember reading a post where someone said they had one actinic bulb and it made a purple stripe somewhere in their tank. That's why I may just do two each, of the coral plus and blue Plus.

 

[Mal11224]

I apologize, I meant blue +, not actinic. I use 4 blue + bulbs. I used to use 3 B+ and one Coral +, but use the AP700 to balance it out. If you do coral +, I would only do one. They are bright white and at 36 inches, one would be good with most combinations. 3 B+ & 1 coral + is good.

 

[pshootr]

It appears the previous owner has two bulbs the equivalent of blue Plus, with what appears to be the equivalent of two full-spectrum bulbs. And it looks pretty white to me.

 

[pshootr]

I apologize, I meant blue +, not actinic. I use 4 blue + bulbs. I used to use 3 B+ and one Coral +, but use the AP700 to balance it out. If you do coral +, I would only do one. They are bright white and at 36 inches, one would be good with most combinations. 3 B+ & 1 coral + is good.

Oh okay I see, no problem. Thanks for your input to. I will have to also consider the idea of having three blue Plus and one Coral Plus.

 

[Mal11224]

Oh okay I see, no problem. Thanks for your input to. I will have to also consider the idea of having three blue Plus and one Coral Plus.

I think you will like that combo. I have purple plus as well and tried different combinations to see what I liked and stayed with 4 B+ after using 3 B+ & 1 coral plus for a little while. You will get good growth with that combo.

 

[tactical_XJ]

The bulbs that the old owner had and are still on the light are the original wavepoint bulbs, 39w 45in sun wave/ reef wave, I don’t mind the color of them but I want more growth and color out of my tank

 

[tactical_XJ]

I think you will like that combo. I have purple plus as well and tried different combinations to see what I liked and stayed with 4 B+ after using 3 B+ & 1 coral plus for a little while. You will get good growth with that combo.

Mal do you have a pic of how your tank looks with the 4 blue plus?

 

[Mal11224]

Mal do you have a pic of how your tank looks with the 4 blue plus?

Will take a fresh one when the lights come on today and post it here.

 

[Mal11224]

Here you go. 1st is with an orange filter, 2nd is without an orange filter. Visually, the tank is much brighter than the picture shows. Just a quick pic, no alterations.

 

[Mal11224]

Here is a better pic from my cellphone.

 

[tactical_XJ]

Here is a better pic from my cellphone.

I like how it looks with the blues, it will give a nice color to the living room also, that frag stand looks sweet lol

 

[Stigigemla]

To avoid the risk that the corals will bleach from the light change I recommend that You just change a part of the light first and continue after a month.
1 of 4 each time or 2 of 6 or 8. Old tubes often miss a lot of the blue part of the light so it will be a drastic change anyway.

 

[tactical_XJ]

To avoid the risk that the corals will bleach from the light change I recommend that You just change a part of the light first and continue after a month.
1 of 4 each time or 2 of 6 or 8. Old tubes often miss a lot of the blue part of the light so it will be a drastic change anyway.

Ok so put one bulb on every month till the 4 are changed?