Help with T5HO bulbs KZ or ATI

kwroberto · Jan 6, 2014

Hello everyone, I just purchased a used 48" 6 bulb ATI T5HO for my 75 gallon reef, Im going to change out the bulbs and was curious about which is better ATI or Korallen-Zucht. Also Im looking for that "icy white" color. Can anyone suggest the combinations that I need to obtain that look. Heres what I was planning...

ATI bulbs
2 Atnincs 03
2 Coral +
2 Blue +

or

KZ bulbs
2 SuperBlue
2 Coral Light
1 Fiji Purple
1 Next Generation

Thanks!!!

-Logzor · Jan 6, 2014

I regard KZ as a superior bulb but they're apparently made in the same factory. It's hard to say how much better they actually are or if the additional cost makes them worth it.

Not exactly sure what you mean by "icy white". I guess still very blue, little yellow, little purple, but still not overwhelmingly blue? If that's the case then I would not include the fiji purple. The coral plus bulb still has a good bit of red it in, as well.

To be honest I would recommend the aquablue special bulb and blue+ and maybe some actinic. However, the aquablue special tended to wash out my corals so i stopped using it.

blue+
blue+
ab special
actinic
blue+
blue+
actinic

To add more white and some red swap an actinic for a coral+. If you prefer more purple than white, swap in a purple + (fiji purple).

For KZ:

Superblue
Superblue
Coral Light
Superblue
Superblue
New generation

Keep in mind that a single white bulb might balance with 3 blue bulbs. So if you're doing a 50/50 of blue to white it's going to be very very white/yellow (full spectrum).

kwroberto · Jan 6, 2014

What I mean by the icy white is like the color u get from a metal halide I guess is the best way to put it, however I will know when I see it. I just don't want my tank to look like windex all the time. Also so I need just a atinac 03 bulb or will I get enough from the superblue? Thanks!!

Rob&Gab · Jan 6, 2014

MH lighing bulb setup. ATI bulbs line up front to back.

Blue+
Blue+
Coral+
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+
ReefBright LED Blue Strip. For the night time or depending on what you might want to use it for. Like color and during the end of the daylight cycle. ut its just an option.

that will give a nice 14k look like the HexARC 14k Blue bulb DE 150W will give. an amazing crisp look. and make your corals pop at the same time. Hope all works out fine!